My GS500F/new rider impressions

[middlem2]

Most of you know a little about my story.  Never rode a bike before, took the Honda course, got my license, bought a used yellow GS500F, stored it over the winter and am now riding it. 

Alright then, what an awesome bike!  First of all, I really believe 500cc is enough.  I am almost entirely an "in town" rider in a small town of 11,000.    I'm 6'2" at 190lbs and this bike feels "just right".  Tonite I rode after work and there is nothing like riding at night.  That makes about my 20th bike ride in my life now.  I want to ride as much as I can because it is so enjoyable.  Honestly, I hope I never lose this beginners excitement I am experiencing that it seems happens to so many veteran riders. 

I have learned so many lessons already.  The Honda course taught me to protect myself, so I always always always wear my KBC helmet, Joe Rocket atomic gloves and matching jacket.  I swear I see every chopper style bike rider with absolutely no protection on!  Idiots!  I got my shoestring wrapped around the shifter on one ride......now I tuck them in.  Ya, scary.  Just today on a state highway / 65mph I accidentally hit the engine kill switch...didnt figure it out till I pulled over.....I have to pay more attention & be more careful.  I was crapping my pants!  The bike wouldnt start for a 5 day period......bought a new $85 battery fron the local dealership and guess what?  The little switches (plugs) beneath the clutch were why it woudnt start, they had come undone....the entire time the original battery was good, I must have knocked them off when wiping it down or something.  Lesson there is being more careful, know my bike better.  I have had one ride after the rain and man oh man does pavement get scary slick (no one told me to expect this) and my biggest hate/fear is crosswind, moreso than another vehicle. 

Although I have no other bike to compare it to, I believe the GS500F is an awesome starter/keeper bike.  It seems it has just the right engine, just the right weight, just the right form, performance, and handling for anyone.  I'm so glad I found this forum because it is such a great learning tool!  Thanks!

[pantablo]

I am very happy for you. that first ride(s) excitement is awesome and it doesnt go away if you always try to learn something-better lines, vision, technique. Congratulations and keep riding!

[ukchickenlover]

If you just ride in town then you will never need more power the gs has plenty for this. I have a cbr600 now but still don't think the gs was ever slow.
Have fun on your bike, NOTHING compares to the feeling you get. I have had a few flying lessons and even that doesn't compare to how I feel when riding my bike.

[domas]

Power is a very relative thing. So all who say that GS is underpowered have ridden much more powerfull bikes. GS is a rocket for me I use it in town and while not exceeding 75 mph (legal limit 35) acceleration is more than enough

[galahs]

Welcome to the GS club mate!


Riding in the wet for the first time is damn scarey I agree.

My advice, take all cornering slow until you have a better understanding of countersteering. Don't know what that is... do a Google search 

[3imo]

welcome!!

I am glad there are others as smitten as I.   I just love my GS's. 

crosswinds and rain will be less frightful with experience. but I don't think we ever really lose that "beginners" excitement.
IMO it's what drives us to go through the hassle of putting on the gear and messing up our hair. 

It may change but it doesn't go away. 

good write up. 

[scratch]

Welcome!

Riding after a rain exposes bad or abrubt steering and throttle inputs, another great learning tool.

[galahs]

Riding in the rain has given me better appreciation of what traction really is like when I'm behind the wheel of a cager in the wet.

[3imo]

Riding after a rain exposes bad or abrubt steering and throttle inputs, another great learning tool.

That's kinda funny, Scratch.  I know it's true but funny nonetheless.

[My Name Is Dave]

I was scared to death of the rain until Scratch essentially walked me through all the things to keep in mind when riding in it, and now weather isn't a factor for me, assuming it's above the freezing point. Weight the outside peg, lean more with your body to keep your bike as upright as possible, take turns slow, avoid grates and painted lines, and so on. With practice you'll adjust between dry and wet riding without even thinking about it. Like with sex. That was terrible...

Anyways, after a year the excitement is greater than it was at first for me. I know some awesome roads and I know how to ride them now, so it will only get better.

