Hey all,
Great site! I do not yet have a bike but I hope to soon. Currently I just putt around on my FA50. I am trying to talk the wife into changing her mind about motorcycles. Until then, I will continue to research so I am ready if/when I convince her that I need one. I decided on the GS500F because this will be my first "real" bike and I do not need anything bigger. I am looking at MPG not MPH. I outgrew the need for speed a long time ago. Anyway, you may see me poking around every now and then gathering info/ammo for the future. The search function is my friend but please be patient if I ask a dumb question.
Here's to riding with you in the future :cheers:
Welcome! :cheers: I hope you're able to convince your wife. Maybe she should log on and see how sane we all are here....... :thumb:
On second thought, perhaps that might not help your cause.... ;)
Do ya' think you could convince her to take the MSF course with you?
I went from a Honda 90 to my GS... They're totally different animals. You might have to unlearn a few things and relearn a bunch more... If you haven't taken the MSF course, you should.
And as for the need for speed... Compared to a 90cc, the GS goes LIGHT SPEED! It's plenty fast...
Thanks for the welcome Pandy. I did plan to try to get her to take the course with me. Who knows how that will go.
I know the GS will have plenty of speed compared to the 49cc's of pure Suzuki power I ride at the moment. The highest speed limit around here is 70mph. I don't need a bike that will go 170. I like Suzuki (named my dog Suzuki)and this bike seems to fit the bill.
I have been looking around at pants and jackets. I am not inclined to get them, but are Draggin Jeans worth anything? I saw the website but I am pretty leary of the claims.
No one needs a "street" bike that goes 170... or even 120.
As for the jeans, I've seen a few threads around here about them... From what I've seen, people say not to bother with the moto-jeans... Either get protective-moto-pants or save up for protective-moto-pants.
Welcome!
With gas prices the way they're goin'...the GS will be WAY more safer than the scooter in dealing with traffic...and granted, it's the other guy she's worried about, but so are you, and you know how drivers are around where you live and you know what they do. You'll have an advantage with a motorcycle over them and that is vision; you'll be able to see traffic developements farther ahead and plan for them.
I showed her the my insurance quotes from State Farm yesterday. $160/yr for full coverage and $70/yr for minimal coverage. She seemed suprised how cheap it was. Now mixed in with the "No, your not getting a motorcycle" I am hearing "Why do you want a motorcycle?". That is not a no. As small as it is, I consider it progress. I think the way the fuel costs are going I may change her mind sooner than anticipated.
Quote from: BLITZMW77Now mixed in with the "No, your not getting a motorcycle" I am hearing "Why do you want a motorcycle?"
Progress!
Gas Mileage, Parking, cheap maintenance (ok... Not really, but she doesn't have to know that), you can do the work yourself (Can you? I can't... :lol: )...
Just keep the pressure on and don't say "Fun," "Fast," "Speed," or any variations there in...
OR...........
You could just go buy one. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. :lol:
Quote from: RVertigoQuote from: BLITZMW77Now mixed in with the "No, your not getting a motorcycle" I am hearing "Why do you want a motorcycle?"
Progress!
Gas Mileage, Parking, cheap maintenance (ok... Not really, but she doesn't have to know that), you can do the work yourself (Can you? I can't... :lol: )...
Just keep the pressure on and don't say "Fun," "Fast," "Speed," or any variations there in...
OR...........
You could just go buy one. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. :lol:
My mom hates them, so I pulled up on it rather than telling her when I bought it; then it was too late for any guilt-trips or anything.
My buddy wants a bike really bad, but his lady is totally against it and said he'll have fun riding a motorcycle and being single (ouch!)
But now, she has seen how I am responsible with mine and how I love it so much, and she has changed from that tone to "well, it would be fun for you and Dave to ride together; it'll just take me time to get used to it." :) So I may have a new riding buddy. I'm eyeing a '91 with 15K on the clock for $700 to use for him and my brother to learn on. And for me to practice wrenching on ;)
Dave :cheers:
I keep getting these threads calling me by name. :o
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXMy mom hates them, so I pulled up on it rather than telling her when I bought it; then it was too late for any guilt-trips or anything.
I talked with my wife about it, but she's pretty cool about stuff like this...
