I see a lot of other bike commuters in Los Angeles where gas is expensive and lane splitting is sovreign; but I have to wonder if anyone else doesn't own a car and only rides the bike, rain or shine.
As a starving artist, I got the bike because I can't afford much else (and I've always subscribed to the idea that two wheels are better than one).
In college I was a bicycle commuter, but try riding a bicycle around LA sometime; I think there's a standing reward for cars who run bicycles off the road. (And you can forget about the bike lane.) So I've traded my trek for a twin and hit the road with all the other commuters with death wishes in LA.
Are there any other motorcycle-only riders that have some tips for surviving in LA or anywhere? Critical items that are indespinsible to own? Fortunately it doesn't rain often around here, so I've only been soaked once. Otherwise I've discovered my bicycle rain gear keeps me pretty dry under my motorcycle gear.
Despite some inherent disadvantages it's so worth never paying for parking, saving tons on gas, and zipping through traffic while all the land yachts sit in gridlock slowly f%$king our ozone.
I'm not sure I entirely knew what I was getting into when I decided to go motorcycle, but after two months I'm glad I did.
Respect to the hardcore that never ride four wheels. :cheers:
I ride my bike no matter the weather (not too difficult here in central Texas) but I borrow a car from my parents every now and again if I need one for whatever reason.
No. I have legs. I can walk.
Also, public transportation exists. :dunno_white:
Here in PA I guess if you had balls as big as Texas you could ride all year. However, I have my GS, a Truck and two cars :thumb:. No way you could get by with a bike all year here and public transportaion is a joke in my area. :thumb:
Even if I could ride all year, I think I would always want to own a car/truck as well as a bike. :thumb:
I did the bike only deal in LA. Have cold/rain gear even though you are rarely going to need it. If it's your only transportation, you don't wanna be stuck because you don't have the right gear. Also, make sure you are on top of it with maintenance. Preventative maintenance is even more important when you are riding a ton. Depending on how much you ride, you will probably need to be lubing the chain weekly or bi-weekly.
Other than that, it's basically the same as if you only ride occasionally in LA: spend your days splitting and avoiding cagers who are out to kill you.
Quote from: scottpA_GS on December 17, 2006, 06:48:21 PM
Here in PA I guess if you had balls as big as Texas you could ride all year. However, I have my GS, a Truck and two cars :thumb:. No way you could get by with a bike all year here and public transportaion is a joke in my area. :thumb:
Even if I could ride all year, I think I would always want to own a car/truck as well as a bike. :thumb:
I dunno...
http://www.snoxcycle.com/
Good lord no. Riding in the summer is about as much fun as setting your crotch on fire.
I gave up a motorcycle as a primary vehicle in 1987. After 2 years of rain, cold, heat, hail, unable to carry much, drivers who do not care about any 2-wheeled vehicle....the list goes on.....I would much rather drive and save the motorcycle for enjoyable rides. All vehicles have limitations and a motorcycle is not an everyday vehicle for me.
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on December 17, 2006, 07:07:30 PM
I dunno...
http://www.snoxcycle.com/
Hmmm... would that work on the GS?
Quote from: dgyver on December 17, 2006, 09:20:20 PM
I gave up a motorcycle as a primary vehicle in 1987. After 2 years of rain, cold, heat, hail, unable to carry much, drivers who do not care about any 2-wheeled vehicle....the list goes on.....I would much rather drive and save the motorcycle for enjoyable rides. All vehicles have limitations and a motorcycle is not an everyday vehicle for me.
Yeah, I am probably going to end up the same way, but now for me being a poor college student and simply commuting back and forth to school being the majority of my riding, having it as my primary transportation isn't too bad.
As far as moto-only, yes, I'm in college as well and commuting every day to school and work in San Diego. Same deal as LA, way easier to find parking, cheaper all the way around and lots more fun than getting mad waiting for traffic to clear out/not going to activities because you are worried about/can't stand the traffic. Been moto-only since '04, I'm hoping I won't feel restricted by it (I've got a sister with a car about a mile away), so I am pretty well into the groove and really appreciate the opportunity afforded by living in SoCal. I save probably 5-6 hrs a week by commuting on a bike vs. cage.
Public transportation in SoCal (unless you are within 20 miles of UCLA, or 2 miles of UCSD) is a joke. I wouldn't mind not putting so many miles on bikes, but it's just not feasible with my schedule and need to criss-cross town to go from work to school. Maybe 20 yrs down the road they will figure out how to run subways under the ocean to save real estate.
Commuting on the GS: Make sure your air filter is clean. Run 87, the GS isn't setup stock to need anything higher so it's just a waste of potentially 30c/gal. Use a cover, it'll save your paint. Check tire pressure bi-weekly, lube your chain at same time. Softer gel grips improve your grip on the bars and help in low-speed maneuvers, especially in the cold.
