Friday, 2-20-2004: I was going to until the weekend to break the bike in, but it was (relatively) warm, at about 45°, when I headed out to work today. I took the car to get gas, took some pictures of the Ninja, and headed in.

Virgin pipe	Virgin Odometer	Lights, please

Within eight miles my wrists were hurting; I think the clip-ons will help, as it was a bar-angle problem. I only stalled it twice, fortunately nobody was looking. It's definitely a keeper. Here's what I think after 25 miles.

What I expected:

• It's very light.
• It's very small.
• The seat slopes you down onto the gas tank
• The 9 had better wind protection.
• The 4,000 rpm break-in restriction limits you to 47 mph!

What I didn't expect:

• I had forgotten what a new bike smells like.
• I don't think I'll miss the power of the 9.
• The brakes didn't surprise me. (But I'm still bedding them in.)
• How quickly it transitions from side to side.