Hi everyone! New rider in San Francisco

Hi. Just finished up the MSF course. I was all set to buy something small as a started bike when a 5th gen VFR800 through a convoluted method came my way free. So I am a bit nervous cause the 800 is more bike than I was expecting to start off on, but free is free.

Thanks for this great forum which has been pretty helpful.

 

WELCOME HERE!!! The best advice I can give you is self control of your throttle hand and wrist. Go easy and get comfortable on the bike before you "try it out". MY GF learned on a CD650SC Nighthawk and rode it for several seasons before buying her Ninja. She did fine. You will too.

 

welcome to the forum! post up some pics if you can.

 

As soon as she is up and running - pics will follow.

 

I guess I missed you when you first posted up. Welcome for sure. My 06 was my very first ride....ever...and I survived fine. But I didn't push it either as others here warn against. You will grow into this fine piece of machinery well. And crickey, how did you manage to get a free ride? I have just gone from wlecoming you to hating you LOL

 

Welcome to the forum. By up and running do you mean tags and legal fees or do you mean mechanical issues?

 

How close to San Fran? Lots of folks here in the central/northern Cali area.

Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome to the forum! Free ride? How did you manage that?
Remember ATGATT and take it easy.

 

Welcome tarun. If you live in the city I would recommend that you get most of your early street riding outside the city and on roads that have little traffic.

SF is not the greatest place for a new rider. Get out on highway 1 and find some gentle twisty roads, like around Alice's restaurant, above Woodside.

If you ride with others, ride your own pace. After about 3,000 miles you might want to consider taking the ERC course.

Good luck . . .

Bob
(retired MSF Chief Instructor)

 

Whats wrong with it?

 

Welcome to the Forum! Can't believed i didn't see this when it was first posted. You've already started off on the right foot by taking the MSF class. Take your time and get used to the bike. I agree that you should get out of the City if you can to learn more without all the distractions but I would avoid Hwy 35/Skyline Blvd and going to Alice's until you have more miles under your belt. This is not a knock on your abilities; I'm more concerned with other riders flying up on your tail with no regard for your safety thinking if they push you, you'll go faster. Ride Your Own Ride! Be safe and wear the gear. I work in SF so if you need to see another VFR PM me for a ride or just to learn about this wacky site! :welcome:

 

Okay, finally took a picture. You can see where the dumbo light is totally cracked. I figure I'll ride it a bit more and then get all the plastics patched up and repaint - probably metallic black.

This one is going to be out of date soon after the darth bling mirror mod and Ken rack. Now just need to score a Sargent seat since the damn regular seat is determined to have me slide forward and geld myself.

 

Nice 5th Gen VFR! You never told us if there was anything wrong with the bike or if it's mostly cosmetic damage. As others have stated, there are plenty of people right in your backyard here on the forum to help if you need it. How many miles have you put on her so far?

 

It had been sitting for about a year - so bad gasoline mostly. Needed a bunch of routine stuff like new sprockets and chain. Did the VFRness install and replaced the very dead battery. I had a friend who was pretty knowledgeable help me out. Currently in the process of having a shop put on GSXR mirrors, Ken rack, HIDs, quieting down the TBR exhaust and a CBR929 rear shock - No wrenching allowed in my current garage

Future plans include scoring a Sargent seat somewhere, getting some luggage, and, eventually, an RC51 fork and better rear spring. Definitely will have to see if someone knows how to go about doing that stuff, since I am still a newbie.

As for riding, I've just been commuting in the city with her (alternating with my Ninja 250r scooter). I need to make some of the BARF newbie rides soon.

 

I would HEAVILY advise against the BARF rides... I've a couple friends that came back with too many "interesting" stories. And I'd also suggest being very particular when/where you ride up in the city (I'm down by Big Basin, and commute to Palo Alto). Bunch of friends with bikes in the city. All had their first accidents in the city, not on more open roads. Just too quickly changing of conditions. But then, if you've also got a scooter, you're probably a bit used to those.

After you comfortable with the bike, get it on the freeway. 280 is better than 101 for both pavement quality and general craziness of the people in cars (less likely to slam to a stop and dart across lanes).

And definitely make your way over to hwy 1 (through daly city/pacifica), and get time in there on curves. Hwy 1 down to Pescadero (stop and eat at Duartes) and back will be a great ride.

As silversurfer pointed out, much high-speed traffic on skyline by alice's, but my experience (used to commute past their daily) was that they'll just rip past you. Need a change of shorts the first time a 100mph+ bike goes by in your lane, but after that, you learn to ignore them. And honestly, that's REALLY rare these days (or maybe I just pick the rights days to be up there (workdays).

 

I'd definitely like to hear more on what happened on those BARF rides.

I know the city is more dangerous, but most sunny weekend days I am out riding my road bike rather than motorcycling. I'll definitely try some of those routes though.

 

FRisco ridiing presents some SPECIALl challenges.....like stopping and starting that heavy bike ON HILLS!! Avoiding slippery trolley tracks and manholes as you're going downhill and stopping on a rainy day !!!! And the pedestrians all over and the gay pride parades on every block !!

Even parking on a steep hill is dangerous. And after you think you're a fairly competent rider, try making a U-turn or riding a circle on a hill !!

Unless you're a big, strong dude with long legs that bike is going to be way too big and heavy at first for ANY new rider, IMO.

I'd get alot more practice on the 250 and ride the VFR on flat roads for awhile.

And read "CityBike," a brilliant, free newspaper !!

 

As to the BARF rides, mostly along the lines of hijinks that get extreme attention from the local police (and really aren't a good idea in general). Wheelies on the bay bridge are just dumb.

And as squirrel says, the SF hills are extra special fun. I have issues still in my WRX, luckily the Z has the toque for some of those 45º hill starts... The rear brake is your friend on a hill start. Oh such a good friend. I cheat with the hand-brake in the cars a lot when I'm in SF, as I just don't drive up there enough to get good clean starts without clutch death or big roll-back.

A friend that's ridden for years, and is VERY skilled had is first low-side in years on some of the trolley tracks. They're very slick, especially when they cross at a slight angle (as they become edge traps, too).

 

Yeah, I already dropped it once not using the rear brake on California near the cathedral - learned my lesson well but fortunately a random pedestrian helped me pick it up and get over to the side.

I always avoid the trolley tracks, they are pretty much evil.

In my car, I don't need the handbrake too much more anyway.