Hi, i'm new to bikes but not to forums.
Thank you to these forums. While i have been looking into getting a good learner bike, google kept pointing me here for most questions i had in regards to gear, bikes, safety concerns and just general random crap. this place has helped me alot as a guest.
As i had learnt from these forums, my ride was not actually the crusier i had always dreamed of, but a sport bike. for me, being able to corner and brake like a noob was important to me.
I learnt that a yamaha scorpio would be a great learner bike, i also leant that even if you cant test ride a bike (too noobish to ride/drop a bike I dont own) so i sat on the scorpio and the Hyosung GT250P (just a naked R). both were comfortable, the hyosung (hobag) directed my line of sight towards the speedo, rear view mirrors and everything infront of me. the neutral position scorpio offered no direction. i was sitting up straight free to become lost in my surroundings. i figure the hobag is like having blinders on a horse.
Apparently looks isnt everything either, to be seen looking good is one thing, to always be seen no matter what is most important.
So when i found a yellow Hyosung GT250R, i figured yellow may not look as good as black or red but atleast it can be seen easier.
after looking through these forums, i learnt what to expect from a hobag. dodgy digital clock/speedo, crap tires and brake pads and a sore butt. seems like a good kinda bike to me, tires and pads can be changed, who needs a clock when you can buy a wrist watch and most jap import cars speedo's are out by 10Km/r at 100km/h anyway. not like they are plagued with engine, handling, brake issues.
also read here that the type of gear can be extremely important in both comfort/concentration and safety while sliding. so i bought full textile gear and a fibreglass helmet (with built in sunglasses) instead of buying a cheap plastc lid and a second hand jacket. the mastercard ad comes to mind "second hand jacket $70, cheapest helmet you can find $99, sneakers and jeans $100. medical costs to replace lost skin, head injury and a shattered shoulder due to sunstrike, causing you to drop the bike on a corner and sliding 40mtrs into a parked car, far more than any mastercard limit that you will ever dream to obtain now
Thanks to this forum, i bought the yellow hobag on friday (hence the choosen nickname). it has a dodgy clock, newish pirelli sport demon tires, brakes work and after a few adjustments, a comfortable riding position has been obtained (as suggested, i adjusted the clutch/brake levers so my hands are straight with my fore arm, hug the tank at 50km, sit back and lower when above 50km, watch i dont have a death grip or place too much weight on the hands, move hands around on the bars to help increase blood flow and hug the bike so most of my weight is in the knees/feet, straight back helps with this), and a oil leak from the crankcase. all in all a good bike for me.
i found the workshop manual and user manual on the forums, i now know how to change the clock (which just resets to 12:00 when the keys are turned off) and i know not to atempt to repair the leak by replacing the gasket. a full engine stripdown doesnt sound like a whole lot of fun. hi-temp silicon and a wire brush to clog a slow leak makes more sense for now.
so thanks guys, i've been out and ridden for about 4 hours so far, bikes well ballanced, handles well and allows me to stuff up without dumping me on the ground i.e. pushing down with the left foot to change gear (15 yrs driving cars and now i have to learn the left foot isnt for the clutch anymore)
i must say though, i never read anywhere that to steer a bike, you dont actually "steer" the bike. you look where you want to go (not where you dont), lean alittle, push alittle on the handle bars to start the turn but then push a wee bit on the opposite side handle bar during the turn so as to drop the bike alittle more and make the turn at a faster than walking pace speed. the handling course speeds allow you to control the bike by steering it, i find going 50+Km/h requires bike manipulation, not so much straight forward control.
I say this becuase i found it quite a suprise how much you CANNOT compare riding a motorbike to riding a push bike or driving a car. i have some friends that ride bikes, they are the ones that are now giving me little tips on riding and surviving.
I am absolutly loving it, i have a lot to learn and alot to give back to these forums. not looking forward to the day i drop the bike, but i understand its not IF, its WHEN. another reason i love my cheap yellow hobag
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by GrayWolf
never mind the douches...that includes me sometimes 
Bookmarks