Had my first REAL riding test today

[notAdub]

OK, I am a straight up newbie, for those that don't know, I passeed my MSF course this May, and bought my first bike (2000 GS500e) a few weeks ago. So far I have put about 500 miles on it.

Yesterday I decided I would take it to work, since one of the reasons I wanted a bike (this was also far down on this list of reasons for wanting a bike ) Was to save in commuting costs. So my ride to work is about 22 miles each way of nice boring, yet a bit scary Superslab!

I have to pass through a crappy construction zone, two lanes still, but with trucks all around and barriers on both sides, it can get a bit intimidating.

Had an alright ride yesterday, only issue I had was the force of 60-80mph wind blasting me, and one yuppie biacth tailgating me in her pretty SAAB conv. yapping on her damn cell phone


Today, I had a much much more enjoyable ride on the slab, perfect weather, a bit chilly even, wearing a mesh jacket and t-shirt underneath. Had a decent day at work, and decided to head into the city to have a late lunch early dinner at a cool little bar/restarauntwith a co-worker buddy so we could get some good grub and sit outside and enjoy the nice weather. (rare for pittsburgh)

So I had a big mix of riding conditons from then on, Highway, with some rush hour traffic, city neighborhoods, stop and go, with lots 'o pretty ladies walking along the sidewalk to cause a distraction. Then off to the 'burbs...

Took a fairly busy road to get home but far less than the slab would have been, The GS started to "surge" a bit, I was perplexed. It smoothed out, and everytime I would get on the throttle it wanted to die , so I figured, what the hell, I will try reserve, but it hadn't seemed like it was running out of fuel, more like a car with a bad catalytic converter would act. But... low and behold, reserve made it worse , and it just started dying on me, I luckily made it safely off the road and checked the fuel, I was out!!! 
So what good is "Reserve" when by the time the bike acts like it is starving for fuel it is already too low for reserve???

So A quick call to a buddy for some help(same buddy I just eat with), and soon I was back on the road. Had some tricky uphill stop/starts in traffic, but got through them flawlessly. Then, got cut off twice (this is where my ride started turning sour), was traveling in the left lane after two lane left turner, and then needed over in the right lane, had plenty of space, signaled and double checked before merging and some punk ass in a celica guns it to block me from changing lanes wtf is that all about!! I just shook my head at him  . Continued on, to come up on two bunches of pine tree remains around a right corner, avoided them no problem.

Came to another intersection and was behind soom mullet weilding dork in a lowered and dual piped Chevy pu. He though it was cool to rev constantly at the stop light only to go fast out of the intersection and slow down, then speed up, then slow down and so on and so forth...

He finally turned off, and a little ways down the road ( a two laner with some houses on both sides) I come upon a blind rght curve, I slowed, and SURPRISE, some ass pullin his cage out to block both lanes!!!, I stop and wait, while making sure I have an escape route if someone else comes around the corner and can't stop. This dude and his family just sits there blocking both lanes looking at me.

I give him the  and he slowly starts to move out of the way. Then I get to my first destination (showing a potential buyer my GTI). On my way home I decided to take a nice leasurely winding two lane road (25mph). I am still cautious as there are also houses on both sides, but all withing good view. Then up on my left a car pulls up to a stop to turn left onto the road I am on. I slow and keep a watchful eye on this vehicle, and at the last second the car pulls right in front of me!!! I hit the brakes, lock up the rear tire and lay on the wimpy horn. I maintained control, and  "waived" to the idiot who appeared to be a 16 yearold girl yapping on her cell phone    I flashed my high beam and gave her one last  "waive" goodbye as she turned away and I turned into my neighborhood.

DAMN, sorry for the very long and probably boring rant/ story, but had to get it off my chest.

I am extremely grateful and thankful to the MSF and their instructors for helping me and teaching me some valuable skills while out in the jungle ( I will be practicing swerves and emergency braking more often (off the road) to be better prepared for these encounters in the future!

Anyone install a louder horn on their bike? I am thinking about this one


Made by Hella - $70
Voltage
12V

Frequency
300Hz low tone
500Hz high tone

Sound level
118 dB

Connection
Flat plug

Power consumption
Max 72W

Dimensions
4-27/32" dia. x 3-11/32" depth

[tussey]

glad you're allright. Let me know how the horn installation goes.

[CirclesCenter]

I'm doing a louder horn soon.

It's common for other bikes (read cruisers and tourers) to install MUCH louder horns.

[MarkusN]

Check the routing of your fuel hoses. You probably have RES and ON hoses swapped.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[y7

[baco99]

Wow!  A great recap.  I'm in the same boat as you, but only with 20 or so miles on the bike (and my bike's a lot older!).  Be careful out there.

Let us know how the horn works out.  I just got mine working last weekend after rewiring some junk in the headlight housing.  Hit the horn and was like "you have to be kidding me!" 

*I* could hardly hear it and I was standing next to the bike in my garage with the engine off!  Needs more horn.

[notAdub]

...and more cowbell





Thanks for the input, I am curious about the airhorn, but that might be too loud! 3 city blocks?!

Its just funny that everyday I have been riding has been pretty smooth and comfy, with a few tests here and there, but yesterday,seemed to be everything at once.

[flyingbeagle71]

Check the routing of your fuel hoses. You probably have RES and ON hoses swapped.

+1 

I switched mine last time a checked the valves.  Still haven't taken the time to change them back, it's pretty easy to mess them up when putting the gas tank back on.

[Egaeus]

Get the Fiamm dual horns.  130 or so dB each, so that's like 260 dB!  (No, not really)  You have to be careful how you mount them so they don't hit your front fender, but they're loud as hell. 

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[4

[notAdub]

Yep, I almost wish I could mount a powerful paintball gun on the front and play WW I dog fighter on the bike sometimes with the many many zombies that roll around in there cages everyday 

As far as Pittsburgh, yep there is A LOT of history here! Gettysburg is not too far away from the city as well.

[Yankee Punker]

  Yeah, you know when your getting better on a bike when you can flip the  with on hand and honk with the other, but always remember to stay focused on whats ahead of you, you never know when the next cell phone chatting cager will pull out in front of you. 

And +1 more, its a common mistake to reverse the on and res. fuel lines when the fuel tank has been removed and put back on

[notAdub]

HAHA, I actually hit the tooter first, then  then flashed my highbeam on and off, then  again.   Iwish I could have throen something at her!  I was keeping a watchful eye on her and slowed down, but I would have had to be stopped already not to have to hit the brakes hard to avoid her when she finally decided to pull out with out every looking right!

It's all good though, I plan on driving down the street she was on and looking for her car, then going to the front door and letting her parents know she almost took me out while yapping on the phone.

I will check the fuellines, no that I found the diagram, what sux is that I just took the tank off, and marked the hoses which I assumed were already correct