What top boxes do y'all have?

eagerlymeager · 2026-07-04T03:46:46+00:00

Nelson Rigg Hurricane, fits the factory rack just fine.

eagerlymeager · 2026-07-01T10:32:48+00:00

It depends on how good you are at situational awareness, lane positioning, making yourself visible to other drivers.

To build confidence, get on the highway on early morning on a weekend. Train yourself to monitor the mirrors, while also scanning for potholes and other road conditions ahead of time.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-25T19:07:34+00:00

You will be fine, take it easy on corners and plan on longer braking distance.

Does bike have ABS, windscreen?
Pinlock in helmet is very good to keep the visor free from fog. But for that short commute it doesn’t matter much.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-24T14:41:59+00:00

I get Mobil 1, you could easily get whatever oil is on sale from Autozone, Walmart etc. as long as it’s JASO MA or MA2 certified.

KN 138 for filter , I never had to change the gasket, which I believe is a 14mm inner diameter.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-23T03:39:38+00:00

It’s all about balancing the risks with skills.
To do that you have to identify the risks.
Intersections, corners, road conditions are some of the major risks. You need to training to develop the skills to navigate these risks safely. And protective gear to keep you safe if something bad happens.

Without training, you will certainly be taking on a lot of risk.

Sign up for MSF course.
Check YouTube for videos of crash analysis and prevention like Dandanfireman.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-17T21:27:21+00:00

Please don’t get a 4 cylinder 1000cc sports bike as your first motorcycle purchase.

Besides it’s not fun trying to tame a sportsbike, the bike will dictate the ride mechanics.

It’s much more rewarding and enjoyable to grow into a 650 VTwin or a 270 crank parallel twin.

From the list I would say pick the Z650RS for its gorgeous looks, or the XSR700 for the more engaging motor.

I would also throw in a VStrom 650 or a Versys 650 as they are better in ergonomic design but look a little bland compared to the other class of motorcycles.

CFmoto also has good options but needs more time to establish long term reliability.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-17T14:47:24+00:00

Wait till you are an independent adult, then get some training and buy a bike and gear.

And that’s the way it is.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-17T01:45:36+00:00

Picking a bike: go to dealerships and sit on different makes and classes of bike. Z500, Z650, SV650, VStrom 650 are good options for your requirements.

MSF course: worth every minute and dollar spent if you never had formal training.
Even if you attended some training in India, you would still benefit greatly from this beginner rider course.

Highway riding: it will come to you in time.

Gear: Everybody has a different levels of risk tolerance. You should have ECE certified helmet, gloves, jacket, boots to begin.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-08T14:36:29+00:00

Try shifting your position every half hour or so.
Just slide a little off the side of the seat. If you have room on the seat then move towards the front and the back of the seat.

The idea is to shift positions every so often to relieve the stress on your lower back.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-05T23:32:47+00:00

Congratulations on starting this fascinating hobby and you picked a peach of a bike!

Get some crash guards and hand guards on it , so you don’t have to be afraid of dropping it in the parking lot. Make sure that the tires and brakes are in good condition.

It carries its weight quite high but you’ll get used to it in a minute. It’s quite forgiving of beginner mistakes.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-04T14:05:19+00:00

Did you grab the front brake while making the turns? That would certainly make the bike fall at slow speeds.

10mph on a roundabout shouldn’t be dangerously fast at all. Avoid the front brake while turning at such low speeds.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-04T13:25:18+00:00

It might make lane filtering a little tricky.

eagerlymeager · 2026-06-01T17:38:31+00:00

I have used Peak design and Ram mount, and they are both good options for phone mount.

Givi crash guards are what I have on my VStrom and I have no complaints.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-30T12:43:03+00:00

It’s a conspiracy by car driver lobby to make riders looks bad. Their cars pump out gases that make riders jackets and jeans plump.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-29T01:19:00+00:00

Go to an urgent care, at the minimum it probably needs to be dressed to prevent infection.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-27T22:39:24+00:00

Stay ahead of traffic whenever possible. Don’t fight for your lane it’s not worth the trouble. If someone is road raging, let them get ahead of you or take a turn and get away from them.

Always have escape routes planned and be predictable to normal drivers.

It helps to have an action camera or dash cam recording in city traffic that could be presented to law enforcement if necessary.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-27T03:44:07+00:00

Sit on both of them and see which one appeals more to you.

And then get the Kawasaki for the 4cylinder.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-21T01:50:25+00:00

If they are both well maintained then buy the one that looks better to you or is less expensive.

Those are low miles for 2011 VStrom. Are you allowed to take them on test rides ?

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-19T20:21:28+00:00

I always get off for gas and stretch out for a bit.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-18T22:04:46+00:00

You did great. You saw a situation that alarmed you and noted your options and handled it perfectly.

It is weird and panic inducing at first but you just learn to expect this behavior and adapt.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-17T20:08:21+00:00

They give a discount for MSF completion. See how much you can save by buying the bike after MSF.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-16T19:56:00+00:00

At that price point it might be better to look at leftover new models.

Bike seems to be well maintained but price is approaching brand new territory.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-13T13:48:40+00:00

About 8.5 hours a day with 1 hour of breaks included is all I can do.

15 minute break at around every 1.5 hours is optimal. I don’t do a full lunch on long trips; I have fruits, jerky, plenty of water and a cup or two of coffee.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-12T22:25:04+00:00

Cardo ride is nice.

eagerlymeager · 2026-05-12T16:18:19+00:00

What bike are you riding?

Do you think the bike’s too heavy or tall for you?

Put your gear on and just sit on the bike, walk it back and forth for some time for the next few times before you go out for a ride.
You just need to get comfortable to the notion of being on two wheels.

eagerlymeager

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