Seeking riding advice from you vets

[Kessen]

This has been bothering me for a a while now. Now, i recently passed MSF, i guess you could say i pretty much know the basics,now the only thing that stops me from riding is the lack of funds to buy a gs-f.

what i want to know is, when i get a bike, how should i approach it, I mean what is the best way to start riding.I guess im scared to end up crashing it by making some noob mistake.i want to fill that bag of expierience before the one with luck runs out.

[Phaedrus]

I rode (and purchased) my GS500F before I even had my licence. I didn't take the MSF. I bought the motorcycle and learned how to ride it in the parking lot of the dealer for less than 20 minutes. Then I rode home - about 45 minutes from the dealer. No gear other than my helmet. T-shirt flowing in the wind.

Advice: Don't do that  

But, all that does have a valid point. The best way to start riding is simply that - start riding. You already took your MSF so you are further than I was. Do you have any motorcycle friends? That is what I did; have one of them take you out riding. Start out slow in a low traffic area (parking lot, etc) and then move your way up. Imagine a comfort level scale and push yourself one notch further every so often. The only way to grow is to stretch your comfort level further.

Remember to get full coverage on your bike, full gear for yourself, and PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Don't try and "look cool" or ride too fast. Watch the corners, tar snakes, night riding, and rain. Avoid that stuff when you are first starting out of if you can, but ease yourself into it as you will need to learn these things to become a complete rider.

[jiggersplat]

i know how you feel.  when i first got my bike, i was pretty nervous to go out on the street even though i had already take the MSF.  

my suggestion, ride around residential areas, small roads, big parking lots, etc.  places and times when you know there won't be a lot of traffic to contend with.  do that a few times and you will start feeling more comfortable.  then venture out onto bigger roads.  i started out in a big neighborhood just around the block from mine at about 11pm one night.

if you have *responsible* riding buddies, have them lead you around.  they won't be much help, but it might make you more comfortable.  if your riding buddies are squids, you're better off alone.

[Kessen]

Do you have any motorcycle friends?

Not really, i have one friend with a 650 scooter, i rode it before i took msf, i dont think im getting anything out of it, too big, no shifting..gah i need to make some friends with some dudes with bikes

Remember to get full coverage on your bike, full gear for yourself

absolutely, im getting all geared up,and planning to wear it everytime i ride.

i know how you feel. when i first got my bike, i was pretty nervous to go out on the street even though i had already take the MSF.

yeh, i just read a post by someone on here saying he crashed due to inexpierience comin back from teh dmv after gettign his license..i dunno, i cant really afford to crash a bike ive been savin up for for this long.

[Church6360]

just out of curiosity, is there a particular reason you want a gs500 F instead on a gs500 E? they are usually cheaper, less plastic to mess up if you drop it.

just curious.

[poormanracing]

dont be afraid to do nooby mistakes....the gs is made for that  :lol:

make sure though imo:

- dont ride bike home (if you dont feel comfortable)...load it to truck or have someone bring it for you
- practice on parking lot first...our place (apt complx) got a huge parking lot...just watch out for cars
- practice on hours with not much traffic (parking lot/ street)...
- move up gradually after being comfortable...parking lot.... residential area...semi major street...busy street...freeway
- wear gear always

msf is great..i too rode 50cc scooters before the gs...1st dump was doing figure 8 in parking lot...picked it up and practiced more

im still learning  :mrgreen:

[pantablo]

start slowly, meaning on sie streets and practice in parking lots. when I first got my bike I would "commute" the 15 blocks to work all on side streets-that way the speed is slow and you get used to it. slowly buiod up to major streets and then freeways. take your time and dont get in over your head or comfort level.

you'll be a little scared when you're first getting into bigger streets and first time on the freeway but that level of being a little uncomfortable is necessary for your growth as a rider.

[Kessen]

just out of curiosity, is there a particular reason you want a gs500 F instead on a gs500 E? they are usually cheaper, less plastic to mess up if you drop it.

just curious.

Im in love with fully faired sport bikes.speaking of dropping it, im going to buy fairing protectors and put em on before i ride

[Cal Price]

Take it easy to start with, think defensive. I often say that we bikers have the most fun but the cost is that in any traffic situation we are the most vulnerable. Get Hi-Viz gear if you can but don't assume that everyone sees you, they often don't especially when they are pulling out from a side road to a bigger road, this is probably the most common "accident" that befalls bikers.

Riding with a friend or in a group can be good but don't let it get competetive, if someone wants to race, let them go.

