Your First Day Experience

[jawntybull]

So, what's your first day story?

I picked up my GS500F at a private sale one week night - went and looked at it after work, made my mind up to buy it on the spot, then wondered what to do next. I had only recently passed my Ls you see, so the only motorbike I had ridden in the last 20 years was the Honda 250 at the learner course?!?

Anyway, I had been doing something in the last 20 years - riding road cycles and mountain bikes - so I thought, what the heck? Can't be too big a jump from 1/4hp to 50hp  Locked my car up in the street, hopped on the GS, then headed off into the night...

Well, the only risk for me was that my grin was so big inside my helmet that the top of my head might fall off  . Got home ok, and started to plan a ride for the next morning...

Now I'm 4 weeks into it, 1300kms on the clock (but who's counting??). The sad thing is I'm overseas right now working, and all I can do is notice the bikes passing in the street; dreaming up my next ride. Home in 2 days - woohoo!

[mach1]

lets see the first time I test rode my bike I didnt know how to ride but knew the jist of it and nearly went into a curb. after a u turn around the street I tried to ride it up teh owners driveway and almost ran him over. my first ride was great second great third(1st ride to work) I wrecked it into a curb.

[ohgood]

Cool ! Now, post pictures of your new girl already !

Mine:

Craved a bike since I was 2 years old. Road pedal bikes for the next 30 years. Went to California, saw motorcycles touring everywhere, decided I was too old to not have one.

Came home to Mississippi, drove to Georgia for a 1998 model. Bought it on the spot, rode it home  400 miles. Spent a week (and 600 miles) getting aquatinted on Mississippi back roads, then rode it 700 miles to Tampa. Cussed and cajoled her into running when her carbs turned to junk.

Loved every minute of it.

[GeeP]

First time I rode the GS I went from 0 to 80 in the distance my car would do 0-30.  After I stopped hyperventilating I resolved to sell it right then and there before I killed myself.   

Somehow or another, I kept it.  Now it feels slow and I ride it every day of the year.

[Unknown]

hmm...lets see

I bought a 5.3L V8 Truck (seemed like a good idea at the time), gas went up an incredible ammount.. Thought to myself, "WTF DO I DO!?". Remembered I rode a dirtbike in my teen years, researched like crazy on a first street bike, came to the conclusion that the gstwin was right for me, found an incredible deal, bought it on the spot with cash, took it for a test ride when I got home, forgot about gravity and only being on two wheels, dropped the bike at the top of a hill while stopping, broke my clutch lever, and waited 3weeks for a replacement. haha..

Thats when I realized the next time I drop my bike, I'M GONNA BE UNDER IT

[Chokstick]

I've had a thing for bikes since highschool.  Always wanted to buy one, but could never afford (especially insurance).  Got my license in Uni, also did the MSF course.  Rode one more on a buddies bike.  Got a good job and found that I could afford stuff I never could before.  Move out to Vancouver Island and found that the roads were twisty and you could ride 9-10 months out of the year.  Went to a few dealers, then went to one that my friend suggested (spring 07).  Wanted a true entry level bike, saw the GS500 and bought it on the spot.  Next week, picked it up and rode it home.  Home was approx. 100+km away and hadn't ridden in years.  Made it home and fell in love.  GF was a bit nervous, but it planted the bug and now she's talking about getting her license.

Wish I bought a used for my first bike, but no set backs yet!!

[Mdow]

hopfully i can post my story here in a week

[commuterdude]

I believe my story might be fairly typical.  Of course like any red blooded male I have always been fascinated by dangerous or high velocity machinery.  The giddy adrenalin high of controlling something which is on the verge of killing you has always been sought.   Not that I have a death wish, but life is certainly short and vastly more interesting when infused with speed.   

By chance I happened to land a good job at a nearby military base.   I noticed bikes everywhere.  The long suppressed desire to hurtle down the highway astride a mechanical beastie began to boil to the surface of my psyche.   Appropriate arrangements were made and after much research the choice boiled down to the Kawa EX500 Ninja or the 'Zuki GS500.   Found a GS500 first with low miles and some gunked up carbs.   Been true love ever since.


