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octavious
octavious Reader
9/29/14 9:17 p.m.

So I went to check out the Kawasaki 650r from the other thread because it was about the only fuel injected bike in my price range that I liked. Lo and behold! It followed me home.

It is an 2007 and has 850 miles. It has been down on one side, but the damage was to the fairing, and it is scratched but not cracked. I don't believe the whole story the PO told me, but I was able to talk him down to just over challenge money. I know that because it is scratched it won't break my heart when I drop it...

Here are the pics:

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octavious
octavious Reader
9/29/14 9:22 p.m.

So far it has been washed, waxed, oil change, chain clean, and chain lubed.

I'm attaching pics of the scratched and fading plastics. Anyone have any ideas how to fix that? I have wax, rubbing compound, and 1500 grit sandpaper on hand already. I've only tried the wax.

I know the seat needs a recover and I found a how to on how to recover a seat. So my question on that is, what material will make me less likely to have swamp butt?

Lastly, the windshield appears tinted-ish??? I can't tell if it is from the factory, is extremely dirty, or has been sprayed with something. Is there any way to try and clean the windshield?

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octavious
octavious HalfDork
9/29/14 9:25 p.m.

Lastly, I before you guys ask, I haven't been out riding much yet. I am still putting my gear together. So this is a section for me to keep track.

Here is a list of what I have:

-Jacket- Tourmaster Flex

-Helmet- Deciding between Shoei Qwest and Bell Vortex (waiting on the Vortex to come in so I can try it on)

-Gloves- I just ordered the AGV Sport Voyagers - Currently- Hatch, leather/kevlar no cinch gloves

-Boots- Danner Acadia

-Pants- I just ordered the Icon Brawnson Overpants

-Balaclava- whatever one CG has on sale. (It's where I got my lube... snicker)

ddavidv
ddavidv PowerDork
9/30/14 5:58 a.m.

I bought nearly all of my gear used off ADVrider classifieds. The one thing I can't see trying to buy used are gloves...fit is so variable. I just kept trying on different styles every time I was at a dealer or CG until I got two pairs--one for warm weather and (just this week) another pair for cooler temps. I have heated glove liners that work really well but I find dealing with the wire and controller to be a PITA. I'm going to try the CG gloves I got as it gets cooler and see how they do. Also got their non-heated linings to try.

The balaclava I use mostly to keep my neck warm, and not sure I need one that goes over my head vs a neck shield, but it's what I have. This is probably the least-used piece of gear I own.

My boots are Aplinstars and are lines, so are 3 season wear. Other than heavier socks in cooler weather I've not had to add anything to them to stay warm, which is pretty remarkable for me. They are almost all velcro closures, so wind (and rain) stays out of them pretty well.

I wear overpants and have 2 pair; one mesh for summer and one with a liner for all the other times.

I buy helmets based solely on fit. HJC helmets fit me pretty well and after exhaustive research I've come to the conclusion an expensive helmet offers virtually no more protection than the ones I buy. Most of what you pay extra for are features, materials and name.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
9/30/14 7:35 a.m.

Spend on good gloves with protection. Everyone I know who ever went down landed on their hands. I'm still hmmming and hawwwing on what to buy and in the meantime I'm wearing a pair of Olympia Gels from the late 90's that are the functional equivalent of zero protection. There is no place around here to try them on so I'll probably buy a couple pairs from RevZilla and return all the ones I don't like (they have free returns for this purpose).

Pants... I just bought another pair of Draggin' Jeans with CE armor in the knees and hips for $180 and they are fine as intermediate protection but they are denim lined with kevlar so wind is cold thru them and rain is an instant soaking. I'm watching ADV for a good pair of real textile or leather motorcycle pants to appear in my size but everyone on there is child-sized or a massive fat bastard so it might be a long time coming.

For boots - I picked up a pair of Sidi Vertigo boots off ADV for $100 shipped ($400 new). They are more of a race boot and frankly... a bit goofy looking but boots like that are common to find used when guys quit because of grievous injury and what a race boot gives up in comfort and sex appeal it returns in ankle support and armor. Just don't try walking far in them.

I'll buy some Forma Adventures when I have the $$.

