After thinking I decided to get a used one and avoid the dealer markup. I wasn't having much luck, all the used ones I found were about 2300-2600 for an 01 or 02. I didn't quite have that much cash, I decided to call around to the other dealers to see if they had any used Ninjas. I thought a dealer would accept my credit card to finance it (since the inhouse financing was at a higher rate anyway a creditcard finance was a pretty good deal). I asked if they had one, and they didn't but they ask if I would like a new one. I told them I wasn't interested in the high markup of a new one. They asked what I would be interested in. I told them the most I could pay was $3300 out the door, and they called me back and accepted the deal! I saved $1200!! Besides the new dealer was much nicer and hade much better customers.

3/12 - Got those gloves (actually just gardening gloves for now). It really helps to keep warm. Although I wonder what it will be like in the summer when I want to keep cool? I find that in the slow traffic I need to keep the visor open on my helmit to keep from fogging up. I guess these visors are built for freeway driving more. Oh well as soon as I get my full license I'll use the freeway more.

You know, today I was almost hit by a car. But not while on my motorcycle. A car pulled out infront of me while I was driving the car and taking Jeff home from seminary. I was able to stop fine and I just though "would I have been oka on the cycle?" and I believe I would have been just fine too.

I cant wait until I finish the break in period. This 4K rpm is brutial. I have to shift up to 6th just to go 35mph. I end up shiftin all the time, up/down/up/down. Its good practice and I'm getting much smother at it. I'm sure glad the bike is liquid cooled. The stop and go heats the bike up pretty quick, with only air cooled I might have a problem.

I keep finding myself telling other about my bike and explaining that its not a "Big" bike. I don't know why. Its a cool, new, sports bike. I guess its because the salesmen and web pages I've seen where people talk about their bikes always refer to it that way. But I don't know any other bikers (other than uncle bill) so they don't know they difference.

6/4/03 - Good news! I got in my first acccident today. Why is it good news? Well I've been so worried about breaking my new bike, now I dont' have to. It was someone elses fault. She hit me while I was waiting for a red light. I know that the freeway was safer. Why is it that I cannot ride on the freeway until I get a full license. The license test isn't highspeed manuvering. Its slow cirucs like circles and weaving. Thats much closer to what you do around cars at stop lights.

I'm taking that Motorcycle safety course this friday. Then I'll get my full license and be able to get tags for work too.

Replay on the california cycle drive test. Step one, identify the buttons levers and whatits on your bike. Step two, drive. There are two courses you need to drive. First picture a cylinder drawn in 2D. Kinda looks like a rectange with a circle on the end. Thats the test course. The first route is you must weave between 4 cones that are in the middle of the rectangle. Then as you leave the last cone you must make a double U turn to the right. Of course there are lines that you must stay inside of. Then return back weaving between to cones again. The second course is driving down the sides of the rectangle, enter the circle making a double U turn to the left, then return on the oppisite side of the rectangle.

Putting you foot down is an automatic failure (even though putting your foot down in REALLIFE is a life saver and necessary to prevent accidents, especially when going slowly or around sharp turns like this).

If you pass the test then you've proven to the state of california that you are capible of 1) driving after dark, 2) driving on freeways at speeds over 55 mph, and 3) riding with a passenger. I just don't get it. The test has nothing to do with the uses that the license is for.

So, if you couldn't tell, I failed the test my first time. Touched 3 times on the right turns and once on the left. I was always in control, but my problem was I had not practiced on their course. I had practiced for 2 month in real world roads. I didn't plan on a circus performance. I did try to practice before my test. I was just sitting their waiting for like 20 minutes for a tester to come out, so I drove over and went around the circle once. Then a guy started yelling "You cant practice". What!! Why not? Affraid I'll fall and get hurt on your stupid test and sue you? When the instructor came out the first thing she asked was did I practice. I said yes, and she said good. I told her I was told not to and she said that I sould practice after hours. Oh, I see, when its DARK!!!