new riders(long)

[AndyMC]

why is it that people will ask for your advice on buying a bike and then totally ignore what you had to say... being in the navy we have alot of young guys with a decent amount of money to play with ive probably had 25 guys in the last eight years ask me about bikes i.e.. what should i get how do i ride and stuff like that and i will always tell them the same thing go out and buy an older used bike a 250 or 500 that you wont be afraid to drop has plenty of power to be fun and less of a chance to kill yourself.... now out of all those guys maybe three bought a used bike the rest went out and bought liter bikes 750s and the like then promptly wrecked them, one guy died not 45 minutes after he left the bike shop but thats a whole nother story... anyway sorry for the long post just wondering if anyone else has had any luck convincing new riders to start off right

[cozy]

You guys (everybody here) helped convince me.

[ScottWV]

Then they asked their friend who said that 250 and 500s are girl bikes and they need a repli-racer.  Guess who they listened to...

The GS500 was recommended to me by my old manager, glad I listened to him  

[JohNLA]

There is a guy on the Cycle World Forums site that has a great signature.

"What is a cooler image, you on a beginner bike or you in a box ?"

[The Buddha]

You guys (everybody here) helped convince me.

Nice to know we helped you to be level headed and take it easy in the begining ... now lets talk about that avatar...
Cool.
Srinath.

[JohNLA]

... now lets talk about that avatar...
Cool.
Srinath.

Don't mess with Mr. T I pitty the fool who messes with the T  :lol:

[cozy]

... now lets talk about that avatar...
Cool.
Srinath.

Don't mess with Mr. T I pitty the fool who messes with the T  :lol:

Got me a GS coz you ain't gettin' me in no plane, Hannibal!

Alright enough jacks - with relatively no riding experience and no time to wrench the older bikes i had foolishly purchased previously, the GS was a great choice, and it may as well have 125hp to someone who doesn't know any better yet.

[GRU]

a lot of people are in a hurry to get a big, powerfull bike and that's why they go for the big bikes....those who go for the big bikes right away they just want to show off to their friends and girls...i know a guy on a ninja 250 who makes rider of 600's and 750's look like shaZam!...this guy on a ninja 250 can do all kinds of trix while riding...

[AndyMC]

arrgghh it just kills me that people wont listen to reason      case in point   kids just turned 18 came and talked to me yesterday cause im the only guy here that rides i gave him the standard spiel but i just saw him looking at busas on line and whats sad is he can afford it so he will probly buy one

[GRU]

what? a hayabusa? damn, is he crazy?  

[BigRedMonkeyButt]

It's because most of the time, they are only looking for you to confirm to them that it's ok to get a big bike.  They dont want your opinion unless it supports their decision.

[AndyMC]

yeah i know but why ask in the first place if you know you wont like my answer... and yes gru he does want a hayabusu and he is crazy

[GRU]

they probobly ask you thinking you would say "yes, a hayabusa is a perfect beginer bike"
damn kids never learn, and if they learn then they learned the hard way....

[john]

Hey,  I knew a 25 year old who got a permit, bought a NEW CBR600 and wrecked it in a matter of days     I told him to get a GS500 but he wanted more power.. and he did along with some nice road rash  :lol:   What a loser :lol:

[Maniac]

Don't look at me, I know I'm not ready for a liter bike. I originally wanted to pick up a 250 Ninja like my cousin had (Nice bike, moved pretty good with a 210lb 6'2 guy on it), but after talking with a few friends decided that I really want a twin. Don't want a big one, 500 to 600 CC would be perfect.

The GS500 looks about perfect to me. It's got decent power, nothing to write home about, but enough to get it through traffic. It gets good gas milage, which is real nice, and I personally think the naked bike looks flat out cool. Although a front fairing will definatly be in the works for whatever bike I do get.

Maybe one day I'll want a liter bike, but the way I look at it... a lot of new cars have 1.5l to 1.8l engines. Hell, the Miata is 1.8l. Thats a car. A whole car. Now, how much less does a liter bike weigh? The power to weight ratio is going to be awesome. Until I'm comfy with the smaller bike, I'll be staying away from the liter bike. Might look at it, might sit on it, not gonna buy it.

[AndyMC]

yeah if only i could beat some of your common sence into these guys it would be great

[JeffD]

Gees I almost got in trouble with my GS when I first got it.  

I took it out on the main road (45mph) and just let it rip because I was afraid of getting rear ended and well I looked down after a few clicks and was 60+  oops.  Then when I was making a right turn I went over the yellow line because I was afraid to lean it over.    now if I had gotten a 600 (I didn't plan on it anyway)  I might not be here.     I got lucky no one was on the other side of the double yellow, but I have heard stories of instances where there was...

its the same way in the skydiving community.  
Big parachute = safer = but fly's like a truck = almost hard to hurt yourself
Small parachute = dangerous = ferari = hurt people...but there cool

[octane]

Maybe they have little winkys.  

[AndyMC]

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[pizzleboy]

I've been riding for 3 years now.  I started with a nighthawk 450, and now have the GS for 2 full seasons.  I have zero interest in upgrading.  AMAZING fuel economy and I can waste any car on the road from light to light.  It cruises fine at HWY speeds.  Cheap insurance.

What else can you want?