My cheesy blog

[Victoria]

Here is my "blog".  Originally I wanted to get a scooter but now I am strongly considering the gstwin.  Check it out i have pics of my gear.  I am due for a new post plus I want to add my new consideration of the gstwin.  That will probably freak out my scooter friends.

http://scootercountdown.blogspot.com/

Can't wait to read your comments

[Toogoofy317]

Cool! Welcome to the Board. Get a GS we are the dark side and we have cookies!

Only thing with the gear. The Doc Martens how good is the ankle protection. May be ok for starts but think about some true moto boots like the Sidi Corsair (think that's the style) boots or others with very strong ankle protection. A sprained or broken ankle is not fun (don't ask how I know).

Another female twinner would be nice    If the guys here don't run you off 

Mary

[Victoria]

Hey Mary,
I was waiting to hear from one of the ladies.   No worries I have two older brothers. 

[JB848]

Cool! Welcome to the Board. Get a GS we are the dark side and we have cookies!

Only thing with the gear. The Doc Martens how good is the ankle protection. May be ok for starts but think about some true moto boots like the Sidi Corsair (think that's the style) boots or others with very strong ankle protection. A sprained or broken ankle is not fun (don't ask how I know).

Another female twinner would be nice    If the guys here don't run you off 

Mary

I'd be more worried about Mary running you off 

[The Buddha]

Oh yea, we have 2 modes, 1. We ignore you ...
2. Lecherous fools, usually lead by you know who ...

Usually put some pics up with you showing some skin, and it can even be cow skin ... (AKA tight leather) and its always the latter.

Cool.
Buddha.

[JB848]

Thread Jack .....who is you know who?

[Dj Hunny]

WElcome, welcome, and what's wrong with getting a scooter and a GS? 

But great decision on getting a GS, you'll enjoy it! 

[Porkchop]

Victoria,

I checked out your blog and it looks like I used to live in your neck of the woods.  I lived in Bayville when I was a kid and went to Bayville Elementary School.

Anyway, welcome to the forum.  I understand you're still undecided about going scooter or motorcycle.  Here is my two cents worth, not that you asked.

When it comes to scooters for commuting think bigger.  The scooters you were looking at (150cc and 250cc) are not really for highway use (I can hear you thinking that "I don't plan on using the highway") so I suggest you start looking at the bigger scooters (400cc - 650cc).  You will want the power when you try to merge into traffic or are running late and besides, I've never heard anyone complaining they had too much power in their scooter.  There are a couple of nice things about scooters; they have built in storage and they don't need shifting.  But they also have little wheels (not so good for those bumps in the road), scooter mechanics are far a few between, and scooters don't get the same respect as motorcycles.  The GS500, on the other hand, can be taken on the highway, has all the power you need to get you going, and you can pick up a used GS500 for less then a used Burgman 650.  I suggest buying a set of saddle bags.  They come in handy for your commuting duties.

I second the notion that you should get both but either way you go, it will be a lot of fun.  You just have to decide if you want people referring to you as the "Scooter Lady" or the "Biker Babe".

-Porkchop

[The Buddha]

Thread Jack .....who is you know who?

Exactly ...

Cool.
Buddha.

[The Buddha]

Victoria,

You just have to decide if you want people referring to you as the "Scooter Lady" or the "Biker Babe".

-Porkchop

Yea and if you want people thinking you're a DUIcycle or a real biker.

And sorry, we dont wave to scooters, we know they are DUI-ders and not real riders.
Besides your gear will never go with a scooter.
Only recomendation I'd make -
Get a cruiser. Virago 535 makes a great one, so is a suzuki savage.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Porkchop]

If I was to get a scooter, I'd get this one:

http://www.thescooterreview.com/news/421-ducati-scooter-take-2

-Porkchop

[Dj Hunny]

Victoria,

You just have to decide if you want people referring to you as the "Scooter Lady" or the "Biker Babe".

-Porkchop

Yea and if you want people thinking you're a DUIcycle or a real biker.

And sorry, we dont wave to scooters, we know they are DUI-ders and not real riders.
Besides your gear will never go with a scooter.
Only recomendation I'd make -
Get a cruiser. Virago 535 makes a great one, so is a suzuki savage.
Cool.
Buddha.

Harsh much, I wave to anyone when i'm on my bike, when i'm on my ruckus i only wave to scooters because most bikers think they're too cool to wave to someone on a scooter...Honestly I could give a sh*t less...If you ride two wheels you got love from me...

And I ride a scooter because I love cruising on one...sometimes more then on my bike...

[JB848]

Buddha what's that old saying about riding a moped?

