New rider lessons learned and advice to other new riders

I started riding on March 7, 2020 and have ridden 1,249 KM (776 miles) so far. I bought a used 2016 Ninja 650 and took a 3-day riding course before hopping on it. Here are the lessons I have learned so far:1) Can you/should you start on a 650, is it dangerous, or should you stick with a lower CC bike as your first?The answer here is not that simple. I don't regret starting on a 650 at all. My bike is not too heavy for me, isn't so expensive that I cried when I dropped it, and goes only as fast as my hand opens the throttle. I am VERY glad a I bought a 650 because I feel like I would've gotten bored of a lower CC bike very quickly and wouldn't have been able to handle the highways and keep up with my friends as well. Yes, the bike is damn fast - but with good throttle control and maturity, it only goes as fast as I am confident taking it. I feel like I could hurt myself pretty bad on a 250 CC bike just as bad as a 650 if I rode around like a hooligan right from the start. Here is a test: if you cannot lift much at the gym, perhaps buy a smaller bike. If you still watch the fast and furious movies and think they're amazing and feel like Paul Walker, perhaps buy a smaller bike. If you have a bunch of rider friends who are pressuring you to buy a GSXR-750 as your first bike and WILL take you on dangerous roads and rides, perhaps buy a smaller bike.2) Buy a used bike as your first, and make damn sure there are frame sliders on it before you even touch it. Have the dealership or a friend install these for you before you hop on. I VERY STRONGLY considered buying a brand new SV650 DESPITE everyone online saying BUY A USED BIKE. You WILL drop your bike and it won't hurt nearly as much when it isn't brand new and cost a fraction of a new bike..3) Counter-steer, counter-steer, counter-steer, counter-steer. It takes more practice than one would think even after riding 1000+ KM. It's only now after 1000 KM that I feel more confident taking sharper turns at higher speeds because I have learned to trust that if I push the handle-bar the bike WILL turn. Body positioning, weight distribution, proper lines, etc. is all secondary to the basics of counter-steering.4) Buy a GOOD bike lock with an alarm DAY ONE and preferably buy comprehensive theft insurance. There is no bigger joy in life than hearing your loud-as-fuck bike alarm at 1 AM and seeing two thieves running away.5) Be more confident than you are, but less confident than an ass-hat. Trust your bike, trust your tires, and trust the gods of counter-steering. To become a better rider I have had to push myself beyond my comfort zone little by little and I still have lots to learn, but by being scared all the time I only hindered growth. You CAN take that turn slow at first, a little faster once you know what to expect, and the bike can actually handle beyond what you give it at first.6) Ride as if you're invisible to other drivers. NEVER ride in a car's blind spot. EVER. Either slow down so you are visible in the side-mirror and leave yourself ample space to do an emergency maneuver, or better yet speed up and pass the car if/when it is safe. Cars WILL merge into your lane (thankfully I have not been hit).7) Buy proper gear. Cars have metal frames and airbags and seat-belts. Literally the ONLY thing between you and the pavement is your gear. That being said, don't fall the trap of buying expensive gear "as expensive as you can afford it!" look at reviews (I love Ryan F9's reviews) and buy PROTECTIVE GEAR. I haven't hit the pavement yet thankfully, but I've seen a friend low-side and come out of it with nothing more than a broken pinky because he was wearing gear (full gear does not guarantee full safety but it's a hell lot better than nothing).8) Group rides are fun but over-rated (IMO). As a new rider I found myself concentrating on what other riders were doing rather than what I was doing and trying to learn more. Sticking your entire body down like a Moto-GP racer looks cool but is seriously not necessary in a city street going 60km on a massive wide turn bud. Once I got more confident I started getting back into group rides more often.9) Don't break traffic laws for the heck of it - lane-splitting where it is illegal just isn't worth it... You'll save a few minutes but is getting there faster worth the massive ticket? Going 180 in a 100 is kinda fun but having your bike impounded and license suspended will have you wishing you would've gone 120 instead and enjoyed the heck out of that. It's not even officially summer yet and one of my buddies is sitting on hands beating himself up for being an idiot while I'm out riding - funny thing is he called me a pussy for going 130 in a 100 over the intercom and aprx. 10 mins later got pulled over and had his bike impounded and license suspended.10) HAVE FUN! Ride as often as possible, the more you ride the more you learn! via /r/motorcycles https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/fxpxva/new_rider_lessons_learned_and_advice_to_other_new/?utm_source=ifttt