Posted: 7/5/2025 7:29:04 PM EDT
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I’ve been plagued with this yearning for a motorcycle the last few years. I have never ridden a real motorcycle. I’ve puddled around with a mini bike the last few years but have never ridden anything that has gears. My family isn’t big on the idea which has weighed on me. But at 35 I’m not getting any younger. The decision to buy or not has been really messing with me. Haven’t wanted something this bad since I was a kid. I’ve found myself both daydreaming and actually dreaming about purchasing one I’m finally at peace now. I’ve decided to just use some savings and make it happen next week instead of talking about doing it for a few years and having to pay more. Tuesday I’m going to take a half day at work. Head to the bank and grab a small pile of cash. Straight to the dealer in town I’ve found this 2025 “phantom blue” Kawasaki klx300sm that has to be mine. Guess I better figure out how to get a motorcycle permit too somewhere in between all of that lol  |
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Fuck yes. I'm about to buy yet another. I need a practical around town bike. Attached File |
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Very nice starter bike OP, and a wise choice for a first bike. As a rider for many many decades— welcome to the club! 
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Beware the Liberal. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death.
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: Fuck yes. I'm about to buy yet another. I need a practical around town bike. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000021460_jpg-3580924.JPG I looked at them, and mt09 but ended up with.. 
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Originally Posted By Kent: Very nice starter bike OP, and a wise choice for a first bike. As a rider for many many decades— welcome to the club! I mostly just want to putt around on back roads. I looked real hard at the 230 but figure I may as well go 300 and have no wants. Figure it’s still light enough to throw on my motorcycle carrier too One and done with this one. The used market is nuts on a dual sport. Figure may as well just buy new and have no issues to mess with than save a few k |
| I did this last year. Went to buy a quad, ended up buying a bike instead. Had it delivered, and had the guy put it in my garage because I had not ridden one. In the meantime, I went and got my permit. I live on a dead end street so I started out just by riding it up and down my road. Then spring came and PA DOT offered a basic riding course and the local college for free. I signed up for it, and can honestly say it was time well spent. If your state has one, I would recommend taking it. |
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Originally Posted By chase45: I mostly just want to putt around on back roads. I looked real hard at the 230 but figure I may as well go 300 and have no wants. Figure it’s still light enough to throw on my motorcycle carrier too One and done with this one. The used market is nuts on a dual sport. Figure may as well just buy new and have no issues to mess with than save a few k Agreed on all counts. Unless you luck into a private sale bargain, might as well buy new. My most recent move was from a 1000 down to a 400, because I’m also mostly into that same kind of riding these days … wanted something light and easy just to jump on and take little spins whenever the mood strikes. |
Beware the Liberal. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death.
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Originally Posted By Bob243: I did this last year. Went to buy a quad, ended up buying a bike instead. Had it delivered, and had the guy put it in my garage because I had not ridden one. In the meantime, I went and got my permit. I live on a dead end street so I started out just by riding it up and down my road. Then spring came and PA DOT offered a basic riding course and the local college for free. I signed up for it, and can honestly say it was time well spent. If your state has one, I would recommend taking it. I have to paper test for a permit then do a class for a endorsement I believe I’ll try and knock the permit out tomorrow. Shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ve been skimmin the manuals |
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I think you will enjoy that bike. I had a KLX300 dual sport for a few years and rode the hell out of it. |
“Once, men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”
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Originally Posted By chase45: I mostly just want to putt around on back roads. I looked real hard at the 230 but figure I may as well go 300 and have no wants. Figure it’s still light enough to throw on my motorcycle carrier too One and done with this one. The used market is nuts on a dual sport. Figure may as well just buy new and have no issues to mess with than save a few k Originally Posted By chase45: Originally Posted By Kent: Very nice starter bike OP, and a wise choice for a first bike. As a rider for many many decades— welcome to the club! I mostly just want to putt around on back roads. I looked real hard at the 230 but figure I may as well go 300 and have no wants. Figure it’s still light enough to throw on my motorcycle carrier too One and done with this one. The used market is nuts on a dual sport. Figure may as well just buy new and have no issues to mess with than save a few k 300 and no wants… One and done… lol. You are lying to yourself and dont even know it. If you ride a lot in 1 year you will want a bigger bike. Sorry, you have the beginnings of a virus. |
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Originally Posted By Kent: Agreed on all counts. Unless you luck into a private sale bargain, might as well buy new. My most recent move was from a 1000 down to a 400, because I’m also mostly into that same kind of riding these days … wanted something light and easy just to jump on and take little spins whenever the mood strikes. I’ve seen a single good deal for a used klx the last several months I’ve been looking. It’s sadly the one I barely missed. Most are near sticker for a late model with not many mods or miles . I know I’m gunna get lumped at the dealer but hey this isn’t even THAT large of a mid life crisis purchase |
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Originally Posted By chase45: I have to paper test for a permit then do a class for a endorsement I believe I'll try and knock the permit out tomorrow. Shouldn't be too difficult. I've been skimmin the manuals https://dmv-practice-test.com/pennsylvania/motorcycle/practice-test-8 After successfully completing the BRC we walked out with our license. |
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Ride Safe Indiana Motorcycle Safety Foundation ETA: If the shop has riding gear they should cut you a deal the day of the sale, you'll need at a minimum helmet, boots & gloves. If they don't and you don't have a Cyclegear nearby Revzilla always has closeouts |
"A GIRL WITH A GUITAR IS 12 TIMES BETTER THAN ANOTHER CRAZY BAND O BOYS" — Prince
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Good luck, be safe, have fun, wear your gear. If you have not taking a riding class, you should. It's inexpensive and goes over the basics. Don't get to hung up on scratching or or laying it down. It happens. Just be careful 
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“I was always willing to be reasonable until I had to be unreasonable. Sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things.”