Wait, oh yeah, the first day.   Went to the next town in the Dodge Dakota and the very helpful owner whisked me to the DMV for title swap, and loaded her in the back of my truck.   I new next to nothing about transporting a bike and managed to drop the bike in my truck bed whilst unloading.  Just a scratch.    Then dropped it again in the garage practicing w/ the centerstand.   Nice egg sized ding in tank from that one.   Tore into the carbs on three occasions since; GStwin.com has been an invaluable resource.   Been having a freaking blast with the bike.   The world seems right somehow.   

[Teek]

First ride on my GS?
Saw the bike had lots of good reviews while trying to find ANY moto under 15 years old that had a pretty much standard riding position and was bigger than what I already had and was NAKED. That left about 3 (?) bikes out there I could maybe afford. Somehow decided to try the GS, even though it was a sportbike and I had dual sports before. BUT 20 years before that I had had Honda street bikes to ride. I missed my old 400 Hawk. Couldn't find any Nighthawks. Saw the GS on CycleTrader.com, thought hmm, looks clean, low miles, decent price and I can get it for less, seat's been modded, I might fit. Went to look, hubby rode it, says I dunno, it's got a stumble you better ride it. I was like crap, I didn't have gear, he was supposed to decide if it would be good and then I would get used to it. So I put his helmet and pants and jacket on, and got on, and tested the clutch's friction zone and felt the out the throttle response, then took her down the culdesac and around the corner and let her go a bit on a long straight, and I got this huge grin on my face! I rode her around for about 10 minutes around 3-4 blocks, managed to not get lost, came back, hit the driveway and the front end went CLUNK! so I used the crappy forks and the stumble and the need to clean the carbs (hubby called our Suzuki dealer they quoted $250 for a carb clean, so he said $300.) so we got the price down $400. and took it home. Put another grand into it, that was easy! Been loving it ever since, and tweaking it into a responsive bike and making it look like what I want. It's not the nicest bike I've ridden, that would be the Honda 599, but it's rough and ready kinda sweet, and it's mine, and it has actually gotten compliments from other bikers up at the Rock Store and other hangouts. Sometimes we get to a place to park a bit, and I look at the great scenery, and then I take a good long look at my bike and grin at my baby G. She lets me fly.

[yamahonkawazuki]

my first time ( on a bike  ), i took msf on a cheesy 250 ( gz250), i had possession of my gs already, but with bent forks. ( search here for frankenbike youll find that one), anyhoo it was a 97, i got the forks, from i believe it was werase? , or one of our long time members. i installed those, and rode on rear brakes only fora week or so definately a BIG  . but got it fixed properly. then with teh  help iof this site, punched teh exhaust, added lunchbox and rejet. and rode the f%$k out of her. until i had to sell it to help with moms med bills. then a year later , i went to the darkside and bought a harley, had to sell it to pay MY bills, lol, then bought another gs, a 94, sold it, ( without ever riding it., then bought my 76 kz, which i rode, then recently bought my 97 , hell im getting to be a gs whore like the buddha 

[Pigeonroost]

My first Gs500F ride was TODAY.  I picked it up at the dealer's on my way home and hauled it home in my Tacoma short bed -- it fit OK.  This is a bike for my daughter, but she is out of town for two days.  Well, I could not just let it sit there; could I?  So I gave it a proper initial break-in ride of about 60 miles in the mountain back roads.  I am not used to the hunched over rider postion and my shoulders ache a bit; but otherwise it rode well and handled really well. Did a lot of tight hair pins and twisties with ease.  I had to adjust the idle and the throttle slop and that was all.  The owner will see it tomorrow.

prs

[Tang]

1st day riding sucked

first time on the streets

pouring rain in cold weather and high winds :-(

and bumpy roads

got home safe but drenched from my head to my shoes :-(

other than that it was great!