8k in 2 years .. 6.5k in 1 year !?  you guys let her sit in the shead to much !!!!! i feel for you gs     but mine probly hates me just as much as it hates you for not riding her . i'v got almost 13k and i still  have tell late nov. when i have my one year   

All this bickering aside ...
I have heard complaints that I want too much for my bikes not just GS'es ... pretty much anything else.
Guess what, they save 200 bucks buying from somone else and say ... oh ... this needs a carb clean and a valve adjustment. Whoo hooo ... not only do they dont know how to do it, they also have lost their 200 bucks twice over taking it to a dealer, and then run the risk of getting a frucked up mechanic mess up something.
When someone who does his own work - not just me, several excellent rider/wrenches here and on other sites, dont nickel and dime him, go over on a saturday morning and ask him to show you to yank off the carbs, adjust the valves, the spark plugs and the oil and exhaust and heck if you want ... the wheels and brakes. Cos trust me, before long you'll be doing all of this. So now not only do you know its done, you also know how its done and your $$ will seem like it was returned a 100 times over.
So guess what, I'd say, if its been maintained and he can show you everything on it, I'd say its worth it. Yea take pics or video and you can take market share from Kerry ...  ... yea put him right out of business Yea ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I really appreciate all of the information that you guys have provided for me. I talked my fiancee into letting me get one so hopefully Saturday I will be riding home on my new bike. Any advice on the first ride home (you know... does and don'ts). Also do I have to have my motorcycle endorsment before I can purchase the bike?

You don't have to. But please, God, get a license before you ride the bike home.

As for the first ride home, you really should attend a course or at least have a friend show you how to ride in a parking lot (the class is definately a good idea). As for needing an endorsement, that depends on your state. In Washington you can go to the department of liscencing and get a motorcycle permit without needing to take a test. (you may need to take a written test, but you have plenty of time to read the pamphlet while you wait in line) . The permit will allow you to ride for 90 days in order to practice for your drive test, but you can't carry a pasenger or ride at night.

Weather legal or not, I'm sure you'll get it and ride it home anyways, so just take it easy and go slow. If people tailgate you, just gradually slow down and pull over or wave them by, don't let anybody make you do anything you don't feel comfortable doing. Also, go easy on your rear brake it's easy to skid it, and many beginers do this. Always expect drivers to do the most stupid thing possible (remember they ARE trying to kill you) and always keep an esape route open. Remember to cancel your turn signal, drivers may expect you to turn if you leave it on when you don't mean to and they may pull out in front of you.

When you get home sign up for a class and find some empty roads/parking lots to practice on.

Also, I'm sure you can find your DMV or DOL website that will tell you your states laws.
Be safe

When I go get it I will take the back roads home since the dealer is about 5 miles from the house. Then I will get it registered Monday and see about the license after that. In the mean time I will practice driving and stuff like that up and down the roads in my subdivision. Sounds like a winner???

Quote from: scottpA_GS on August 31, 2006, 08:20:28 AM

Quote from: annguyen1981 on August 30, 2006, 08:52:33 PMI see you're pretty adament(sp??) about this credit rating affecting your insurance, huh?  Have you heard yourself say this out loud?  Why would be financial status affect my auto/mc insurance?!?!?!?  They have absolutely NO relation to each other.

http://affinity.progressive.com/auto_insurance_center/101/credit.asp

http://www.insurance.com/Article.aspx/My_Credit_Affects_My_Car_Insurance_Rate/artid/32

 

Quote from FIRST website...

Quote
What is a credit rating?
Credit ratings are different from insurance credit scores. A credit rating is based on your ability to repay amounts you have borrowed, whereas an insurance credit score simply measures how well you manage your finances.

Now this makes sense...  I thought you were talking about actual credit ratings (bankrupcies, debt, etc...).  You made it sound like if I was broke with bad credit, I wouldn't have to pay as much.

Sorry for the confusion.

Quote from: jpmire on August 31, 2006, 06:41:09 PM
When I go get it I will take the back roads home since the dealer is about 5 miles from the house. Then I will get it registered Monday and see about the license after that. In the mean time I will practice driving and stuff like that up and down the roads in my subdivision. Sounds like a winner???

If you have ridden a bike before sure.  If you have not then hell no.  Ask the dealer to deliver the bike to your house, most dealers will do that.  When I bought the GS the dealer delivered it with all my gear too  .  And for free.  Don't know where you live but in Ga you don't need a license to buy a bike.

After that then yes ride it around your subdivision, before taking off learn the friction zone of your clutch.  Practice shifting, there's a little green and white handbook that comes with the bike, read that before riding has a few pointers and tips in there.

Good luck on getting your new bike and have fun.

