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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Hi Y'all, new here /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1146866117 Message started by starmom on 05/05/06 at 14:55:17 |
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Title: Hi Y'all, new here Post by starmom on 05/05/06 at 14:55:17 New biker, a lady turning 44 on monday...whoo hoo... Always wanted to ride, was the passenger alot in my younger years........ Finally decided this was the year to do it.... so far have take four hours of private lessons with a fab lady teacher who has been at it for 20 + yrs. have four more hours of lessons with her and then I take my road test on 5-l7. have been shopping around for a bike for quite some time, have had my eye on a baby blue S 40 for a month or so at the local dealership....... Today was the day, I bought her, she is MINE! Will pick her up after my road test. (also picked up a nice scorpion full face helmet ) Weird for me but I didnt actually do much reading on this model that was aka the savage... Im alittle concerned about this back firing business, besides that the reviews are favorable. I liked that the S40 didnt feel so huge when I sat on her, it was a comfortable fit for my 5'6" frame, and she soooooooooooooo pretty! Any other quirky stuff I need to know while learning to ride her?? my teachers had me on a 250 cc rebel. Thanx... Sue |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by vroom1776 on 05/05/06 at 15:05:07 Hi Sue! Post a pic of the bike (and yourself if you feel like it) when you can! Don't get too worried about brake squeakage... that's what they do.... usually. |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by SAMM on 05/05/06 at 15:15:41 Welcome !! Sounds like a perfect fit for you... But be ready for a nice ride.. Way nicer bike than a Rebel.... Some of the new bikes seem to not have the backfire, but if it does look around here for some easy mods to relieve it..... |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by starmom on 05/05/06 at 15:22:52 I will probably pick her up on 5-l7, and could possible get a pic to post at some point ..... any of you new riders? so far all my riding has been in parking lots, im very relaxed and feel in control and comfortable, I think I will be ok on the road with other vehicles, just want to make sure Ive got a feel of the gearing, and clutch so I dont STALL out in traffic that is one of my fears as well as the usual some idiot trying to run me off the road. Will happily accept all "tips" for the novice biker getting out into the "real world" |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Reelthing on 05/05/06 at 17:16:56 Welcome - my advice would be to stay out of traffic and on quiter roads if you can until you no longer think about how to shift , brake, turn, and take off - think about how well a car seems to drive itself while your on the lookout for fools and what not in the road - you can never turn that same amount over to the subconscious while on a bike but the more you can the more you watch out for fools. |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Guido on 05/05/06 at 17:57:11 Welcome aboard!! You'll find a lot of good info here, and friendly people willing to help. ;D Be extremely alert the first ime and every time there after in traffic!! Eyes in the back of your head so to speak. It's kind of ironic, and please don't take it personally, but every morning on my way to work, 6:30 am, the worst drivers I encounter are the ones going to work at the local hospital here!!! I've been cut-off, nudged over, Pulled out in front of, etc. Sometimes I think they're trying to drum up business! >:( Be carefull of your fellow commuter co-workers!!! LOL |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Veritas on 05/05/06 at 18:06:41 Want an easy way to avoid the commuters? Do what I do - work overnight! I go into work the only one on the road, and on the way home, I get to watch the craziness on the road trying to get into boston, as I'm headed out! :o ;D |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Trippah on 05/05/06 at 18:12:04 welcome and enjoy yourself. The S-40 is a forgiving ride, 3-5 gears cover each other quite a lot. As I have mentioned before, I found a moderate slope at a cement factory near me where I was able to practice hill starts- my one concern when I returned to riding. At 44, you've got 30 years of riding ahead of you so don't be in a rush- practice on the back roads etc until the controls are second nature- then head out nto the wide world. Your gonna love it :). |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by steelwolf on 05/05/06 at 18:12:15 Welcome to motorcycling, welcome to Savage/S40, and welcome to the site. We are here to help so post all you want. Use the search to look for info first if you cant find it someone will point you in the right direction. As for the clutch and such, practice. Out of "traffic". You should get a feel for it pretty quick since you have been on a bike recently. You will be fine, just stay confident in what you can do. And take baby steps to the next thing you want to do. For example...If you ride comfortably at lower speeds then by all means take the long way home and stay away from the "big" roads till you are ready for the higher speeds. If you are more at home making turns without stopping, try to plan your routes accordingly till you are familiar with the stops. Sounds like your are getting good instruction via the teacher but if this teacher is just a friend or a friend of a friend then may I "we" suggest the MSF course. It will help ease the anxiety. Once you get comfortable with one thing you can start on something new. Have fun and let us see the baby when you can. We like baby pics, They're so cute! ;D |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by SAMM on 05/05/06 at 21:35:50 Baby Pics ??.... Mine is of MY Mistress !!! ( so my wife calls her ) And yes she is cute !! |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by lancer on 05/06/06 at 05:32:39 Welcome Sue. Most everything has been covered already so I will not repeat it again. RIDE WELL & RIDE SAFE |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by MISS_SALLY on 05/06/06 at 06:13:32 Practice Practice Practice I put over 20 miles on my bike before leaving the neighborhood. Getting the feel of my bike vs class bike. Glad to see another Lady Rider on savage site. |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Don Steel on 05/06/06 at 09:28:26 Hi Starmom Welcome to the world of Savagery!! ;D Now you can say you've got friends in the Uk as well. |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by diesel on 05/06/06 at 21:19:49 first thing different than the 250 will be a very strong lurch forward when you twist that right grip. |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Savage_Rob on 05/06/06 at 23:34:35 Welcome, Happy Birthday and congratulations on your new bike! Folks seem to have covered most of it. The backfiring is normal as the bikes are set very lean at the factory. Very minor adjustments should lessen the occurrence greatly and a few more tweaks can garner some more power. Of course, any machine can be improved and most folks find ways to personalize their rides. In the mean time, ride safely and remember that you are invisible to most cage drivers. |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by azjay on 05/07/06 at 07:07:40 welcome, my wife is 40, and started riding her savage a month ago, after attending the msf course. mostly she rides along side of me, for now. i can watch the road for us, as she gets more comfortable with the controls and feel of being "in the wind". have you got a riding buddy? |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by SeeAPierce on 05/07/06 at 08:28:36 Welcome! I was new to street riding before my S40. I felt comfortable with the controls from my dirt bike days, but this new element "cars" was strange to me. It's a little bit Zen...have the confidence...be in control...feel larger than you are...will people to see you. All the while driving as though you are as invisible as the wind... |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by shawn_b on 05/07/06 at 21:05:53 welcome ;D the backfire thing is good so times it helps u some times one night i was driving home from work when the suz let out one there was a cat on the side of the road that cat jump 3ft in the air i laugh my tushy off good luck in ny that where i from and my bike is from shawn |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Paula71 on 05/08/06 at 05:31:35 Welcome StarMom, Parking lot practice. Or your own yard if it is big enough. Once your comfy on the Savage/S40 moving slow and making turns from a stop then hit the street!! Enjoy :D |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by starmom on 05/08/06 at 11:48:38 thanks all for your imput! I have a small property, my driveway is short and hilly. there is a fire house down the street, with a parking lot and some neighboorhoods not far but not possible to get to without driving on roads. Im planning on being out there on the quietest time on the day, 9:30-ll in the morning, after the commuters are at work. on my days off. I wish i had more open road to practice on, im not far from vassar college and they have a farm area i would have to take small residential roads to get there with minimal traffic. I have to get used to the mirrors, and really looking hard for traffic, not stalling in traffic and the braking on my new bike. there are some circular neighboorhoods again i have no choice but to be on minimally one lane each way roads. will have to learn the basics of putting gas in, etc. so tell me when you go into a parking lot where you have to stop and get a ticket how do you let go of the clutch? netural? with foot on brake and right hand on brake? i know so stupid, trying to figure