Putting aside the lack of time, money or space to keep a bike, I would very much love to sit my bike test and get the same bike (or similar, seems to be a great deal of choice).
Just to make it clear, I’m referring to stopping and putting your foot down on gravel, wet leaves, white lines, manholes… Apart for the obvious “take it easy” when opening the throttle 🙂
Gotta agree with the comments above about a heavy bike for your first. With the luggage and a full tank it can be quite a handful at low speeds. Be careful of coming to halt making sure you’re not going to place your foot in a dip in the road so the bike is at more of an angle than it would normally be. Take your time practicing all the low speed skills some where quite to build your confidence. If you plan on taking it off-road then do skills course on a rented bike first as you will drop it and the bill to fix it will make you cry more than being pinned underneath with a rock stuck in your back.
Read up on push/counter steering. Can’t really remember being taught this when learning which lead to some interesting(read as dangerous) moments corning.
Became a Supermoto god after getting the hang of it!
Well done you. Now enjoy whilst the sun shines. Do lots of slow riding practice like uturns etc. Really builds your confidence. I had a Adventure model. I found it helpful to lay it on its side and practice picking it up! Book yourself on a bikesafe course to. Best thing I’ve ever done to improve my riding. My current ride
Jealous. It was the other way round for me I’m afraid – b*ll*cks to motorbikes – hello pushbikes. When my daughter was born 4 years ago I figured I’d run the gauntlet long enough on supersport bikes and decided that I wanted to be around to see her grow up. Son came along 18 months ago. Motorbiking is something that I will return to when they’re older and it’ll be on a Harley or similar.
Have fun, I sorely miss the thrill of opening the throttle on a motorbike 😀
Cant get anymore grief than I’ve had on the road bike. Not ridden in 6 months + due to 3 twts in cars in the space of 10 miles. Just thought ‘Bugger this’. At least I can get out of cars way
Did a direct access and test in October last year and been loving clocking up the miles on my Triumph Street Triple. So much so that Ive hardly turned a pedal recently, been riding push bikes for 25 years now so nice to have a change for a bit but wish there was enough spare time to do both!
Congratulations on passing you test, you’re going to have such a great time going out on the bike 8)
Passing my bike test was definitely the best thing I ever did, it opened up a whole new world of friends and experiences.
Great choice of bike as well, I’m on my 2nd GSA and they’re amazing bikes. They are a lot more agile and quicker than they look. Although the Adventure has got the 30 litre tank, I only really put £20 in for general running around. I only fill the tank if I’m going away on it as they can get very top heavy.
I’m just under 5ft 8 and manage fine on the standard seat. It’s surprising how soon you get used to riding a big bike. I was given a Kawasaki Versys 650 as a loan bike the other day whilst my GSA was in for its annual service and it felt like riding a BMX.
If you do need to move it backwards, I find it easier to get off and push rather than try and paddle it with my feet. They’re also a doddle to get on the centre stand.
Can’t believe this thread, only this week I’ve read Mike Carter’s book, uneasy rider!
He has one of those BMW R1200GS bikes!
Now then a possibly silly question, are they safer than the sports bikes what with all the extra metal and panniers etc, if you get hit by a feckless driver I mean?
When i was a kid more than i want a Jensen Interceptor, a Mongoose BMX or possibly even a nude picture of Farrah Fawcett I wanted a BMW motor bike with the sticky out cylinders.
Not sure now, I would only want one if I had the time and money to ride it around the world.
I bought one on my last visit to Oz and did 10k on it in 6 months. But I don’t understand why folk need those adventure models and never go off road. Even the standard BMWs handle dirt roads ok. (I was riding the Cruiser version)
Same reason folk fit frame bags and water bottles on every conceivable bare bit of their bicycle frame or fork to ride their local beach at an average of 5mph for an hour and a half. surely you of all people must ‘get’ that by now?
Ps. have you ever seen the average GS owner attempt to ride off road?
I don’t understand why folk need those adventure models and never go off road
I’ve never owned one but did have a supermoto for a bit and the high setting position is really nice for seeing over traffic and even hedges when on country lanes.