In all honesty, if you have never ridden a motorcycle before, your chance of getting home without damaging it (or yourself) are rather low. Most people stall the bike the first few times they try to take off in gear, and you really don't want to do that if there is traffic around. I don't care much about the legal aspect, but I'd hate to see you drop that beauty.

You can't save money by buying a bike if you already have a car...lol

Bikes need maintenance that cars don't need: tires (every 7-12k), chains, gear, GEAR!

Then you have comfort issues...cold weather..hot weather..

you gotta have the love of riding to ride.

Quote from: annguyen1981 on August 31, 2006, 06:45:19 PM

Quote from: scottpA_GS on August 31, 2006, 08:20:28 AM

Quote from: annguyen1981 on August 30, 2006, 08:52:33 PMI see you're pretty adament(sp??) about this credit rating affecting your insurance, huh?  Have you heard yourself say this out loud?  Why would be financial status affect my auto/mc insurance?!?!?!?  They have absolutely NO relation to each other.

http://affinity.progressive.com/auto_insurance_center/101/credit.asp

http://www.insurance.com/Article.aspx/My_Credit_Affects_My_Car_Insurance_Rate/artid/32

 

Quote from FIRST website...

Quote
What is a credit rating?
Credit ratings are different from insurance credit scores. A credit rating is based on your ability to repay amounts you have borrowed, whereas an insurance credit score simply measures how well you manage your finances.

Now this makes sense...  I thought you were talking about actual credit ratings (bankrupcies, debt, etc...).  You made it sound like if I was broke with bad credit, I wouldn't have to pay as much.

Sorry for the confusion.

Ok not to keep stealing this thread but. That (Insurance Credit Score) Comes from your credit report. and is still based on your credt.

This is also on that site:

"To determine an insurance credit score for you, we take information from your credit report and assign a value to each factor."

"Insurance credit score, which is based on how well you manage your finances, is one of these characteristics."

Now this part is what I know you.. and I find funny:

"It's a fact that people with better credit scores tend to have fewer accidents."

My credit is HORRIBLE! and I have no accidents and no tickets EVER ! and I have been driving for 15 years!

I think its funny that they use the words "Fact" and "tend to" in the same sentence 

Yea true, but if you have a bike ... you need a car or turck ... for when it strands your ass 100 miles from home. Or in my case 15 miles from home.
In any case, people have 2 cars, one for each adult member of the house, one of those can definetly be a bike. heck if 3 people live in a house and are all equal sharing caring people, they can prolly get by with one rickety old car and 3 bikes between them. My brother when he lived with us - we made it fine with 2 bikes and a truck. In any case a bike is a great second car   ... and a third and a fourth. just dont have a VW or some other serious clunker as the "car". Decent one maybe a truck of somehting with a tow capacity.
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: banner on September 01, 2006, 01:24:54 AM
You can't save money by buying a bike if you already have a car...lol

Bikes need maintenance that cars don't need: tires (every 7-12k), chains, gear, GEAR!

Then you have comfort issues...cold weather..hot weather..

you gotta have the love of riding to ride.

I beg to differ...  I've been able to save LOADS ever since I got my bike last year.  You are correct with the maintainance stuff, and you forgot insurance, but did you think about GAS?  Before I got the GS, I gassed up my cage about twice a week at $40 each.  I gas up the GS two or three times a week (three when I just go out riding a whole day) at $10 a pop.

This adds up quite a bit.  I was shocked to see how much I had in my bank account after the bills.  And I didn't decrease my spending habits.  I am actually SPENDING MORE online.

Well guys as of 10 o'clock today I will be the proud new owner of a 2004 Suzuki GS500F. I found a smokin deal from someone who lives about 45 minutes from my house. The bike only has 5100 miles and I am getting it for $3500. I wanted to buy a new one but the bank decided not to tell me that if I did it would have to be fully covered. And that just wasn't happening. And I REALLY REALLY wanted this bike, so I found one used. He has all the paperwork from every maintainence and oil change he has done since he bought the bike. I am going pick it up and load it in the back of my truck. I have a friend who has been riding for years and he told me that he would teach me how to ride. I am registered to take a class next weekend. I will post up again after I get home ride the bike for awhile. Thanks for all the help.

WOW!!!!  I LOVE THAT BIKE. IT IS FREAKIN SWEET.

Congrats! Have fun (and be safe!)

3d

The guy told me it was stock. He bought the bike for his girlfriend but she was to short to ride. He also as a cruiser. He said he would rather fix up his cruiser that the gs. Anyway I have been riding this bike for about 4 hrs now I feel very comfortable riding. At first I had a little trouble taking off while turning. But after stalling out a couple of times I finally got the hang of it. I appreciate all of the advice and help that everyone has given to me. You guys made me feel good and comfortable about buying this model bike. Thanks again guys.