Hello from Amherst!

[CronoZero]

Hello!

Name's Aaron, I'm a graduate student at UMass Amherst. I took the MSF course about a month ago and really liked the bike experience. Asked a random guy on campus with a black ZX-6R where he thought a good place to get riding gear was and during the conversation, he recommended signing up here for various reasons.

I'm looking to either get a 250 or my department-mate's used 600 Bandit to ride around. Not thinking track for a while (as a first time rider, getting on the Pike sounds terrifying lol), just wanting something else for commuting to/from school or visiting people in state. Hopefully I'll get a bike soon, since the season seems to be ending...Anyway, I'll probably bug people for help on how to check out that Bandit, but that's for a different forum, methinks.

Hope to meet some of you soon!

Aaron

[Dip Dungles]

Welcome aboard Aaron. Great forum to be a part of.

[Bkilm]

Welcome Aaron, while many people here may talk about and suggest the track there are also a lot of street riders. To my knowledge most of the street rides for the season are already over but you got here just in time for the winter fun. If youve got a sense of humor and a little bit of thick skin your bound to find many friendly people (note: sarcastic ass's) and have a good time here.

[gumby]

Welcome.
Many knowledgeable and experienced riders in this forum. Don't hesitate to look for guidance from fellow nesrians... you will get a lot of useful info.
You will probably find many similar threads already started if you check into it.

[j4eric]

beware of the NESR western Mass crew.....welcome.

[Kenn157]

Welcome double A ron. Rossco is our resident Bandit guy.

[Imbeek]

Welcome!

Amherst is a good place to get comfortable with riding, plenty of less traveled roads outside of town in many directions...
If you get on the west side of 91 north and west of Northampton, there are some outstanding rides.

Gary

[Lxpony]

Hello!

Name's Aaron, I'm a graduate student at UMass Amherst. I took the MSF course about a month ago and really liked the bike experience. Asked a random guy on campus with a black ZX-6R where he thought a good place to get riding gear was and during the conversation, he recommended signing up here for various reasons.

I'm looking to either get a 250 or my department-mate's used 600 Bandit to ride around. Not thinking track for a while (as a first time rider, getting on the Pike sounds terrifying lol), just wanting something else for commuting to/from school or visiting people in state. Hopefully I'll get a bike soon, since the season seems to be ending...Anyway, I'll probably bug people for help on how to check out that Bandit, but that's for a different forum, methinks.

Hope to meet some of you soon!

Aaron

I think i know the guy you met at umass with the black zx6r........kinda goofy looking with a clapped-out flat black 2007 with chicken guts on the fairings??

[EJLemo]

beware of the NESR western Mass crew.....welcome.

Welcome Aaron to NESR. The WMC CRUE! We own these Roads.

[s.coffey]

Welcome Aaron, you could go check out Valley Motorsports on N. King St. over in Northampton. Talk to Jeff behind the parts counter. I worked there for many years and he is the best to work with imo.

[ZX11D]

Welcome to the forum Aaron. Lots to learn here. #1 is ATGATT !

[EJLemo]

Welcome to the forum Aaron. Lots to learn here. #1 is ATGATT !

[TTD]

As a former UMASS grad, and current WMASS NESRian... WELCOME!

I was a Sophomore at UMASS when I got my first real street bike - a Suzuki GS400. I wish I had the resources available to me then, that you have now.

Good Luck out there, and don't fear the Pike. In fact, highways are much safer than surface streets as everyone is going the same direction.

[SwiftTone]

Welcome Aaron!.

Amherst is where the good roads begin. You're at a good location to start riding.

[GNTurbo6]

Welcome, I'm also in Amherst. I'd stay away from a Bandit 600 unless you get a really good deal or you're good at working on carbs. Helped a friend pick up an 01 for a great price but the bikes are notorious for running very lean which leads to the engine stalling on it's own or under deceleration. Also used to ride my older brother's Katana 600 and had the same issues which is no surprise since the engines are almost the same.

Valley Motorsports is a nice shop to go to for everything but inspections. If you have anything that's not completely legal you're likely to get failed. Especially flush mount blinkers... And stay away from Allpowerin Granby, they suck.

[BrianDucati]

Hey Aaron... I'm actually a 2008 grad from UMass Amherst! How are you liking it there? I'm a grad student at UNH at the moment. I actually just took the MSF course a month ago as well. How's the bike shopping going? Did you decide on the Bandit? I went back and forth on whether to go new or used for a long time. I ended up going with a Ducati Monster 696 (my girlfriend has the same bike). It's a pretty aggressive bike, but it handles really smoothly.

Hope you're having a blast in Amherst! Say hi to Antonios, Wings, and McMurphy's for me haha

--Brian