hello.
a few days ago I bought a GS500F (2005), and now it's safely sitting on my garage.
however, this is my first bike ever :roll: so im afraid to ride it.
Actually, I still have to go and take the 3 day course on motorcycle riding, but im trembling during this waiting days because I wanna ride the bike!
back to the subject.
I've found out many things about bikes that seasoned rider probably take for granted, such as... there's no gas indicator! :P or, there's no cooler, so i must keep moving or the bike will explode!
I wonder... any advices for a guy new to bikes, and specially new to the GS500 ??? this bike will be used mainly as transportation (house to work and back... around 28 miles total)
hello all
Congratulations and welcome!
Keep it in the garage until you've taken some lessons. The bike is very forgiving but moving at any speeds without knowing what you're doing and not being in full control of the vehicle is not a good idea.
Don't worry too much about overheating. I've sat in pretty nasty and hot weather traffic and have never had the GS overheat on me. And although there is no gas indicator, you've got a petcock that should *always* be set to "ON". If you ever do manage to run it near empty, you'll have the "RES"erve setting to help you out.
hello and thanks for the reply.
One of the reasons I decided to buy the GS500F new, it's precisely because I know next to nothing about motorcycles, and I hope the bike will last a few years before it gives me any problems (by then I should have learned something).
So far the odometer reads 1.7 miles :lol: and the dealer told me I should be back for the first service after the first 500 miles. I guess he's right, but I have no idea.
I decided to go with a bike because of fuel economy, and in most places I read that the GS500 has great gas mileage, but... what exactly is that in numbers? as in: how many miles per gallon am I expected to get? (riding mostly on the freeway at constant speed for 25 minutes 3 or 4 times a week).
btw, I bought my helmet ($200 :o ) and some gloves... but I didn't wanted to get a jacket because it's pretty darned hot out there (about 90F these days).
Any place online to check decent-quality, well-ventilated, affordable jackets?
thanks again.
Your nerves will reduce substantially after you take a RiderCourse. After your 25 miles on a training bike in a parking lot, you'll be a lot more self assured -- until you take the bike on the open road with all the idiots that populate them. You never stop learning.
It's best never to lose that fear of what could happen next. You will always be the smallest object on the road -- never forget that.
As for mileage, there have been a couple of threads recently that cover that. Have a look for posts in the last two weeks. (and to not leave you in suspence, you should get 200+ miles/tank before reserve, likely over 60 MPG, if you do highway.
And finally, the service manual says 600 miles to first service, and don't run over 5000 RPM 'til then (that's 60 MPH in 6th gear) so as to break the engine in via "the book".
and get a jacket! i don't care if it's 110 degrees out... :nono:
Quote from: subchello.
I wonder... any advices for a guy new to bikes, and specially new to the GS500 ??? this bike will be used mainly as transportation (house to work and back... around 28 miles total)
hello all
I have ridden my Gs for 25kmiles since i bought it in aug 03.
I use it for daily transportation, and my play toy...
to put it easily, I ride the piss out of this bike.
Long HARD 200+ mile sportbike rides are a common thing.
I bought the bike used with 12k on the odo, and have done very little maintenance. But change the oil reguraly, and always do routine maintenance.
Knock on wood, this bike almost runs as well as it did when I bought it.
It seems almost bullet proof.
Dont be to worried about how long the bike will last. Be more concerned with killing the bike, if/when you go down.
take an MSF course, or the like and you will be lightyears ahead of pure newb status.
I personally didnt take it, but I took to the bike like riding a bicycle... pretty rare. I do know people that have nearly killed themselves before they decided on the MSF. They say it is the Best $100 they have ever spent.
It will teach you all the basic stuff you neeed to know about riding on the street.
Ohh yea, if you dont have it, GET GEAR! It can save your life.
At the bare min, get a good helmet, riding jacket, riding gloves, and shoes that wont come off your feet.
