I don’t have first hand knowledge. I’ve heard the printed manuals are not great but that their online versions are good.

I’ve generally preferred buying the manufacturer’s manual even though they’re relatively expensive. Honda’s manuals and their Common Service manual in particular were excellent. KTM’s is just okay, disappointing after coming from Honda’s and BMW’s manuals, at least it gets the wiring diagram and torque specs right.

I’ve had mixed experience with Haynes and Clymer. They’re better than nothing but the photos are not so good, they rarely cover differences between years, and make a lot of assumptions.

I just read the specs and there is an SD slot.

Whoops, that’s what I get for posting while sick… https://unfinished.bike/bmw-ce-04-the-suit-and-tie-rocket-ship

I hear you. Taking the course again isn’t a bad idea, skills you don’t practice don’t get ingrained and those that are get rusty.

As far as confidence, I’ll let you in on a secret… I feel a little anxious before almost every ride and I’ve been riding since the 1980’s. I have a routine of safety checking the bike and my gear before each ride that settles me, it doesn’t take long. More than once I’ve cut short a solo ride or bailed out on a group because I wasn’t focused or feeling it (rule #1, ride your own ride). I wouldn’t worry about it.

Good on you for taking the course, you’ll do fine.

I took what was at the time the MSF BRC, basic rider course, after getting my license and riding for a year. I still do annual parking lot practice (turns, emergency braking) on my own to keep my skills fresh.

I took a 100+ mile loop hitting some easy backroads in the Mid-Hudson Valley. How about you?

DE:MD was great, I really hoped for them to finish the story. With all the horse-trading of the companies and IP, who knows if we’ll ever see one.

I had no idea. I’m still on 7.0.x, I didn’t even realize they were sold. It only has permissions for media and files.

My OnePlus 6t swelled and split in a year. OnePlus said it was unrepairable (it still worked) and offered me $50 toward an upgrade.

Replaced it with a Pixel.

Check Revzilla…

I’ll be honest, I like the Fox Creeks I have but you can find gloves for less. I rode with a pair of deerskin ropers from a Western store for years. Any good pair of goat, deer, or elk skin gloves will last a long time and give good abrasion protection (as long as they stay on, look for a strap, I’ve crash tested what was at the time a $50 pair and they and I survived).

Gloves like these:

• https://www.aerostich.com/clothing/elkskin-roper-gloves-black.html
• https://sullivanglove.com/products/deerskin-roper?variant=32810630480005
• https://www.oldtradingpost.com/geier-dress-work-gloves-c-558_512/western-elk-hide-medium-to-heavyweight-work-gloves-p-9255.html

Have you looked at Fox Creek Leather? I have a pair of their (discontinued, it was designed like the cuffed Maverick but had a velcro strap around the wrist for extra retention) gloves and they still look good after twelve years, though a seam is starting to open after a get off a few years ago.

That bike has, what, 2.1 gallon tank? So 80-100 mile range depending on right wrist.

Hit up a camping store for an MSR bottle?

Givi makes a bottle that doesn’t look like you’re headed to the KOA.

Admittedly pricey but convenient Giant Loop sells Armadillo Bags.

Great, glad it helped.

So in that budget, maybe look at closeouts:

• Revzilla “RSD Johnny Jacket” Sure looks good, waxed cotton and leather so a bit warmer than mesh but has armor.
• Revzilla “Dainese Air Tourer”
• Search link on Motorcycle Closeouts

Another angle is to get an inexpensive jacket with no, unrated, or minimal armor. Consider it just better than disposable and priced that way (Joe Rocket is in this category but their stuff is sport and urban styled). Then get an armored sleeve or shirt. Basically pick parts. I used to do this, wearing a motocross pressure shirt (like this one, this or this ) under a cordura jacket.

I’m in the adv/touring crowd but I’ll try to come up with brands that might work on a classically styled v-twin…

There’s Motoport which cuts to any size and customizes though they’re probably missing the “break the wallet” part. I know folks with them and they like the jackets, even having crashed them. Those look like very much like motorcycle jackets though if you call they’ll add or delete things, the Air Mesh jacket is more subtle but less cruiser. Belstaff waxed cotton looks great and is lighter than leather (and their mc jackets have CE armor) though heavier than mesh maybe out of budget. That’s probably true for Merlin’s line up, too, but a little more affordable.

Vanson’s Baja is a variation on that Belstaff look in mesh, probably also close to breaking the bank, I’ve seen it in person and it looks good but it wouldn’t be mistaken for a casual jacket.

I can recommend Rev’It personally and they have some traditionally styled textile gear (the “trucker” jacket is nicely styled and has armor though I haven’t seen it in person) but the cut of their gear is definitely European/slim. I can also personally recommend Klim’s gear and it doesn’t all look Adv, for example the Marrakesh looks casual but has armor. I used to have some Alpinestars gear (I have a pair of their boots now, excellent) and it was uniformly good, I don’t know if any of their stuff has a suitable look for a cruiser now.

Great intro story @hobbsc@lemmy.sdf.org. I’d count the Ruckus, I rode mopeds then scooters (Puch, Suzuki, Yamaha) before getting my first motorcycle, a very used Honda CB360T.

Motorcycle culture can be weird with all kinds of gatekeeping and cosplaying. The cruiser riders around here are mostly nice enough (we have a HD dealership) but there’s a lot of brand hoorah along with a of lack skills and gear (also a noon 20 mile wobbly parade to a diner isn’t much fun).

As someone who has played thousands of games of Shattered with >600 games just on my most recent phone (108 of those ascended) and has ascended with all the sub-classes… git gu… no, no, no, ask questions. Some of the mechanics are kind of subtle and exploiting them can take thought. I personally find the Huntress/Warden the easiest (because the spirit bow has unlimited ammo letting you sell off thrown weapons and the free seeds and dew drops can keep you alive).

I swear I’ve seen that one before. I love how the competent riders survey that mess and continue.

I wouldn’t be too concerned but if I did run wiring internally, I’d cover it with wrap-around sleeving (link to McMaster-Carr but there’s lots of sources) and put a self-fusing tape wrap at each end and one in the middle to keep it closed.

Outside? Small zip ties, trimmed neatly. If you’re really worried about it, a wrap of self-fusing tape or sleeving around the wiring before securing it with the zip tie.

In thirty-odd years of motorcycling I’ve had one abraded wire and it wasn’t internal or at a zip tie, it was where the cable for a heated grip rubbed against a flexible bit of body panel exposing copper and I caught that before it failed.

I just realized it’s also Juneteenth that day and won’t be riding to work (but will have a day to ride…).