hey all,

Never ridden before but wanted to for a while now, always half-joked about how fun a motorcycle would be and finally told myself to quit dreaming and get one.

Found this forum a while ago when i was doing some research trying to figure out what to get and decided pretty solidly on a GS500F.  So far its been a big help, not to mention an entertaining read now and then.

Signed up to take the class at the end of the month.  Dont really have much experience with manual trans so shifting is fairly high on my list of concerns but i think thats mainly just because of unfamiliarity not so much dificulty.  Other than that a little nervous but also excited and wishing the class was this weekend, not three weekends away.

If all goes well and i can get the basics down and it dosent scare the hell out of me i should be in the market for...im thinking an 04 yellow/ 05 blue, probably whichever i come across first.

Im sure i could think of a million other questions but ill hold off on those til ive taken the class and have a better feel for things.

Is anyone around here in the Dallas area?

Welcome coaggie. The GS is a great bike and you are on a great forum. There is a wealth knowledge here, take advantage of it. Dont forget to use the search feature.

Welcome!

Treat yourself to a local dealership and go sit on the bikes and:

Twist the throttle - it's the right grip
Pull the clutch - it's the left lever
Grab the front brake - it's the right lever
Step on the rear brake - it's the right pedal
The left pedal is the gearshift, be gentle with that; it wont break, but it's not your bike, yet.  You do want to get your toes underneath it though, and pull up, that's how we upshift (if it makes a click, it's okay).

And don't forget to make Vroom Vroom noises! 

Welcome to the board! 

Don't worry about the shifting.  It's so rediculously easy compared to a car (which isn't a big deal, either, one you're used to it).  There's practically no way to kill a bike while shifting/starting off since their so light and easy to get moving.  And shiftinf itself is fairly intuitive, and well covered in the MSF.

Good luck. 

Shifting is one of the easiest parts of riding.  Countersteering now thats a whole different story 

Pff.  Countersteering is intuitive.  You do it on a bicycle, you jsut don't think about it.  So keep not thinking about it, and pressss your way through the turns.

Bicycle = 10 pounds.  MC=400 pounds.  Me = 115 pounds.  MC just a little more to handle than bi.  Plus I havent rode a biclycle in ages that would involve doing something physically active.

Hey, John, can we get a filter of some sort installed so that a group of the same smiley get turned into just one smiley?  I'll even code it up, if I have to...

Quote from: pandy on April 05, 2006, 10:50:50 AMAnd don't forget to make Vroom Vroom noises! 

I think you've been watching too much Build or Bust.   

coaggie05, don't sweat the clutch thing... When I took the MSF, there were two people that had never driven a manual and they got it down.

thanks for the welcome,

And yeah, ive definitly been window shopping a couple times already.

If you were around Seattle, you could have your pick of two brand-new Yellow '04s.

I was really thinking about getting one... But, I already have an '01...  So, I don't see the gain.

Ditto on the transmission.  I never drove a stick before learning the MC and it was never a problem.  In fact, it made it easier to learn stick on my truck when I got it.  Shifting a motorcycle is way easier than shifting a car.

I'm a newbie, and shifting came fairly easily to me.  Shifting WELL, on the other hand, is coming slowly... I'm not the smoothest shifter in the world.  Getting better.

For me, the hardest thing isn't when the bike's moving, but when it's not... I just can't seem to parallel park.  Not sure if I'm a dimwhit or what, but I just can't seem to get it down.   

I couldn't wait for the MSF course, and just started driving around my neighborhood and parking lots.  I'll try the MSF course too, in May (first time it's held here), but I think by that point it will serve mostly to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.

Yes, I have wiped out once, but in general I don't think it's too risky to just start riding on your own.  I wiped out because I didn't respect the bike, and got cocky.  Just be very careful, stay in first and second gear, find a nearby parking lot to practice figure 8s and braking, stay off of multilane roads, and don't get embarrassed when the thin conks out on you.  I stalled in many an intersection, often with cute girls chuckling at me.  Spend a lot of time on braking starting from a standstill.  Practice leaning into tight corners.

And wear your gear always.

Ditto towards the shifting comment. I'm yet another newbie but I foud that shifting is very easy, but like someone said, shifting well, thats the hard part

I dont know everyone I've talked to find figure-8's and circles hard, but for me thats easy. It was always the going in and out of the cones in the slaloam on the road test.

I've never wiped out, but I've knocked the bike over once. Just today, my foot slipped on a rock and I ended up dropping the bike in my driveway. Pathetic I know, but all that happend was the little knob on the end of the brake handle got knocked off. Already getting a new one.

Anyhow, welcome to the board and great choice on the GS. I love mine, and can't wait for my license plate to finally get here so I can get out on the road.

i just took the course last week. never had driven anything with a standard transmission. i did the best in my class better than people that had been riding for a while. there is nothing to worry about. you will do fine as long as you pay attention and have fun.

in fact i had so much fun, i had to buy a bike the next day!!!

Quote from: RVertigo on April 05, 2006, 11:37:01 AM
If you were around Seattle, you could have your pick of two brand-new Yellow '04s.

ahhhh, remember the days when Roadstergal would post regular shots of that nifty yellow 04 F she had?

Where is Roadstergal these days?

Quote from: daneilah on April 05, 2006, 06:06:33 PM

Quote from: RVertigo on April 05, 2006, 11:37:01 AM
If you were around Seattle, you could have your pick of two brand-new Yellow '04s.

ahhhh, remember the days when Roadstergal would post regular shots of that nifty yellow 04 F she had?

Where is Roadstergal these days?

It is a loooooooooong story!!!!!

Actually, it's a pretty short story.  She took offence at Mak posting guns for sale semi-legally, and quit. 

Quote from: aaronstj on April 05, 2006, 06:38:12 PM
Actually, it's a pretty short story.  She took offence at Mak posting guns for sale semi-legally, and quit. 

Did she ever sell her GS? I know she was trying to after she quit the board. I think she's sticking to the DR from what I've heard.