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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 30th, 2023

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  • If I’d known that Kawasaki made a black and gold Z900RS with a racing-style quarter fairing straight from the factory, I’d very likely have bought one instead of my Aprilia. The couple hundred $ it costs over the Ducati will be made up for by maintenance costs within the first year of ownership unless you’re willing to do the cam belts and Desmo valve adjustment on the Ducati yourself (hint: it’s a pain in the ass). They’re both going to be fun and look great, albeit with very different characters; it really comes down to whether the Ducati’s inherently Italian cost of ownership is worth it to you.


  • Is motorcycling inherently more dangerous than driving? Yes. Can much of that danger be mitigated with education, technique, and awareness? Also yes. The single best use of your time in learning to ride would be taking an MSF course; you can learn most of the techniques they teach on your own in a parking lot, but the instruction in mindset and awareness is entirely worth it. I’ve been riding for 12 years and the lessons taught in my initial class still pop into my mind every time I get on a bike. Hyper-awareness of other drivers and road conditions is the best thing you can learn; I’ve been in three accidents in my life, two of which were caused by drivers pulling out in front of me, the third due to sand on the road surface that was invisible until I was sliding through it. In each case, proper gear and a full-face helmet saved me from major injuries.