OH! and sweet bike. It's practically brand new. The scratches are instant street cred so leave them until you have enough seat time to know you aren't going to drop it without some help. If this is a first bike - you will probably be shopping for something else again in the spring anyway. That is just how it goes.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
9/30/14 7:48 a.m.
ddavidv wrote: I buy helmets based solely on fit. HJC helmets fit me pretty well and after exhaustive research I've come to the conclusion an expensive helmet offers virtually no more protection than the ones I buy. Most of what you pay extra for are features, materials and name.

I agree with this - the only thing my old (expensive) Shoei did better than the HJC (snell SA2005 racing helmet but has DOT sticker!) I have now is keep wind noise down. Since I'm riding with ear buds for tunes these days the wind isn't an issue and the HJC saves me $300 bucks over "premium" brand hats. It's even really light with removable padding that goes in the wash so no horrible sweat stink to deal with.

I had been watching sales for 2014 closeouts on Arai and Shoei but I can't find fault with what I'm wearing so... bonus me.

minimac
minimac SuperDork
9/30/14 8:12 a.m.

My pants are Cortech textile cargo pants. Kevlar reinforced where you need it and they also have hidden zippers to convert to shorts once I am where I'm going. They are very water resistant. A good armored jacket w/zip in lining is necessary. For really cold weather I have a set of West Chester gloves. They have padded protection on the fingers and palms, thinsulate insulation and are warm as toast. It did take a while to break them in, but I've ridden with temps in the teens, and my hands were warm. Most of the time I wear a leather, lace up work style boot with composite toe. Very good protection(they are the over the ankle kind) and the are light and comfortable. Less than $75 online. As to fixing the fairing, Duplicolor spray bomb it. it will only show on the closest inspection.

singleslammer
singleslammer SuperDork
9/30/14 8:31 a.m.

One thing you should consider is the tires on that bike. They are likely nearing their 8th birthday and hard as rock by now. A nice soft tire will make a huge difference in your confidence riding.

Nick_Comstock
Nick_Comstock PowerDork
9/30/14 8:34 a.m.

Excellent!!!

I think you'll be happy with that bike.

I've road at 30 degrees with CG glove liners and some insulated gloves. The cold air still came through the seems and it didn't take too long to make it uncomfortable. Heated would likely take care of everything but I would go with solid leather gloves, glove liners and possibly some wind deflector's if you plan on riding much around the freezing mark.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
9/30/14 8:39 a.m.
Nick_Comstock wrote: and possibly some wind deflector's

The barkbusters on my GS are amazing for keeping the cold wind off the digits. I've never ridden a bike with them before and thought they looked retarded (was planning on removing them) but I was out in the cold early AM over the weekend with thin gloves and it was pure awesomeness. Ugly or no... they are staying.

rotard
rotard Dork
9/30/14 9:19 a.m.

I'd definitely look into tires asap. Replacing old crappy tires will do more for safety than any amount of gear.

Don't think that normal boots, gloves, and jeans will protect you. They are better than riding naked, but don't have the abrasion resistance, support, etc. that dedicated equipment has.

Gear isn't cheap or comfortable all the time, but then neither is roadrash or a broken bone.

yamaha
yamaha UltimaDork
9/30/14 9:21 a.m.
Nick_Comstock wrote: Excellent!!! I think you'll be happy with that bike. I've road at 30 degrees with CG glove liners and some insulated gloves. The cold air still came through the seems and it didn't take too long to make it uncomfortable. Heated would likely take care of everything but I would go with solid leather gloves, glove liners and possibly some wind deflector's if you plan on riding much around the freezing mark.

I rode around in 30* temps with vented leather gloves......I'll admit, they were a bit cold, but I'm a pesky northerner that thinks y'all are Bob Costas.

Octavious, I'd go for new tires(cheapish for that thing), and if you ever need OEM bodywork, hardware, case covers, etc without paying an arm/leg...bookmark www.riders-choice.com

yamaha
yamaha UltimaDork
9/30/14 9:29 a.m.

Also, looks like someone attempted to night shade that windshield.....I'd just buy a new one to be honest. http://www.revzilla.com/parts/2007-kawasaki-ninja-650r#v2-facets[]=792&page=1&page_size=96&sort=featured&tab=exact The new OEM piece will run you between $80-100 anyways.

pres589
pres589 UltraDork
9/30/14 9:49 a.m.