Quote from: RedShiftand don't run over 5000 RPM 'til then (that's 60 MPH in 6th gear) so as to break the engine in via "the book".
well, I guess it's alright for now. I will be driving like a granny but I really do need to get myself used to not having the big metal cage all around me (as in inside a car).
I wonder... did everyone here had the hardest time trying to convince your mother/lover/wife/gf that you decided to ride a motorcycle? I for one thing had a terrible time trying to convince all those people arpund me about it (family and such).
Everyone keeps telling me 'you are gonna die!' or 'I heard some motorcycle riders were killed the other day..' and things like that.
it made me doubt about my desicion of riding a bike from now on :dunno:
The 600 mile service is to change the oil and tighten up any loose fasteners. The oil... well the engine is breaking in and a lot of metal filings are produced. Just think of it as the rough edges getting smoothed out and the cylinders getting all happy. And not everything stays put right from the factory, that's why they retorque the bolts. Checking bolts every time you lubricate the chain is a good idea :) I've lost a few, in particular rearset bolts :oops:
Congrats on your purchase and ride safely :thumb:
Quote from: subcQuote from: RedShiftand don't run over 5000 RPM 'til then (that's 60 MPH in 6th gear) so as to break the engine in via "the book".
well, I guess it's alright for now. I will be driving like a granny but I really do need to get myself used to not having the big metal cage all around me (as in inside a car).
I wonder... did everyone here had the hardest time trying to convince your mother/lover/wife/gf that you decided to ride a motorcycle? I for one thing had a terrible time trying to convince all those people arpund me about it (family and such).
Everyone keeps telling me 'you are gonna die!' or 'I heard some motorcycle riders were killed the other day..' and things like that.
it made me doubt about my desicion of riding a bike from now on :dunno:
I am going to go out on a limb here, and say that nearly 80% of the motorcycle fatalities you hear about happen because of a few simple mistakes.
First and formost, riding without proper gear.... (see earlier post)
second, being an idiot, and riding above your head/showing off.
third, the completly unpredictable one is people turning in front of a rider.
I am not saying there arent other reasons, but most of them are completly preventable.
It is very good to keep a healthy respect for your mortality.
With proper training, and a good head on your shoulders, barring the hand-of-God, unpreventable things (which happen anyway, on a bike or not), there is really few reasons a motorcycle will kill you.
I dont want to tip toe through life, only to arrive safely at death....
im way past the age of trying to impress anyone. my field of expertise is something completely different so I will not try to do wheelies and whatnot.
I just want to enjoy the ride, feel the wind, don't worry much about parking spots, save money on gas, refuel rarely, and have a very reliable way of transportation anywhere I go (be it work or nearby towns).
I will take the motorcycle riding course next month, altough I thought it was kinda pricey (190 dollars).
I really need to find a good jacket for everyday riding (ventilated and insulated too, if that's possible), so I might be back to the dealer pretty soon to look at the stuff they have.
check out www.newenough.com
I do a TON of business through them, and they have treated me absolutly the best!! Awsome service, and right now delivery....
Nice selection as well!
Well the course will help you immensly, I know it has gotten me out of some jams. Ride safe and enjoy.
Also, that course is pricey; it's $25 in Ohio and FREE in other states.
-BigTwin-
congrats on teh new bike.
here are some tips for you.
1. Get gear - doesnt matter if its 90F+ wear your gear. Drink water and wear your gear. That way you sweat, but you sweat and cool down as you ride. Also you dont dehydrate. You will lose water real fast if your not wearing your gear. I wear my gear any time fo the year, even on a hot summer day. Plus road rash is a nasty thing to fix. Do not wear tennis shoes / sneakers while riding, they get caught int eh gear lever, get some riding boots. Jeans are okay but is minimum for riding. Wear gloves, do not ride without gloves.
2. The first 100 miles or so ride real carefully. Your tires have oils on them, they need to burn off as you ride. I suggest getting a 3M pad and scrubbing the tire to take the oil off.
