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


The turn signals on these bikes are not the best quality. You make be able to adjust and tighten or you may have to replace it with better quality turn signals. May we never speak of laying a bike down again.  

may i suggest a rider course for you?

nothing against ya but to buy a brand new bike and never ridden doesnt seem to make sense.

the the msc in your local area........

and hey.......be careful!

I will be taking the course very soon.  I've already ridden 150 miles since yesterday and that was mostly in steady rain on highways, with a little side road action.  I am already feeling extremely comfortable and at home on the bike.  

It seems I am fairly good when it comes to things that go.  I bought my last cage, a mustang gt 5 speed without ever driving a stick before.  Put it right on the highway after i signed the papers and drove it the 20 miles from the dealership right to my driveway with no issues, not even stalling her.

I did the same with the bike.  Learned where everything was and how to do what I had to do in the graveyard and then drove it the 20 miles home.  No stalling, no problems.  You know what they say:  2 kinds of bikers.  Ones that have dropped thier bikes and ones that will.  Well, I can now say I have my fall behind me, right off the bat.

But seriously, the course will be taken. Soon...

Well, I wasn't expecting to have to ride in the rain.  I was hoping to stay where I went till tomorrow, but I had to come home this morning when it was raining.  Good thing it was early on a Saturday morning so there weren't many people and I was able to go at an easy pace with no problem.  So, it was more out of necessity this morning, 65 miles, than something I wanted to do.

Ok, truth time.  I went up to New Hampshire to show my girlfriend my new mistress and stay the weekend, and she decided she didn't want to be with someone who rides.  So, she dumped me.  I didn't feel like sleeping on the street tonight so I went home.  I knew I shoulda called her first.  

Three quick rules for the newbie rider.  

!. Use the front brake.  It's the one that stops the bike. (make it a habit)

B.  Use the handlebars.  Pull right,  go left.  Pull left , go right.  (It's a physics thing).  (ditto)

3.  No one see's you,  no matter how cool you look.  If they're in a cage, they don't see you!

 Cutie at the bus stop see's you, kid on the skateboard see's you,  cages are busy on the cell wondering what's for dinner.

Make the first two habit and assume the third, then enjoy the ride.

I love it, hope you do to!
35 years riding, touch wood!

I have a 2000 savage, so I don't know if the turn signals are different.  It seems to me that you have to undo the screw in the post thingy that the light is attached too.  That shouldn't be hard to access???

You should be using both brakes together, but the front brake does do the most stopping.   I also tend to downshift through the gears, so that unless it's a sudden stop, my speed is low when I do have to apply the brakes.

Anyway, congrats. the new bike.  Just beware that your confidence doesn't exceed your ability to handle the bike.  I know that I can get a bit "show-offy" when I ride in front of my peers - and yet I have to watch it too - because I've only ridden since November.
(I've always been a bit of a daredevil, so I have to curb my desire to push the limit).  

I have read that most accidents tend to occur after someone has ridden about 6 month or so (something like that???) because they've gotten a fresh boost of confidence and now take chances - that they maybe aren't quite ready for.

Drive safe!!!

Check in the tech section, because somewhere on this site are pics that show exactly where the little brass plug etc. is.  (Probably under carb mods, or white-spacer mods)

I found mine on my bike and the plug was already off - guess from a previous owner.  Anyway, check out the pics 'cause I'd hate for you to drill out the wrong plug.