Good day

[Sandmonkee]

Hi

Name's Mike, I live in Ontario, Canada. I have been a 50cc scooter driver until now (got hooked on them while living in Asia), but recently decided to get my full motorbike licence, as scooters just aren't as common on the road in North America (I've had waaay more close calls here than in Japan).

So on Wednesday at lunchtime, I went and got my learner's permit, and on the way home from work, I bought a Marauder. The ad has some really nice pictures if you want to take a look:
http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeIm ... =373215674 (http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=373215674)
(note that the ad is wrong, its actually a 2003)

During the safety inspection, the shop found that the front tire was stale from being in storage, so now its been sitting in the shop waiting for a tire since Thursday. I was extremely bummed that I wouldn't have it for the weekend, but better safe than sorry I guess. Add to that my team getting knocked out of the NHL playoffs, and it was a pretty disappointing end to the week. :)

But, it should be ready on Monday. Till then, I'm drowning my sorrows by buying all kinds of accessories on Amazon! :)

Nice to meet you folks, chances are I'll be here often asking questions, as I am a total (39 year old) newbie to the motorbike world.

[alantf]

scooters just aren't as common on the road in North America

Hi there, & welcome to the madhouse.

Over here, on the island, there are thousands of 50cc scooters, & thousands of big sports bikes. It's us inbetweeners on cruisers that're in the minority. :)

[mole2]

Welcome to the forum from South Carolina. I'd recommend that you take a beginer riders safety course. It's the best investment you can make in your safety. Ride safe.


:)

[Sandmonkee]

Yep, I am already registered for one. Did that between getting my licence and buying the bike (so, between lunch and dinner on Wednesday). The earliest they had was in June. Luckily there is a big govt complex near my house that is empty evenings/weekends, so I'll have lots of space to practice.

[5th_bike]

Excellent! meanwhile, you can read up on the MSF class - they have the book available online as far as I know, and you can even try to practice on their courses when they're not there.
Oh - and welcome to the forum ! :cool:

[Rionna]

Welcome to the forum from Ohio. I hope your tire gets fixed and you are riding soon!

[Sandmonkee]

Actually I'm in Ontario - we have a motorcycle handbook from the govt that has all that info, and its what I'll eventually have to study to get my full license. I'll be picking that up when I register the bike. But thanks for the suggestion, do you have a link to this msf book?

[blaine]

Welcome to the family!! :cool:

[AndrewGZ250_02]

Welcome Sandmonkee !! Whereabouts in Ontario, maybe we can cruise!

[bpdchief]

Welcome from Florida

[Water Warrior 2]

What............another rider from Ontario !! This is getting out of hand.

Just kidding from the west coast. Welcome to the forum.

[mole2]

Actually I'm in Ontario - we have a motorcycle handbook from the govt that has all that info, and its what I'll eventually have to study to get my full license. I'll be picking that up when I register the bike. But thanks for the suggestion, do you have a link to this msf book?

Motorcycle Safety Foundation Library (http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?spl=2&action=display&pagename=Library)


:)

[Rookie Rider]

Welcome and congrats on the bike. Isnt anyone from N.Y. anymore that i can ride with dammit. Its boring riding alone.

[Water Warrior 2]

Welcome and congrats on the bike. Isnt anyone from N.Y. anymore that i can ride with dammit. Its boring riding alone.
You need to hang around a coffee shop where riders stop. You are bound to find some one to ride with.

[Rionna]

Riders here in Ohio seem to be very snobbish towards my GZ. Many won't even respond to the wave. The Beast and I are aliens in Harley Town. :twisted: Those few riders that I have rode with are surprised that the Beast does have so much power but this is only after they snickered at my "little bike" at first meeting.

[Water Warrior 2]

I must live in a particularly friendly area. There are very few snobs riding. There are a few H-D club riders but they just keep to themselves and live in their own little world. The rest of the world is mine to find new friends.

[Rionna]

WW, Most bikes in my area are HD's. But that hasn't stopped me from riding every chance I get and enjoying The Beast. I'm sure in my adventures I'll find some riding buddies who don't care what you ride as long as you ride.