My mom tried to talk me out of it... I didn't bother to tell my Grandparents before hand... My brother was all for it.
I bought it anyway... My mom and grandparents dealt with it. My sister went and bought one too. :thumb:
Now my brother wants one... But, his wife won't let him. I told him to get one and deal with the punishment. :lol:
Quote from: RVertigoQuote from: 2005-GS500-PDXMy mom hates them, so I pulled up on it rather than telling her when I bought it; then it was too late for any guilt-trips or anything.
I talked with my wife about it, but she's pretty cool about stuff like this...
Now my brother wants one... But, his wife won't let him. I told him to get one and deal with the punishment. :lol:
Tell him to buy a pair of testicles while he's at it. :nana:
Dave :cheers:
Motorcycles are less expensive than women.
...and you can ride your motorcycle without her permission. :mrgreen:
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXTell him to buy a pair of testicles while he's at it. :nana:
:lol:
Well, in his defence there's a kid on the way... :dunno:
I think all of our loved ones look at how crappily people drive, and then think about us sitting out there without four walls of metal around us. It's natural to have some concern, I think. C'est la vie.
Yeah... It doesn't help that I tend to share my near death experiences with people. :nono:
Sorry, but my wife bought me mine.
get the bike and take her for a ride get her comfortable then teach her to ride she'll want one herself. My first bike was a 82 RD350 then I had a CB750F, circa 1979 and then a Honda interceptor 750 with a full race engine and then i grew up and bought a goldwing havent had a bike in several years about 6 I would say but my fiancee and I just bought a bike this weekend because i commute 75 miles one way for work and my truck only gets 20 mpg so keep after her and eventually you'll get one, oh and my ex was riding with me on the wing in her 8th month of pregnancy so a kid on the way is no reason not to enjoy motorcycling
I use Draggin Jeans, with the armor in them. It's definitely not leather, but the armor and kevlar will do something. I wouldn't go out riding in street jeans, you might as well just wear shorts. The Draggin Jeans look similar and are almost as comfortable, and are much more protective. Basically, I see them as a floor, the least amount of leg protection I'll ride with. Then in the fall and winter I'll use heavier-duty stuff.
Quote from: miloI wouldn't go out riding in street jeans, you might as well just wear shorts.
I beg to differ on that statement. When I crashed my '92 GS, I was wearing regular 'ol Old Navy jeans. Now given, these were made of thick denim, but they protected my legs VERY well. The only thing that happened to my leg was a very light, but widespread, abrasion on my right calve. This was from the jeans rubbing against my leg, not the asphalt ripping through. The Draggin' Jeans probably would have had a similar result. However, had I been wearing shorts, I might not even HAVE a leg anymore. Jeans, be them Draggin' or regular, are a minimum requirement for a motorcyclist, in my opinion.
I have to go with milo on this one. Wearing street jeans when one is just learning, going slow speeds (such as in the MSF course), is one thing, but wearing street jeans out on the road isn't the best choice. I won't let my loved ones go out without good motorcycle pants on; I just don't want to take the chance.
I understand your caution, Pandy, as it is very reasonable. Just from my experience so far, regular jeans are fine.
Side note: When I crashed the '92, I was going around 50mph or more, so we estimate. My jeans protected me just fine. In fact, the road rash on my foot was worse than it was on my leg. The asphalt ripped through my shoe and sock and got into two parts of my right foot. The leg, compared to that, was nothing.
Alphafire, I'd say you were very, VERY lucky :cheers: (thank goodness!!!!). I've heard too many horror stories of jeans shredding at even low speeds, and I've seen WAY too many road rash pictures. I cringe when I see the young guys out there with just t-shirts and jeans on (so few with jackets on). It might be the mom in me, but I do wish everyone would gear up fully when they ride. No, I'm not a gear nazi; I do believe in choice....I just wish everyone would make *MY* choice :thumb:. I never leave my driveway without full gear, from head to toe. ;)
Yeah, I know I was lucky, Pandy. On the old '92, I went down on it before the big one twice while wearing jeans. Of all the times I did go down, my jeans didn't even get shredded. The first two times didn't even put noticeable damage on the jeans, no holes, shreds, or anything. The big crash though, put a few holes in the upper thigh of my jeans. They were very small, though, and no abrasion was present on my thigh. Maybe I was just extremely lucky.
