beginner rider, Vulcan 500

[GeorgiaRider]

Welcome. You'll love the 500. Once you get more familiar with it you'll notice that it likes to run at higher rpm's than a standard engine due to the sport bike design.

[rusty_is_riding4life]

Hi Bzan, I agree with everything else that has been said here, so I'll just leave you with one safty tip that I think is very important and should keep you upright and riding safe and sound. KEEP FIVE TO TEN OR MORE CAR LENGTHS from you and the vehicle in front of you. Alot of new riders tend to tailgate or ride one or two car lengths behind as a carry over habit from driving in thier cars.

Your main danger is not rear ending as a bike can out brake almost any car, but rather flying debris from the car in front of you. Especialy since you are on such light (yet great first) bike, you are more vunerable to lets say a full 2gal gas can falling off a truck than a 15 16 or 2000 cc machine which could go through it.

Scan far ahead, scan the coners and scan some more, and keep your distance, and youll be just fine. Good luck and good riding!

[GeorgiaRider]

Ditto what Pappyman and others said. Spend a lot of time exploring back roads, practicing manuevers in parking lots, practice emergency braking, etc. Proficient Motorcycling is great too.