Well, I got my machine, and it's been an eventful couple of weeks.

My bike is a 1995 GS500E, with 7000 miles I got for $1200 bucks back in October.  It was sitting in a garage about 250 miles away, in Michigan.  I didn't know how to ride yet, so a (good) friend of mine volunteered to take the first weekend of his spring break and drive the bike back here.  We drove his car out, and I intended to drive the car back in caravan with him on the bike.

We got to Detroit, and the bike wouldn't start.  It looked in great condition, though, and it ran perfectly well when I stored it last fall.  Turned out the battery was done for (despite sitting dry on a trickle charger all winter), and I'd not run Stabil correctly through the carbs (I only ran the engine for a couple of minutes... apparently it's good to run it for a half hour, but I was a newbie, and didn't know my carbs from my turn signals).  But after a bunch of jumps, a lot of backfiring, an oil and filter change, and a new battery, she was good to go.

The ride back to Chicago, which usually takes around 4 1/2 hours in a car going 70, we managed in 8 hours.  At first it was clean quick sailing... my friend had on all sorts of layered gear, and it was sunny.  But as the sun began to dip and finally disappeared altogether, it got COLD.  Cold like 35 degrees F.  We started doing twenty mile shifts... twenty miles, then 10 minutes for my friend to warm up in our Chevy blast furnace.  But eventually we got it back OK, and I had my new bike.

I started the next day to ride it around my neighborhood, slowly, staying in first gear.  I didn't attempt even second gear for a day or two, just focusing on staying upright, turns, braking, etc.  I found a little parking lot and practiced figure eights and countersteering, and started playing with other gears.  I laid her down gently once, while stationary, because I was not accustomed to such a heavy machine.  Thank goodness I didn't get a Hyabusa!    But no damage.  She took that little spill superbly.

After a week or so, I started braving the main roads (not the freeways... I'm still a freeway virgin). But it was good... I was able to get around Chicago for the first time ever without using the El.  I have all the necessary equipment except for the endorsement... I will do that next week.  But I have a leather jacket and gloves, a nice helmet (Scorpion EXO-400 in silver), insurance (Mendakota), plates, a clean title, and everything is groovy.

I had my first contact with the glamor of the motorcyclist a few days ago, when a girl started hitting on me, but only after seeing my helmet.  That was interesting.

So that's how it was for the first week and a half, until yesterday;  getting used to shifing, rush-hour surface traffic, trucks, taxicabs, turns,  parking, sudden rain squalls, and the rest.  What an adrenaline shot, what a convenience, what a great bike.  I love the GS.  I'm absolutely happy I got this bike... it has plenty of power (but I can still control it), it's sleek, small and it takes punches well.

Yesterday, though, on the way back from the north side, I got too cocky.  I tried to make a light, decided to brake too late as traffic entered the intersection.  I was in a tight turn, and pulled the clutch and front brake.  The bike skidded out from under me.  I was only going like 15 mph at that point, I think, and I was fine.  Didn't hit my helmet, only skinned my knee (under my jeans) a little.  After a lot of cussing, I picked up the bike and got it to the side of the road and surveyed the damage.  It wasn't too bad... the bike started (after the flooded engine turned over).  There were some scratches now on the engine block, and the handlebars were bent a bit.  But nothing structural, to my eye.  Shaken and pissed at myself, I drove it slowly to a nearby cafe.  The worst damage was to my laptop in my bag... it wouldn't start.  But my Apple warranty will take care of it, thank goodness.

So I drove slowly to the bike shop I know, at the corner of 19th St. and Western.  Those guys just kick ass.  One of the guys loosened the bolts to my front end to release the crash torque to the parts, and was able to mostly straighten the handlebars without any other work.  The bike was now fully ridable again, although I'm going to replace the bars as soon as I have fifty bucks to spare.  There is some chipped paint where they attach to the clips.

So I have hurt my baby a little... she's still mostly OK, but it's like I have insulted her.  The scratches will serve as a reminder of my ineptness for a while, I think.  I always heard before I started riding that everybody falls sometime... in a way, I'm happy I fell when and how I did: nobody got hurt, I learned how much braking I can do in a turn, and I'm still committed to riding. 

Whew.

Today, some fuckhead backed his Buick into my bike and knocked it over, bending the handlebars again.  My brake lever is now crescent shaped, and the little knob at the end of the throttle broke off.  I'm definitely gonna need new bars now, and maybe a new brake lever.  I got the car's license and called the cops, but I don't know if they can do anything even if they ever show up... I have no-fault insurance.  But I just wish I could find the guy who ran over my baby and sock him in the mouth.  Only I can drop my bike, dammit.  I don't need anybody to help me.