3. As for teh fear of riding, that natural, take it slow. Dont fear dropping it, if it happens it happens.
4. Take teh MSF.. its helpful, i see your signed in. Also dont worry about the cost of stuff, its worth it. You can bargain shop, but at minimum get teh basic gear. $200 helmet is a good start. I have a <100$ HJC but as long as its M2000 SNELL rated its good to go.
Quotehowever, this is my first bike ever so im afraid to ride it.
Another one. Congrats, GET YOUR GEAR PLZ.
Congrats on your new bike. Somehow I feel the same now. I got my GS last week. Altough I rode a 250cc 4cyl Yamaha for 2 years that felt happy abobe 10k rpm, getting my GS was like getting my first new bike ever. I ride super careful, and now I'm brave enough to take my well learnt passenger with me on the new bike.
I always wear jacket, helmet and gloves. Get used to it, it gives you some confidence if you wear them. If you are used to riding with gloves, riding without them will feel stange.
As for the mother/gf/wife issue, as long as you don't scare them with a wheelie/burnout/stoppie in front of your house, you will be okay. :lol:
Quote from: The_good_guyJeans are okay but is minimum for riding.
I'm going to disagree with that one. I don't wear jeans; abrasion-resistant mesh with armor is as low as I go, and that only for hot days (which we've been having!). Ellen told me of a guy she was on a ride with who crashed wearing chaps. They retraced his route to clean up any debris, and saw, in the road, the trail - denim, then his a$$. He now has one flat cheek. A tech in my lab crashed in jeans (hit by a car), and they had to put him under general and still hold him down while the orderlies cleaned out the road rash with, essentially, Brillo. Denim is no match for asphalt. I've torn jeans through to the skin and gotten a bad rash from just falling while running or rollerblading - and on a bike, you're going a lot faster!
So riding pants, boots, jacket, helmet, and gloves. I stash them in a drawer at work, and bring my normal pants with me.
I echo what everyone says about the motorcycle safety course - learn with their bikes, do any dropping you have to there. It will give you a big step forward. Riding will feel very strange and scary at first, but just do it a lot, pay attention, and ride smart. It will become second nature.
Congrats and welcome!
do yourself a favor and enroll in the beginner course
http://www.msf-usa.org/
Congrats on the GS :thumb:
Quote from: The_good_guyJeans are okay but is minimum for riding.
Don't kid yourself man, jeans will blow apart the second they/you hit the ground. Maybe those Icon or Draggin jeans with the kevlar and aramid would be better but it's not something I would want to test
so no jeans? wow! I bet those riding pants are pretty expensive.
at how much am i looking at for a decent pair of pants and some jacket?
btw, this is my first piece of equipment :P
(http://img275.echo.cx/img275/9572/maximusmc51yh.jpg) (http://www.imageshack.us)
an HJC maximus MC-5 (whatever that means). the dealer said it was new on the market... (or maybe he wanted me to shell out extra $30 :dunno: )
Quote from: 70 Cam GuyQuote from: The_good_guyJeans are okay but is minimum for riding.
Don't kid yourself man, jeans will blow apart the second they/you hit the ground. Maybe those Icon or Draggin jeans with the kevlar and aramid would be better but it's not something I would want to test
The thing is jeans is better than dockers and or shorts. like i said, minimum, but i agree you need an over pant or something with armor. I will buy one soon, i cant find my old firstgear pants.
Congrats on the bike. I am also a fairly new rider. I just hit 400 miles! I'm taking it slow and only doing the things that match my skill level. The riding course is excellent. You'll love it and feel much better on your bike. But even with the course, things are MUCH different when you are out on the roads ... 18-wheelers on your tail or blowing by you, wind kicking your butt from every angle, just about anything you can imagine.
