Eagerly awaiting my first bike. (my excited ramblings)

[leo]

I see tons of these threads so I figured I'll start my own too.  

I'm a newb. I learned how to ride years ago on Savage. I have maybe 50 miles of ridding under my belt.

I think I'm down to two choices a GS500F or a GSXR-1000.  I know what you guys are going to say, that a 500 is not enough for a man like me. And I totally agree with you, so don't take this wrong when I say I think I'm going with the 500 based purely on looks. (oops forgot to put my sarcastic smilie.

Anyways I want to thank you people on here for a lot of valuable research material I've gathered over the past couple of weeks or so. I remember lurking here a couple of years ago, but I never pulled the trigger. I know I'm serious this time since I've already paid up for the MSF course next month and I can't wait.

I really want to wait until the course to buy my bike, but I don't know if I have the will power. I already inquired to see how much insurance is going to cost me. I was approved for my bike loan. I've gone to 5 different shops trying on the same jackets and helmets and sitting on the same bikes.

I still have tons of questions, but first I need to figure out exactly what they are.

I do have one quick one for now concerning jackets. From my research it's obvious that leather is superior to mesh. But what is not so obvious is that if I don't exceed 45-50, will a mesh jacket suffice or will leather still beat it. It's kinda hot here (well the South Bay, Ca so maybe not that hot) and while I learn I figured I could get a mesh jacket for easy cruising to work and back and weekend practice. I figure once it starts to cool down I will get a leather jacket and start hitting the freeway. Or is that just a waste of money and just go with the leather? I'm think I'm leaning towards leather right now.

Oh yeah, I tend to ramble if you haven't noticed.

[97gs500e]

I think I'm down to two choices a GS500F or a GSXR-1000.

Apples and Oranges.

Your not ready for a gixxer.
Get a GS, put a couple thousand miles on it.

[cheesy]

im thinking about learning how to fly airplanes... you know... i flew in a gulfstream as a guest a year or so ago... so i was thinking I'm down to two choices... a 747 or a cessna..  I know what you guys are going to say....  a cessna is way too big for a man like me... so start with the 747.

[goat]

Any jacket is better than no jacket. Get gloves, too. I would reccomend getting some riding pants, but they aren't as important as the gloves, jacket and helmet.

Leather and textiles each have their advantages. While leather does hold up better to abrasion, a lot of the textile gear is waterproof. Also, if you take long trips with mesh gear, you can get dehydrated from all the air running past your skin.

Personally, I wear leathers. When it gets really hot, I do still wear textile pants but I always wear my leather gloves and jacket. Get something that is comfortable so that you will wear it. If you think that you will skip wearing the leather jacket when it gets warm out, get a mesh jacket. Whatever advantage leather has over textiles is lost if you're not wearing it.

Good to hear you're taking the MSF course. I learned a lot from it.

As far as your choice of bike goes... if you're too much of a man to have anything less than a gixxer 1000 as your first bike, don't bother getting riding pants. They don't make motorcycle gear that could possibly contain testicles that large. Chaps might work, though. Just be careful not to burn yourself on the engine.

[leo]

oops forgot to put my sarcastic smilie in my original post. i am not considering a 1000 by any stretch of the imagination.

[pandy]

I'm betting that humour's not your strong suit, 97gs   .

Well, I got it, and it was good! Congrats on signing up for the MSF.

I know it was a tough choice between the GS500 and the litre gixxer, but hopefully you'll not reqret the choice. Heck, the GS goes almost as fast as the gixxer, right!?

And sexy!? We know that the GS500 wins hands down!! w00t!

I'll let someone who's more of an expert answer your jacket question (I wear mesh right now, but I'm a pretty mild rider).

pandy  

I think I'm down to two choices a GS500F or a GSXR-1000.

Apples and Oranges.

Your not ready for a gixxer.
Get a GS, put a couple thousand miles on it.

[goat]

oops forgot to put my sarcastic smilie in my original post. i am not considering a 1000 by any stretch of the imagination.

Wasn't sure if you were screwing with us or not. I kinda guessed you were, since most people taking an MSF course aren't the type to go out and buy a litre sportbike.

Welcome, and enjoy the gs. Its a wonderful bike.

[leo]

Yeah I screwed up the joke, I could have done it better.

Thanks for the welcome.

At this point, thanks to this forum, I'm getting all the gear except the pants. I'm really struggling with that one. I just don't know if I can do all that for a 5 mile commute to work during traffic and going slow. I've already tried on gloves and even boots this weekend.

I think I might get some of the draggin jeans or were some of those knee pads underneath my jeans.

I'm trying to wait to find a used 04 but,  since my criteria is so limited to that model it's not that easy. I'll probably just get an 05 instead.

[pantablo]

Yeah I screwed up the joke, I could have done it better.

nah, I got it too. Witty, this one...

get perforated leather. better than mesh and you can just buy one jacket now instead of one now and another later.

for a 5 mile commute just buy textile overpants. much better than draggin jeans...by a long shot.

but if you do anything more than just a 5 mile commute you should eventually invest in leather pants too. the kind that will zip together with your leather jacket...

and welcome!

[scratch]

Leo, welcome!

You're from the bay area, too, eh? Then you're familiar with the weather, but are you familiar with it on a bike? That will influence the gear that you buy. If you're a fair weather rider than it would be best to just get the one leather jacket, instead of having to buy the mesh now and the leather later. Many leather jackets have zippered vents or are perforated and have zip-out liners for the summer; I have a TourMaster Cortech Coaster Air, fully perforated, but I leave in the liner in the cool of the mornings right now.