So, to make a long story short, I'm learning how to ride in the thick of an urban area, and have learned much.  My bike has already fallen over three times, and I'm thoroughly humbled and a little pissed off.  But I'm trying, and hopefully I'll not damage myself or my machine anymore.  Knock on wood.  It's fun, not easy, but thoroughly rewarding.  Quite a ride.

Nice story niteshade -- sounds like you're learning really fast!     I've only had mine a couple of months & it's really easy to control and has lots of kick when you want it.  The best perks are not only when you get the girls to hit on you, but when they check you out right in front of their boyfriend! 

Great story,man and welcome to the board. As you said everyone falls and hopefully you have gotten it out of your system for your bikes sake and yours. Im from Chicago myself and if you go a tad further down by Lane Tech(if its still there) there's a shop called Champs or Champions that fixed my bike a few years ago. Great bunch of guys, even worked with me on storage and paying the repairs off once i moved to NC. Might want to check them out also

Not gonna lie, I got a bike mainly for the ladies   

Does that make me a poser?

Like I heard somewhere else on here, "It isn't a scratch -- It's a scar."

And yes, getting a bike for the ladies makes you a poser.   

Don't feel bad; I've done something much worse. I was out today on my nearly brand-new GS500FK5, following a friend on his Yamaha FZ6 (we were out for a day of geocaching).
He--a much more experienced rider--gunned it around some curves. I knew--KNEW--my safe speed is different from his, but I stupidly tried to keep up. But I didn't know how to lean low enough into those curves. I ended up right on the edge of the gutter, hit a patch of sand, and lowsided at 40MPH.

My baby is now laid up in a towing yard with scarred left fairing, dead front tire, dinged front rim, bent shift lever, bent handlebar end, and a gaping hole in the left engine cover.

What have I learned?
1. *Always* wear your gear. I walked away with merely a badly scratched knee. It could have been so much worse. My TourMaster jacket is toast, but I still have my arm.
2. Listen to that little voice that says you're going too fast. It's right. Every time.
3. Lots of things come together to produce this kind of situation. I was going a bit too fast for my skill level, yes, but you have to anticipate that patch of sand that'll take you down.
4. Insure your bike.

Fortunately I can absorb the $1000 deductible it will take to get it back on the road. My pride will never recover, but at least my body is intact. What I have to think about now is whether I have any business being on a motorcycle ever again.

[3

Quote from: LimaXray on April 01, 2006, 03:32:38 PM
Not gonna lie, I got a bike mainly for the ladies   

Does that make me a poser?

Well, the GS might get you some attention, but you'd do better on a Ducati or a Harley, methinks.  My Dad still calls my GS a "scooter."    And Poser is as poser believes, I think.  If you think you're a poser, then you are one.  I'm not sure that riding to pick up chicks is necessarily a bad thing, though... it's part of the package.  I mean, if bikes made you LESS attractive, there'd be a lot less bikes out there, no?  Anything for more motorcyclists.  Besides, I think my favorite thing about motorcycling is no less superficial... it's the nods and horn beeps you get from passing bikes.  I love it when that ZZ Top dude on the V-Rod gives a little salute to the GS.  Doesn't happen every time, but often enough. 

I like the "Scar" thing... I'll definitely use that in the future.  Thanks Phire.  And Average, thanks for the tip on Champs... although I'm not sure where Lane Tech is.  How long ago did you leave Chicago?

Quote from: niteshade on April 02, 2006, 01:35:22 PM
I love it when that ZZ Top dude on the V-Rod gives a little salute to the GS.  Doesn't happen every time, but often enough. 

+1. I love it when sportbikes and cruisers indicate mutual respect.

As for getting the chicks with the bike....I was very surprised the first time I was hit on by a young lady while in full gear, but taking my helmet off solves that! 

Glad to hear you made it through your first couple of weeks relatively unscathed. Are there any quiet places (parking lots) nearby where you can practice out of traffic?

lol you're probably right about the getting more attention with a Ducati or Harley.  Hmmm... maybe when I get this GS thing down...

The fact of the matter is, I'm a 21 year old guy, my two favorite things on this planet are things that go "vroom vroom" and women (well not always).  It was the "vroom vroom" part that first turned me on to the idea of a motorcycle.  But, then I came to a realization which cemented the idea: When I tell some nice little blonde girl I have a 300+ hp big turbo'd A4, she doesn't care.  When I say oh I have a motorcycle, a GS500F, she's all like ooo thats sooo hot! It's true, I've tried it.  On top of it, my GS is faster than my A4! My point is, that is if I really do have a point, in comparison, you get more of both worlds with a bike, regardless of which bike you ride.

