lurker no more...

[gavin]

Hey All!

I've been lurking here almost every day for better than 4mos now and in that time, thanks to the wealth of info in your posts, I bought a 2001 GS500 from a member, added case guards and a new battery, bought a lot of gear, read Hough's book, and enrolled in MSF (Nov 5, Simi Valley, CA).  The one thing I hadn't done is ride the bike, until just now.  All I can say, is YES!  What a blast!  I just rode it for a couple of hours around the neighborhood, practicing the good things, but I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time .  I can't wait to get out again.

A little back story on me (will post pics and other stuff in the appropriate threads in a few days), I've been wanting a bike since I was 7.  Every Birthday and Christmas I would circle the cheapest mini-bike in the Sears Catalog and leave it open in the bathroom for my dad to find.  "Too dangerous" was always the reply.  Eventually I gave up, and grew up, and now, at 38 and married 15 years, I decided that I don't care that it's dangerous, I want a bike!  So, I began working on my wife slowly and gently (no, not with a catalog, but close!) until she caved in on the condition that I buy good gear and be sensible.  Well, $1500 in gear later    and I was finally ready to hit the road.  And my first taste was well worth the wait! (all 31 years of it!)

Anyway, just wanted to finally introduce myself and thank you all for sharing your wisdom on this great little bike, safe riding tips, and good things in general.

Cheers!  

-Gavin

2001 GS500 (blue)
Mods:  just progressive springs (for now...)
Gear:  A* Dyno jacket and Bat pants, Sidi B1's, Arai Signet/GT, Held Profi, Draggins (in the mail)

[rizp]

Gavin,

Welcome to the fold! I lurked around for a month or so before I started actively looking for a bike. I also found mine on the forum, and must say it's been a pleasure to own.  As I'm sure you know, this board is a fantastic place to get your questions answered, and when you do accidently snap a bolt while changing your oil filter: relax, I guarantee someone has done it before  :mrgreen: , and there's all the info you need to fix that problem (and many others) just waiting on the other side of the search field.

Regards,
Riz


p.s. thank heavens for understanding wives. Mine gave in as well, and now actually enjoys riding (only when it's warm out, though  :lol:   )

p.p.s. bravo for gearing up right.

[Dima26]

Hi Gavin,

Welcome to the board and congratulations on the bike
I was in the same boat last month. I tried my bike around 1 am and was riding it with grin on my face till morning. I couldn't stop This board was very usefull for me. MSF and Hough's book are   I would also check beginnerbikes.com. That was my favorite place till I found this forum. It has many information for beginners. And good choice in gear.

Dima.

[Jenerator]

Very nice introduction - congrats on your bike and welcome to the family!

[The Buddha]

Hey Gavin, welcome to the site, GS and excellent choice on bike and gear and wife...
BTW I have the opposite problem... My son doesn't want to be on a bike... OK Fine he's twisting himself into a pretzel on chairs, floor, bed everywhere... and when I put him on the bike he wiggles and slips off... OK he's 21 months old... so maybe too young...
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

he wiggles and slips off... OK he's 21 months old... so maybe too young...
Srinath.

That's what bungee cords are for!

Gavin,
Welcome to the site. Since you've been lurking a fair bit you've probably heard me ramble on about the GS, good gear, reading some books and stuff. You've done it the sensible way and once you've got some miles under you the world is your oyster, as they say.

Congratulations.

[The Buddha]

I want my son to do this...

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2046

Just as an example...
Cool.
Srinath.

[gavin]

As I'm sure you know, this board is a fantastic place to get your questions answered, and when you do accidently snap a bolt while changing your oil filter: relax...

Thanks Riz!  Speaking of snapping bolts, I bought the stock Suzuki case guards and the bolts were not only the wrong size, but when I tried to torque the longer one to spec it snapped!  Couldn't believe it.  It was only then that I thought to check the site, and, sure enough, others were complaining about the same thing.

p.s. thank heavens for understanding wives. Mine gave in as well, and now actually enjoys riding (only when it's warm out, though  :lol:   )

Ha!  My wife's made some small noises about that too, but right now she's content to just follow me around in the car to share the fun.

-Gavin

[gavin]

I would also check beginnerbikes.com. That was my favorite place till I found this forum. It has many information for beginners.

Thanks Dima!  I found this site after reading the good reviews of the GS on beginnerbikes.com.  I highly recommend both sites too, especially to any other newbies that might be lurking.  Lots of great advice!

-Gavin

[gavin]

... and when I put him on the bike he wiggles and slips off... OK he's 21 months old... so maybe too young...

Ha!  Thanks Srinath.  I now think my Dad did it the right way.  I was thinking last night of all the dumb things we used to do as kids, and came to the conclusion that it's a miracle I made it to 38.  On the back of a mini-bike... no chance!

-Gavin

[gavin]

Welcome to the site...

Thanks Pablo!  And a special "thank you" for the nice site you have.  I've used it so far for the battery install, but plan on doing much more.  

Kudos!  

-Gavin

[john]

Thanks for stoppiong by.  Now get out  

OK OK, welcome  

[gavin]

Thanks for stoppiong by.  Now get out...

Hmm... I just made a donation.  What do you say now, big boy.  :lol:

-Gavin

[cajrovd]

Way to go Gavin & congrats!

My wife said "NO" for the longest time too. Then I told how much time I would save on my commute and how much $$ i would save on gas, and she was like, "well ok, I suppose, but you have to have all the gear and take every riding course in existence."

Now she rides too (around parking lots) and loves every minute. I keep  telling her "wear the helmet and gloves!!"

I think its either good to start riding when you're really young or old enough to suppress the inner squid. It's impossible to suppress that inner squid during the teen years. I started riding in June 04 and I'm 32. Glad I waited till I was old enough to know I'm not invincible anymore, otherwise I would be a flattened squid on some freeway.

[john]

Thanks for stoppiong by.  Now get out...

Hmm... I just made a donation.  What do you say now, big boy.  :lol:

-Gavin

[gavin]

Thanks for stoppiong by.  Now get out...

Hmm... I just made a donation.  What do you say now, big boy.  :lol:

-Gavin

Doh!  Let's see... PayPal cancellations... no... PayPal refunds... hmm...

[gavin]

My wife said "NO" for the longest time too. Then I told how much time I would save on my commute and how much $$ i would save on gas, and she was like, "well ok, I suppose, but you have to have all the gear and take every riding course in existence."

Ha!  Yeah, that worked for me too.  The 50mpg of this little bike really helped make that case (and the fact that I just bought her a new Honda CRV - bribes are good things ).

BTW, I noticed that Pablo and Kerry went on a ride on Friday.  Did you go?  I was looking to join a ride after I have 4-6mos under my belt, but I'm afraid I'd get lost in their dust.  Sure would like to hear your perspective.

-Gavin

[dufoes]

Gavin,

I recently bought my Yellow '04 F from Simi Valley Cycles there on Los Angeles Ave (I think it is). It's good to hear that someone is close to me. We will have to organize a ride sometime.

-dufoes

[pprider]

Welcome to a little place i call home lol

never ending advice and tips LOVE THIS PLACE :mrgreen:

[scratch]

Welcome, Gavin!

Good gear! Even better you listed it! hmm...

Wives that let you ride are keepers!

Best not to mess with the Mod-god, you may be deemed '38yr old whipper-snapper' faster than you think.