So, yesterday i finally got a chance to take the GS out for a nice spin...after a week of sitting it was calling my name. So I decided to head up 119 to Keene, NH. Man what a beautiful ride. Not only was this a great shakedown ride for the bike, but also a great shakedown ride for me. I wasn't really sure of my comfort level on the bike, and needed to get going on it to see how comfortable I really was.
First off...the bike ran great! I topped it out in 6th gear at 78 miles an hour or so(by speedo measurement). It was great on the long sweeping turns on 119, through a couple of state parks, and back...
The only problem I encountered was my own idiocy. I hadn't filled my tank before leaving...and so the bike died...switched to reserve, and it wouldn't go...Then I figured out that it took this bike a few kicks to get going in reserve...Also I realized that I had been underfilling the tank due to the little sensors in the gas pumps...and that I needed to pull the hose out of the tank a little bit and just let my eyes tell me when to turn the pump off rather than the pump sensor. I also found out my "beating around" problem. It is basically just wind beating against my helmet...I found that if I crouched down far enough and assumed a L position on the bike with my face looking forward but my body flat down I could basically have the gauge clusters cover the wind from me...but really a mini fairing might be next on the list. The ride also gave me a great chance to clear my head and think about some things....Man, why didn't I get one of these when I was 16?
What a great bike...Thanks to the community that has helped me keep it that way.
--L
PS: to those of you with only 5 gears....haha.
Comment