newbie coming in for a landing

[tank_girl]

i've been interested in getting a bike for the last ten years or so.  you know, after high school most girls surrendered the dream for a pony.  i just upgraded to a dream of a steel horse.  a couple years later i met a seasoned harley man and we cruised around for awhile.  i was hooked.  my problem: where the f{}@% do i come up with the 12K+ to land the bike i wanted.  then there were height issues and what if i dumped the bike would i ever get it vertical again?

so, my sister known to you as http://gstwins.com/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3876 la femme geek recently had her first ride and that just brought up all my recollections of the amazing adventure to be had on two wheels.

that said, i'm here to take a gander at any useful info on the GS twin, which i've heard a great deal of positive feedback on; especially in the case of a new rider.  i hope to buy next year, as long as my current contract goes permanent.

insert irish blessing here:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
etc.

[RedShift]

You've got a lot of note to draw comment on, but I want to start with:

... then there were height issues and what if i dumped the bike would i ever get it vertical again?...

Where there's a will there's a way.  Click on this link to Skert's Picking up a Dropped Bike page.

The videos at the bottom are particularly useful to understand the technique.
----------------
There's lots to draw a (new, young, returning, whatever) rider to the GS500.  Two quick points to ponder:

• Your first bike doesn't have to be your last bike, and
• bigger is not necessarily better.[/list:u]PS. the Irish blessing might go well with the ending:
  
  ... and keep the rubber-side down.

[Cal Price]

Yes, that technique actually works. I am at the other (wrong) end of the age scale and when I found some twat had shoved both my bikes over a couple of days back, GS on the RH side and XS on the left I got them up without too much bother. The trick is to keep calm, a dropped bike leaking some fluids can look very alarming but taking time to assess the situation and remember the drill is time well spent, once a bike is over another minute is not likely to be critical.

Once up look for any obvious damage, downside levers and turn signal, engine casing etc. If its safe try and start her, you may have problems because of what may have happended to fuel in the carbs. Wait a little while, try again using petcock in PRIme position if required, once going put it back to "ON" (or "RES"if that where it was) It ain't magic just nouse.

[starwalt]

Welcome TGirl! You should start looking for the first available MSF beginners course. RVertigo will be along in a while to preach the word with vigor, so just steal his thunder!

There were 18 people in my MSF class. 14 were women, 20 to 50 years old. They were tired of riding on the back of a bike and putting their fate in the hands of someone else. "If he wants to act a fool and get killed, he ain't taking me with him", was a common comment.

The bikes in an MSF class are seriously "wimpy" as compared to the Harley you've experienced. The goal is to educate the rider and give you the basic skills that you PRACTICE. If you want speed, the track (or way out in the desert) is the place for that.

Like dancing, you want to be able to naturally react with a skill. In a bad situation, you won't have time to think about it.

The GS is very plentiful, well supported, and fairly cheap to maintain. You can do worse for a first bike. (Read that as NO GIXXER...yet)

GEAR. BUY IT. WEAR IT. Just ask Lil' Brat about it.

[gsmetal]

There's a great book called Idoit's Guide to Motorcycles which can give you a good overview you can read at your leisure -nice to do over the winter. It's probably at your library.

Everybody is goo goo gaa gaa over the MSF course and while I think it's better than nothing, I have taught plenty of people how to ride who have taken the course (and passed it!) and really didn't know what the heck they were doing. The problem with the MSF course is there is no 'one on one' attention that you need and it all takes place in a parking lot so the street skills you need are left up to you to discover.

I talked to one instructor and he admitted "Yup, they are lisenced to drive in a parking lot."

Motorcycling is a great thing and it's the one thing I really am glad I picked up early in life.

[Jake D]

MSF has its benefits.  There were a couple of people that took the course with me that had never used a clutch before, even in a car.  By the end of the week they were geeked up about riding motorcycles on the street with cars around them.  You can progress a lot.

Then get a cheap GS, some gear, and practice on your own.

Welcome to the forum!  You'll love it here.

[pantablo]

...so, my sister known to you as  la femme geek recently had her first ride

sisters! oh this is going to be good...


Welcome tank_girl! I'd write more but for the broken collarbone...more later... :kiss:

[Roadstergal]

Ja, MSF is good as a basis for further training.  Above and beyond that, I've found track days invaluable.  I've also found gear invaluable.  Budget for gear when you're looking at bikes and cost.  Any part of your body that is not covered with good motorcycle gear is the part that you wouldn't mind losing the next time you're out.

[pandy]

Welcome, tank!  












And BAD Pablo!!  :lol:  :lol:

[The Buddha]

Welcome tank girl ... and a GS is over rated as a beginner bike ... OK fine if you must have a sporty beginner bike OK it is the best ... cruiser beginner bikes ... loooooong list ...
Virago 535, 500 vulcan and its predecessor the 454, 450 rebel, savage 650, and many more ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[RVertigo]

First...  Bikes are WAY better than ponies.   :mrgreen:

Second...  12K for a bike?  You're out of your mind!!  How will you feel when you drop your 12K bike and need to spend 3K repairing it, only to drop it again a few months later?

Screw that!!!!


Get a used naked bike.  GS500 pre-'03...  No fairing to crack...

Then when you drop it, it won't matter so much...  After a few years of riding, you can think about getting your 12K bike...  (Which I still think is silly...  My dream bike is only 8K).

[TheGoodGuy]

Welcome..  

[Jake D]

I can't believe you slipped the second "Welcome. . ." in there before they locked the other thread.  

You ham.   :lol:

[RVertigo]

He's gotta keep that post count up...   :nana:

[Jake D]

You blew by me in the department, RT.    :lol:

[RVertigo]

Yeah...  In no time.  I have no defence...  I'm just a PW.   :dunno:

[scratch]

Welcome!

[Scorpio65]

First...  Bikes are WAY better than ponies.   :mrgreen:

Second...  12K for a bike?  You're out of your mind!!  How will you feel when you drop your 12K bike and need to spend 3K repairing it, only to drop it again a few months later?

Screw that!!!!
.

I don't know about that,   I don't have to worry about dropping my horses..  

[natedawg120]

Welcome Tank_Girl.  Good place for questions on just about anything.  



Pandy, it looks like you are seeking you cat on the cameraman...I like it  :lol:  :lol:

[Alphamazing]

Howdy! Welcome to the board! There's a lot of stuff here, and the GS is a blast to ride. You'll love it.