New Guy with a few questions.

[i-7]

Whats up everyone, my name is Ryan, I have been surfing the boards here since I purchased my 2004 GSF in May of this year (have been riding dirtbikes all my life but it is my first streetbike). I put about two thousand miles on it until one Friday evening I was riding through town and a 65 year old woman made a left turn in front of me. I was traveling at about 35 miles per hour and could not swerve out of the way because of heavy traffic. I slammed into her car and my bike took around three thousand dollars in damage to the right side of the bike. I was fine because I was able to tuck and roll and get up immediately. Well a month later, I just got my bike back and although I was a little worried to get back on her, I have been riding almost everyday. So here are a few of my beginner questions.
1. The speedometer seems to be over estimating my speeds... is that normal? Anything I could do about that (GPS systems, replacement speedometers)
2. What do you guys do about your mirrors rattling at high rpms?
3. I go to college in Oneonta, NY and was just wondering if there is anyone in the area, I have seen a few GS's up here so just checkin if any of you guys are on this board.
Thanks a lot for any help!    Sorry for the crappy photo quality, they are from my cellphone.

- after the accident
- after the repair job - graphics still on back order, the other side has graphics.

[nascarkeith]

Whats up everyone, my name is Ryan, I have been surfing the boards here since I purchased my 2004 GSF in May of this year (have been riding dirtbikes all my life but it is my first streetbike). I put about two thousand miles on it until one Friday evening I was riding through town and a 65 year old woman made a left turn in front of me. I was traveling at about 35 miles per hour and could not swerve out of the way because of heavy traffic. I slammed into her car and my bike took around three thousand dollars in damage to the right side of the bike. I was fine because I was able to tuck and roll and get up immediately. Well a month later, I just got my bike back and although I was a little worried to get back on her, I have been riding almost everyday. So here are a few of my beginner questions.
1. The speedometer seems to be over estimating my speeds... is that normal? Anything I could do about that (GPS systems, replacement speedometers)
2. What do you guys do about your mirrors rattling at high rpms?
3. I go to college in Oneonta, NY and was just wondering if there is anyone in the area, I have seen a few GS's up here so just checkin if any of you guys are on this board.
Thanks a lot for any help!    Sorry for the crappy photo quality, they are from my cellphone.

- after the accident
- after the repair job - graphics still on back order, the other side has graphics.

1.  Just about every GS overestimates speed.  Most of us learn to live with it and like the fact that it helps keep us from getting speeding tickets.
2.  Not much that I know of you can do except maybe shift sooner and go slow.  It is a little aggravating but again something I just live with.
3.  Sorry not me.  Gets too cold up there for my blood.

I am suprised to see you go back to original.  Most guys would have saw that as an opportunity for custom paint.  The yellow does look good though.  Thinking of any mods now that you are back riding?

[GeeP]

1)  All Japanese motorcycle speedos are about 10% optimistic.  So, if you ever get pulled over, rest assured you weren't doing 110MPh, only around 100 MPH.   

2)  Can't really answer that, I have an E and mine don't rattle.  Much...

However, if I need to identify the vehicle behind me, such as "Is that a cop car, or a just a white car?", I reach out and hold my mirror.   

3)  I rode around there last summer, but I'm a thousand miles away now.  I recall some nice roads around the Ashokan Reservoir.   

[bikejunkie223]

First thing is to ride like you are invisible. Assume every single car on the road is there for the express purpose to kill you, because in reality, most are piloted by dumbasses that will in fact, kill you. I don't even take green lights for granted because there is gonna be that 1 a-hole yakking (or god forbid texting) on thier phone that isn't paying attention, and will blow a light- right into me. All cars = death, so beware the cagers my friend.

[theUBS]

Glad you're up and running again!   

1.  It doesn't really bother me.  I just allow it to read about 10% faster than the posted speed limit--unless I'm on a winding likely unpatrolled county road, in which case I tend to lose restraint.        However, there are a couple of guys that have pursued other options.  You might want to contact them for details or check into these posts:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43157.0
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=38219.0

I gather GPS is a bit expensive.  These guys prefer cheaper but perhaps equally effective alternatives.

2.  I can't see much beyond my shoulders and elbows with my E model stockers.  I really don't know what to recommend for the F model.

3.  It's not me!

[natewesselink]

ya i find mine to be about 5 mph over at 60 so i just consider that im just goin 5 mph under what my gauge says and i havent gotten a ticket yet

[tripleb]

I had the sigma computer on my old bike and it was great.  Lots of other uses than just the speedo.  Well worth the $30 in my opinion.

[i-7]

Thank you for your answers fellas, I appreciate it. I am going to look into the bicycle computer, because I also could definitely use a clock in my cluster as well as an accurate speed reading. In response to bikejunkie, ever since I have been back on my bike I do ride like I am invisible. Every right of way I have I approach as if its a yield sign. You would think that cagers would have some sympathy for someone with nothing around them to protect them but they really could give a shaZam!. When I first got my bike I was doing the speed limit according to my speedometer and there would be people tailgating me looking for any possible opportunity to take my ass out by getting around me. It sucks that people are to oblivious to realize that they need to share the roads. What sucks is that I don't know anyone else that rides so I am always stuck riding by myself. I feel that if I rode with a group, the group would be a lot easier for other drivers to see, even though I THOUGHT my yellow bike stuck out pretty well, man was I wrong. As far as mods go, I am pretty sure that I am going to keep her stock for now, seeing that its about to be 0 degrees here in a few months. Next spring I would like to add an exhaust system and do something about my seat (I have been getting some really bad cramps in my leg while riding... not sure what its from but it seems to be an extremely dangerous distraction). This forum seems like a really cool place with a lot of knowledgeable members. I appreciate everyone's help for the newbie.

[bikejunkie223]

We were all no0bs once- I suppose I still am, only got my bike at the beginning of summer and had never ridden before. 3k later I feel much more experienced and am more scared of cagers now than when I started. I guess I'm a bit suprised, as many bad drivers as there are out there there aren't MORE accidents than there are...

[theUBS]

We were all no0bs once- I suppose I still am, only got my bike at the beginning of summer and had never ridden before. 3k later I feel much more experienced and am more scared of cagers now than when I started. I guess I'm a bit suprised, as many bad drivers as there are out there there aren't MORE accidents than there are...

Our experience levels are just about the same.  I found it interesting how my driving changed after riding for a while--or atleast how my awareness and alertness changed anyway.  You start to realize who to look out for more and more.  There are always going to be things beyond your control, but it helps when you can almost predict which dumbass is going to pull out in front of you.

[X-ray]

Depending on your ambition I think you can change your front tire to a 110/80/17 to help correct the speedo also.

[ATLRIDER]

I recomend you take the MSF course.  Like you, I used to ride dirtbikes and got my first streetbike this year.  Street is a whole other story.

[larryrt]

I wholeheartedly recommend taking the MSF safety course. I just finished it today and feel loads better even though my neighbor (ex CHP Rider) had spent several hours giving me tips for slow speed control. It's one of the best investments in YOU that you can make.