The simple answer is just ride realy, ride where you enjoy it, keep it fun and try to avoid multi-lane highways until you are more comfortable in traffic. Practice practice and practice are the three most important things followed by practice. Get out there and enjoy.

[Church6360]

Im in love with fully faired sport bikes

in my humble opinion the gs500F is the best fully faired bike for new riders. good choice.

advice? the other board members have pretty much said it all.

my personal advice, if you get a chance play around with a small scooter in a big yard. try to do everything to see what happens, dirt is much more forgiving than pavement. experiment. enjoy.

[Kessen]

off topic, Church6360, what'd the cactuar do to you!? :dunno:  :dunno:

[Church6360]

YAY! somone actually knows what my avatar is!
the cactuar usually just escapes from me, it is symbolic of escape.
so my avatar symoblizes the idea of "no escape"

the actual logo and philosophy come from the back of a character's jacket from another Squaresoft game, "the bouncer" ( logo seen partialy at right  http://www.toysnjoys.com/music/bouncer.jpg )
the dude that wears it is all hardcore looking, the game is ok for being basically a ps2 launch title, but not anywhere near FF7's greatness.

in the end it's just a logo i really like, and it's my next tattoo.

[flyingbeagle71]

I started on a dirt bike off road.  It was a great way to learn how to handle a bike.  If you have a place to ride, it's not a bad way to start.  You can usually sell an older dirt bike for just about what you pay for it a year down the road.  

Road riding was still pretty scary in the beginning.  Lots of back roads and lots of practice.  I am still a little freaked out on the highway, but haven't ridden on them too much.  It feels like the GS is a little squirrelly and the engine is going to explode at highway speeds.  Probably just inexperience on my part...  :dunno:

[Phaedrus]

Do you have any motorcycle friends?

Not really, i have one friend with a 650 scooter, i rode it before i took msf, i dont think im getting anything out of it, too big, no shifting..gah i need to make some friends with some dudes with bikes.

Well, there are a lot of GStwin board members in southern California, right? Check out the Meet n' Greet section or the GStwin Rider Map:

http://www.frappr.com/gstwin

When you get your bike. find some local GS'er to ride with. And if you are not comfortable riding it home, maybe you could even talk one of them into riding it home for you so you can avoid high traffic areas and nix the cost of having it trucked, if that is something that bothers you.

[Jeff P]

Two things to avoid doing while you're learning:  riding at night and riding in the rain.  Both exacerbate every problem you're likely to have.  Hell I've been riding for 3 years and I still avoid doing either.  

jeff

[RVertigo]

what is the best way to start riding.

Do it just like in the MSF course...

Get on the bike and walk it...  Then find the friction zone...  Power walk...  etc.

Stay off busy streets until you're ready...  Follow what you learned from your MSF and you probably won't crash or drop it.

And don't try to ride two-up.  

[Blueknyt]

im to understand you dont have a bike yet? get a used Beater for few hundred bucks, as a noob your chances of dropping the bike are high and the last thing you want is to drop(it happens to everyone sooner or later) a new bike or one that is less then 5 years old.   put about 6 months of riding  (rideing about 3-5 days aweek) then swap up if you like.  250's,400's, and 500's are good starters. but make the First bike a cheap one, it will also give you a chance to learn how to maintain a bike

[Kessen]

im to understand you dont have a bike yet? get a used Beater for few hundred bucks, as a noob your chances of dropping the bike are high and the last thing you want is to drop(it happens to everyone sooner or later) a new bike or one that is less then 5 years old.   put about 6 months of riding  (rideing about 3-5 days aweek) then swap up if you like.  250's,400's, and 500's are good starters. but make the First bike a cheap one, it will also give you a chance to learn how to maintain a bike

hmmm, a bike thats atleast 5 years old?maybe your right man,maybe i shouldnt get a gs500f (sucks they only started fairing them 2 years ago),because im guessing i -will- drop it, thats what i was goin to buy fairing protectors.The thing is im fine with buying an older 4-600cc bike (twin) its just my only req is that it be fully faired, any ideas?or should i stick with the gs-f?

what do you guys think? :dunno:

[Phaedrus]

I still think you will be fine with a GS-F. A lot of people have started out on it and were just fine. Some total them, but most don't. Just be careful and try not to doing anything frocktarded  

[Kessen]

I still think you will be fine with a GS-F. A lot of people have started out on it and were just fine. Some total them, but most don't. Just be careful and try not to doing anything frocktarded  

really not going to do anything focktarded (lol).I mean savin up for a bike just to fock it up by being a focktard...thats just focked...