[ShannonG]

I hope to pick up my new GS500f in the next couple of weeks (when the bank says I can have the money to buy it . I have never ridden a street bike, although I did grow up goofing around on dirt bikes in the yard and we had a quad several years ago, so I know my clutch from my brake. My driveway is a about 150 feet long and my plan was in the very beginning just to go up and down slowly in first gear until I get a feel for the clutch engagement and how much throttle I need to keep it from stalling. Is this a good plan or overly cautious?

[megaspaz]

Ain’t nothing wrong with being cautious. But, imo, it’s always good to do parking lot practices on a new bike so you get to know it and how it feels in them situations. Maybe more so, since you’re moving to a new class of bikes. I myself did a few weeks of nothing but parking lots on my first bike and I had 0 experience riding a motorized 2 wheeler of any sort. So, imo, just playing around in your driveway doesn’t sound overly cautious to me…

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[RydRy]

Id say from my very limited riding experience- I started cautious and then was aware of when I could step it up to roads then roads with traffic etc- start there and youll know when to branch out and most of all youll be comfortable with the progression

[smadaakram]

u can never b 2 cautious when it comes to something that could get u hurt if not done properly!
I have quite a bit if time in on dirt bikes and quads, mostly race built ones that could get u killed real quick, and i feel comfortable with that level of performance, however when i bought my first streetbike recently i spent a LOT of time just geting the feel 4 the bike at slow speed…on a long priviate driveway with supervision no less. sounds 2 me like u have the right idea so learn it up take it slow and have fun!

//@R!<

[Ben]

Sounds like a good plan as long as the driveway is paved

They start you off like that in the MSF course too. At first they just have you sit on the bike and slowly let off the clutch until it starts to move forward. You do that 2 or 3 times then they say you can apply a little gas and then you do that 2 or 3 times. Definitely take it slow at first, and don’t forget to wear a helmet and gloves and boots even if you aren’t going very fast. Chances are if you drop it you will catch yourself with your hands, and if you are unlucky the bike might land on your leg (which is where the boots come in). I personally had my first bike (also a gs500) land on my leg and pin me between the pavement and a bush once when I was trying to back up! Not too much fun, I thank god the bike was a light as it was or else I would have been stuck there for hours!

Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin

[AaronMerlot]

I spent a lot of time in the parking lot across the street. My dad taught me to drive a manual car by starting and stopping it every 20 feet so, that is what i did with my bike. And so far so good. I will be spending more time this summer in that parking lot, learning how to ride with a passenger. I want to make sure me and my (Soon to be) wife and I are comfortable before heading to the beach on the bike.

By the way GS500f are the greatest bikes !!!!

Aaron

[SuperMotoRider]

after you feel comfortable riding around, practice by locking up your back brake at 25mph or so. I’m not saying you should go out on the road and lock your back brakes to stop, but it makes it easier so you wont panic when you do lock up your back brakes out on the road. It will swivel a bit if you have your front brakes applied. You should get feel for it after your confident enough with the clutch and brakes.

– smr

[Author]

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