[Ducati] IT"S SQUID AND OMMLET (tm) SEASON

[Rob Allen]

That was a good article, Ron.  Nice to see a newspaper speak candidly about
the dangers of squidly behavior without copping an attitude about riders in
general.  FWIW, I've been "consulting" with a guy at work who's been looking
into buying his first bike for commuting and the occasional weekend ride.
When the subject first came up, he told me he'd been looking at used R1's.

I talked him down real fast.  Thankfully, he listened to my advice and is
plopping down $1400 on a used Ninja 250 that's got low miles but is already
a little rashed.  I told him to take the MSF Basic RiderCourse, get a
small-displacement bike, and be prepared to drop it in the driveway once or
twice.  Ride cautiously for the first couple of years and get used to all
the sensory input required to ride before getting something fast -- and to
work his way up slowly.  Maybe go from the 250 up to an SV650 or even an
SS800 or SS1000 (used, of course, since it seems that line of bikes will
likely be dropped in a year or two), and then up to a 600 for a while before
making the leap to a literbike or even a hyperbike.  (He liked the 'Busa too
-- which was another bike I said, "Someday, but NOT for your first bike.")

Now that he's settled on a bike, I've been preaching to him about gear -- a
good helmet, gloves, boots, jacket with adequate armor...textile overpant if
you don't want full leathers, or maybe a pair of Draggin' Jeans for the
really hot days.  He listened to my other advice, I expect he'll heed the
gear advice as well.

-- 
-- Rob Allen
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1997 748/853 "Regina Gialla" (Gia) (aka Bombo)
2001 BMW K1200LTC "BatGirl"
2004 Suzuki DRZ125L
2005 Suzuki DRZ200 Dual Sport
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Be strong enough to stand firm when you're right,
Be humble enough to admit when you're wrong,
And be wise enough to know the difference.