Why I wont be be selling my GS anytime soon.

[SAFE-T]

In the Young Drivers of Canada program there were a series of steps involved in avoiding collisions ~ the first one was "Plan your Route", which basically meant knowing where you were going so you didn't get lost but more importantly to know what to expect on your route as much as possible to minimize surprises along the way that might contribute to a driver error.

[SAFE-T]

Your description of your experience shows precisely the type of outcome that can result from not knowing your route ~ a series of "oh shaZam!" moments instead of an enjoyable afternoon consuming non-renewable resources. I have read over and over throughout the years on motorcycle forums where people say the most important thing to work on is your skills, and I think they're dead wrong. The most important thing to work on is your judgement in assessing risk, and to learn to take less risks on public roads with hazards that will kill you at speeds where you might have been fine if you had been at a track day. 

[cole]

Aye, good call. I started on a EX250(2003 Yuck Yellow) and ~8K miles, GS500(2005, Blue - Current) and ~19K miles and so far this bike has taught me a lot! However, I can still learn a lot such as smoother shifting(seamless perfection!) and keeping the line; technically my limits are due to my current setup as I am more in-tuned with her, I feel the front act "funny" around curves and that's an indication for me to slow down(or get those straight rate), and keeping the line is more due trying to resist being blown around.

I am also realized that I don't want a sportbike nor another standard, my knees cannot handle it after about 2 hours - my knees give before my butt and that's most likely due to my accident. Gear is vital and I won't have a passenger unless she's covered as well.

My next bike will probably be a VN900 or a XVS1300 - forward controls, fuel injection and belt drive.

OH and another I learned: Never, ever, show off - you'll burn your clutch or you'll eat face.