[The Buddha]

Dude in my area ... 99% of the scooter/moped crowd is DUI-ders. The way they ride, I'd not let them get anythign larger than a schwinn. Of course they will promptly get back in their 78 Ford Granada with 24inch wheels the instant they get their license back and promptly start killing pedestrians/bikers. One genius after creating a huge side swipe accident while on crack in a mid 70's tank and nearly taking out my friend on his RC51 as soon as she came to a stop after nailing 10-12 people and hitting the guard rail ... promptly jumped off teh driver seat, sat back down in the passenger seat and buckled herself in.
Nice, only ~30 witnesses and worse yet, only her prints on the driver seat/wheel/door, and the person she claimed was the driver (her Boyfriend) has been in Jail for weeks. Nice.
Dude, most scooters are ridden by people who literally have been sentenced to drive one. Yea no burgers on the road around here. I've only seen 1 and it was at the dealer getting worked on, but presumably it was ridden in there though.
Needless to say, I dont have a whole lot of friends.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Victoria]

Ok---what is a DUI-der?   

[Paulcet]

DUIder - rhymes with Rider.  Someone with a DUI who, in some localities is allowed to ride a scooter without a license.  The parking lots at the bars around Hilton Head Island are full of scooters and mopeds:  people who have already lost their license to drive, so they ride their "bikes".

[Gary856]

Victoria,

That GS in your blog looks like a '02, the last year of the naked, and my favrotie with the black paint and silver graphics. I was really hoping to get the '02. About 2 years ago I saw one on Craigslist with 3000 miles for $2500. I didn't go for it cause I thought it was a few hundred $ high, but to this day I still think about it.

I may be biased, but in my opinion, you cannot find a better beginner's bike than a naked GS, because it's easy to learn on, yet has more than enough capability for you to grow with it. Just one thing about motorcycle riding - it's serious business. The M1 licensing requirement is a joke, and passing the MSF class in no way prepares you for riding on the street. It's like, here's your M1, sink or swim, you're on your own. Learning to "operate" a motorcycle is easy, but you must dedicate yourself to the continued learning and practicing required to master the skills required to be "proficient". There's (almost) nothing I enjoy more than riding, but the danger is always lurking just beneath the surface. Speaking from personal experience, crashing, even when luck is on your side and you escape serious injuries, is always a trumatic event and a wake up call.

About footwear - I would not wear laced-up shoes on my bike for fear that the laces would get tangled with the foot controls (shifter, foot brake, foot pegs). DocMartin boots would not offer much ankle protection in a crash.  



 

[The Buddha]

DUIder's are people riding DUIcycles.

One of em shares my parking space and rides a yellow metropilitan. Gorgeous chick ... I asked her about it, she said she's so afraid she's gonna get killed one of these days but the Idiots driving CATS busses in the city. So she was going to start riding busses when it got cold.
Must have gotten cold, cos she's been awol a few days. I should've asked her how she came to well ... ride a scooter. But I figured I'd talk to her a few more times ... I saw her 2-3 times after that @ a distance ... that is it.
She may be a serial clubber, she was still there as I leave work late. One of those work, drink, work, chicks.
Cool.
Buddha.

[mister]

Victoria,

That GS in your blog looks like a '02, the last year of the naked,

Um.... pleased to disappoint... my bike is an 09 and is naked. So Nakeds are still getting made.

This would be MY choice for a Scooter



The Aprilia Mana 850. A scooter because you can have the gear changing set to Auto. There is also semi auto and fully manual. BUT, starting at $17k + ORC  , I'll stick to the GS Thank You.

When I test rode a GS at a dealer, the salesman followed me on a Burgman 400. We had to get onto a highway from city speed. I just left it in forth and left him eating my road dust.

Security guard at one of the places I work rode a 125 scooter. Even though he said it could do highway speed, he avoided the highway as that was its maximum top speed. He showed me the web print outs of the Burgman he was Thinking of buying. I told him he has to go with what He feels best suits His purposes. After 5 weeks he shows me the GS500 printout. Every day he'd see my bike parked in front of his security hut and he liked it more and more. 

Interestingly, his 125 scooter was as heavy as the GS and the Burgman was way heavier! That's because they have no triangular-shaped frame for strength. There is nothing between the front wheels and the seat. So the Floorboard area needs to be Extra Strong (heavy) as a result.

Take 'em all for a spin and see which one feels best to you.

Michael

[Gary856]

Victoria,

That GS in your blog looks like a '02, the last year of the naked,

Um.... pleased to disappoint... my bike is an 09 and is naked. So Nakeds are still getting made.

I know naked GS are still being made and being sold outside the States, but I didn't think they were sold in the States after 2002. Did you get your 09 in the States? As you know, the US is the center of the world, so if it's not sold here, it doesn't exist.  

edit: oh I see you're in Australia, and we all know that's FAR from the center of the world. 

For the price of one new Aprilia ($17k), I can pay for all 3 bikes I have right now, and get 2 more cool used ones - first gen FZ1 + ZRX1200R - awesome!