So I guess I should clarify and say the ladies to me are like an extended warrenty thats thrown in there to help close the deal 

Oh and congrats on starting riding.  I'm just starting myself, and can't wait to get on the road.  I haven't laid my GS down yet, but that's only cause its still at the dealership   

Thanks Lima.  And do yourself a favor... when you get that shiny new GS-F from the dealer, take off the fairings and put them in your garage for a month or two.  If you're anything like me, those babies will be toast in no time.   

Quote from: pandy on April 02, 2006, 02:09:41 PM
Are there any quiet places (parking lots) nearby where you can practice out of traffic?

Hmmm... trying to think of one... maybe I can find a church somewhere not too far away.  It's kind of a dense city, though... real estate for parking lots isn't that common.  There's a grocery store not far away, but there are a lot of cars around.  I thought about the lot at the United Center, which is huge, but I think they lock it and have cops with large guns patrolling.  Should get my endorsement before I risk that one.

For the first time since I was a teen I wish I lived close to a mall... 

Lima,

Remember that if you are looking to attract women who are attracted to your motorcycle that you're going to attract the type of women who are attracted to guys with motorcycles.  As far as stereotypes go, that's not the type of girl I personally want to attract.  I have a specific list of criteria, and "liking me for my motorcycle" isn't on it, except in the negative category unless she also likes to ride and has her own.  I got a motorcycle because I enjoy riding.  Screw what everyone else thinks. 

Oh no don't get me wrong, I'm not interested in the type of women who are attracted to guys with motorcycles, I just like the attention.  I'm a whore like that.   

I really was just being a smart ass about the whole ladies thing, and it really was just a 'hey thats cool' after thought.  I'm a gear head and a half, how could I not want to get a motorcycle? 

Quote from: niteshade on April 02, 2006, 04:20:37 PM

Quote from: pandy on April 02, 2006, 02:09:41 PM
Are there any quiet places (parking lots) nearby where you can practice out of traffic?

Hmmm... trying to think of one... maybe I can find a church somewhere not too far away.  It's kind of a dense city, though... real estate for parking lots isn't that common.  There's a grocery store not far away, but there are a lot of cars around.  I thought about the lot at the United Center, which is huge, but I think they lock it and have cops with large guns patrolling.  Should get my endorsement before I risk that one.

For the first time since I was a teen I wish I lived close to a mall... 

United Center ? As in the new Bulls stadium? Wow, you live in a pretty "iffy" neighborhood! Be careful.

Nah, I'm not bashing your reason to ride. Everyone is entitled to their reasons for whatever they do. What WOULD make someone a poser, however, no matter from what perspective is if you gave the impression that you're a biker because you love to ride and love motorcycles if you really don't, but ARE riding just to have the 'image.' But either way, I don't care. I ride because I love to ride and all the attention that I get is definately a bonus. But there's so much wiggle room to this debate, there's really no way to set hard lines on what is and isn't. I mean, for example, I just bought a 2006 Silverado 4x4 and it's my first truck. There's people that take trucks to a whole new level and it's almost like a status quo to them to have their trucks as pimped out as possible. But does that make me a poser because I don't really care about pimping out my truck right now?  Someday... when I have the money and learn a bit more.    One could say that the other guys are the posers for being glamor whores while I'm the raw performance whore or it could work the other way around... Anyways you get my drift, and enough rambling from me.

Quote from: average on April 02, 2006, 11:27:13 PMUnited Center ? As in the new Bulls stadium? Wow, you live in a pretty "iffy" neighborhood! Be careful.

Nah... I don't live right around the UC, but it's close enough to make it an option.  Besides, I grew up in Detroit... often neighborhoods that look bad aren't.  Gotta know the signs, be street smart.  Besides, isn't one great thing about a bike how fast it can getaway?

Friend of mine was telling me a story... guy he knew was out for a joyride on his crotch rocket.  Fast.  Caught a police "escort," and proceeded to outrun them.  Drove near to his neighborhood, parked the bike on the side of the road, and cut through the forest on foot to get home.  Had a comfortable sleep in his own bed.  In the morning, he went to the police station, where they his bike had been towed, and reported it "stolen."     They just gave it back to him.

Short story, I'm not really worried about being mugged or anything.  I've learned that the more you worry about stuff like that, the more you pay in rent and the more insulated you get from society.  Gotta be alert and smart, yes.  Who knows, though... I've never been to a Bulls game.  Not sure what the neighborhood is like, so we'll see.  But Tiger Stadium was in a lousy neighborhood too, before they built the new one.

Niteshade - glad you're allright, keep it up

You might go to the grocery store parking lot late at night.