[Water Warrior 2]

WW, Most bikes in my area are HD's. But that hasn't stopped me from riding every chance I get and enjoying The Beast. I'm sure in my adventures I'll find some riding buddies who don't care what you ride as long as you ride.
:2tup: :2tup: :2tup: :2tup:

[alantf]

I must live in a particularly friendly area. There are very few snobs riding. There are a few H-D club riders but they just keep to themselves and live in their own little world. The rest of the world is mine to find new friends.

Over here, it's the rest of us that ignore the Harley riders. They live in a little world of their own. While the rest of us use our bikes/scooters for convenience & as primary transport, the Harley riders seem to see themselves as 1960's American Hells Angels throwbacks. They just don't realise that the rest of us see them as posers. :)

[jonathan180iq]

Good day, eh!

Now take off, hoser.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/116648/BobAndDoug.png

;)

Glad to have you here.

[greatmaul]

Hi and welcome! Definitely better safe than sorry on the tire thing. Losing 50% of your tires is a lot worse than losing just 25% on a car.

[Rookie Rider]

I hear you Rionna.

[Skunkhome]

Everyone down here waves, I get waves from HD and Beamers even when I'm on my lowly Honda scooter.

[Sandmonkee]

Good day, eh!

Now take off, hoser.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/116648/BobAndDoug.png

;)

Glad to have you here.

Glad someone got the reference! :)

Thanks everyone for the welcomes. I went for my first few longish rides this weekend - put about 300km on the bike. I am now hooked on motorcycles!

I learned a few things too:

1. Be very careful riding in the cold. You can be so excited about yer new bike that you don't realize you are about to lose your fingers. Then you step off the bike, or come to a stoplight, and realize you have mild hypothermia.
2. My bike has a hard time getting down into 1st at stop lights. I took off in 2nd a few times, even though I'd kicked through the gear lever all the way down.
3. The friction point on my clutch is at the extreme end of the lever's travel, ie I barely have to pull in the lever to activate the clutch. This resulted in me shifting up and then revving the hell out of the engine because I thought I had fully released the clutch. Oops.
4. I love doing the wave. So much so that I sometimes concentrate more making sure I wave to the oncoming motorbike than driving my own damn bike! Maybe I'm worried that if I don't wave, they'll think I'm a snob or something.

Anyways, I'm taking the bike to work tomorrow for the first time. Its been a while since I've been this excited about going to work!

[Sandmonkee]

Actually I'm in Ontario - we have a motorcycle handbook from the govt that has all that info, and its what I'll eventually have to study to get my full license. I'll be picking that up when I register the bike. But thanks for the suggestion, do you have a link to this msf book?

Motorcycle Safety Foundation Library (http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?spl=2&action=display&pagename=Library)


:)

Thanks very much mole - lots of great reading material there! I'm gonna dig into this at lunchtimes at work...

[alantf]

3. The friction point on my clutch is at the extreme end of the lever's travel, ie I barely have to pull in the lever to activate the clutch. This resulted in me shifting up and then revving the hell out of the engine because I thought I had fully released the clutch. Oops.


This suggests that the cable needs adjusting. It's probably never been adjusted since new, and all cables stretch over time. It should be adjusted so that there is a little free play at the outer end of the clutch lever, before the operating arm at the engine end starts to move. If the adjustment can't be done at the lever end, then you'll have to adjust it first at the engine end. It's a really simple job, and it sounds as though it wants doing before you ride again. You'll notice the difference immediately, & your ride will be much more enjoyable. :2tup:

EDIT:- I've just re read this, & I think I've got it the wrong way round. The cable has been OVER adjusted, so it needs slackening off. The way to do it, & the way to check it, still hold good. :)

[Sandmonkee]

Hey alantf - thats kind of what I figured. I'm guessing I can loosen it off just by turning the knob where the cable goes into the lever, eh?

[Skunkhome]

welcome to the site. I like scooters to use for scooting around when I am on the road in my motorhome. They are light enough that i can easily load onto rack on baack of RV.

[Skunkhome]

your clutch lever should have about 3/8" freeplay at the tip of the lever.

[alantf]

I'm guessing I can loosen it off just by turning the knob where the cable goes into the lever, eh?

Probably. If not, it's easy enough to do at the engine end. :)

[Sandmonkee]

I adjusted the clutch, and it is like a different bike - much better!

[Water Warrior 2]

I adjusted the clutch, and it is like a different bike - much better!
Give yourself a pat on the back. Doing is the first step to having a happy bike.