From MSF to WTF! - My first two days on the road

[Steve]

Welcome aboard and don't lay it down.
That is not an option, ...

We were told about "laying it down", but what we were told was
"if you lay it down to avoid a collision, you will end up having TWO collisions.
ONE when you hit the pavement and ANOTHER when you slide into the thing you wanted to avoid."

 

[79FiveFifty]

Well, all I was told about laying the bike down was that it hurts, or kills.

I'm not really interested in either of those at this point in my life, so I will be doing my best to ride safe.

I am a defensive driver in my car, and 2x on the bike. I don't drive or ride anything to push limits, I drive/ride for space instead of for time. I just do it to enjoy what I'm doing and to make sure I'm coming back home again that day / night.

2 meals, haha.

 

[DimitriT]

Nice story and welcome.

I recently swapped the L bars for Daytona style bars.

There were a few issues with routing the cables and brake hose
and the position/orientation of the master cylinder. Also the mirrors
aren't in the right place. Not major problems.

We'll be glad to help you with the bars and tuning up the bike
in the Tech section.

My 550 has no trouble going uphill doing 70 mph at 5500 rpm (yep, I went
with an oversize front sprocket) and I'm pushing past 235 lbs. on
the bathroom scale. At 6000 rpm it will cruise nicely at 75 mph with just a
bit of vibration. I'm sure your bike can do this too with a little tuning.

 

[toejams1]

Good stories. For what it's worth, my GS850 had a stalling issue as well at high speeds. The PO put a fuel filter on the bike and that was causing the problem. Once I removed it, it ran fine. Oh yea, +1 on the dislike of grated bridges. I am more confident on them, but I still don't like that feeling while I cross them. There is one near me in Aurora, IN where there is a stop sign just past the bridge. Lots of fun having to stop then start again on a grated bridge.

 

[gustovh]

Good way to start your riding, now all those things are out of the way and you can relax a bit and work on your skills.

I used to work graveyard and had a 123 mile commute. On night on the way to work, black as coal out, I darn near hit a possim in the middle of a right hand sweeper doing around 60. Twitched the bars, missed the 2 meal critter and ran over it's tail. The last that I saw of it in my mirrors, it was doing flips in the middle of the road.

Ride safe and wear all the gear. Oh and if my 450 Rebel will do 110 your 550 should do better.
V

 

[first timer]

good story, I would encourge you to post your troubles in the tech section.

i would agree with what people recomend with the carbs. You are probably run very lean with no filters and have very little power. If you can clearify the clutch issue sounds like the clutch remains engaged when lever is pulled. if so that is a indication the the cable is breaking or not adjusted properly. if the engine is speeding up and you are not under acceleration then that a slipping clutch and worn fiber/weak springs are the cause.

 

[79FiveFifty]

In the process of rebuilding carbs, replacing clutch springs, adjusting valves, (just changed oil) 10w40 valvoline motorcycle oil, and filter, all the lightbulbs etc.

Oh, and new handlebars too which I'm afraid to put on because I don't want my cables to be too long if I swap the bars?

I should be done with the bike sometime next week weather permitting. I hope I remember how to put it all back together ray:

 

[juliang]

That was a great read, really was. You should certainly be able to cruise a lot faster than 50mph when the bike is sorted out. These bikes rev a lot higher than a car does, they are designed that way. Try putting some ear plugs in, damping out the engine noise will help you.

 

[motomonkey]

Wow

Wow

Kudos on getting out on your bike so fast after the MSF class. After I passed th class I was riding around the neighborhood in circles waving all the cages thru the stop sign while they wondered what is this stupid girl doing.

Sounds like you got lots of good experience and learned a lot!

Candice

 

[979roadrunner]

let me guess, Moose = non squishable, Elk = non squishable, Bears = non squishable, Deer marginally squishable?
What about goats?

Me and a friend once rode into a small heard of deer that didn't have a single deer bigger than a medium size dog.
squishable, I think (luckily didn't find out) Whitetail would probavly be trouble. Mulies, too.
Metal grate bridges suck. there's one on one of my favorite teisty backroads. If I ever go down there, I bet I could win a lawsuit against the county, but I'd rather not find out.

 

[TheCafeKid]

Good stories. For what it's worth, my GS850 had a stalling issue as well at high speeds. The PO put a fuel filter on the bike and that was causing the problem. Once I removed it, it ran fine. Oh yea, +1 on the dislike of grated bridges. I am more confident on them, but I still don't like that feeling while I cross them. There is one near me in Aurora, IN where there is a stop sign just past the bridge. Lots of fun having to stop then start again on a grated bridge.

Ive been on that bridge! It does suck!

 

[979roadrunner]

Good stories. For what it's worth, my GS850 had a stalling issue as well at high speeds. The PO put a fuel filter on the bike and that was causing the problem. Once I removed it, it ran fine. Oh yea, +1 on the dislike of grated bridges. I am more confident on them, but I still don't like that feeling while I cross them. There is one near me in Aurora, IN where there is a stop sign just past the bridge. Lots of fun having to stop then start again on a grated bridge.

Your fuel filter was causing it? I put a filter on my Ninja, no problems even at 120. I've had my GS up to 90 no prob, with the filter the PO installed.
I wonder why so many GS'ers have problems with these?

 

[Pete Logan]

Your fuel filter was causing it? I put a filter on my Ninja, no problems even at 120. I've had my GS up to 90 no prob, with the filter the PO installed.
I wonder why so many GS'ers have problems with these?

An in-line filter is a bandaid at best. Some filters flow enough, others don't. The ones that flow enough probably don't filter much. Better to just make sure the in-tank filter is working right.

 

[Guest]

They used the 2x4 with us to and they said it was just for demo, that you probobly wouldnt ever run over a board. Well a few months later I was on a 84 goldwing that I used to have and I came around a curve and in the shadows layed......... you guessed it, a 2x4. I straightened up and raised off the seat and CLACK CLACK right over it I went, just like in class.

 

[cowboyup3371]

They also did the 2x4 to us and although I don't have that issue exactly, I have a pipe that is half buried width-wise through my driveway and remembered to lift off the seat while crossing it today.

 

[1_v8_merc]

Haha, damn i thought my 650 was bad!
I originally had plans to do some long distance drives but doing 4-5k rpms at 60mph is pretty annoying!

I think it's growing on me though.
Because I've noticed that the Upside to this, is that the throttle is VERY touchy and so I'm doing 60mph one minute then a second later 70 or 75!
But it's good for passing or instant power or just waking me up, lol.

I'm just used to American vehicles and being at only 2k rpms at highway speed. So I guess I'll get used to it.

But i still prefer the deeper Ducati sound so I stay at lower rpms on the back roads.( maybe my exhaust is on it's way out, lol, who knows)

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

Don't forget that 550 should have a 6 speed trans and IT LIKES TO REV