Wifey was on a teachers convention or something...gone from Thursday to Sunday...sooooo...I called on Friday night and told her that the wind was driving me nuts on the GS500 (on very windy days, max speed is 115kph...and the limit is 110kph, but the traffic flows at 120kph...not the safest situation), really an excuse since it isn't windy all the time...but it worked...she said "fine, you won't drop it anyway..." 

So I went in and made a deal on a bike that I had been eyeing up for about 8 or 9 months in the used area of the dealer...I brought her home on Saturday at 4pm ish...and went for a ride today, about 550kms...

This is for you tt_four...bike porn...






Unfortunately, that was as close to the mountains as we got...needed another two hours to ride out there and back...didn't have the time today...

And it has been named..."The BEAST"...110ft-lb of torque...monster...the small tank still got me 200kms before the low light started to blink, so probably 250-270kms to dry...not that I will test that 

It's basically a cruiser that can turn and stop really, really well...I luv it...but dirt is out for now...but now wifey is talking scooter, so we are headed in the right direction...

Later.

very nice. but no windshield, what about this wind you refer to?

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on May 01, 2011, 07:47:30 PM
very nice. but no windshield, what about this wind you refer to?

Yeah, that and a center stand are on my wish list...I was actually hoping that the shield from my GS would fit, but the bars are thicker...bummer...but since I started watching the bike, the price dropped $750...then I talked them down another $550, so $1300 off the price...not a bad deal if you ask me...and as for the wind, if cruiser guys can deal with it...I can too, for a few months before I get me a wind deflector...

Hopefully the GS500 sells quickly, but there isn't much for commuter bikes on the market right now...prime time in my view...I'm hoping to get what I paid for it...we'll see...

Later.

get a removable one, so its there when needed, and not when you dont

Oooooooooohhhhhhh sssshhhitt!! It looks awesome man! Glad you finally decided on what you wanted! Looks awesome. Are the handlebars 1"? Slipstreamer makes 1" clamps you can buy and just keep your windshield, or probably just buy a 1" windshield on ebay for the same price as new clamps...

That's a serious amount of bike, I bet you don't ever look back haha. I'm kinda in your shoes and can't make up my mind at the moment. Still want to trade up my xb9 for an xb12, and I also really want a supermoto. I thought I was gonna try to get both but it looks like my pup needs about $2k worth of surgery so I'll probably have to put off the 2nd bike until next year.

Jealous you get those mountains too! I've got a few twisty roads but nothing like a nice set of mountains within reach.

Nice ride Mad. Hope to see some more vids. Hope you still hang out here.

Quote from: tt_four on May 01, 2011, 08:19:55 PM
Oooooooooohhhhhhh sssshhhitt!! It looks awesome man! Glad you finally decided on what you wanted! Looks awesome. Are the handlebars 1"? Slipstreamer makes 1" clamps you can buy and just keep your windshield, or probably just buy a 1" windshield on ebay for the same price as new clamps...

That's a serious amount of bike, I bet you don't ever look back haha. I'm kinda in your shoes and can't make up my mind at the moment. Still want to trade up my xb9 for an xb12, and I also really want a supermoto. I thought I was gonna try to get both but it looks like my pup needs about $2k worth of surgery so I'll probably have to put off the 2nd bike until next year.

Jealous you get those mountains too! I've got a few twisty roads but nothing like a nice set of mountains within reach.

really sucks being 40 minutes from the dragon, and no bike lol

Quote from: Twisted on May 01, 2011, 08:58:27 PM
Nice ride Mad. Hope to see some more vids. Hope you still hang out here.

Yeah, I don't think I'll be going anywhere...I think we have a pretty good bunch in here...

I tried to talk the wifey into keeping the GS500 for herself to learn...but nope...maybe a scooter, but no bike...not yet anyway...I'll keep working on it...

Quote from: tt_four on May 01, 2011, 08:19:55 PM
Oooooooooohhhhhhh sssshhhitt!! It looks awesome man! Glad you finally decided on what you wanted! Looks awesome. Are the handlebars 1"? Slipstreamer makes 1" clamps you can buy and just keep your windshield, or probably just buy a 1" windshield on ebay for the same price as new clamps...

That's a serious amount of bike, I bet you don't ever look back haha. I'm kinda in your shoes and can't make up my mind at the moment. Still want to trade up my xb9 for an xb12, and I also really want a supermoto. I thought I was gonna try to get both but it looks like my pup needs about $2k worth of surgery so I'll probably have to put off the 2nd bike until next year.

Jealous you get those mountains too! I've got a few twisty roads but nothing like a nice set of mountains within reach.

