after having read this forum for quite a while, I think it's time to register, say hello & introduce myself.

So, bike-wise, who am I?

Born in '52, I was riding bicycles since I was legally allowed to (age 12) and had that little red 50cc Vespa (age 16), got my driver's license at 18 for cars and for motorbikes (learned on an ancient 600cc BMW boxer with sidecar). Rode (and slammed  :x) that '42 HD WLA (foot clutch, 3 forward gears, 1 reverse) and a Bonneville for some time and got myself a 180cc Vespa just before my 1st son was born (have 2 sons, both of them adult now). Sold the Vespa after few years 'cause of her sitting & rusting.

... life went on, years passed, kids are on their own, damn I want to ride a bike! ANY Bike of, say 250 - 350cc, and to the dealer I went to get some 1st impression of what the market is like today. Enduro? Need a ladder to climb them. Here is this guy who asks me 'why don't you just try sittin' on that 2nd hand litte Suzie?'

Test sit. Not bad. Test ride. Bang. Hooked.

Back home, & Google! Found Gstwin.com - this community is more than I've ever expected. Respect, guys & gals.

Yes, I then convinced my wife - took me 2 minutes - and 2 weeks ago I rode the GS home. Have been riding her every day since then. Pleasant, and good choice, I believe.  

After some 25 years of no serious riding (clutch - shift - throttle handling is still alive) I today realistically consider myself a bike beginner, at least with regards to cornering (and the like, 8's etc) skills. I do perfectly agree with many of you who believe that this GS is an excellent beginner's bike... fast enough for every reasonable purpose but still manageable (me also keeping in mind having 2 sons, the younger one has already done his first rides with the GS at that famous empty parking lot..., he still has to convince HIS wife though to have his own, hehe...)

Have had a ride together with more experienced riders through the pre-Alps valleys and booked a riding safety course at one of the motorists clubs, must be fairly equivalent to your MSF class. Gonna happen Fri next week. Let's see, will be fun I hope.

Have read this forum's sticky post 'No need for safety gear...' and was _really_ impressed. Genius who wrote it. Got summer-gear for both me and my wife the day after we read the post.

Hoping that I will be able to contribute my 2 Cents (Euro-Cents, that is ) to this forum. Long enough ranted. Cheers to all.

A hearty WELCOME, WALTER!

Ah, Vienna!  I've only been as close as Lake Chiemsee, Bavaria (when I lived in Germany) and Milan (when I lived in Italy).

Can we reasonably anticipate some photos from your corner of the world?

Kerry (waving  :lol: )

Very nice to hear of another story of old flames resuscitated. I am sure your euro cents are very much welcome here.  :lol:

Kerry, thanks for the welcome.

Sure you can:



This is where I live, shot from a hill North of Vienna, aiming to the SE. I live just before that slim tower. You see the Danube river (right hand bed) and the artificial 2nd bed to prevent springtime flooding (left hand), and that 10 mi island in between, recreational area, among the largest in Europe.

A bit left of where I live you can see an ex side arm of the river which today serves recreation only - 'old Danube' - autumn pic:



Not the worst place living, I admit.

Welcome!  My dad and I drove through part of Austria several years ago trying to find the Schloss Anif.  Never could find it, though.    
Austria is a beautiful country!

Kyzee, those old flames just don't die.

And R3d, although it is a pity you didn't find Schloss Anif, I bet you were enjoying that province of Salzburg. Nice area. Friendly people.

Welcome to the community

Hi Walter!

Welcome to the group. Nice pics!

Welcome
Walter, your home country does look beautiful, never been to Europe
but someday I may venture that way

Welcome!

hey, thank you all for your friendly reception. Appreciate it.

Walter
What is that website on your profile about, I have been checking it out but not sure if I can figure it out?
Maybe Excel templates ,formula's or Excel Plug-ins

EvilScooby,

this is what I am doing to make a living ('spreadshit & the like'). Yes, it basically is a (pretty complex) Excel sheet which is used by homebuilding companies that make quotes to end customers for building them single family homes.

So what it does is - do the calculation for the whole house, including basement and garage, based on a number of geometrical inputs, as well as yes/optional/no klicks to determine which details are included and which are not.

Once the project is calculated (takes something from 5 to 15 mins for std houses) you klick the printer icon and immediately get some 20 pages of detailed description/quotation for the end customer. Very specific. No secretary needed, all automatic.

Unfortunately (?) the whole thing is written in German, and due to the very specific vocabulary used in the construction industry - I had to do some 'translations' even when I offered it to customers in Germany - I doubt it will ever be available in English. But: who knows?

All automatic, very nice. I like the concept

Walter, welcome to the forum and welcome back to riding.  Sounds like you're going to have a family group-ride coming up pretty soon.
The safety class is an excellent investment!!
By the way, we Americans are quite fond of your countrymen, having recently elected one to the governorship of California.
Again, welcome and safe riding!
Don

Don, agree, safe riding is the key.

Wouldn't really be deeply troubled if it came to a family group-ride.

And, finally, investment: The funny thing is, that class was presented to me as a gift couple years ago for my 25 years motorist club membership. Made no use of it for the car driving one, but will do now for biking. So, apart from the time to be spent, no investment at all. :lol: