Okay, question:
What’s the difference between 2-stroke and 4-stroke? I have limited knowledge of motorcycle engines. I assume it’s much like a 4-cylinder vs a 6-cylinder in a car. And 2-stroke and 4-stroke require different oil grades? Like 10w30 vs 10w40 in cars?
Superdude: Simply, a 4-stroke engine has an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, and an exhaust stroke. A 2-stroke engine combines the power and intake strokes, and the compression and exhaust strokes. 2-stroke engines have no valves and are lighter and cheaper than 4-stroke engines, plus they’re more powerful. On the downside, they’re not very efficient because of the combined strokes.
See http://www.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke1.htm for a complete explanation.
Oh, re: oil. 4-stroke engines have oil in the crankcase. 2-stroke engines mix the oil with the gasoline. In the olden days (and probably still for some modern applications) you had to mix the oil into the gasoline before putting the gas in the tank. My dad had an old 1964 Yamaha 80, and we’d mix a quart of 2-stroke oil into a five gallon can of gas. We’d shake the can a bit to make sure it was mixed before refueling. When I got my first bikes, a Yamaha 100 Enduro and a Yamaha 250 Enduro, they had oil injection. Oil was put into a reservoir and mixed with the gas before it got to the engine. Much easier than pre-mix.
It probably explains all of that on the page I linked, but it’s been a while since I’ve read it.
Congratulations on the bike. As other people have said, do not go around believing that this is a gentle tame motorcycle, just because it is a 350. I’ve seen them on canyon roads, and if the rider knows what he’s doing, they move. The come on hard at high rpms, so get to know your powerband. Oh, and compression braking (“downshifting”) isn’t so much an option with two-strokes.
In California, USA, and I think the States in general, it is required that motorcycle headlights come on when the ignition is turned on. It is supposed to be impossible to turn off the lights on a new motorcycle, and has been that way for several years (20 at least). Most motorcyclists go one better, and run with highbeams on during the day. Any little edge you can get…
A good list, but I would add “inattentiveness”. Your mind cannot wander, especially in city driving. Always plan your next move, always have an out, somewhere to go when everyone around you suddenly does stupid things, always pay attention. Paying attention will do wonders for your life expectancy.
And remember, motorcycling is fun!
One more thing, Superdude.
Women will* not** be impressed* with a 25 year-old Yamaha 2-stroke. You will only impress old geezer gear-heads like me and maybe my brother, and then we’ll want to talk about the “good old days” of motorcycling, further robbing you of valuable time for scoutin’ out the ladies.
Harleys get you laid, motorcycles get you home.
She said she loved me like a brother. She’s from Arkansas, hence the Joy!
I e-mailed a guy today about a 1976 Yamaha DT400 with 4,200 miles on it. Like new condition. Unfortunately, it was already sold. 
Harleys get you laid? Come on. Italian sports bikes get you laid. 
[sub]Says the Yamaha Diversion rider…[/sub]
Johnny, here in Europe, 49 cc mopeds are really popular. Some of them still use mix fuel, and most gas stations will even have a mix-fuel pump!
The high-rev power band might be a blessing as well: keep it in the low revs, and it ought to handle very tamely. Then again, four strokes are more evenly spread when it comes to torque, so a 250-500 cc four stroke might be a better starter bike, at least in theory.
As a non-motorcycle rider, my advice is much the same as Danalan’s. Assume that car drivers don’t see you and act accordingly. I remember one time I was merging on to a freeway and I felt a hard bump on my rear bumper. A second later, a motorcyclist sped past me, waving his hand (but only one finger was extended, imagine that). I swear, I checked the rear view mirrors and looked around before I changed lanes; I honestly didn’t see him. I felt very badly about that.
You’ll learn more about traffic than you ever thought you knew. Assume that wherever you are and wherever you want to go, some car wants to be in that exact spot while you are there. There’s no such thing as being too paranoid. In the past two weeks I’ve been cut off about 10 times and had I not been assuming the guy coming up next to me was going to try to get into “my” spot, I’d have been run off the road 3 times. medstar were you driving in St. Louis recently?? 
Lot of good advice here for you. Heed it, especially the safety course. Even experienced riders benefit from going to them occasionally for a refresher. They give you a good opportunity to learn and apply what you learn in a controlled area. A good helmet (I recommend full face but won’t go into that), jacket and gloves at a minimum will save you some skin.