these sorts of things out. hey can only the saddle bags made for the s 40 fit on the bike? with the supports? do they hold much? my teacher has been teaching for over 20 yrs she teaches the msf courses too. the private lessons was the best way for me with my schedule, i would love to have skipped the road test i take that next week. i have lessons for four hours this week. 2 hrs tommorow and 2 hrs on thru, then after we work a bit thru we are going to the road test site to practice. not picking up the bike until next week my helmet comes in a day or so. will get the owners manuel then so i can read all about the different things on the bike in advance so i know the particulars. my hubby is getting his liscence too and a h.d. sportster, he has more experience than me, but never offically liscenced. so i will have someone to ride with but is there anyone out there from the hudson valley NY? sue |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by AnnB on 05/14/06 at 21:41:20 ;D hey sue I am 59 and got my S40 last year. I love her. Remember to "ride at your own pace". I guess I am lucky-live in the country so had plenty of lessor used roads to pratice on. I started out pretty slow, but soon picked up on the speed. Try not to worry to much. As for stalling ..............everyone does it even the road warriors :.))))))) |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by Dynobob on 05/14/06 at 22:19:29 starmom wrote:
Hi Mom ;D Yes put your bike in neutral. Use either brake to hold the bike. Probably the front brake so you can put both feet down while doing your business. If you're on a hill you will need to switch to holding the bike with your back/foot brake because you will eventually have to apply some throttle to take off so you will want to free up your right hand. Use the rear when taking off on hills anytime. Regarding fueling - keep your petc0ck in the "ON" position all the time. Practice switching to reserve from the seated position without looking. This is what you'll have to do if you run out of gas on the main tank while riding. Keep track of your miles after filling your tank full. Stop and refuel at 100 - 125 miles. Probably 100 or less to give your butt a break :) |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by DianeS. on 05/15/06 at 16:49:25 Hi! I just learned to ride last fall at the age of 42. I did have experience riding dirtbikes, and all kinds of off-road vehicles as a teenager though - which helped. I did the Motorbike safety course, and picked up a used savage in November. I was intimidated to ride a 650, but man it is smooth and fun to ride. For safety, I just try to keep a good distance back from the cars in front of me, and always watch in the distance for anyone who might do something stupid or not see me. I also have full leathers and a helmet etc. The muffler on my savage is a very loud jardine slash cut, but I was told it was good because other drivers would hear me, and know that I was there!!!! I live in Canada, so I had to watch for sand and gravel on the roads following the winter, so I'd advize you to keep a careful eye out for any type of loose gravel or debris that might affect your traction. On the days I take my car, I always make note of where the roads have any new hazards, so I can be cautious on my bike. The other day I saw a bunch of gravel all over one interection - yikes - going to avoid that one til it's cleaned up. (I'ts a construction area). Anyway, I'm sure that with each new mile or km. you put on your bike, you'll feel more and more at ease in the seat! Enjoy, and ride safe!!! Diane S |
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Title: Re: Hi Y'all, new here Post by GA_Wolf on 05/18/06 at 07:53:21 Congrats on your new S40...I've been riding for decades and love our little thumper..she's forgiving and enjoyable to ride. My wife took the MSF and got her license last year but didn't get much saddle time in before her Yamaha Vision became a parts bike for mine. So two weeks ago we bought our first S40. Wifey crashed it in practice..lol...fixed it back except for a couple dents in the tank and some road rash on her arm. We pick up a red one for her this weekend. She'll continue to get her skills up on mine, since it's already been dinged. It happens....maybe not to everyone, but if it does, remember bikes can be fixed or replaced, and wear your safety gear at all times...even for slow speed practicing! As far as the backfiring....there are alot of fixes posted in the forum for it. I've noticed that mine only seems to backfire when using the motor to help slow the bike. It's an old habit and most riders do use that method to help slow th bike. But, if you don't want to hear the backfire, you can also just engage the clutch, slow the bike with brakes only (while shifting down to an appropriate gear) until you stop or get to the desired speed, then reengage the clutch. Seems to work with mine. |
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