salsarider79

Never found that, TBH, but the waterproof covers are rubbish, I think we can agree on that....

I did the intensive course just before they brought in the mod 1/2 thing. Great training, great laughs and mine was £600 for three days which also included my riding test. Would recommend them.... p.s. I had no experience of motorbikes having only done my CBT, and ridden a moped 8 years before, but the training was so good, I had no problems on test.

A bit of a pain to put on the first time, getting the straps the right length and stuff, and can be a bit of a pain when fitting or removing fully loaded, oh and the rain covers need bungee's to keep them on. Mine are one short before I found that out. Other than that - fantastic. Loads of bungee points to strap things too, I use two of the small bungee's that come with them in an X shape over the seat to keep them in up. They expand out and are massive. I've carried a shopping trolley full of food on my bike using these. As soft luggage goes, very good but not perfect.

Picked up my leather suit for £250 cut from £700. I had a size 46 which was slightly too big round (I am tall but skinny), but was fine when riding. I always wore t-shirts underneath for comfort. The legs were a slight pain to get off if you had a hot sweaty summer blast, but I doubt many leathers would be much worse. I never got my knee down, and never did a trackday in them which were the main reasons for buying them in the first place. I did do some quite long days in the saddle in them (six hours plus) and they were very comfortable, more comfortable than my textile suit that's for sure. I had one crash in them (the one day I was commuting in them!) and though I broke my back in two places that was from landing on my feet, so nothing could really have protected me. I went through thorn bushes, bounced off trees and stuff (I was doing 60mph ish went I crashed) and didn't even have a bruise on me. Amazing kit. I sold them as I only have a GS500 now and would look a knob in 1 piece leathers on the bike...

I have two of these. I picked up one to replace my 1990's Arai that was my first helmet after I passed my test. I had a HJC before that which was horrible... Anyway, turns out my GF is the same shape and size head as me so I picked up another one cheap. Totally agree with the wind noise, but I use headphones and music if going for any longer than an hour at 50mph+. I can cope with it for an hour, without a problem. Otherwise I have no problems. Good lids

+1 I picked mine up second hand, cheap. They have survived two crashes and three winters, have been ridden in all weathers. They are a size too big for me which is fine as I wear an extra pair of thick socks (I get very cold feet) and stay toasty warm. I would totally have another pair.

Um,...yes 1. Outside my mother in laws house, moving the bike round, and stood in a pothole, lost footing and let the bike drop gently 2. Later the same day stopped at a busy intersection, next thing, picking bike from floor while car drivers went round me, swearing and laughing 3. When I went to park my bike in my parents garage, and the garage door opened up nudging the rear wheel and rolling the bike from it's side stand 4. When I took my mate to football on the back, I didn't put the side stand down properly and the bike ended up on the floor. At least now I have home made crash bungs (BMX stunt pegs bolted to 10mm threaded bar...total cost: about £5) it doesn't hurt so much...

This is a bit academic as jokes go, but... Rene Descartes goes into a pub and orders a beer. The bar serves Descartes his beer, which he pays for and drinks. The barman ask if he wants another beer. Descartes looks thoughtful for a second and says "I think not" and promptly vanishes.... (you might need to google Rene Descartes to get this...)

My GS500 is not the most exciting bike, in anyone's book. It was not in too bad a condition but it was left outside, unused over summer. I've changed the battery and that was fine for about two days, now I'm after a starter solenoid, but can't really afford £30 for one. I've also had a look on ebay for a tank as mine has a nasty dent in it. They are so expensive! So I had a look at bagster tank covers - they're £130. Put those ideas on the back burners me thinks. Ok, so down to the meat of the thread. I want to respray parts of the frame and a few of the metal bits, maybe the tank and side fairings too, just to stop the bike looking like a bucket of rat droppings. Can anyone help with advice? Where do you get your paint from? Can it all be done while the engine and bits are still attached? I can't strip the bike down too much (I don't have a garage, tools, or know how. I'm game, but my girlfriend isn't as keen) and I did use the bike for commuting but as I now have a car, I don't need the bike so much. Also, I need to do it as cheap as I can (I'm still only able to work two days a week after my crash in April) and have almost no money. Also as an aside does anyone know what difference there is between the 500e and 500f frames? It might be nice to fit a fairing on there one day....

I think its fitting that he was fighting to save the bike at the time. He was one of the most aggressive riders in motoGP and his super aggressive riding will be missed by a lot of fans. I can't see Rossi or Edwards quitting. They all know the risks, and they all accept them and continue racing. The tracks are very safe now, and as with Tomizawa last year, it's the bikes that are the danger. Neither Edwards, nor Rossi could do anything, and if you watch the accident, you can see them trying to avoid Marco. The riders are super human in their ability, but sometimes accidents happen. R.I.P. Super Sic p.s. Went for a massive ride to clear my head afterwards. Massive shock. p.p.s. Last year I was supporting Tomizawa #48 as he wore Berik leathers and Shoei helmets same as I was riding in...

