Oh no - it's finally happened.... I have fallen out of love with my GN.

[Lucy]

People said it would happen, but I didn't believe them. But it's true. Boo hoo. Rode from Raetihi up to Kinloch today, got a really sore butt/tailbone, had to switch to reserve about 40k earlier than expected (since moving to the country most of my trips are long distance and I'm still in denial about how much more gas it uses at 100k), and as a result, I didn't have enough juice to get to Taupo. Luckily I had an entourage for that part of the trip so it was not a drama.

As well as all that, my speedo decided to stop working just before I ran out of gas. Quite frankly, it was a relief to get home and much as I hate to confess it, the ride was not much fun at all. Lots of long straight bits on the way home.

Oh yeah, on the way up the Western bays, on the twisties, which I normally love, the front wheel felt unstable on the left turn bends. Gave me quite a fright. Was fine on the right turn ones.

Whinge over.

EDIT: Happy again now, was just a lovers tiff! New tyres, speedo drive and starter solenoid.

[Disco Dan]

You ridden anything else??

Would be like riding a bicycle for ages then attaching a rocket to it compared to a GN.

[Steam]

...the front wheel felt unstable on the left turn bends. ... .Was fine on the right turn ones.

A RRRS tutor once told me that was all in the head, it just feels freakier. SOmething to do with the same thing as being left handed and right handed. Actually the bike sticks (or not) the same for both left and right corners.

When will you be moving up to something a little bigger and more comfy?

[Grub]

the bike sticks (or not) the same for both left and right corners.

Ummm ... did you take into account that this is a GN we're talking about? Probably made in China.

[Lucy]

A RRRS tutor once told me that was all in the head, it just feels freakier. SOmething to do with the same thing as being left handed and right handed. Actually the bike sticks (or not) the same for both left and right corners.

When will you be moving up to something a little bigger and more comfy?

Yeah maybe, I dunno though, never experienced it before. I was being a little cautious anyway, as there was light rain after weeks of dry, but it definitely felt as though it was wobbling.

Not sure about the upgrade - depends on the IRD at the moment!

The GN is the only bike I've ridden, apart from scooters and one day rentals in foreign parts.

[Steam]

Yeah maybe, I dunno though, never experienced it before. I was being a little cautious anyway, as there was light rain after weeks of dry, but it definitely felt as though it was wobbling.

Hmm... something to investigate further if it persists.

Good luck with any future upgrade. The difference... it's shocking.
I upgraded to a 20-year old 400cc and I when I first got on it and blipped the throttle I thought to myself "MY GOD THIS MUST BE THE MOST POWERFUL MOTORCYCLE IN THE WORLD!!!"

hehe.

[Lucy]

Hmm... something to investigate further if it persists.

Good luck with any future upgrade. The difference... it's shocking.
I upgraded to a 20-year old 400cc and I when I first got on it and blipped the throttle I thought to myself "MY GOD THIS MUST BE THE MOST POWERFUL MOTORCYCLE IN THE WORLD!!!"

hehe.

Ha ha yes I am looking forward to that - I don't think I'll be moving straight on to a ZXR10 or anything like that

[klingon]

Aaaaw Lucy it sounds like it might be time to pass your GN onto its next learner owner.

People said the same to me about my Volty. The minute I bought it people were asking me what my next bike would be. I would say "Next bike?! I'm never going to part with my Volty!" But I finally have to admit that they might actually be right and one day I might be looking for a bigger, faster, flashier bike. Maybe. One day.

[Lissa]

Yup it happens Lucy, one minute you are high on the thrill and excitement of owing your first real bike, and then at some point along the way you realise that the GN is just not good enough any more. I think Klingon is right, time to pass it on to a learner, get yourself something a little bit more powerful and you will get that thrill back.

[janno]

This is totally normal IMHO and I don't think anyone hangs on to these sorts of bikes when they have "learned to ride" a bit more, as opposed to "learned to operate a motorcycle".

My first bike was a Virago 250, which I thought was the best bicycle in the world for the first two months, I made all the mistakes you could think of and then some, but it was just about impossible to drop. Then in the last month of ownership I was ready to throw it off a cliff, it was too underpowered, it looked very uncool - I found out I was not a cruiser person - and it hurt my back after an hour, and I'd discovered I was quite keen on longer trips.

But it did what it was meant to do, which was keep up my confidence while I learned to ride, and let me make mistakes without killing myself or repeatedly dropping the bike.

So thank your GN for doing its job as it should, and then pass it on to the next learner at the first opportunity.

Then start to learn to ride all over again when you move up to a 650cc or whatever.

[Lucy]

Ooh, the love affair is rekindled! Have put new tyres on, (and a new speedo drive and new starter solenoid grrr), and just been for a nice twisty ride on gravel and tarmac and the bike went great. Think I'm gonna keep it for 'adventure riding' and use the Beemer for the long trips. It was kind of nice to get back on a light bike!

[Boulder]

A few months ago I borrowed my mates GN just for the hell of it. Surprised that I found it enjoyable maybe because i was not expecting too much from it and that it was light and easy to throw around. After an hour I had enough and for a long trip it would have been slack without grunt.