Comments on: First ride of the year with Lin http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/ The continuing adventures of a couple of American bikers in the Land of the Rising Sun Mon, 12 May 2008 09:02:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Gaijin Biker http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-36202 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:52:21 +0000 http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-36202 Dominique, I would also recommend joining the Tokyo Riders group on Yahoo. Lots of good information if you're going to be riding here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tokyo_Riders/ Dominique, I would also recommend joining the Tokyo Riders group on Yahoo. Lots of good information if you’re going to be riding here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tokyo_Riders/

]]> by: Big Ben http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-36052 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:32:55 +0000 http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-36052 Good luck, Dominique! If you need any more advice, drop by again anytime. Good luck, Dominique!

If you need any more advice, drop by again anytime.

]]> by: Dominique http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-36051 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:18:58 +0000 http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-36051 Hi Papa Kaze! Thanx for all the advices...they are very helpful!...I am currently looking and asking questions to different people. So I should be able to ride im thinking around may or june (things are just slower in Japan). Hi Papa Kaze!

Thanx for all the advices…they are very helpful!…I am currently looking and asking questions to different people. So I should be able to ride im thinking around may or june (things are just slower in Japan).

]]> by: Papa Kaze http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-35953 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:09:08 +0000 http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-35953 Here's the link to <a href="http://www.bike.ne.jp/shopping/nankai/" rel="nofollow">NANKAI BUHIN.</a> Here’s the link to NANKAI BUHIN.

]]> by: Papa Kaze http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-35952 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:02:13 +0000 http://www.gaijinbikers.com/wp/2008/01/06/first-ride-of-the-year-with-lin/#comment-35952 Hello there Dominique. Sounds like you're ready for some fun. From your post I have to guess some things about your riding experience, so forgive me if I'm mistaken. Based on your question, I'm going on the assumption that you are a complete beginner. If that is the case, I would buy a anything from 125cc to 350cc. If you don't feel comfortable riding a brand new bike, get a used one. But what is most important is that you ride every day. Especially while you are still living in a smaller town. Less danger and all that. If you are near country roads, go out there and ride as much as you can. The point really is to ride, ride, ride. I was living in the city (Seattle) when I got my first bike and there were no country roads around. So I rode around the neighborhood a lot. Tried to do it during the times of day when people weren't around much. When I lived 3 blocks from the store, I still rode there. First thing is when you get your new bike, spend as much time as you can with it. It's your best friend. Knowing as much as you can about it, the feel of the weight, the responsiveness of your brakes and accelerator and all will be of the most help. Taking a refresher course in THIS country will make you feel like you aren't qualified to ride, and should forget the whole thing. I took the motorcycle license test here after riding a 750cc bike DAILY for many years and felt "Maybe I'm not a good rider after all." That isn't the case. Screw the class, just ride. I would however make sure you have insurance. And don't let any time go between you getting your bike and buying a big, FAT lock! Allow me to ramble a bit more. Scout out the local bike shops. Visit all of them and ask about where good places to ride are, with little traffic (if you don't know). Compare prices on gear, all that. If there is a place where bikers go, or owned by bikers, ask them questions too. If you even see bikers hanging out at a coffee shop ask them questions too. My local Harley rider told me the scoop on where to get gear, where to get Sha-ken (vehicle licensing) and some good places to ride. Last, about gear. Full face, good gloves, leather. Leather pants. Ben rides with out his leathers in the summer time because it is really ridiculously hot here. But, I've been in more wrecks than him, so I keep the leathers on, and say "God damn it's hot out here Ben!" When buying gear, even on a budget it is a good idea to think to yourself, what are my head and hands worth? Sorry to put it like that, but really. If some jerkoff opens his car door when you're driving between cars, and you fall on your hands, what kind of gloves are best to have for that? Check out Nankai Buhin for gear. Stay away from Red Baron used bike$. Peace P.S. Making friends with Splendor, Ben, Owen and other bikers and clubs is a grand idea too. Hello there Dominique. Sounds like you’re ready for some fun. From your post I have to guess some things about your riding experience, so forgive me if I’m mistaken. Based on your question, I’m going on the assumption that you are a complete beginner.

If that is the case, I would buy a anything from 125cc to 350cc. If you don’t feel comfortable riding a brand new bike, get a used one. But what is most important is that you ride every day. Especially while you are still living in a smaller town. Less danger and all that. If you are near country roads, go out there and ride as much as you can. The point really is to ride, ride, ride. I was living in the city (Seattle) when I got my first bike and there were no country roads around. So I rode around the neighborhood a lot. Tried to do it during the times of day when people weren’t around much. When I lived 3 blocks from the store, I still rode there.

First thing is when you get your new bike, spend as much time as you can with it. It’s your best friend. Knowing as much as you can about it, the feel of the weight, the responsiveness of your brakes and accelerator and all will be of the most help. Taking a refresher course in THIS country will make you feel like you aren’t qualified to ride, and should forget the whole thing.

I took the motorcycle license test here after riding a 750cc bike DAILY for many years and felt “Maybe I’m not a good rider after all.” That isn’t the case. Screw the class, just ride.
I would however make sure you have insurance. And don’t let any time go between you getting your bike and buying a big, FAT lock!

Allow me to ramble a bit more. Scout out the local bike shops. Visit all of them and ask about where good places to ride are, with little traffic (if you don’t know). Compare prices on gear, all that. If there is a place where bikers go, or owned by bikers, ask them questions too. If you even see bikers hanging out at a coffee shop ask them questions too. My local Harley rider told me the scoop on where to get gear, where to get Sha-ken (vehicle licensing) and some good places to ride.

Last, about gear. Full face, good gloves, leather. Leather pants. Ben rides with out his leathers in the summer time because it is really ridiculously hot here. But, I’ve been in more wrecks than him, so I keep the leathers on, and say “God damn it’s hot out here Ben!” When buying gear, even on a budget it is a good idea to think to yourself, what are my head and hands worth? Sorry to put it like that, but really. If some jerkoff opens his car door when you’re driving between cars, and you fall on your hands, what kind of gloves are best to have for that?

Check out Nankai Buhin for gear.
Stay away from Red Baron used bike$.

Peace

P.S. Making friends with Splendor, Ben, Owen and other bikers and clubs is a grand idea too.

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