Can I do it?

[Pete Wrigley]

I always kept my "M" endorsement with the intention of getting back to riding. At 53 and a 30+ year layoff I'm finally getting back to it. I bought a 1980 GS 750L, same as the the bike I had all those years ago. Some days I think it was a crazy thing to do. What was I thinking? Other days I feel confident. It's winter here in NJ, ice everywhere, the bike is in the garage. I'm going to be replacing all the fluids. I've been ordering things like oil/air filters etc... It's just too cold to do all the general maintenance right now. I've taken a ride around my neighborhood a few times in the fall but have not ventured out onto main roads. I'm very rusty. Been watching youtube videos on basic riding. I'm scheduled for a riders safety course in early April and then plan to take the intermediate course after that. I decided to approach this like I never rode a bike before.

Can I do it?

[Cipher]

Of course you can.
Motorcycling is always at odds with conformity and common sense.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Welcome back Pete. You're doing it right.

[rphillips]

Welcome back Pete, I was out for appx. 12 or 15 yrs. Very nervous when I got back on. It didn't take long till most everything came back. Almost everything, back in the day wide open most of the time, ain't doing like that any more, just enjoying riding reasonable...Enjoy yourself.

[trevor]

Welcome back! I was out of riding for 27 years before I bought my 750e just over ten years ago....250,000kms later and about 20 bikes....lol. Good for you for signing up for the course!

[dorkburger]

Can you? It seems to me that you are. A bike in the garage, maintenance planned, rider courses planned, and studying videos.
Lucky for for you to be in a great part of the state for riding.

[Redman]

Pete, Welcome to TheGSR.

Yes, you can do it.
Doesnt take too much to let out the clutch, shift gears and get going down the road.
Problem is that need to be prepared to do lot more than that.

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I'm scheduled for a riders safety course in early April . . . . . . . . . .. I decided to approach this like I never rode a bike before.
.....

... and that is exactly what I was going to suggest.

Other suggestion is that we need to see pics of the bike.

Also, tell us if you are intneding for local short rides, . . . . or if are intending for day long rides.

.

[Pete Wrigley]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I plan to ride local, this area of NJ has some nice back roads. Right now I think I have a bit of cabin fever .



BIKE.jpg

[Pete Wrigley]

Of course you can.
Motorcycling is always at odds with conformity and common sense.

LOL.

Thanks .

[Pete Wrigley]

Lucky for for you to be in a great part of the state for riding.

I'll have to ride up to High Point and get some pictures up there.

[Cipher]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I plan to ride local, this area of NJ has some nice back roads. Right now I think I have a bit of cabin fever .



[ATTACH=CONFIG]63806[/ATTACH]

An almost pristine example so very clean.
Thats the cleanest engine ive seen on such and old bike it must have been stripped and polished.

[Pete Wrigley]

Overall it is a clean bike. 12K miles. I haven't done much to it since picking it up in October. Just don't look at the front of the engine. It has a weeping head gasket, not bad. I'll try torqueing it and go from there.

[Redman]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I plan to ride local, this area of NJ has some nice back roads. Right now I think I have a bit of cabin fever .



.....

Thanks for pic.

Looks great, stock condition.

Local rides might be okay. (for those L bars).

Just like you had 30+ years ago. Great find. Do tell us more of your adventures.

.

[wyly]

I was away for 30 years my brother was away for 40, just adjust for your age ride like a grampa not like you did at 20 and remember the basic rule, Assume every cager an idiot and legally blind.

[Pete Wrigley]

Local rides might be okay. (for those L bars).

Just like you had 30+ years ago. Great find. Do tell us more of your adventures.

.

I ordered a set of EMGO,Chrome 7/8 in. Wide Magna Style Handlebar - 23-12565. Should change the riding position a bit and give better control. Doesn't look like the cables will need much adjustment if any.