I went for my first ride on the street last night, my first real ride on the Savage.
The purpose of the trip was to drop it off at the bike shop.
It was a little on the illegal side. The bike is insured, but not registered. I can't register it until I get is safetied and I can't get it safetied until I get it to the shop. The only way I could get it to the shop was to drive it.
Before I left I made sure all the lights worked and the brakes were behaving.
I went with my 2 friends. They were riding an old GS400 and a new(ish) GS500. And another friend followed in the car behind to take me back home.
The guys were impressed with the sound my thumper made and the riding position. They said to look at me riding it appeared very comfortable.
I was doing everything by the book, no speeding, weaving etc. But I did accelerate from a stop light 'firmly' just to see how it behaved. All I can say is torque. The
other guys said I was blowing a little black smoke on hard acceleration.
I was doing the typical rookie mistake... leaving my turn signals on a couple of times. But I had my more experienced friends around to remind me to turn them off.
The trip wasn't without event. I stalled going down a hill. The bike wouldn't bump start and wouldn't fire on the starter either.
We pulled over and let it cool down. Started in about 10 minutes. Perhaps just a new spark plug is required.  
Hopefully everything goes okay during the safety. I might need some little things. Unfortunately I live in an apartment so I am limited as to what I can do and mom and dads place (the family garage) is far away.
Speaking of mom and pop, they don't know I have my bike licence at all. I can't wait to see there faces when I go thumping in the driveway.

I'll keep you posted B.W.
Someone told me the front bearing check has to be done with the front wheel off the ground and then give it a shake. Is this true? What do you have to do?

bentwheel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:06:


or tell us stories of your riding adventures, post pictures.
have some darn fun....... and share it with all us...

My outlaw days are long behind me! It passed safety yesterday. Yippy
Plated and insured now!
I went for a ride for a few hours last night with my buddies from work.
I made dumb mistake #1 last night. I had my wrist too high when I grabbed ahold of the throttle. So when I had my wrist in the 'normal' position it was half throttle. When I let off I was still at part throttle.... I wasn't expecting this and nearly skipped along the side of a parked truck. Duh.  That won't happen again.
I am still puffing a little black smoke on hard launches. I have a new plug I will put in tonight. I bet that will make a big difference. It was a used one I put in to get it started.
It is hard to read the speedo with a full face bucket. That will take some practice.
The bike is 'wonky' in the corners. I get a little shimmy. I will check my tire pressures tonight. Is this a normal thing with bias ply tires?
Me and my buddies went to the local college, where me and the one friend took the motorcycle course. All the compound curves and things are painted in the parking lot. We were practicing them and had a laugh.
We each tried eachothers bikes out too.
Which reminds me. My brakes are terrible compaired to theirs. Should my brakes be that much worse than an '82 GS400.  The pads are brand new. Perhaps I need to bleed the system some more?!?
I guess all things considered a good experience so far. I didn't scare myself out on the road. In a few weeks when I have some more time on the bike I'll try and commute to work. For now just drive the back roads with in my comfort level.