Chicks… ah the chicks… They like the bikes, but it’s kind of like cars. Certain girls like certain bikes. Mine attracts women who wear suits, wear lots of jewelry and drive SUV’s, or Harley chicks who like to point and laugh. Your’s I’m guessing will attract the retro rave type chicks. Not an entirely bad thing:)
Welcome to the world of bikes! Be careful, learn the basics, and have fun!
What the Hell do you ride?
Go read Twist of the Wrist II, by Keith Code…it is the better book of the seriers for new riders… I would take the MSF class first, then read this book, you will learn tremendously from it. He disects common mistakes that beginning racers make(which apply to beginning street riders as well).
I have that book too (thanks, Spiny and Shayna!) and I second the recommendation.
“In my opinion, there’s nothing in this world,
Beats a '52 Vincent, and a red headed girl.” ~ Richard Thompson ~
Sigh, my bike doesn’t attract any women.
I have noticed one thing though, people tend to notice you more on a larger bike. The theory is that you are more of a threat to them, mainly how much damage you will do. I think in Motorcycle Consumer News they did a study a couple of years ago and said if you want to me noticed look like a cop.
I ride every day though DC area traffic and have few problems on my Concours, but when I would take the exs Ninja 250 out I got lots of crazy people trying to kill me. I didn’t change the way I rode and if you miss a 6’2" guy in a red riding suit on a green motorcycle then you have to be blind. I always thought I looked like a christmas tree on that thing.
Honda PC800. The uppity business type women here love it. It’s always described as pretty, classy, elegant, and once even sexy. (All while having a look in the eye that makes it quite clear that they are not talking about the owner).
Chicks who like Harleys though refer to it as a rolling port-a-potty, and a few less friendly things, (All while having a look in the eye that makes it quite clear that are are also talking about the owner).
Turbo Dog: No offense intended to you, butdamn that thing is ugly!
Ah, the Pacific Coast. Known as the Pan European in Europe.
Great cruiser, very comfortable. In fact, my riding instructor rode one during the lessons. He covered 70,000 km’s a year with it, with regular maintenance, for 3 years. Then he’ll get a new Pan European, or so he says.
But I can’t say the thing is my style, either. I’ve only riden it for a short while, so tell me, TD: does is handle, or was my assumption that this is basically a straight line cruiser correct? I found it very heavy in the turns.
Just so everyone knows, I’m still burning about missing out on that like-new 1976 Yamaha DT400.
(The ad will probably disappear soon; so if you want to see it, see it now.)
After riding my 250 Enduro, which looked identical except it had an orange tank, I really, really wanted the DT400. sigh
Johnny it’s a love/hate with this bike. No in between. People either think it’s incredible or the worst facsimile of a bike ever made. I’d call you a dick but you ride one of the very very few Yamaha’s that I ever liked and would actually buy:) I’ll try and get a better picture that actually shows a better look.
Coldfire Honestly, this was one of the strangest bikes I ever came across as far as riding. It actually handles like a dream and is a riot in twisties, but it took me two weeks to learn how to handle it. My last two bikes were a Shadow and a Silverwing. I’m used to cruisers and light tourers. I hate crotch rockets. This is a mix of the two. Below 20 mph, it is a tourer/cruiser. Above, it is a sport bike, aka countersteering is the only way to move it. I bought it from a (I swear to god) 50 year old woman who took it shopping. Her words to me were “This bike is a woman. If you nudge it just the right way, it will do anything you want. If you try and MAKE it do anything though, it will knock you on your ass”. She didn’t lie. It’s a finesse machine. It’s 640 pounds with a very low CG, so it’s not something you whip, but ask politely. When you do, it responds far better than my Shadow ever did. A dream to ride. It’s hard to explain it.
Turbo Dog: I didn’t mean to be a dick. Sorry. I think I’m actually in between on that Honda. I mean, I don’t hate it; it’s just not my style. I’d ride it before I’d ride some other bikes I could name (but won’t, as I’ll probably piss people off! 
).
I love my XJ600 Seca II. Almost 72,000 mile on it, and it’s been a good ride. Small enough to get through L.A. traffic, and quick enough to be fun. Although I’d really like more power, I’ll never get rid of this one. There are two things wrong with it: It’s used too much oil (IMO) since it was brand new (and I followed the break-in procedure assiduously), and I should have bought the yellow one (but I figured blue would attract less attention from the black-and-white painted cars).
BTW: I did own a Honda once. A well-used 1979 CX-500. I put about 30,000 miles on that one.