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Originally Posted By BB: I haven't ridden my bike in three years. need to sell it. Same. I bought a '23 KLX300SM and have barely ridden it. They're fun little bikes, I just lost interest in riding on the street for whatever reason(probably the inattentive drivers). |
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This. Take the class. |
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Originally Posted By boolzi: I looked at them, and mt09 but ended up with.. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0533-3577976.jpg Why does it have training wheels? |
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Tips from 34 years of street riding: Dont ever sell your first bike. Set limits and follow them. Go on a long solo weekend ride often. Never trust your mirrors. Never trust other drivers. Never ride line abreast with other bikers, i.e., always leave yourself an exit strategy. Ziptie zipties to your front fork for use years later. ;) Moskomotto has some great rackless (no frame) saddlebags that will work great on that bike. Hope you have room in your garage for more than one. |
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Get something. My starter bike, bought it from a local seller.  Got my permit and rode it to the MSF basic rider course. Attached File |
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Nice looking bike. If you've really never ridden a bike with a clutch, I'd suggest a small dirtbike like a crf 80 or 100 to learn on first. They are cheap and bullet proof. Then sell it for same price you paid after learning in it. Or keep it because pit bikes are super fun. |
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Please take the MSF course. https://msf-usa.org/ It makes a huge difference leaning the proper way to ride a motorcycle. I was self taught and road for several years before I took it because I was newly married and my wife wanted learn to ride. It was a eye opener and I believe that the course is what allowed us to ride over 20 years without an incident. It will save you on insurance, streamline getting your motorcycle endorsement and might save your life. |
| After you pick it up, join the ARFCOM scavenger hunt thread: https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/2025-Motorcycle-Scavenger-Hunt/134-2769774/&page=4 |
How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?
Joined:
Feb 2011
Posts:
14703
EE: 100% (22)
TX, USA
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Indiana Rider's Courses I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course (MSF) with my wife. Even with over twenty years experience I learned a little bit. The biggest take-away was their techniques for teaching total newbies to ride in about one day. Their methods for teaching basic bike movement and clutch friction zone were really good and I used them every time I taught a newbie or my kids. |
Fantrax ARFCOM PICKERS Champion 2022, 2023, 2024
How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?
Joined:
Feb 2011
Posts:
14704
EE: 100% (22)
TX, USA
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My first was a used Suzuki GS500E. Loved it. Had enough power without being nuts, wasn’t too heavy, and it already had some scratches and dings. TAKE AN MSF COURSE. |
"I keep hearing 'must have a dialogue,' but I keep being told to shut up when I speak." -Sand_Pirate
“I’m starting to think the Internet was a terrible mistake.” -Subnet
“I’m starting to think the Internet was a terrible mistake.” -Subnet
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MSF class for the win. It will provide you with mental strategies to reduce your risk. It will also give you time on a bike that they own and will teach you how to do things from A to Z better than a lot of self taught people. Also, you will get an insurance discount. Riders who have taken the class are very much under-represented in crash statistics. Please do it. |
Don't confuse where I live with where I'm from.
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Originally Posted By nwalker77: Why does it have training wheels? Originally Posted By nwalker77: Originally Posted By boolzi: I looked at them, and mt09 but ended up with.. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0533-3577976.jpg Why does it have training wheels? Because they jam the exhaust under it and my bike stands won’t work. Makes it easier to tighten the spokes. |
