derf
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| posted on 22/8/04 at 03:55 PM |
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New Bike
After a few years of me saying that I would get a bike I finally did. Went out yesterday and broke down and bought a '99 Kawasaki Ninja 500. It
is a good birthday present for myself, plus I have a bike to finally take my licence test on.
[Edited on 22/8/04 by derf]
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heinlein
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| posted on 22/8/04 at 08:00 PM |
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Congrats on the bike. Not trying to be a downer, but I thought I should share what happened to me. A few years ago I decided to buy a 1989 BMW K100RS
for my fortieth birthday present to myself. I had previously owned three other bikes and I was thrilled with the "new" BMW. The day after
I bought it I took it for about a 30 mile ride basically to show it off to friends and family that didn't know I had bought it. On the way home
entering a curve the handlebars suddenly started tank-slapping and unable to negotiate the curve I found myself sailing through the air and a tree or
two. The air was nice and soft; the trees less so. At some time later I found myself being loaded into a helicopter where a pretty girl inserted tubes
and needles into various portions of my anatomy; I do not recommend this as a way of meeting girls or taking a helicopter ride. I suffered many broken
bones and my fourth night in the hospital my spleen ruptured and I almost died. Having several broken ribs and then having your stomach muscles cut is
also something I don't recommend; it takes a long time to heal with both bones and muscles damaged as theres little stability for the whole
torso.
Anyway have your bike checked out and be careful, I hope you enjoy your birthday present a lot longer than I did mine.
When you're lying in the midst of the Afghan plains and the women come out to cut up the remains; just roll to your rifle and blow out your
brains and go to your god like a soldier.
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Peteff
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| posted on 22/8/04 at 09:52 PM |
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GPZ500?
My mates' girlfriend used to ride one of those. Are you not very tall Derf? It was a good fit for her and she's about 5' 4"
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Simon
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| posted on 22/8/04 at 09:56 PM |
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derf,
Two friends had one of these (the second bought it from the first!).
I had a go on it and it was quite good fun (just make sure you keep it above about 7000 rpm!!)
First friend who owned managed to wear out the belly pan - so how low can you go - and stay on 
Have fun and ride safe!
ATB
Simon
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derf
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| posted on 23/8/04 at 01:26 AM |
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when I lived in NYC I had a quad That I used to ride around, anyway at the begining of the summer of 95 I was out riding with a few friends, I was
crossing an intersection and some guy decided to see if his Mustang could occupy the same area as my bike. Well if you know anything about physics,
this just doesnt work. After spending the first month of that summer in the hospital I got out and spent the next 3 learning to walk again, it was
fun. Now I have a screw and 2 pins holding my right leg together.
Yes and I'm 5'6"
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mackie
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| posted on 23/8/04 at 08:04 AM |
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Nice looking machine
Have fun.
I'm giving thought to learning to ride with a view to getting a bike of my own in the next few years. But I also don't want to die.
I used to cycle a lot so I know how dangerous the driving public can be when on 2 wheels...
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spunky
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 posted on 23/8/04 at 07:39 PM |
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Good choice Derf.
Ignore the looks that the the 'proper' bikers will give you, My missus rides a GPZ5 and I love it so much I prefered riding it to my
GSX600.
As Simon says over 7K the engine comes on cam and scraping the belly pan is a good roundabout pose.
Inurance has now coughed up for my bike and I'm considering replacing it with a GPZ5 they're that good.
Enjoy
John
The reckless man may not live as long......
But the cautious man does not live at all.....
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