Comin' in bored from Jokeville

**Sabex** · 04-21-2012, 03:20 AM

'allo. The names Brandon, but I go by Brad or Sabex and I'm 19 years old. I live in Oakville, but am barely there as I'm usually a few towns out with friends.

To starts: I ride a Suzuki GS500F (first bike, got it in November.)
I had this really crazy idea to drive it on a 3000km round trip into the states, starting December 3rd and staying in Washington DC and then southeast North Carolina for 1-2 weeks a pop.

On that trip I encountered the horrors of Pennsylvania. The fog that was so thick I couldn't see, which also felt like shards of glass piercing my skin whenever I flipped my visor a crack to defog/deice it. The same fog that I could only keep riding in because of a local riding in front of me knowing the roads; his taillights made for a great visual aid for turns/etc.

I encountered the nice hail and freezing rain and ice, combined with rather pushy winds. And the transport trucks, oh god the transport trucks...
After that I returned home December 22nd, put the bike away for awhile. On that trip I dropped the bike turning into a gas station in Pennsylvania (really, I hate that place...) because I was trying to avoid these hug pot holes filled with muddy water, and struck some black ice.

It was completely my fault, I was driving in weather I should not have been, was inexperience, and just generally made a very stupid, very bad and very poor choice.
Nothing bad happened, the mirror and fairings got a little rash (they were already rashed from previous owners anyways: so i wasn't too concerned.) The clutch lever was already bent (my idiot stepdad, a day before I left, backed into the bike into the drive way and it landed on that side. it was the only damage, and after a thorough check: the bike was still working fine so I kept my plans to travel.) And the previous owner had installed flush mount turn signals, so not much damage was done to that: the casing just broke off (which I need to replace: because as of now water and other things can get access to the LEDs, they'll probably break soon or get fried)

I checked the bike over on spot, nothing seriously looked damaged, so I kept on heading back home. I got home, and put the bike away for awhile, as I realized how stupid I was for driving it.

Then, one of my step siblings decides to tip the bike over in the garage, breaking the front break lever off (its still broken: and I don't plan on getting a new one yet it still works fine.) Also rashed up the right side a little more (again, it was rashed from previous owners: so I wasn't too concerned about that.)

I expect to drop this bike a few more times as I continue to learn on it (I am by no means good, I still have a lot to learn and practice (like low peed maneuvers, and keeping my damn head up >>) I also plan on having this bike for a few more years (due to insurance and the fact that it's a wonderful and amazing bike.) So I plan to slowly modify it as time goes on.

So then my m1 expired (yes, i know. really stupid of me to travel to the states on an M1 on a bike I had only gotten a few weeks prior...), and I rewrote it February 17th. I took the m1x course at Sheridan last week, Brampton campus (Oakville was booked up when I registered) and Just got my m2 a few days ago. The instructors were awesome, helpful, and really friendly. I'd recommend the course to anyone looking to get their M2 (I also learnt a few things, not as much as someone brand new to biking, but quite a bit. Most of the things they taught I already learnt/was practicing: but it always helps to get more practice and some actual feedback on how well you're doing as opposed to just thinking.)

I hope to continue learning, and practicing my skills (especially low speed maneuvers.) Along with not being so crazy and riding in conditions that would pose too much of a risk (I'm somewhat of a daredevil, I 'spose: typical teenager thing) Although one thing I do pride myself on is I will never drive ANYTHING while intoxicated. If I do get intoxicated I either toss my keys to a sober buddy, or stay the heck away from a machine. Which usually ends up with me staying late after parties until I'm good enough to drive, or walking home :<

Wow this is getting really long. I'll just make the ending short ><
I've had countless hours of dirt riding as I grew up in a small Newfoundland town (west coast), combined with about 6000kms of street riding. I've still got lots to learn, and lots to master (which comes with practice, practice and more practice.)
I plan to have my '05 GS500F roll over (its at 25300kms on the odo right now, hopin' to have it strike 99999+ before I upgrade to a new bike in a few years [[due to insurance and the fact this beauty still has a lot to teach me]] with lots of proper maintenance and being well taken care of. I'm also doing all of the labor/work on the bike myself with the help of the internet and service manuals, so it's a nice learning experience for wrench turning)

AAAANNNNNDDDDD does anyone know a place in the GTA that distributes JTSPROCKETS? I want to switch from the 16/39 stock to a 15/41 set up to try it out and since my chain is rather old/needs to be replaced really soon: it's a perfect time to switch out sprockets also!
I also need to find a place that sells LED's that'll fit in my gauges/cluster, my high beam indicator is broken so I need to swap that anyways: and wanna make the rest brighter/change the gauge color. I checked superbrightleds but they require an order over $25 to ship it international: and my order would come out to $20 or so (it may be 20 to ship international: and 16 m6 order comes out to, I forget), for all the LEDs I need. I do have a box on the border I can get access to, but with no other reason to go to Niagara, the amount i'd save wouldn't be worth the amount i'd spend on gas.

ps: if anyone wishes to slap me upside the head for being so stupid, feel free to do so in the event that we ever meet. (just don't hit the helmet: I'd quite like it to save my head in a crash thank you very much)

**SeaBreez** · 04-21-2012, 03:28 AM

Welcome. I took my first bike (roughly the same age as yourself) from Kitchener to Key West Florida with only two weeks riding experience...
Enjoy your bike and ride safe.