Fogcity (I think is the company name) makes a great glue-on fog shield that you stick onto the inside of your visor and it WILL NOT fog up. I bought a tinted shield from Roadstergal and it had one of these. It also helps when cleaning because you are only scratching up this ~10-15 dollar replaceable sticker instead of the 50 dollar visor itself, doesn't hurt visibility either. I'm now running without the fog shield and it's a pain having to flip the visor up each time I come to a stop on my morning commutes.
I think I am the only freak at my age that has NEVER owned a single vehicle until this year. I have a GS500 2001 suzuki and that is my first vehicle ever. I just got tired of bumming rides and riding hundreds of miles on my bicycle. Don't get me wrong, I love commuting on the bike because I hate the bus and sometimes it is a pain to find parking for the motorcycle. I try to ride daily on the motorcycle rain, shine, cold, heat, etc. It doesn't bother me. Plus Florida is kinda like California but with more humidity. Good luck!
I'm a bike only kinda guy. I was going to buy a car this morning. I was riding to an auction in Dallas, and the weather was so nice I passed it up and just kept on riding. I prefer not having a car right now. I save a ton of money. Not in the sense that gas is so cheap, but by the fact that I'm not out as much. I generally try to be home at a decent hour with my bike. In the past, I would stay out late drinking and doing other foolish things. My commute is faster so I have more time to myself. I went from a 40 minute ride to work in the car to a 18 minute ride. I figure if I'm going to entrust my life to a 2-wheeled machine, the least I can do is spend as much time as possible, riding, maintaining, and learning the machine.
There's other types of vehicles???
00 gs500
94 ford f150
00 ford taurus
I got legs, a free bus pass and a 25% discount rail card and two motor- cycles.
Given that I suddenly discovered that I am getting older, for the first time since the early 1970s car-ownership is something that I am once-again seriously considering, probably a very small car, possibly a Chevvy Matiz or similar. We have had a cold and wet spell recently that has been quite persuasive.
If I do take that plunge I intend to keep a motor cycle as my main transport but a jam-jar for the crap weather days and to escort her ladyship here and there, days out and maybe holidays and long weekends, she won't go near a bike these days.
Yes, my motorcycle is my only transportation, and I better get used to freezing, and enjoy shivering, because where I'm going I wont get a chance to.
I ride mostly during fall, spring and summer. Real cold or crapy weather I drive my car
I've been car-less for a while now and I love it. I simply couldn't afford rego on two vehicles. I'm fortunate to live in Australia, and apart from it being storm season in Sydney atm (the wets live permanently under my seat, just in case), weather is not normally an issue.
I think someone mentioned it above, but keep your maintenance up (esp. oil and tyre pressure) - whether it's work or school, someone's bound to get the sh1ts if you don't turn up.
Also, if you don't have a mate with a trailor, see if you can't get roadside assistance. It's more for piece of mind, but it often includes free-towing if you get stuck. I've heard too many stories of having to leave a bike by the side of the road, only to find the bike missing upon return. Trust me, it's not easy riding any bike when it's pouring rain and you've busted your brake levers off - both front and back - after a fall!!! I invested in my piece of mind the very next day!!! :icon_rolleyes: I think it goes without saying, having a mobile with a charged battery is handy too!
Otherwise, check the post with the tips for staying alive (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=29123.0) - at the end of the day, all this is useless if you're 6' under in a mahogany box.
bd.
Thanks for the tips everyone,
Today was a maintenance day: cleaned the whole bike, topped off the tires and oil. Looks like the chain is getting a bit dry as well so I'm going to pick up some grease tomorrow and give it a shot. Read the relevant posts today, think I can handle a little grease.
Replacing the chain might be difficult with the tools I currently have, but I think I have a few thousand miles left on this one.
Does anyone recommend a grease or replacement chain other than the ones listed in my Clymer?
Quote from: AWRobinson on December 20, 2006, 04:33:25 AM
Thanks for the tips everyone,
Today was a maintenance day: cleaned the whole bike, topped off the tires and oil. Looks like the chain is getting a bit dry as well so I'm going to pick up some grease tomorrow and give it a shot. Read the relevant posts today, think I can handle a little grease.
Replacing the chain might be difficult with the tools I currently have, but I think I have a few thousand miles left on this one.
Does anyone recommend a grease or replacement chain other than the ones listed in my Clymer?
Try a search for "chain lube" or something like that to see what comes up.
Personally, I use WD-40 to clean, and Maxima Chain Wax to protect.
Quote from: AWRobinson on December 20, 2006, 04:33:25 AMReplacing the chain might be difficult with the tools I currently have, but I think I have a few thousand miles left on this one.
Andy~
glad to see you got the maintenance on the bike...that chain and front sprocket are brand new, just replaced this summer...maybe 1000 miles on them...feel free to PM me if you have other questions about the bike, be glad to answer them-I always lubed the chain with chain wax that you can get pretty much anywhere, pop the bike on the center stand in neutral and spray away..