About pants: I had a zipper die on my old Roadgear pants and ordered some Olympia somethings and the side zippers don't got that high up. They're a lot harder to take off with shoes on. I wear them for commuting and this has been an annoyance.

About paint: I'd vinyl wrap. Never done it so what do I know but the panels aren't big, are easy to pull for the most part, and shouldn't be hard to work with.

Gloves, helmets, etc need to be tried on to make sure they fit. I have my brand preferences but you should look for yourself. Looks like there's a Cycle Gear store in Nashville (which your profile says you live) which should offer a ton of brands to look at. I also agree with the above that a cheap lid and an expensive lid probably offer about the same protection. The difference is features, fit & finish, etc.

foxtrapper
foxtrapper UltimaDork
9/30/14 10:54 a.m.

Boots: Motocross/motorcycle boots have the best protection, but are often times so stiff as to be all but impossible to walk in. Make sure you actually can. Tread design matters, so your foot doesn't slide on the ground. Oddly (imo), many motorcross boots have effectively no tread. Good high top generic boots also work well. Beware the ability to get them off when hurt. Laces are nice then, trying to pull a cowboy boot off a broken foot hurts real bad.

Gloves: I struggle with these, as many motorcycle gloves cause me problems or don't actually protect very well. Slippery suede like palms that slip on the handlebar grips. Lack of feel so I death grip the handlebars, exhausting my forearms and numbing my fingers. Thin palms that make me question how effective they would be sliding down the road. Stitching and seams are often poorly places for maximum discomfort. Generally, if I'm going to be wearing gloves, it's most likely to be a set of generic leather work gloves.

Heat: I've had heated gloves, they were completely ineffective. These were the battery type, not the plug in type. I've heated grips on the snowmobile, and while I like them, toasty they ain't, and the cold wind on the back of my hand and fingers is just as cold and numbing as it ever was, even with a sweaty palm. Goofy looking hippohands or similar have worked the best for me for winter riding.

Pants: I've been wearing leather chaps for many years myself. Leather provides great abrasion protection and great wind protection. I like them. I do have some textile over pants that are armored and mesh for summer riding. Not bad, but not great either. Yes, the mesh lets me wear shorts under them and strip them off when I get to where I'm going. But the textile means I can't actually grip the tank, and the armored knees slide around and make it hard for me to feel the tank. I also doubt the knee pads will be in position should I hit the ground. The butt padding and protection raises me up a little and further reduces feel, which makes it harder for me to comfortably control the bike. But, I'm practicing wearing them and trying to like them. It's the Detour house brand from Jafrum.

Heat II: I've an old school Widder electric vest that has worked well for the many years I've had it. No, it isn't absolutely cold proof, but it sure helps, when I've got a wind proof outer layer and enough insulating layers over it. There are some new and very interesting infra-red heating systems. They include a full sleeve jacket liners, pants, socks and gloves. If I were doing more winter riding, I'd be awful inclined to try them.

clutchsmoke
clutchsmoke Dork
9/30/14 11:41 a.m.

I picked up a pair of Komodo KFX race gloves a while back and then promptly went on a motorcycle hiatus. Only worn them a few times. Very well made and comfortable. I wouldn't wear anything less after comparing them to what I had been wearing. I'd sell them to you if you're interested. Black/white color scheme. Size XL IIRC.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-gloves/komodo/k-fx-gloves/

I wear Sidi race boots. Looks a little goofy, but IDGAF. I like my ankles just the way they are; unbroken and working.

octavious
octavious HalfDork
9/30/14 11:44 a.m.

Thanks guys. I should has been clearer, I plan on getting boots, gloves, and pants. I just haven't got them yet. I'm using tips from my other threads for gear informantion as well.

My local CG (Knoxville, not Nashville) can get the other helmet in for me to try. I told my wife I would go with DOT and Snell 2010 rated helmets. CG doesn't stock many of those, so I am also looking anywhere else that might so I can test fit.

Also funny you guys mentioned advrider, I signed up there yesterday under the same name.

Does anyone know if a tinted shade was an option from Kawi? It looks factory not nightshaded but it is cloudy.

yamaha
yamaha UltimaDork
9/30/14 11:51 a.m.

In reply to octavious:

IDK on that one, I'd just use water and a microfiber on it.....if it doesn't clear up, I'd get a new one. My OEM windscreen on my '04 10r was painted black on the inside...... Looks like you got a great bike at a great price too.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
9/30/14 12:51 p.m.
clutchsmoke wrote: I picked up a pair of Komodo KFX race gloves a while back and then promptly went on a motorcycle hiatus. Only worn them a few times. Very well made and comfortable. I wouldn't wear anything less after comparing them to what I had been wearing. I'd sell them to you if you're interested. Black/white color scheme. Size XL IIRC.

How are they in warmer weather? Do they get stiff and crusty from sweat?

EDIT. Nevermind. It appears that no one actually sells Komodo gloves anymore.

SEADave
SEADave Reader
9/30/14 2:55 p.m.

Nice bike. I hardly notice the scratches on the side, unless they look a lot worse in person I just wouldn't worry about them. You might try hitting the windshield with Meguiars PlastX polish (or something similar) - it is worth a try before you drop $80 or more on a replacement.

As far as gear goes you are on the right track. Helmets are the one thing I refuse to buy over the internet, you have to try them on in person.

Cotton
Cotton UltraDork
9/30/14 3:11 p.m.

if you want to fix the scratches I'd just repaint the bike in it's factory color and apply new decals. I did that with my k1200s after I got it because the PO had also dropped it.....turned out great and when I went to trade it on my k1300s the BMW dealer even commented on the condition.

As far as gear, I generally by new and keep it forever as long as I don't wreck in it. Hell my Joe Rocket mesh jacket is 14 years old and still in excellent condition other than some fading.

I used to buy mostly HJC helmets, but have moved to Shoei, but like everyone else is saying try a bunch on and see what works for you.

octavious
octavious Reader
10/1/14 6:56 a.m.

Thanks guys. I spent over an hour on the bike last night. I went around and around my neighborhood, practicing my turns, learning where the controls were, getting used to the friction zone and throttle, and just the bike itself. Then I went to a road near my house that has two round abouts, and I just road back and forth around the round abouts. I also went to an empty parking lot, where I practiced my emergency braking, more turning, more throttle control, etc.

I'm in no way ready to start riding to work yet, but I am really enjoying this new experience.

Also, I still have my buddies Shoei helmet and his gloves plus my jacket, jeans (I know) and some old leather over the ankle boots I own. From my earlier post about gear I didn't want you guys to think I was out in my shorts, wife beater, and flip flops.

If I had to sum up my riding experience so far it would be "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Just like that little pig from the commercials.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
10/1/14 7:12 a.m.

In reply to octavious:

If you haven't already - pick up a copy of Proficient Motorcycling The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well. I'd mail you my copy but it went out on loan and never returned. The Kindle addition will be fine - the CD is worthless.

It gets a little preachy but it's got a lot of very good info for avoiding the sort of "gotcha" moments that give you scars.

And if you can do this exercise you will be better off than 90% of the riders you see every day (image gratuitously borrowed from ADV forum). Most bike drops happen when you are going really slow:

The black lines are parking spaces. The exercise on the right - do both directions from a stop. If you drag the rear brake a little you can smooth out the chain/drive lash. Don't hit the front brakes when turning slow or down you go!

octavious
octavious Reader
10/1/14 7:26 a.m.

GPS- That is exactly one of the exercises I was working on yesterday. It was one of the drills I remember from my MSF. The number of spaces to do it in helps. I will be working on that some more.

And I'm going to call him out, but Nick_Comstock let me borrow his copy of Proficient Motorcycling. It is a lot of what was covered in the MSF, but at my own reading pace and not a cram it down your throat, mass overload, system abort, pace... There is some very good stuff in there for a newb like m.

foxtrapper
foxtrapper UltimaDork
10/1/14 7:34 a.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Don't hit the front brakes when turning slow or down you go!

I've yet to encounter a front brake that had the magical abilities to throw a motorcycle to the ground simply because you use it. Certainly if you stop moving while making a tight maneuver you can find yourself struggling to hold the bike up. That has nothing to do with the front brake itself, and everything to do with inertia and gravity. As well locking the front wheel. Good things do not usually happen when you do that. But this notion that merely touching the front brake while making a tight maneuver will instantly throw the bike down, nah.

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