Fun times while learning.

[guardian]

Thought I'd throw in a few thoughts about my first few months as a bike owner.

I didn't get a good look at the bike the first time I went to see it. Then I was hard pressed to buy it as my other options went away one by one. The guy gave me "his word" there was nothing wrong with the bike. I then took his word and promised to buy it. Don't do that...
Blown fork seal, cracked read tire sidewall that was hiding behind the chain.
Fixing that Fork seal did make me feel pretty damn manly though. Messy, but manly.

I bought a Larin lift... awesome little thing. One day i jacked up the bike and it wasn't sitting correctly. I saw it was caught on the sidestand. I sat down to the left of the bike indian-style and pulled the sidestand. Don't do that...
The bike pinned me to the ground and I struggled to get out. I learned that I should have let the bike actually fall down.. as it wasn't actually pinning me, I was pinning myself trying to hold the bike up. First bike dump out of the way.


I bought the bike and let it sit for a few weeks. Don't do that...
On a better note, battery tenders with the little plugs that you can keep on the bike are pretty cool.


I'm sick of stalling. I'm only just now getting better.


I wish I could know what gear I'm in. I always forget.


I've gotten used to either following cars or just giving up and turning right all the time. Damn those stupid lights. And my bike is a huge ugly metal thing not 5" from the ground. Yes, I exaggerate.


Slow U-turns... why do you elude me?


I was riding home from my first gas-up and was all excited. I hit a red light and the bike stopped. I had to pull over. I couldn't get the damn thing to start... I left the pet**** on Off. Don't do that...


I got my first motorcycle wave ever. It was even from a Harley. I was so excited, I forgot to wave back. Don't do that...
I've been practicing my waves now. Got it down to a science. I even wave to them in my car... just below the windshield.


I keep a nifty bound journal of this crap as I encounter it... I even take the mileage down for everything. I'm considering mounting a videocam soon.
These are the memories I never want to forget.

Ride safe all!

Guardian
-Rick

[mhunt]

great post, always a great learning tool to learn from your own mistakes plus ones of others.
One of the better posts Ive read :thumbsup:

[pjwong83]

Ahhh.. sounds like my life with the GS...

I wanted to ride it on Sunday after three weeks. It wasn't sitting on the battery tender. All geared up and ready to go... tried to start it wouldn't. It was so close to starting when I tried to bump start it but no go...

I also had fork issues.. but mine were bent. Bought new (old) forks but the outter was a differerent from the inner AFTER we had mounted them onto the bike and only figured it out after we tried to put the tire back on. So then matt and I had to swap inners and outters.

Oh the stories I can tell about my damn cursed GS!!

Glad to know there's someone out there like me!

[Bryant]

Moved your post to our collection of "Stories of a Rider". ;) Loved your post btw!!

[pjwong83]

Is stories of a rider going away? I thought Jae posted something like that...

[Bryant]

Hmm.. I may have missed that one. I think we may be leaning more towards the blog idea lately but I'd like to keep this particular area alive for now. Jae, if this is no good just lemme know. I just reactivated posting for this area.

[Lost]

One day i jacked up the bike and it wasn't sitting correctly. I saw it was caught on the sidestand. I sat down to the left of the bike indian-style and pulled the sidestand. Don't do that...
The bike pinned me to the ground and I struggled to get out. I learned that I should have let the bike actually fall down.. as it wasn't actually pinning me, I was pinning myself trying to hold the bike up. First bike dump out of the way.






I wish I could know what gear I'm in. I always forget.


Guardian
-Rick


:roflmao:

Ok when i got my 06 R6 i just laid it down in my garage then picked it up. I didn't feel nearly as bad when i ran off the track at Willow and in disgust put the bike on the ground and walked away to admire my duchebaggery.


And knowing mentally what gear you are in is overated imho. When the revs get low i down shift and when they get near the red stuff i shift. Its worked out well for the last 19 years. I can usually sit down aster a session and figure out what gear i was in where but i got more important things to think about when im riding.

[guardian]

Yeah, its been an adventure for sure. That's part of the reason I bought into the two-wheeled world. I wanted the hands-on learning. Now, I've got fatter toolbox and an excuse to cover myself in grease.

I'm dreading that first day I make a big mistake/drop in public. Its embarrassing enough to stall at lights and stops. Turns out though, the stalling may be a problem with my bike instead... Now, wheres that wrench?