Quote from: ashmanOne time this middle aged ladys goes "thats cute, i'd ride one like that." His ego never recovered.

Buahahahahahah :lol:

this sort of thing used to bother me.  i'd tell people i had a GS 500 and they'd kind of look at me weird because i didn't say gixxer, or cbr, or whatever...

needless to say, it stopped bothering me once i realised that anyone who looked down on me for riding a GS 500 either a) didn't know sh*t about bikes, or b) was a new rider on a way-too-fast-bike and didn't understand the reasoning behind starting small.

My best and most proud moment was when I was at a local small bike night (all sportbikes) and a couple of guys come out of the restaraunt next door.  They start staring at my 2001 model and I hear them talking amongst themselves.  "I think it IS one".   "I think you are right, look, there's the decal with it written on it...GS500".

They each used to have '89 models and marveled at the " modern-ness" of my '01 model.  The seat, tank, and tail section.  I told them that's all that changed except for the front brakes somewhere around 1996.

Then there's the other end of the spectrum:

They see me with my helmet and ask what kind of bike I ride.  I say Suzuki GS500.  They ask why I didn't get a Harley instead.  I say "because I am not a sheep and I can think for myself".  That one nearly pisses them off.   :mrgreen:

We have no helmet law here in Louisiana.  The Harley guys see the helmet and asks why I wear that "hot" helmet in our heat.  I tell them I have something worth protecting with the lid.  If they don't, then don't waste money on the helmet.  That one definitely gets them hot.   :nana:

Then they brag about the "POWER" of their big, obnoxiously loud V-twin compared to my tiny 500cc parallel twin.  I then look them in the eye with a steely glare and ask them how much money they can afford to lose a quarter mile down the road.  Then they backtrack their own claims and say the Harley isn't made for racing.  I then inquire why boast and brag about tons of "power" if it's not capable of beating a motorcycle with less than a third of it's engine size.  They then start babbling about "American Made" and that rhetoric.  I correct them with the phrase "American Engineered", not "made".  Shocks, carburetors, and so many other parts being made overseas, they cannot be called American Made.  Even the H-D radio commercials use the term American Engineered now instead of American Made.  

Then they concede that it's all cool as long as I ride.  It doesn't matter what I ride.  

Then I tell them that I paid $3300 for a brand new bike with 1.8 miles on the odometer and THEN they get pissed off.   :lol:

:lol:

THAT, was funny.

 

So the first time I rode to my dealership I parked right next a GS500- the same year and color.  It ends up belonging to a sales associate and he mentions it's for sale.

"How Come?" I ask
"It's my wife's bike and shes now pregnant."

That was a kick in the shorts.  He liked the bike alot and had alot of good things to say... but come on... "wife's bike".  Fortunately, a week later I found this forum and the swelling went away...

Some pretty cool stories here. My experience with telling people what I ride is usually:

If it's another motorcyclist: "That's a great bike to learn on."

If it's a non rider:  

Me: "It's black"

Them:  

Quote from: ashmanAt least we arn't members of a Ninja 250 forum. My buddy had a ex250 and always got asked is that a 600? He would say no and bow his head. One time this middle aged ladys goes "thats cute, i'd ride one like that." His ego never recovered.

I'm guessing you've never ridden either a Ninja 250 or a middle aged lady.  Both are a lot more fun than you might think.

- MarkB
'90 GS500E
'96 Ninja 250

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I work for a motorcycle dealership and sell parts and bikes.  I have found that most people don't understand why I ride something so small. Then I have to explain why I ride it. Then they look at me funny. So I have actually had to lie a few times to get sells.  but all my customers are usually drag racers.  But I will probably keep my bike until I can save up for another one. Probably early next year.

Quote from: MarkB
I'm guessing you've never ridden either a Ninja 250 or a middle aged lady.  Both are a lot more fun than you might think.

- MarkB
'90 GS500E
'96 Ninja 250

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  

I'd love to try the Ninja 250, but I can't get my grandmother off of hers.   :mrgreen:

Smooth Dave