[samh]

A pinlock visor was the first thing I bought for my bike after my helmet and jacket. I can get it to fog up, but I have to really _try_.

I should get a f$ commision for how much I’m plugging pinlock on this site, but it really does work, better than you would think it would. (I was doing the visor / safety glasses thing at first, but this is a vastly superior solution.)

…It stopped snowing, but it still looks kind of evil outside right now. It’s either the coffee or the weather, but I’m starting to twitch.

S

[samh]

Pinlock system works great as well. http://www.pinlock.nl/

SH

[samh]

you should see me out riding around today, flapping my arms like a chicken.

just finished reading proficient motorcycling. Book had me a little freaked out to tell you the honest truth. Weather was so beautiful today though that it didn’t matter. Today’s challenge was to see if I could go on the expressway without loosing my shit, which, it turns out that I can. The slab was actually pretty kind and relaxing today

Longest trip so far has been about 25 miles. Now that I feel I can confidently handle the highway, it opens up a lot of possibilities.

SH

[samh]

Why don’t they teach you ‘loose grip’ in the MSF course? I went out riding tonight and practiced that idea on all the bumps, ruts, potholes, sinkholes, railroad tracks..etc of the urban environment around here. Not white-knuckling the bar changes the whole dynamic of the ride. It’s actually fun and enjoyable not to try and “micro-manage” the bike across every little obstacle.

thanks thanks thanks!!

[samh]

[samh]

Just experienced the much-talked-about cabbie making a left turn in front of a motorcycle. In all fairness, I was going about 20mph over the speed limit, so maybe he just misjudged how much room he had. Anyway, I had plenty of space to get out of the way, but I definitely said “whoa” in my helmet.

Same ride I also went into a turn too hot and panicked. Luckily I got out of it just fine, but I grabbed a handful of brakes right before the apex. Stupid I know, I should have just held on. I guess the key in this situation is dumping speed _before_ the turn, and then being really smooth through it. I feel like I want to go to a track day or something just to practice my cornering in a controlled environment.

Anyway, I’m definitely telling myself to ease up… I’ve got about 150 miles on the bike, so I guess I am really in a zone of too-much-confidence + extreme-inexperience, which is a pretty awful combination.

Buuuuut.. I am having FUN!

SH

[samh]

Pinlock works great.

UPS delivered a new visor and pinlock insert tonight. I figured out how to put them together, and got them on my helmet. Took the bike out for a ride, absolutely no fogging. You can see the helmet fog around the insert, but the main view stays perfectly clear. I wouldn’t have believed it works this well.

On another note I tried out a short stint on the expressway tonight. I literally almost passed out from the anxiety. I don’t think I was quite ready for that, but oh well, I survived. Only thing to do is do it again

SH

[samh]

Yup, you are right, I am getting used to the wind. I had the bike up to about 50 yesterday without any problem, where as the day before I was afraid to turn my head at speed. I’ll write a report when I (eventually) take it out on the highway.

So far my overall impression of the bike is that it is an entirely manageable size for a person getting back into motorcycles. Yes, it is a 650, but it is a single cylinder, so the power is entirely manageable. Compared to my old 250, I’d say that it’s got the extra added oomph for keeping up with traffic, without being scary when you don’t want the power.

Having a blast! (And my knuckles aren’t entirely white.)

[samh]

It’s been in the high 40’s the past few nights, and I’ve tried out the hand warmers on my bike. In combination with perf-leather gloves (not optimum I realize) the hand warmers keep things nice and toasty.

[samh]

Rain delay, so I’ll write a post.

Thanks for that suggestion. I took the bike on a 45 minute ride today, and definitely needed to stretch.

It’s funny, all the things you think about before buying a bike, and how a lot of it is not an issue, and furthermore there are a lot of other concerns. For instance, I agonized over the seat height on this bike, but it is a total non issue. On the other hand, I didn’t even think about wind protection. The G650GS stock fairing is this tiny little cowl, so at 60, you get blown to pieces. I’m thinking of getting an aftermarket windscreen for the bike.

Also saving up for a Corbin saddle (unless there is something even better?)

I was having fog issues with my full face helmet, but I solved that today. I went to home depot and bought a pair of fairly normal looking safety glasses. Now I can ride with my face shield open, and close it only when there is enough air moving to prevent fog.

Sorry for the random collection of thoughts.

[samh]

Contemplating a trip to Annapolis this weekend. Maybe a bit premature, as I haven’t had the bike out on the highway yet. Had a really nice in town ride tonight, fired up the hand warmers. Lux-ur-y.

[samh]

Thanks for that link. That helps.

Bikes running well. It was a really wet ride this morning getting it home but I just had a nice little (dry) cafe run.

I only have this one picture, and it’s kind of terrible, but I’ll take more.

(every time I look at this I think I left my gloves downstairs!)

[samh]

Bike will be here in about 12 hours!!! Anyone have any tips for the first day / the first week? I am going to take it really slow. Unfortunately it’s supposed to rain tomorrow here in Philly, but I’ll probably at least go around the block.

As an aside — how challenging is it to start out on a steep hill? Is it that much different then driving a stick? The parking garage to my building is down a steep ramp.

SH

[samh]

My old bikes were both 250’s. A honda and a suzuki.

I took the MSF class on a buell blast. Thats a 498CC air cooled single, but physically it’s a lot smaller than the GS, and way less powerful.

I’m talking myself into the GS. I think I’ll probably be fine, and it’s got all the features I want. I think it’s mostly a matter of gaining confidence over the first few rides.

[Author]

Posts