One thing that I'm noticing is that my back gets tight and sore after doing rides over 100 miles. The only reason I say this is that we have similar dimensions. I don't know if it's the way I position my body (I try to sit my ass as far back as possible and lean forward) or just the way my body fits the bike, but I thought I'd let you know.

And there's no shortage of power, so get out there and enjoy it!

Dave

[scratch]

Back issues:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=4505.msg36039#msg36039
and
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=11616.msg97344#msg97344
Maybe you'll want to scoot forward so that you are more upright.  I'm hugging the tank when it rains now, to get my weight over the front tire; I'm still sliding the front.  But, still slide all the way back when going downhill, and pinch that tank with your knees!  Get your weight off the bars!  Maybe I should go back to a /80 series front tire...I'm musing.

[My Name Is Dave]

Hey Scratch, I originally ignored your links because I thought that you were saying "back issues" as in old posts pertaining to this topic. Like with old magazines, you know what I mean? Stupid. I'll check those out right now...

Oh, and the back issues I speak of are in general, not on rainy days only. Last friday after work I rode 120 miles on a loop by a resevoir (simply amazing) and had to take a few breaks to ease the back up as I was almost home. The rest of the night at the bar, my back was tight.

That may be covered in those links though. I'm going in...

[RVertigo]

Yellow!  YAY!!!   

I highly suggest taking the GS through the training exercises you learned...

And have fun!

[mike_mike]

I'm still breaking in my brand new GS. I find the bike to be very predictable, which is nice for learning. You can focus on your form and not have to worry about the machine being too powerful... that said, the GS will corner with the best of bikes so while it may not be super powerful, it still would like you to be smooth with your throttle and break inputs. At least that's my impression so far.

[EDub]

I remember the first ride i took on the gs.  It was a test drive at the dealership.  As soon as i got on the highway i ripped the throttle.  Until that point i had never experienced that type of acceleration.  I thought my face was gunna melt off from the g forces. quite a rush 

[roguegeek]

I'm with Pablo on this one. It's been almost 2 years since I started riding. Within that time I've hard the chance to ride several other bikes and I still get an absolute thrill on my GS. I give credit to the fact that no matter what the machine is, I'm simply always trying to learn something new or something very well. Constant rider education, technique practice, and proper execution are what brings me back for more every time. I can't see myself ever knowing everything so there's an infinite amount of untapped value there for me.

[middlem2]

I have to tell you about yesterday, here in Ohio.........the weather was 77 degrees with little to no wind........I rode for 3 hours yesterday.  It was a great day.

I hit 100mph on a little traveled road that is pretty flat and straight.....next thing I know I hear this noise and a GSX-R is flying past me (I'm doing 100) and he's pulling a wheelie!  I was impressed, but I'm not doing that....too much to live for.  How insane that moment was though!  Man, oh man!

Also ran into gravel turning off a road onto another.  I have heard lots about people dumping their bike and blaming gravel or loose stone....while I was only doing about 25 when I turned, it felt like I was hydroplaning across it, there is really no other way to describe the way it felt.  Didnt like it, but now I know and will definitely slow down as much as possible before hitting it next time.

Bike goes back to painter (earlier thread) Sunday and I'm going to miss her pretty bad.  In the meantime though, we are really enjoying each others company! 

Galahs, I have a question for you...over here people call the sport bike "rice rocket", is there something they are referred to over there in your neck of the woods?

[galahs]

Rice Rocket, Crotch Rocket, Jap Crap, Plastic Fantastic


just the usual. We've become all Americanised over here. 

[middlem2]

Drove it to the paint guys place yesterday.  My wife followed me so I would have a ride home.  Only thing she didnt like was the turnsignals, the fact that these are aftermarket and very close to the bike body, she couldnt see them blinking.  That brings up another thing I would like to improve on.......does anyone know if or how to make the turnsignaler switch automatically turn off, say after a certain amount of time.......

[aaronstj]

I don't know about making the blinkers turn off (would be helpful, I'm constantly forgetting them), but there is a little device called the Blinker Buddy.  As I understand it, it's a little virbator under the seat that goes when the blinker is on.  Seems like a pretty good idea, but I've never used one.