What model was it? 2003 Suzuki GS500 K2 When did you buy it and how much did it cost? I picked it up cheap as a winter/commuter hack, and since a crash earlier this year, my only bike. I picked it as it was only £800 with hand guards, heated grips and a top box. I learnt on one so I know what they are like to ride. Dull. Good points? It starts. Eventually. And at the moment I'm down to using a screwdriver to start it. It is quite tough. Oh, and it is cheap enough to run. Bad points? Quality or lack of. They all look tatty, even the new ones, and ones that are touching 50k and have been used to commute in all weathers since new, well. The fuel tank is starting to show signs of rust, and all the electrics are under the seat plastics. Exept the mudguard doesn't cover them, so I'm having to go through and clean each bit. Poor design that is. One biker that looked at my bike said it was clearly a mechanics bike. It has been properly serviced since new. At the last service it had new oil and filters, brake fluid, etc. Mechanically sound. Or it will be when I replace the starter solenoid. I have also had to replace the exhaust which was a real nightmare. The header bolts had to be drilled out. I can't believe they made the exhaust a 1piece! I found an original exhaust for the bike in swindon, but the garage wanted £532 for it. The rear suspension is fine I load the topbox up or put heavy panniers on, but the front is so soft...I can easily bottom out the forks under braking. Or speed humps, or matchsticks, or....(I am taking the urine, but the forks are far too soft) I replaced the original bars as they flexed and bounced way too much. Scary going round corners watching them flexing. Now I just watch the forks flexing when cornering.... I still love motorbikes, but if you are at the stage where even a deuville would be too exciting, this would be a good choice. Honest, even the seat was a bit more comfortable, it really would send you to sleep. My God it's dull. p.s. I can't sleep tonight. Though re reading this, I should go for a ride. Then again, I might just count GS500's til I drift off....

After my smash this year, yes, always. I was wearing a Berik one (I got it with my leather 1pc suit). I was using it to commute one morning when I had the smash. I still broke my back in two places but that was from landing on my feet, but I didn't break anything else. I don't want to think what would have happened if I hadn't been wearing a back protector - I bounced off trees and branches at 60mph spinning and tossing all over the place. I'm shaking as I write this.....it's still scary...

Yeah, I love my cycling, but it is a bit difficult to do when you have one with an engine sitting there... Still, I am a serious cyclist. I have the shaved legs and lycra to prove it too. (Before you ask, I will only put up pics with a donation to charity... )

It just makes sense to me. Aggressive policing isn't the way to go, threatening fines and bans, it just annoys me. I would rather be educated in why speed is so dangerous, rather than sticking a camera up to take pics of me...

I have two and both are used all the time, one on my commute bike (though I'm not commuting at the moment...) and they are both fine. Didn't even burn a hole in them on hot exhausts (Well, I was often late out of bed and had to rush...)

I would take a chain and lock it too something. It's the best bet.

I never stole anything but have known some scummy *people* who have nicked cars, etc. It's very easy if you know how. You don't bother breaking the steering lock. I laughed when a *person* I knew broke into a car broke the steering lock and drove off in the car. Because he'd broken the steering lock it hadn't done what it would normally do and get out the way of the steering column. So when he went round the first roundabout the steering lock locked the steering and he crashed the car and had to be cut out. I'd have left him there. Scum

As above: When filled up, don't leave it on reserve. You only do no.2 once, and when you do and it's a mile uphill to the petrol station, you best hope someone will help you push the sodding beast....... Especially a nice biker who knows what it's like, and won't take anything in payment

Its a GS500. They do topbox kit, I need pannier mounting plates.

What if there is no rack for your bike? Just get the mounting plates and build it from there?

Wonder if anyone on here can help me. I'm trying to find out how to mount some E21 panniers when there is no bike specific kit available. How do you lovely riders mount panniers to your bike? If possible post pics. It will really help me.....

No engine?

That advice would have saved me money! My paint was damaged cos of all the times I carried soft luggage! Should have thought of that

Would make a funny youtube video! Anyway it prob already happens in India....

What sort of riding do you do? If you carry stuff around all the time then 'hard luggage' (Proper Givi/kappa racks and boxes) is a better way to go. If you are just popping down the shops, something like Oxford First would do fine. I have Oxford First, they cost me £48 and are good enough for commuting and stuff, and I would fully reccomend them for the money. But as I'm going touring, it'll be easier for me to go for full hard luggage.