not sure where to start

[ct20b drifter]

so i've got my eye on a gs500e as a first bike. i will be selling my old car to get one. i'm moving to a great area as my commute will be 4 miles and it's near the beach!

problem is that i dont know where to go for the motorcycle class. is there some place online i can find where they hold these classes?

ok so after the class what's the next step? buy the gear? buy the bike? DMV? i'm guessing they'll help me out further at the riding class

Thanx

[Dwn4whadever]

Welcome to the site. Where are u located?

[ajaxgs]

try a local colledge maybe!!!!



and welcome

[pandy]

Welcome! 

Here's a good place to start:

Motorcycle Safety Foundation
http://www.msf-usa.org/

[scottpA_GS]

http://www.msf-usa.org/



(edit)
Hehe... we both posted that at the same time

[Turd Ferguson]

No way, she beat you by like 17 seconds Scott!  Too slow!

Deffinately +1 for the MSF.

-Turd.

[pandy]

 

[ct20b drifter]

Welcome to the site. Where are u located?

haha, that would help me help you help me wouldnt it?

i'll be located in redondo beach/manhattan beach area CA.

[Turd Ferguson]

haha, that would help me help you help me wouldnt it?

I must have read that 23 times before I got it.

Welcome to the club, post often!  The more the merrier!

-Turd.

[pantablo]

Welcome to the site. Where are u located?

haha, that would help me help you help me wouldnt it?

i'll be located in redondo beach/manhattan beach area CA.

ah, another local socal rider...I'm just north of you in Santa Monica.
msf course first. I think they hold them in Culver City now, but I had to take mine at Valley College (Van Nuys I think).

the msf class will provide a waiver for the driving portion of the license test at DMV but you'll have to go in to take the written test for the motorcycle endorsement. they'll be issuing you a new license with the M1 endorsement so you'll also be taking 1/2 of the regular drivers written test (that caught me off guard as I wasnt expecting that test-passed luckily).

You'll definitely need gear. Cycle Gear in Lomita is a good local place for inexpensive gear but you should also check www.newenough.com, especially their closeout section.

You should be getting a full face helmet, leather gauntlet style (covers the wrist) motorcycle gloves, motorcycle boots and a jacket...at a bare minimum. Helmets are tricky because they are all different shapes internally so you need to try them on (leave them on for 20 minutes in the store) to make sure they fit well, and they should fit a little too snugly (since they break in within a month).

good luck!

[scottpA_GS]

No way, she beat you by like 17 seconds Scott!  Too slow!

Deffinately +1 for the MSF.

-Turd.

It was that damn 45 Second thing... gets me every time 

[scratch]

Welcome!

[roguegeek]

Welcome to the forums! You're definitely going to find a lot of good resources here.

Took my MSF courses in Van Nuys. MSF seems to change the locations every couple of years based on availability. Since you're lucky enough to be riding in SoCal, you have a ton of GS riders around you (including myself). Get your gear, take your MSF course, get your bike, and start riding around with other SoCal riders.

[ct20b drifter]

you guys are really helpful, thanx alot!

this might be redundant but i'm still a bit confused, which order should this go in:

1.) gear
2.) msf course
3.) license
4.) bike

also thanks for posting local resources, it's hard to do shopping when i have no idea where to go! any additional places i can check out? after the bit of research i've done online, these things caught my eye and are in my budget:

KBC FFR Full-Face Flip-Front Helmet - Silver Infinity
Shift Super Street Textile Jacket
Alpinestars S-MX 2 Air Carbon Glove
Joe Rocket Vortex Street Shoe

that's about $550 worth of gear (i'm trying to kep it under 600)

[Alphamazing]

Gear, MSF, license, bike. Sounds good to me man.

As to the gear, don't relegate yourself to stuff without trying it on first. Go to a dealer or a bike shop and see what fits you properly. A KBC helmet might not fit you as well as a Scorpion, for example. Also, I would try and avoid flip-face helmets, but that's just me.

As to the Joe Rocket shoes, don't waste your money. Get some real boots instead. Here are cheap boots by Joe Rocket: http://www.newenough.com/joe_rocket_reactor_boot_page.htm

For gloves, try out a lot of brands. Get a person who works there to help you find gear that fits properly. Gloves shouldn't be too tight nor too big.

[pantablo]

you dont need all the gear for the MSF course. you can make due with jeans, long sleeve tshirt/shirt and gardening gloves from hardware store if you had to. the helmet is a good place to start though. hit Del Amo motorsports and check their stock for helmets. they should have a good enough collection to try on. there's also cycle gear in lomita(?) which should have some gear/helmets to try on.

what size jacket are you? I have a couple spare jackets-one long joe rocket textile jacket (sz SM, fits me a tad too big) and one leather alpinestars tz1 jacket (sz 36US) I'd let go cheap.

newenough.com is a great online outlet! their closeouts are phenomenal.

[ct20b drifter]

thanks! if anyone could refer me to some more local shops i think that would help the most. i know i can find tons online but knowing the good ones by recomendations by their customers is best.

[pantablo]

del amo motorsports is a dealer with a parts department. they're visible from the 405 jsut south of the rosecrans offramp.

hamm motorsports is a little farther south.

the honda dealer in marina del rey has a small but worthwhile collection of gear too.

however, if you're interested in a drive, you should head out to Chapparral or Berts Megamall (covina)...both have BIG selections of helmets and gear to try on.

[Jake D]

I would recommend you get a different helmet.  I'd bet you would prefer a non-flip up helmet.
Also, Set-up has some good boots that I think you'd prefer.   I have a pair and I am very impressed.

[davidcl]

I just went through the whole process pretty recently. Here is what I did.

• Found a '90 GS500e for $1,500 with a new back tire thrown in.
• Bought a Rox Helmet for $100 and a Icon Daytona Jacket for $150.
• Practiced in the grass for awhile, moved on to the neighborhood streets, and then finally took my first ride in the rain around town.
• Rode back and forth to work for awhile.
• Went to the DMV and took the written test and got my permit.
• Two weeks later I went to the DMV (alone) and took the parking lot test and passed the first time.

This all happened in about 5 weeks time.

Thanks.