I am, however, a gear freak. I don't go out without a full face helmet, ARMORED jacket, armored ALL LEATHER gloves, jeans, and closed toed shoes (usually my Sidi boots). Just like you, it scares me to see these guys running around on supersports with no gear on. What is even MORE frightening to see are the old guys who ride the big unhandleable cruisers wearing nothing but shorts. No shoes. No shirt. Just shorts. I would hate to see the road rash on those guys if they crashed.
AlphaFire X5, you WERE lucky; jeans are only one notch above nothing, which isn't saying much. I've shredded more Levi's and Wranglers than I care to count, and lost a fair amount of blood and skin in the process. The advent of ballistic materials in riding gear has changed everything for the better. Years ago, people drove cars without air conditioning, seatbelts, CD-stereos, airbags, or anti-lock brakes. Nowadays, ALL good cars have them installed, and people are safer and more comfortable with those features.
The point is, jeans as riding gear are obsolete; time to invest in real textile riding pants, a riding suit (love my two-piece 'Stich) or better yet, full leathers (one- or two-piece, whichever you prefer). Admittedly, wearing riding suits and leathers are like wearing an exo-skeleton; you don't want to gain much weight after you buy them, but as long as you take care of yourself, you'll be able to wear them for years. I bought my first set of leathers (yes, they still fit) back in 1987 (with my 600 Hurricane); though I now own three sets, I've since upgraded the originals with knee pucks and shoulder armor, so I can continue to use them. I raced an EX500 for several years, and still do enough track days to justify the investment, and to be honest, I just don't want to part with them.
For street riding, textile pants are the new minimum in protective gear. I'd much rather get an oil stain or bug guts on those than on my jeans, because I simply remove my ballistic pants and put them in my tankbag when I get to my destination, and my jeans (or whatever I'm wearing underneath) stay clean.
Try www.newenough.com for ballistic pants; they almost always have something on sale, and if you can't find any you like, you DO have 'net access, so check MAW, Chaparral, or whereever you prefer. Once you START wearing them, you'll ALWAYS wear them, and you'll be amazed that so many others still haven't caught on.
Or, look at it this way; if you save just ONE pair of good jeans from destruction (not to mention your SKIN), the ballistic pants will have paid for themselves. Think about it...
I know I was lucky. I am going to invest in a set of mesh riding pants. I'd get leather pants, but it's too damn hot here in Texas. However, you'd be surprised at some denim quality. The thickness of the jeans I was wearing were as thick as a pair of the Icon jeans being sold now. Now given, Icon is kinda sketchy on their products, but thickness of denim can play a large factor in things as well.
I went down at about 65 mph hour several years ago when i hit a dog and slid approx 150 ft wearing plain old wranglers and the slide did not wear through the jeans on a side note footwear especially on a chaindrive bike is very important I wear western boots at a minimum and gloves are an absolute must have I wear all horsehide or goathide cloves because there resistance to abrasion is 6 to 10 times better the cowhide.
An important thing to remember there are lots of different types of "jeans". For example, my Anchor Blue jeans are true denim jeans, and very hardy. I also have a pair of element designer jeans that are made of like a cotton blend - just died and textured to look like jeans.
I know for a fact if i go down in my designers they'll shred like toliet paper.
Well, it was a pretty good weekend. Have not convinced the wife yet but making progress. I took the liberty to borrow images from the wall of fame and put a picture of my head over the original owners heads. I have been sticking these doctored pics all over the house while the in-laws were around. On the fridge, in the fridge, in medicine cabinet and under toilet seat. Just mailed one to her at her job. She is now laughing and calling me sick. This reaction is not a "no". Ha Ha, even if I don't get one this is kinda fun. I even said I would paint the bike Safety Orange to make myself more visible. I know the color is kind of obnoxious, but I couldn't care less what color it is. Plus it would be easy to recognise if stolen. Anyway, Mom-in-law is against bikes. Father, brother and sister in-laws are in favor of me getting one. I think I will start saving up for gear now so I will be ready when/if I get one.