Why I wont be be selling my GS anytime soon.

[slipperymongoose]

Well Sunday I took my beast out for its first big group ride since fitting the new rear shock and the first big ride since my lowside in the dirt. Everyone was on bigger and faster bikes of course (ZX14, speed triple, hornet (919), F800r, GS650, ducati and aprilla hypermotard's, SV650 etc), though i did spot another GS with another group but mister was to chicken to ask him to join us twinners lol (sorry mister). Anywhoo onto our ride, it was a huge wakeup call to me in regards to my skill and control of the bike and judgement. Because I was on the baby bike I was eventually pushed to the back of the group, I never had any trouble keeping up with the group, not till the group split in half did I lose sight of the front riders. Having said that though I'm sure they weren't really getting into it which was probably the smart thing to do as it was Easter Sunday. Anywhoo onto the part of the ride that rattled me and made me think twice about buying another faster advanced bike.

After we reached our destination and had our Easter breakfast and was time to head back our big group split into three, with the small group I was in heading back home. We decided to head back using a road I had never been on, and my god on more than a couple of occasions it came close to chewing me up and spitting me out. It was mostly a single lane road, in and out of twists, up n down hills, over wooden bridges, blind corners etc so it was a bit of everything, with bits or loose gravel splashed over the road in some parts for good measure. I came very close to locking up the front in a patch of dirt again! My cornering technique was all over the shop, and my braking technique was very reactive instead of anticipated, and planned. When we pulled up for our final rest stop before home as I was pulling off my gear the reality hit me that if I did that road the same on a more powerful bike I wouldn't be here pulling off me helmet n gloves etc, I would be in a hospital bed or worse.

For the last few months Ive been dreaming of getting my open licence and my next new whip and even been going over a few potential candidates. I was even discussing different bikes as they were pulling into our meet up area with a few people, and as of yesterday it all went pooofffff I'm my head. My little GS saved me from being on the news, or worse, and still has so much to teach me about riding. Now Ive only been riding now just on a year now, with a touch under 10 000 km under my belt and I reckon there is at least another 10 000 - 20 000 to go before I can give another bike a serious thought. Ive seen a few members here join, ride and sell up in the short time I have been here, and others are in the process of selling there ride and upgrading to something, lets be honest faster. The only thing I can say is have a good close look at the reasons and youself for the trade up if your GS is like mine your first road bike. Are you really truly at the point where this bike has taught you everything it can up to this point and are you confident enough in your skills as a rider to get something bigger and faster. I thought I was as of Sunday morning, and as of Sunday afternoon my opinion was totally changed. I will still go out and get my open licence so my options are always open if an opportunity should present itself but for the foreseeable future I wont be selling my GS till I'm confident in my skills as a rider to warrant another bike. I only ask that if your considering a more powerful bike give some real serious thought about youself and your skills before you go out and get it. 

[BaltimoreGS]

Admitting that in public makes you more of a man than most riders I know   

-Jessie

[adidasguy]

I know those types of roads. I had them on Vashon Island last Saturday. A one lane wooded road with mold and stuff on it. 120* hair pins banked the wrong way and gpoing up hill at 15 degrees  . There was a lot of 10mph riding in 1st or 2nd gear. hard to watch WHERE you're going when you can't see around the turn 50 feet ahead of you.

Tons of fun!

It was me and zute. Then the Yamaha 200 joined us. That 200 was really at home on those roads. We were OK. I know a larger bike never could handle those roads without making the rider go insane or into the woods. A big cruiser would have had to give up.

The pictures I posted with the road in the background were the MILD twisty roads we found. next time we'll stop and photo the extreme ones.

I'm with you - I love my GS500's and will stay with them. Though now I have the urge for a DR200 or something like that for these twisties. I have Thumper - but he's a show bike. Need a good, small 4 stroke for the extreme twisties.

With groups I don't have trouble keeping up. Then I don't ride with the extreme squids that like to take twisty turns at 70mph while dragging pegs and knees.

I'm with you. GS500 is fine for me. 

[codajastal]

Nicely said Slips, I have had my open license going on 25 years, I ride everyday for my job as you know so I am quite proficient with riding, but I am in no hurry to upsize my GS and would be happy to stay with it for years to come.

[iv76erson03]

Couldn't agree with you more. I think even if I got another bike, I'd keep the GS. It would be nice to have a little more power when driving on the interstate for merging and stuff, but for an everyday bike, the GS is perfect. Driving on twisty roads takes a lot of practice, doesn't matter if you have a GS500 or a GSX-R 1000. I generally refuse to do it because one patch of gravel can ruin your day even if you were doing everything right. IMO, if you want to run your bike wild, find a track because having confidence in the surface is well worth the price of admission.

[Twisted]

I know what your saying. When I had my off it sorta makes you pull your head in and gives you a reality check. Sometimes we think we are better riders than what we actually are. I was rattled for the next few rides and it takes a while to get a bit of confidence back. You feel every little slip and bump in the corners and you have to fight the urge to over react and upset the bike further.

Riding in a group, many can get themselves into trouble by thinking they have to keep up with others and are worried what others think of them because you may be holding them up. I don't do that. I ride so I enjoy the ride at a pace I am comfortable with. If someone is faster than me, they can overtake me. I don't enjoy the ride when I am pushing it on the ragged edge. I like to enjoy the scenery and have time to react to hazards.

There are roads you can push a little harder and those you should not. In my opinion, the road you were on Sunday (Lions Rd) should never be one you should hustle on. It is a scenic drive and better enjoyed at a subdued pace. Beautiful countryside through there. 

