My first bike was/is a Kawasaki 636 with a power commander and exhaust.
I sat there staring at it, sitting on it, getting to know it and one day figured I would take it through the neighborhood. Jumped on it, got a feel of where the clutch engaged (sit in first with the clutch in and SLOWLY release without any throttle until the bike pulls you along). Then I added a tiny bit of throttle and was off smoothly.. Came back and parked it. I then read a few technique books and got familiar with the concepts and took it back out and looped through the neighborhood quite a few more times getting more comfortable with the shifting up and down and slow speed turns.

After about a month I left the neighborhood and went down some slighty twisty back streets that are fairly empty. I got the feeling for picking the correct entry speeds, how to feel out the apex, and throttle control.
After about the 2nd month I took the riders safety course, it was fairly easy at this point and instead of having issues with the lessons I flew right through them.

At about the 3rd month I began heading up to some fairly technical mountain roads and after a whole summer of riding them I had learned a whole lot and imporoved my riding techniques that much more.

So two years later I would say I am a fairly skilled rider, and have ZERO drops.
I am a fairly quick learner though, and most importantly I have a good amount of fear of the bike. I think that as long as you have a healthy fear of the bike it helps to make you respect it and keeps you out of some self inflicted danger.

 

Get to an MSF course as as others have said, and get some proper gear, not just a helmet, but proper gloves, boots, JACKET, etc. Be smart, and you have a fine beginners bike there, some of the quotes above are pretty ignorant with the crotch rocket, death machine sort of mentality.

Been riding since I was 15, currently my main bike is an R1.

 

Sounds like a decent plan there Mike. I still recommend the MSF course BEFORE buying the bike. I did it after as well and could have saved a lot of headaches had I taken the class before...but it was kind of an impulse buy and came across a hell of a deal.

I'm moving back to Dallas at the end of the month and it looks like I won't be able to use public transportation anymore. So I'm going to be back on a streetbike myself. No more full on sportbikes for me though. At the moment (bike choice changes daily) I'm thinking FZ6. 50mpg is very tempting in a sporty but upright package on a nice looking bike. The gixxer track bike is sold but I'm thinking an SV650 trackbike will replace it in the near future. Job, bike, house, trackbike....kindo of in that order.

Good luck and be careful around Tampa. I grew up there and whenever I return I remember how crazy those roads are there. NEED MORE LANES! Dallas was scary on the bike when I first got there with a zillion lanes everywhere you go, but now I feel claustrophobic on Tampa's streets. Have fun on the new ride!

 

I pretty much did the same thing as Moletnice. I went out and bought a '02 CBRF4i without ever riding a motorcycle before.

I just did circles around the block for about a week, then went a little farther, etc. It was a good month before I took it out on the highway. I wasn't able to get into the MSF course in the area I was living at the time, so that was out of the question. I did take the course the following spring though, and I'm very glad I did. Now I get paid to ride around on a Harley 7 months out of the year

If I had it to do over, I would have taken the course first, no question.

I sold my last crotch rocket 3 years ago ('04 R6) but I've been contemplating getting another one due to the high gas prices as well.

 

My buddy just bought an '08 CBR600RR for his first bike. You gotta live a little, IMO. As long as you're safe about it and not a complete jackass, you'll be fine. I've been riding for 15 years too. Never dropped a bike in my riding career. Never even came close, knock on wood.

 

A lot of mixed opinions on here and I do appreciate all of them. I got a great bike at an amazing deal...(07 with 700 miles for $3100 from a dealer....list price is $3850 in a private market). I took the written test for the dmv and have my "permit" so I can ride around my neighborhood legally, but I am signed up for the MSF course in a few weeks. I've had the bike almost 2 weeks now and have stayed in the confines of my neighborhood learning the little things. I got it up to 3rd gear and 30mph and figured that's enough for my residential streets. I'm taking it out onto a regular road tomorrow afternoon (sunday = slower traffic) into some back roads with little to no cars. I still have another few weeks before I feel comfortable riding in the busy streets of tampa. I honestly looked at all the high-end rockets (GSXR, CBR, R1, etc) and after some thought decided that they're not good "beginner" bikes for me. They do look great though.
BTW: That's one sweet looking bike Paul.

 

Good luck on the roads out here Mike. Nice looking bike you got there.

 

The fact that you chose a bike based on it's beginner bike status shows you have some maturity and will handle this well. It's the idiots who go out and get a liter sized sport bike that usually end up hurting. Seen it way too many times. Even seen folks who didn't make it out of the dealer parking lot on their first bike.

 

The "statistics" on the super bikes show that it's the younger guys out there with the "Hollywood" stunt man attitude. Dont let the number's scare you. Like most things it's only as dangerous as you make it! Take precautions, Helmet, Gloves, Jacket, boot's ect... You know your limits, and as long as you ease into it, give yourself time to learn the bike YOU should be fine.

Im willing to bet 50% of motorcycle accidents are caused from soccer mom's, dousche bags on cell phones, and people just not looking twice, and checking the blind spots.

Always leave yourself an escape route, and dont let yourself get into one of those sticky situations. Bike vs Car..... You'll loose everytime!

Just my .02 and it's allowed me to be safe/sound for 5yrs here in the Memphis area!

Nice Bike! I just sold my GSXR 1000 about 3 months ago! Looking into a cruiser bike now.

Congrats on the purchase!! Just dont forget about your truck! It has feelings too!!

LOL
TOm

 

Smart move.

 

I havent seen it mentioned yet (maybe I missed it) but have you invested in some good gear?
I've seen plenty of slow speed get offs with teh wrong gear turn into skin graphs, full body scabs, etc etc.
Concrete is no joke when you hit it, and jeans alone will disappear like a wet napkin once you hit.
I would invest in some boots (anything but tennis shoes), riding pants with padding (even the riding jeans with protective weaving), some protective jacket (I prefer leather but FL is fairly hot for it), and good gloves...

If you already have it, thats great.

 

Heed all the warnings mentioned so far. Nice bike, drive safe.
Two clubs of bike rider, "been down" and "going down". It's the odds.

 

I've got a Harley Sportster which gets around 45 mpg and everyone has given some good advice. Taking the class was a very good learning experience for me as it will be for you and anyone else thinking of riding. When I first started I would ride with a couple of experienced buddies and that helped a lot as well because they'll watch your back and 3 bikes is more noticeable than one. Good tip is when you're at a stop light and a car is coming up behind you is to flash your brake lights because sometimes people just don't see you so always have your bike in gear at lights just in case you need to go. I put mine in neutral once the car behind me has stopped which may not be the best idea but at long stop lights it can get cramping to have the clutch in the entire time.

 

No wonder rice is expensive!

 

The stats are out there and most people have laid their bike down sometime or the other. I've already laid it down once, but thankfully it was at less than one mph. I came into my garage to park it, but was at an angle to get past my fiance's car that was parked to close. When I turned the front wheel and pressed the brakes the sealed floor was too slick for the tires to handle and down I went. No scratches on the bike though and no damage to me either! A good learning experience at a fair price of only my pride getting hurt (and my fiance` laughing at me after realizing I was okay). As for safety gear, I do plan on getting the gloves and jacket. Florida is HOT, but I'd rather sweat and live than be cool and dead on the road. I don't think I am doing the motorcycle pants though. I'm using the bike mainly to get to and from work and have a uniform I must wear. Hopefully this isn't a mistake.