Howdy from Central Arkansas

[cfsmith]

Guys and gals,

Just posted on the technical forum and figured I'd better introduce myself. I've been lurking for long enough =D

I'm a new rider in Central Arkansas area and I picked up an '06 GZ250 for $1,750. No major cosmetic problems (small dent in the tank, that's it), a brake pad replacement, and I was good to go! Been running all up and down Little Rock and the surrounding areas and loving every minute of it.

It's a simple black bike with nothing special but I'll post a pic or two sometime this weekend. Hoping to get to know anyone in the area and benefit from the bike expertise of the forum.

See y'all,

-c

[Moedad]

Welcome, c!

[music man]

Where at in central arkansas exactly, and welcome to the site.

[cfsmith]

Whoops, forgot my name - Charlie is what I am, hence the -c

I'm up a little north from Little Rock, in some beautiful Cabot countryside (just starting to be appreciated by riding the GZ as I've never really taken a leisure drive before my bike!!). I toil 5 days a week in the capital city and commute using the local highways unless I'm running late, which seems to often be the case.

-c

[alanmcorcoran]

Welcome. Thanks for introducing yourself.

[music man]

Dude you are crazy driving on the Little rock freeways on the GZ, or any bike for that matter.

[cfsmith]

Heh, well, maybe I am. My planned route is surface roads and highways until North Little Rock, but when I'm late I jump on 440, stick to the right, and coast into work. I hate to admit it, but the commute cuts down from one hour to about 40 minutes with freeway use. I leave early enough that there's little traffic, and the freeway's nice and new so no unpredictable shifts in concrete or anything.

It really ain't bad, but my daily drive to home includes 0 freeway - we've got some pretty countryside even close to the capital, I like sticking around there. Even saw me a bald eagle flying overhead with a caught fish the other day - awesome sight that reminded me that I gotta keep my eyes on the road ;)

-c

[alanmcorcoran]

I'm not familiar with the freeways out in Arkansas, but... ours are also a bit hair raising with the GZ. At first, I was scared to death of riding on them, but about three months in, a 75 mile, three hours plus slog, from traffic light to traffic light, cured me of my fear and ever since I've been on them when I gotta go more than 5 or ten miles. I see lots of reports of bikes down on them, right along where I ride, but, supposedly, it is safer bombing along the four-lane at 65 than it is in city traffic. I have a bigger bike I use now for most of my freeway riding, but the GZ is the only one I will split lanes with.

[cfsmith]

Alan, I was the same way until I realised I might be late for work. I gunned it, hung on for dear life... and never really looked back. Freeway driving no longer concerns me.

I may have to look into getting a slightly larger commuter bike, though. While I'm really liking the GZ for lazy Sunday jaunts, the Monday-morning rush needs to be handled as well... not quite sure what I should do, really.

-c

[alanmcorcoran]

You'll get lots of advice on here. At least half or more of us have eventually gotten something instead of or in addition to the GZ. Dupo has a Honda Shadow and Water's girlfriend has a Suzuki M50 - both good step-ups to look at when you get to that stage. I made a deal with myself to get 3000 miles under my belt first. With your commute, they may happen pretty quick.

A heavy bike handles a lot better on the freeway and feels better in the wind. I eventually want to do some medium distance touring so I went for a good freeway bike and kept the GZ for in-town.

[music man]

I'm not familiar with the freeways out in Arkansas, but... ours are also a bit hair raising with the GZ. At first, I was scared to death of riding on them, but about three months in, a 75 mile, three hours plus slog, from traffic light to traffic light, cured me of my fear and ever since I've been on them when I gotta go more than 5 or ten miles. I see lots of reports of bikes down on them, right along where I ride, but, supposedly, it is safer bombing along the four-lane at 65 than it is in city traffic. I have a bigger bike I use now for most of my freeway riding, but the GZ is the only one I will split lanes with.


I am sure that the freeways in your neck of the woods are WAY WORSE, (I have already told you my thoughts on you and the GZ on those Cali freeways, :crazy: ) the problem with the freeways in Little Rock is, that for the most part that is the only place in Arkansas where there are real freeways, as far as in town commuting anyways, so no one seems to know how to drive on them, if it was just the going 70 on the GZ on them, I wouldn't have much of a problem with it.

[cfsmith]

I have to admit that it's not *too* bad on AR freeways in Little Rock, BUT... all the cars seem to whiz by when I'm right at the speed limit. I don't think that's different from anywhere else, and we've got the big lanes here so people can weave without ever leaving their own lane. Thankfully for me we've also got some patient drivers XD

Ultimately I prefer to drive on our country roads that have been long forgotten. 'Specially during April and May, the explosion of color going on right now is absolutely incredible.

-c

[dannylightning]

if you are talking about I-40, it is scary enough to drive a car on there, never seen so many semi's and damn there aggressive and pissed off. they act like its some kind of race and they will do any thing just to get in front of the next semi if they can.. and im talking packed bumper to bumper with nothing but semi trucks driving crazy.

i don't know if its always like that but i did not like it one bit the few times i drove on it.. i remember it was bad around the little rock area and kept getting worse and worse until you crossed over the bridge into memphis tennessee.