[Twisted]

Also, the faster bikes you mentioned are made to go faster than the humble GS. A more powerful engine in most cases means they have better suspension and brakes. And in most cases they will be ridden by a more experienced rider. So it is only natural that the GS may struggle to keep up at times with them

[slipperymongoose]

We wernt exactly pushing it hard through it cause of the easter weekend traffic but still enough to really rattle me. But like you said it rattles you till your confident again. And again Im with you in the whole group riding thing, I have felt the need to keep up for sake of others behind me getting the shits but like you said they can overtake. There were even stretches I felt like giving it more beans and playing with the faster boys but going over Mt Lindsay and Lions road thats when the ride no longer was fun for me, and made me think.

[mister]

Slips,

If you ever feel pressure from behind, signal for them to pass - a small outward gesture with your foot. THEN, ride it at your own pace. It's here, where some Pace Riding will come into its own. It makes the rider slower - but - more fun in my opinion. And makes the rider a better judge of the road.

For Mt Lindesay twists, stick it in 3rd and leave it there. 

No-one thinks negatively of a slower rider on a slower bike because we have all been there and everyone started somewhere.

Chris is undoubtedly the best rider there. What he calls 'taking it easy' through there, a lot of people would call pushing it. But that is His level. And he has been known to happily sit behind other riders and go at their pace too. (such as the Lions Rd trip)

As for the twists part, here is the same bike and same guy four months apart...

1st time on that road http://youtu.be/8FRru2lbhKg
4 months later http://youtu.be/C2_k4AOgDcU
Last week http://youtu.be/oW8vtHlSMl8

Big difference in lines etc. He Obviously rides this road a LOT.

Now with regards to your distance and time riding...

I have said it here previously, regardless of Time what is more important is distance in the saddle. I suggested  what amounts to 20,000kms. I'll do over 24,000 in a year. Call it 2,000 a month. There have been riders here who feel the need to Upgrade after 12 months and X miles (where X is equal to 4,000kms, or what I would do in two months). They feel they have been riding for one year. But that one year to them, is only two months to me in terms of Distance. Would you upgrade your bike after only 2 months? Plenty of people here have expressed just that and I think they are playing with fire.

Ironically, the self examination which reveals to yourself you are not ready to upgrade to something even such as an SV650, is the same self honesty that would actually see you Control yourself while on such a bike. That is, you do not suffer from expectations exceeding abilities. Which is how it Should be.

Ride Mt Lindesay again and the Lions Rd with a different mind set and you'll find those roads are a whole heap of fun again.

Remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

In otherwords, doing everything slow, which will make you smooth and your speed will come all by itself. 

Michael

[gramlord]

Slips, I know how you feel. I'm in the same place as you, perhaps a bit behind only having ridden 6,000 km's, but I understand only too well the realisation that you have a long one way to go.

Will my skills outdo my GS500's abilities, no. Do I respect my bike and the road, yes.

[BaltimoreGS]

Ironically, the self examination which reveals to yourself you are not ready to upgrade to something even such as an SV650, is the same self honesty that would actually see you Control yourself while on such a bike. That is, you do not suffer from expectations exceeding abilities. Which is how it Should be.

Well said!

-Jessie

[lucifer_mr2]

I've been on my full license for about a year. From learners until now, done about 40,000km on my bikes. Still ride my GS, even though I also have a Harley. Am thinking of a replacement, maybe a Bandit 1250 or similar.

Love taking the GS on rides with the bigger bikes. Still think it's funny that I had an R6 rider think the GS wasn't lams.

[slipperymongoose]

Very well said mister, maybe I just new to ride it all over again and see how I go.

[SAFE-T]

Don't put ambition ahead of talent

[ohgood]

good on you for realizing this, OP.

i'm riding slower every day it seems. no hurry, nothing to prove. wether i'm in the dirt or on the street, i can see more by slowing down.

[dougdoberman]

Possibly the best articles written about riding your own speed:

http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=49552



As was mentioned above, don't ever let anyone else dictate your speed.  If they're faster than you, let them pass.  If you can stay close enough to faster riders to learn something without getting over your head, great.  If not, let them go.

Anyone who's going to judge you for your speed is not someone you should be riding with anyways.

[Toogoofy317]

Wow is that refreshing to see! Thanks for putting that up! 

I've had Flick for 4.5 years and I've put 22,000miles on him. The first two didn't ride as much but put 17,000 in the last 3. I'm sure it is really going to pile up now he is running fantastic and the car is broke down.

But, I was talking with the BF and there has only been one other bike that made me turn my head and say maybe I can "upgrade" and that is an 07 Honda Interceptor. Since, they are not made anymore I guess I can say I don't know of a production bike made right now that would make me want to trade Flick in! I'm happy with him I only wish there was more twisty roads in Fl!

Mary

[speedfreek]

Bigger, faster bikes are easier to ride faster - they're designed that way.  If you have good skills on the GS, and jump up in
displacement, you'll eventually be skilled on the bigger bike as well.

Just make sure you get something you can fit on without having to make major modifications --changing the seat height
or bar height a bunch.  The only time things get iffy is when you change a bikes geometry a bunch..

TJ

[Twism86]

Very nice write up. In my 2.5 years on my GS in have said this numerous times, if i was on a bigger/faster bike i would have been in trouble. The low power and easy handling of these bikes definitely help keep you in line. Grabbing an accidental handful of throttle or brake wont throw you as quick as it will on other bikes.

That being said im looking to move up and do have my reservations. I think a safe riding style will also keep you out of trouble too.

[slipperymongoose]

Thanks twisim. Yeah I'm slowly getting my confidence back and I'm looking but not buying yet.