I'm a mother of four and my husband and kids freaked out when I first took the course. They assumed I'd get scared during the course and leave the idea alone. The opposite happened. After the course, I realized this was something I love and want to do, so I got the bike. They were all upset at first, but they've seen how I'm careful when I ride, so they are all settling down.
I agree with everyone ... get proper gear and always wear it. I see guys riding in t-shirts and sneakers and just roll my eyes. It's SO unsafe and just not worth it. Even if it's 90 degrees, you'll have a steady breeze when you are riding, so it's doable. You can get a mesh-type jacket (with armour) for the summer and a leather jacket (I found one with armour) for the winter. I never leave without my boots, gloves and jacket (and am going to looking into the pants suggested above).
One last thought ... you picked an excellent bike to start with. The bike is very forgiving regarding shifting and controlling the throttle. I know there have been times that if I had been on a bigger bike, I'd have accidentally wheelied for sure.
Enjoy your bike and welcome to this site. You'll love it.
Quote from: subcso no jeans? wow! I bet those riding pants are pretty expensive.
NewEnough.com has Alter Ego pants for $165, or Phoenix mesh pants for $114. There are some closouts now and then, but that's about as cheap as you're going to get for regular pricing, and is in the ballpark for other brands too. Things to look for include good fit (the armor pads should not be able to slide around at all), quality and comfort features (zip-open vents, ability to make them waterproof).
I'd say that you can get a decent pair of boots, pants, jacket, gloves and helmet for about $600. My "gear" history is:
For MSF, the essentials:
work boots (free)
HJC helmet ($240... I paid too much)
armored, vented m/c gloves ($35)
Year 1, bought the basics:
cheap textile m/c jacket ($85, I think)
unarmored, unlined leather pants ($45)
Year 2, bought better stuff:
waterproof m/c touring boots ($150)
all-weather armored riding suit ($350 eBay)
armored waterproof insulated m/c gloves ($45)
Year 3:
waterproof armored sport/street boots ($280)
At this point, I wouldn't look at buying gear unless it's armored; preferably CE armor or designed for track use. The more I ride, the more cautious I get.
I wouldn't jump right into expensive gear. Helmet, pants, jacket and boots, each in the $100-$150 range, can be reasonably good. If you're on a tight budget, then you can find each for under $100 (last year's model, closeouts)... but it will take a couple of months watching NewEnough and
Froogle.com. If you buy one item of gear per season, then you'll end-up spending $10-$15/week... alot, but manageable.
About the accident worries: some people get into motorcycling because they like taking risks. It gives motorcycling a skewed image in many people's minds (and in some accident statistics). Your family may worry that your behavior is going to change. Reassure them that you're going to approach motorcycling the same way you do everything else.
Ride your own ride, and you'll steer clear of trouble.
Everyone has their own preferences on gear; I did the Phoenix overpants when I first started and decided I didn't like overpants. I got First Gear fitted textile pants for ~$120. For the track, I didn't skimp and got Teknic Sport pants, but if money is tight, you can get away with textile. For myself, I'd rather have good-quality armored textile pants than cheap non-armored leather pants for similar money, but that's your call.
You need to set your personal priorities but for me it would be gloves next, Jacket, then boots, then jeans. Enjoy the bike, get confident, but don't lose sight of the fact that in traffic situations you are the most vulnerable.
I just want to say welcome and you've made an awesome choice in buying a GS500! :thumb: I am also a new rider. I just bought a 2005 GS500F also, in blue. Its a great bike with great fuel economy. As far as the jacket goes, I have the Icon Timax Jacket. It is well padded, but mesh almost all through it. Very nice for hot weather, but very cold in any thing else. I love it though! Deffinataly get a jacket, gloves, helmet, and footwear that won't come off, and perferably even a light leather. You'll thank us when u go down. Even if its just a small one, everyone goes down at some point, so all you can do is be prepared.
Welcome again, and if you want to chat new rider to new rider:
addictive_gibbs@hotmail.com (or ne one else) :cheers: