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Looking at a car, title is not in sellers name. No sale ?

NJ doesn't either. That's why you should only deal with sellers present and verified. When I helped my ex-gf's mom buy a used Mazda 3 a couple of years ago, the seller's fiance showed the car to us, but when it came time to meet again to do the transaction, we met the actual owner and had her...
- papadage
- Post #19
- Jul 22, 2015
- Forum: The Garage
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Looking at a car, title is not in sellers name. No sale ?

It's probably curbstoning. The guy is an unlicensed dealer, and is selling cars without transferring the title to himself first. If he sold them in a legit manner, he would be on the hook for any state required warranties and any false statements, which would be fraud. With no paper trail to...
- papadage
- Post #15
- Jul 22, 2015
- Forum: The Garage
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Welp, I crashed at Big Willow / Willow Springs

Not me man. Depending on the weather or length of the ride, my pick of Kevlar lined jeans, perforated leathers, my Rukka Gore Pro gear, or the one piece Teiz commuter suit, with one of three sets of gloves/gauntlets and riding boots. Having been flipped over the bars after getting hit on the...
- papadage
- Post #31
- Aug 24, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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First Bike

Assume the cars are trying to kill you, because at least a small percentage are indifferent to your safety.
- papadage
- Post #10
- May 29, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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First Bike

I can understand. I started riding four years ago at 41, and in the last two years have done multi-thousand mile trips. Sometimes the bug bites and you want to extend yourself a bit, and see what you're made of. Good luck.. Oh, for good starter bikes.. Ninja 300 and the CBR500RR. The...
- papadage
- Post #6
- May 29, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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First Bike

Are you each going to ride, or are you getting only one bike, and the other will be a passenger? I would not try taking each other on the back until you have several thousand solo miles under your belt.
- papadage
- Post #4
- May 29, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Welp, I crashed at Big Willow / Willow Springs

Glad you're OK. The N1K is on my short list of bikes to look at as successors for my current Ninja 650. Nice to know it can take a slide at speed. The relative lacki of injury is a good good reason why street riders should always wear gear as well.
- papadage
- Post #6
- May 27, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Exactly right. And on the street, as on the track, mid-lean adjustments may need to be made without room to straighten up. On the track, double apex, and descending, tightening turns meant I really needed to learn to at least brake a bit to get on a better line if another bike cut close I front...
- papadage
- Post #220
- May 27, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

It's not quite true. You can brake a little while leaned in a turn, and the amount of lean, speed and conditions matter a lot. But, as a regular practice, it should be avoided. If you need to brake in mid-turn, you need to get the bike upright so as not to lose traction. As you cut speed, your...
- papadage
- Post #218
- May 27, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

That was more for the benefit of more inexperienced readers, as an added reason why new riders should stay away from too powerful a bike.
- papadage
- Post #216
- May 27, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Yeah, but on a high powered bike, in mid turn, that is a recipe for a classic high side. Lose the rear. Get traction back while under throttle. Rear hooks up and throws the rider, and possibly follows him. If you chop the throttle too much, then you just drop and slide. But the above...
- papadage
- Post #212
- May 27, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

The same thing happened to me once.. came to a stop and the bike shut down. I thought nothing of it, and it happened again a little later. I tightened up the clutch cable a bit, and it was fine after that. Clutch cables stretch so that that you are just barely holding the clutch when you have...
- papadage
- Post #204
- May 26, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

I really don't care when you: 1. Ignore the difference in fuel costs 2. Ignore that RR tires are softer, last for less miles, so are replaced more often and cost more 3. Ignore that any RR will cost more to do a valve inspection and adjustment than any economical standard twin 4. A set of tires...
- papadage
- Post #193
- May 25, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Race gas is needed only if you have a highly modified engine that runs at extreme compression, and with very tight timings. Most guys I know running dedicated track bikes still run only 94 octane, and that's in CBR1000RR, CBR600RR, ZX10-R, S1000RR, a Diavel, an RC51, a Buell 1125R and multiple...
- papadage
- Post #186
- May 25, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Guy I work with was in a motorcycle accident this week.

Harley riders are all over the map in skill, but so are many riders of sport and other motorcycle styles. I know guys with Harleys that can ride circles around me.. not that it's a very hard thing to do for a skilled rider. The newer HDs are nice, if a bit heavy and underpowered, but if that's...
- papadage
- Post #19
- May 25, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Race replicas need to run on high octane fuel. My bike, and a lot of others only needs regular. The race bikes also have more expensive tires, brakes, and require much more expensive valve inspections and adjustments. Most parallel of v-twins are much cheaper to do those on as as well. You...
- papadage
- Post #184
- May 25, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Don't do it until you have a couple thousand miles in mixed traffic under your belt. And your passenger should wear equal gear to yourself.
- papadage
- Post #170
- May 24, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

The Ninja 1000 is put in the same class as the liter ultra-sport bikes by some carriers, even though it does not appeal to the same demographic as the racer kids. Shop around a bit. Some carriers classify it properly.
- papadage
- Post #167
- May 24, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Yeah, bikes are not cheap to own, and race replicas are even more expensive. I'm a big fan of the parallel and V-twin sports bikes for that reason. That, and they are more practical on the street and highway, and because of a more relaxes riding position, are more comfortable to ride long...
- papadage
- Post #165
- May 24, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

motorcyclegear.com has good sales and closeouts. As for going slow.. I know a guy who got messed up in a low speed collision. He lost a lot of skin sliding on his side after he got hit by a can doing a k-turn. Most collisions are at low street speeds anyway.
- papadage
- Post #157
- May 23, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Even if you go scooter.. buy some gear. At the very least helmet (full face preferred).. and then riding gloves. You never want to take a spill and lose the skin on your palms because you put them out to break your fall. You can't get grafts there, and you would have hooks for hands for the rest...
- papadage
- Post #154
- May 23, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Two guys washed out of the class I took. One was too nervous, and stalled constantly. The other dropped the bike multiple times. I had not even ridden a bicycle in 25 years when I took it. I barely made the circle they have all the attendees do on a the bicycle. But, I made it through, and a...
- papadage
- Post #150
- May 23, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

You can buy a pre-dropped 2008 to 2009 Ninja 250 for about $2,200 or so, and sell it for the same thing after a riding season. Buy in the winter, ride for a year, and sell it when you pick out your next bike.
- papadage
- Post #145
- May 23, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Except for one thing.. cornering in the dirt is very different than in the street. And many of us live in cities, with no dirt riding anywhere nearby.
- papadage
- Post #143
- May 23, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

No scooter if you want to learn to ride a motorcycle. They have almost nothing in common. If you want to learn to ride a motorcycle, you get a motorcycle. This short video sums up why I enjoy riding.. minus the dirt.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dytQvJefFW0
- papadage
- Post #141
- May 23, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Some bikes have throttle by wire, so they can have multiple throttle response maps that can be switched on the fly. That still doesn't help with the brakes and the fact that race bikes are built to tip in quickly into turns.
- papadage
- Post #134
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

The average super sport rider puts maybe 1,500 miles a year on his bike. I am going to do more than that in a week long trip in June. Speed is not the problem, twitchiness is. A quarter turn on a super sport throttle can result in an instant addition of 6,000 rpm. A handfull of brakes can...
- papadage
- Post #131
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

The RC390 will have a sport riding position. But that's not much of a problem unless you are going to be riding long distances. The big issue with super sports is their immediacy. If I twist the throttle of a Ninja 250 too much, it kinda says "are you sure?" before taking off, My 650 will...
- papadage
- Post #127
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

A newish used bike with maybe 4,000 miles on it should need nothing but an oil change if you stick with the Japanese brands, and it has not been crashed. Modern fuel injected bikes are pretty bullet proof. You would have to take a sledge hammer to a Ninja 250 to kill it. Just check the tires for...
- papadage
- Post #124
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

That's sad to hear. The 390 is built for KTM in India. The 690 is manufactured in Austria. For a good beginner street bike, my current recommendation is the CBR500R. Very predictable, linear power delivery, high Honda quality control, and enough power to keep it practical. But beginner...
- papadage
- Post #121
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

I had a Ninja 250 also. Great little bike. It is very much flickable. But, my 650 is almost as much fin, and has a lot more torque, and will carry a shit ton of stuff with luggage, so it's more practical for me. But I did have a friend in DFW that put a full Ohlins shock and Racetech front...
- papadage
- Post #119
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Yeah, that's the modern one, much like the Ninja 300, which is probably a better bike right now. The CBR250RR is a cut down super sport with an inline 4. It was sold in japan and Australia only, and has a cult following for a good reason. The one I am waiting for is the KTM RC390. A...
- papadage
- Post #117
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

The old CBR 250RR is not street legal in the US. Aside from that, it's a real race bike, completely inappropriate for the road. It's a bad idea. Track riding is not street and highway riding, and attitudes like yours are why the crash rate for new riders is so high.
- papadage
- Post #115
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Yamaha FZ6. Or, more interesting these days, the FZ-09. (Incredible Bike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIg4S52aCs ) But both are too much for a new rider.
- papadage
- Post #111
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Here's my leathers, when I was touring last year. Top of the Blue Ridge. Two guys from Texas, One from NY, one from VT, and me in the middle..
- papadage
- Post #108
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

I try and hit showrooms. I got to Philly occasionally, so I stop in at RevZilla once in a while. I bought my TCX Air boots and my Held Air n Dry gloves there last trip. I will generally also try on examples of different brands, and then either buy there, or order online. I bought the Rukka...
- papadage
- Post #107
- May 22, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

I ride, shop, commute and do everything with my bike. Why live in fear? Ride smart, and keep your wits about you. --- I have different gear for different purposes... For most days.. Rukka GoreTex Pro Argo jacket, and matching pants, both with the D3O Air armor and back protector.. Waterproof...
- papadage
- Post #104
- May 21, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

It's a fun car, but NOTHING like a 911, or even my old M3. There is a huge difference between a real sports car and a hopped up hatchback. The STi handles merely OK. But, living in NJ, it's very practical as an all weather car, and it packs a punch in a straight line. My car was dynoed at...
- papadage
- Post #102
- May 21, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

Yeah.. great in hindsight, but who can think that fast when they are a newer rider. I may have wound up hurt more by falling off into the path of whatever other car was behind me. In any case, it just illustrates that new-ish riders should stay on less powerful bikes. On a torquier bike than my...
- papadage
- Post #98
- May 21, 2014
- Forum: The Garage
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Which sportbike is good?

But you wear it, because a collision is sometimes done TO you. My first bike was totaled when a guy driving his buddies from a bar crowded through my lane as we were approaching a red light. He wanted to make a right on red and didn't want to be stuck behind me. His mirror snapped my left...
- papadage
- Post #95
- May 21, 2014
- Forum: The Garage

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