Hello!
(Or as they say around these parts, "Hey up!" which is from old Danish apparently)
Been using this site and picked up some good tips from you guys, so thought I'd do the decent thing and try to give a little back. Hope this post is in the correct place.
Been a biker for over 30 years now, started riding when I was about 8 on the fields and tank roads, did my bike test when I was 16 and have ridden many bikes since then ranging from utter death traps to some quite decent ones. Always loved the GS range, grew up with them in the 80s: had a 500, 650, 750 (and I think an 850 if memory serves me correctly). Went through a Triumph phase, then ended up with the GSF1200 Bandit. Loved that bike! Toasted it on a hairpin doing about 30MPH, total write-off. Got paid out, sat looking for "something a bit different".
Drank too much whisky one night, had a massive barney with the missus, went to bed, woke up the following day vaguely recalling having been on eBay. With trepidation (a banging head and a missus with a face like a slapped backside), I logged on and realised that I'd gone and bought myself a 2001 Hayabusa.
"Cool!"
That totally cheered my day up.
Went and picked it up feeling nervous, wondering whether I might have bitten off more than I can chew and what I will say about the Hayabusa is that it was, from the start, a very easy bike to ride. Does what it is told, corners better than any review I had read, goes like stink: in black and chrome, it also looks pretty mean. Less of a bike, more of a weapon!
I must have gone through 30 bikes (didn't bother with my car test until I was 37) and I have to say that this bike is all the things I have ever sought in a bike. You guys will know exactly what I mean when I mention "grin factor"; I often get off it and just cry, "I LOVE YOU!"
Got a question though...
It's had a set of Renthal bars on it since I bought it. They keep the back pretty straight and are comfy on long distance tours (1,500 miles in a week is not unusual for me), they do stand out and I quite like the look, and yes you can get it right down on the bends, but I'm tempted to put on a set of original bars just to test it out.
Any opinions on this?
One more actually: luggage (ARGH! I KNOW!!). I'm into mountaineering and carry a fair bit of kit when I am hitting the hills. Obviously the boots, leathers and lid has to get left with the bike and I usually bag and chain them, but I could really use a decent luggage set for when I'm touring 2-up.
Any recommendations?
Anyone got much experience with tank bags and / or luggage / back rack? Just wondering how much they affect the handling?
Anyway, cheers and happy riding!
(Or as they say around these parts, "Hey up!" which is from old Danish apparently)
Been using this site and picked up some good tips from you guys, so thought I'd do the decent thing and try to give a little back. Hope this post is in the correct place.
Been a biker for over 30 years now, started riding when I was about 8 on the fields and tank roads, did my bike test when I was 16 and have ridden many bikes since then ranging from utter death traps to some quite decent ones. Always loved the GS range, grew up with them in the 80s: had a 500, 650, 750 (and I think an 850 if memory serves me correctly). Went through a Triumph phase, then ended up with the GSF1200 Bandit. Loved that bike! Toasted it on a hairpin doing about 30MPH, total write-off. Got paid out, sat looking for "something a bit different".
Drank too much whisky one night, had a massive barney with the missus, went to bed, woke up the following day vaguely recalling having been on eBay. With trepidation (a banging head and a missus with a face like a slapped backside), I logged on and realised that I'd gone and bought myself a 2001 Hayabusa.
"Cool!"
That totally cheered my day up.
Went and picked it up feeling nervous, wondering whether I might have bitten off more than I can chew and what I will say about the Hayabusa is that it was, from the start, a very easy bike to ride. Does what it is told, corners better than any review I had read, goes like stink: in black and chrome, it also looks pretty mean. Less of a bike, more of a weapon!
I must have gone through 30 bikes (didn't bother with my car test until I was 37) and I have to say that this bike is all the things I have ever sought in a bike. You guys will know exactly what I mean when I mention "grin factor"; I often get off it and just cry, "I LOVE YOU!"
Got a question though...
It's had a set of Renthal bars on it since I bought it. They keep the back pretty straight and are comfy on long distance tours (1,500 miles in a week is not unusual for me), they do stand out and I quite like the look, and yes you can get it right down on the bends, but I'm tempted to put on a set of original bars just to test it out.
Any opinions on this?
One more actually: luggage (ARGH! I KNOW!!). I'm into mountaineering and carry a fair bit of kit when I am hitting the hills. Obviously the boots, leathers and lid has to get left with the bike and I usually bag and chain them, but I could really use a decent luggage set for when I'm touring 2-up.
Any recommendations?
Anyone got much experience with tank bags and / or luggage / back rack? Just wondering how much they affect the handling?
Anyway, cheers and happy riding!