As soon as I made the decision and put out the cash...all doubts were gone...yeah, there are little things that need changing...but that is what the aftermarket is for...

All I can say is...don't worry about being sensible, get what you really want...you don't get to play this game again, so play it the way you want...

PS...this bike is deceivingly fast...twist the grip to pass and BAM...160kph (100mph) from 100kph (60mph)... ...really have to be careful, cops just love those lame excuses...

Later.

convince her. that she'd tire of the scooter fairly quickly lol

Yeh get her to at least try the GS before you sell it.



(And who installed a post whore filter on these damn forums?  Seriously can we only post one post per 45 seconds lol? )

Congrats Mad 

@Twisted. Thanks Yama for the 45 second rule. 

Michael

Thanks Yama 

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on May 01, 2011, 10:10:53 PM
convince her. that she'd tire of the scooter fairly quickly lol

Heather used to always talk about wanting a scooter. When I got my triumph and wanted to get her something to ride I pushed a bigger bike on her and talked her into the GS500. She liked it but was definitely intimidated and got overly frustraited learning to ride it. She rode it some with me, but never got much use out of it by herself. In the end it ended up in her parents shed for 5 years. I eventually pulled it out, fixed it up, sold it, and in the mean time she finally ended up buying a moped and was loves it. She doesn't show any interest in bigger bikes at all. It's nice to think that everyone would prefer a gs500 over a scooter, but how many people here thought you'd want something else instead of the MT01? Just gotta get what you want and go with it. If she wants a scooter, get a scooter. If she wants to move up eventually it'll be much easier for her to transition to a bigger bike without having to learn how to deal with traffice and all of that stuff at the same time.

Quote from: tt_four on May 02, 2011, 09:33:05 AM

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on May 01, 2011, 10:10:53 PM
convince her. that she'd tire of the scooter fairly quickly lol

Heather used to always talk about wanting a scooter. When I got my triumph and wanted to get her something to ride I pushed a bigger bike on her and talked her into the GS500. She liked it but was definitely intimidated and got overly frustraited learning to ride it. She rode it some with me, but never got much use out of it by herself. In the end it ended up in her parents shed for 5 years. I eventually pulled it out, fixed it up, sold it, and in the mean time she finally ended up buying a moped and was loves it. She doesn't show any interest in bigger bikes at all. It's nice to think that everyone would prefer a gs500 over a scooter, but how many people here thought you'd want something else instead of the MT01? Just gotta get what you want and go with it. If she wants a scooter, get a scooter. If she wants to move up eventually it'll be much easier for her to transition to a bigger bike without having to learn how to deal with traffice and all of that stuff at the same time.

Yup, that's what I was thinking...would be nice for her to keep the GS, but she doesn't want to learn to shift...so a scooter is the best choice...she is looking at 50cc for now...just to putt to work on and around town...but I have a feeling that she will want to hit the hiway to visit her parents (1/2 hour drive)...so I may try to steer her toward a 200-300cc scoot...but other than that, it's up to her...

Still can't beleive I have the MT-01...screw lunch, I'm going for a ride...

Later.

COOL!!!  Is it safe riding 2-up with the exhaust pipes up there?

No...I'm not taking you for a ride...get your own bike!!   

The heat shields seem pretty effective, so I don't see why not...I can put my hand on them after a ride, and it is warm not hot...wouldn't suggest touching the end of the pipe though...you're on your own there...

I won't be trying two up, until I feel pretty comfortable on the bike first...need lots of practice with throttle control...much different on this bike... ...huge torque and huge engine braking...the word is smooth with this thing...practice practice practice...

Later.

The back seats on those bikes are pretty wide, so it's probably pretty easy to sit back there and not slide all over the place. Besides that, who wants someone on the back getting in the way of a good ride??

Quote from: mister on May 02, 2011, 02:49:35 AM
Congrats Mad 

@Twisted. Thanks Yama for the 45 second rule. 

Michael

yup  im still looking for the postwhore thread, if its in the database or archives etc. youd see why lol

Quote from: tt_four on May 02, 2011, 04:58:13 PM
The back seats on those bikes are pretty wide, so it's probably pretty easy to sit back there and not slide all over the place. Besides that, who wants someone on the back getting in the way of a good ride??

Yup, there's lots of realestate back there...but the pegs are from the R1 parts bin...pillion knees will be level with their ear lobes... ...but like my buddy says...if you don't like it, feel free to walk...

It's not made for two anyway...they can get their own bike...(daughter thinks that is pretty good...sorry sweety, you need to be 16  )

Later.

http://www.dollarrider.com/list.cfm?category_ID=2&model_ID=434