After spending the last few weeks reading pretty much every post on the forum, I finally did it. Put my hard earned down on a brand new gs500. Pick her up in 10 days and counting. First I have to do the test for my learners permit next Wednesday, and then I pick her up on Friday14/5! Cant Wait! And it was all the info on this forum that convinced me to buy her against the er5. I reckon its a pretty good choice.

Thanks all!

Congradulations mate thats makes afew of us from sydney now with new GS's we should rally up the troops for a sydney GS ride some weekend.

That would be excellent. First Im just nervous about the test. Did you find it hard??

here in wisconsin the permit test is 20 questions, and you can miss 2. i studied a grand total of 90 mins (w/0 knowledge beforehand) and got 1 wrong.

if that's not the government exhibiting population control, i dunno what is.

Quote from: perfdrughere in wisconsin the permit test is 20 questions, and you can miss 2. i studied a grand total of 90 mins (w/0 knowledge beforehand) and got 1 wrong.

if that's not the government exhibiting population control, i dunno what is.

American driver's license tests are ridiculous compared with what we have to do in Europe. I guess the difference in attitude is very much that in the US you need some motorized transportation to run your life, and nobody shuld be denied it, while here you can get by without a car or a bike.

I liked the sentence "you may have to drive in traffic" (or somesuch; it was in Georgia) best in the instructions for the test. My test in Europe was 45 min. All in traffic.

But then, if I compare driving in the US with driving in Europe, Americans are normally less aggressive on the road. Densely populated areas with matching congestion problems being an exception.

(And bikers have their more than average share of crazies everywhere.)

which test are you doing the theory which comes after the 2 days course or the 2 days course ? the 2 day course in my opinion was very easy i'd never been on bikes before and breezed through it the theory is pretty much common sense i got all right most of it is based on common knowledge road rules, good luck either way, when i feel confident riding my bike we will organize a ride...

Hi Guys & Welcome  I found the two day course was good & it was not too hard and  you learn lots *sp if you have never riding a bike before like me & the computer test is not that hard ( I got % 100   ) . i have been riding since Nov last year & have already clock up 5000km's I found the only way to get better is just get out there & ride (Safe) . take care & safe riding  

all the best matt:) your friend
P.S I'm planning to do I BIG ride to Canberra soon maybe we can meet some were & make a day of it

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the site!  I hope you didn't really drop 7k on your bike. you could have gotten it much cheaper or am I missing something here?

Australlian money... not US dollars.

my bad

Oh Australlian money. Cause I was gonna say I payed 5800 walk out for mine.

Europe sounds like a scary place to drive I guess on one hand it'd be nice to be able to get by without a car or a bike, but on the other hand I wouldn't want to be without them.

Hi all
Thanks for all the advice re the test. $7K does sound alot of dough but they also threw in a helmet, jacket and data dot protection. And I gotta say I was like a stunned mullet. I sat on the bike and handed over my wallet and told them to take what they liked. Tough negitiator huh!

And that was before I had even booked the test! Ive ridden dirt bikes a while ago (like 15 years) so hopefully Ill remember some of it! Anyway a ride out at some stage sounds good.

Matt 86, when are you going to Canberra? Ive spent alot of time climbing in Nowra and the road up to the highway is magic.

c0r, doing the 2 day course wed/thur and then the knowledge on Thurs arvo time permitting.
Cheers

Good luck with the test you should have no problems the L's test is easy but if you have ridden dirt before make sure you keep your elbows down not up like a dirt bike they will catch you out on it but otherwise to easy, I actually enjoyed it as I had done my L's many years before then, when you just answered questions on paper  :lol: got on your bike and rode off but with training like that no wonder I crashed my DT175 and broke my ankle 2 weeks before licence expired :x
When you pass your your L's make sure and I cant stress this enough u practice u turns as its a big part of the P's test practice in a car park, if you can do it in between 2 parking spots or about 1 1/2 you should be right it took my friend 4 goes before he passed with no practice passed my first go with practice also emergency stops another one to practice otherwise all easy.
And to all the other Sydney GS riders a group ride sounds like a great idea count me in, does everyone know and like the Old Pacific Hwy to Gosford just as a thought?

Quote from: MarkusNAmerican driver's license tests are ridiculous compared with what we have to do in Europe. I guess the difference in attitude is very much that in the US you need some motorized transportation to run your life, and nobody shuld be denied it, while here you can get by without a car or a bike.

Nah over here you just need a pulse to get a license  

Its sickening how many oblivious morons are on the road that should be taking the bus or the light rail system.  You're right though, the level of aggresive-ness depends on where you are.  Here in San Jose, I have to stay on top of things or someone may change lanes into me.  When I go home though, its not as bad.

New drivers under 18 have to spend more hours of training now in CA (think like 50 hours in daylight and another 15-20 at night).  Then they're not allowed to have passengers for 6 months or a year unless they are over 25.  Its sucks for the kids but I'm glad its required now.  My drivers license test inolved the written test and a 5 minute road test.  My M1 endorsement was the beginner course and then the written test.  People under 21 in CA have to take the beginner MSF course before they can get the endorsement.

Oh yeah, congrats on the new bike  :mrgreen:  
have fun and keep the rubber side down!

I think it's ridiculous that they pick on kids. I live in the suburbs, and I know for a fact that SOCCER MOMS ON CELL PHONES DRIVING SUV'S and OLD PEOPLE are more apt to cause a major accident than an 18 year old kid. I do know a few reckless 18-25 year old drivers, but to be fair, I know just about as many 25-40 year old bad drivers. I think the ultimate solution is to make the license testing more stringent and instate re-testing periodically.  

Quote from: MuldoonI was like a stunned mullet. I sat on the bike and handed over my wallet and told them to take what they liked. Tough negitiator huh!

Hey, Muldoon, if you ever get stateside, I have a real nice bridge down in Brooklyn I can let you have cheap.  :lol:

Hi Muldoon,

I'm looking some were around the 22th or 23th of May but it will dep on the weather I would like to do the rid on Sat , so I can rest on sun for work on mon. it's pretty big ride but hey it would be great:) I just thought if you guys would like to go we could meet up some were like Moss Vale & ride to Canberra.
if the date is too soon ( you have not got your L's or you need a little more time riding before you do a big ride) please just let me know & I will wait:)

And Good luck for next Wed   .

all the best matt:) your friend

CasiCUA,,, amen to that. but then again, kids, i.e. teenagers, now a days are getting overpowered cars (and bikes), thanks to mom&dad most of the time. okay ill get off the soap-box now...

/\---I dont have any problem with parents buying kids over powered cars and bikes. I cant imagine how many fewer ladies I would have without the Z28, or the bikes. Nothing is more pleasant than lighting up the big ol back tires on a 350 hp muscle car. hehehe

Congrats for your new bike!!!!!!! Have fun