At least get a pair of Fieldsheer Carbolex overpants, they're only $50, and you can buy/order them from Santa Clara Cycle Accessories (408-730-0600). See here: http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11184&highlight=crash

Also, regarding choice of bike, for the type of roads we have here (Hwy9, 84, Calaveras, 152, Old San Jose/Soquel Road) which are very technical, tight twisties, I suggest the GS over the G1k for it's cornering abilities. I routinely lead group rides with 955i's, YZF600's, VFR800's and the occational Aprilia, and am always looking for these guys in my mirrors.

[Roadstergal]

nah, I got it too. Witty, this one...

I'm a newb. I learned how to ride years ago on Savage.

I had a Savage, too.  You'll love the GS.

I found that I didn't like overpants, so I wear textile or leather motorcycle pants (depending on the weather), and carry my regular bottom-wear with me to where I'm going. I keep a couple of pairs of jeans at work, and rotate them out.  I have a couple of sets of gear - mesh for hot weather, leather for whenever the weather is in the range to stand it, and waterproof gear with a removeable thermal lining for wet/cold weather.

[Stephen072774]

Welcome...

Pablo is right on about the gear, stay away from the draggin jeans...

[jen_]

nOOB power!!
rock on!

I'm a nOOb too...well, less than a noob since I also don't have a bike yet!

I did the MSF class last week, and am just waiting on paperwork and paychecks. This is my first motorcycle, and I can't wait!  Really, I think about it like every 5 minutes...it's very distracting!

[Roadstergal]

Really, I think about it like every 5 minutes...it's very distracting!

Wasn't there a study where they said you think about sex every 30 seconds?  When sex and biking reach parity, you'll know new levels of "distracting."

[Jazzzzz]

Really, I think about it like every 5 minutes...it's very distracting!

Wasn't there a study where they said you think about sex every 30 seconds?  When sex and biking reach parity, you'll know new levels of "distracting."

I thought it was mostly men that thought about sex every 30 seconds, on average.  If women do too, I am apparently married to the wrong kind of woman  :mrgreen:

[leo]

Really, I think about it like every 5 minutes...it's very distracting!

Wasn't there a study where they said you think about sex every 30 seconds?  When sex and biking reach parity, you'll know new levels of "distracting."

LOL!!

Thanks for the input all. Okay at this point draggin jeans are out. More than likely I'll go with the textile overpants and if those are in fact uncomfortable I'll get some textile pants for work, but for any freeway driving then leather will be it. My job is pretty cool and I can easily keep extra pants and shoes here. So that shouldn't be a problem.

Also I think I'm leaning towards a leather jacket. When I meant the South Bay I meant Los Angeles. I live close to the beach and it's a heat wave if the temps hit 85. At that point the streets are lined with beach people gasping for air like in Total Recal. Yeah, we are little spoiled I guess. I know when it hits 90 I feel as if the end of the world is near.

I can't tell exactly if I'm going to be a fair weather rider or not. I'm going to have to wait and see, but I don't think I will be. Besides it doesn't  really get cold here. I don't see myself riding in the rain though. I did that  once going to school and it sucked. I was wearing jeans, some windbreaker and regular shoes. I was a total squid when I learned. I was pouring wet and due to my inexperience the back end of the bike kept on getting loose on me. I almost ate it three times.

Yep noob power rocks.

[The Buddha]

OK Noob's OK here is a bit of serious advice ...
Do not buy a GSXR 1000 as a starter bike ... Its got lots of distracting plastic and insurance is high and its twichy handling etc make serious trouble for noobie boobies ... and besides as you start saying and hearing it ... GSXR 1000 - you'd soon get afraid of that whole G...S...X...R... One.... THOUSANDDDDD ...... IMHO ... you'rEs may be different ...
I just think the New ZX 10 is a much better choice ... Its much smaller ... see its 10 not THOUSANDDDDD .... and ZX ... also not as much a mouth ful as G...S...X...R... OK so there ... besides the GSXR is also down on power this year ...  :lol: ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[leo]

Sounds like sound reasoning and logic to me. I'm sold.

[Slavik]

as far as gear goes............i have JR alter ego, and JR phoenix pants, and to me it's a great combo.......alter ego could be turned into mash or fully covered textile (which also has some vents if you need something in between).....search ebay for deals.....mash should have good enough protection, although each fall is different from the other....if you can afford it, jr also carries super ego, which is the same idea as alter ego but in leather....both of these jackets have lots of adjusters straps, so you get an awsome fit every time  Also, the jacket and pants could be zipped together, making it feel even better

in any case, thats my recomendation......i paid about 250 for pant/jacket combo, and I love it  

[pandy]

Then wouldn't it make sense to go with an R1??? Much less letters, and it only has a 1 in it. It's obviously the safest beginner ride out there!!

See! I have my thinking cap on today!!  :lol:

pandy  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:

OK Noob's OK here is a bit of serious advice ...
Do not buy a GSXR 1000 as a starter bike ... Its got lots of distracting plastic and insurance is high and its twichy handling etc make serious trouble for noobie boobies ... and besides as you start saying and hearing it ... GSXR 1000 - you'd soon get afraid of that whole G...S...X...R... One.... THOUSANDDDDD ...... IMHO ... you'rEs may be different ...
I just think the New ZX 10 is a much better choice ... Its much smaller ... see its 10 not THOUSANDDDDD .... and ZX ... also not as much a mouth ful as G...S...X...R... OK so there ... besides the GSXR is also down on power this year ...  :lol: ...
Cool.
Srinath.