a question from stupid newby to the big gun bikes

[KGT1200]

Having ridden a R65LS before buying my 05GS12, I was used to having enough power, but never so much power as to get my self in ...or out of trouble.

Now I have gone and done it, and need help determining how bad I have hurt my GS in the process.

I saw the SUV coming on my left side out of the corner of my eye, and I did not think, only reacted by twisting the throttle wide open to jmp out of the way. I was slowing down to make a turn, but was still in 3rd gear when I had to rev it up NOW! to miss being tboned, and afterward realised if I would of had the forethought to bring it down to second gear, all would of been well.

the good thing is I missed the SUV (she did not even acknowledge that she almost did me in!!) but the bad news is the smell of my clutch was heavy in the air. Since then, on a couple of occations in stop and go traffic, I have caught the faint smell of my clutch. I am unusually careful shifting now, but worried to death that I have a fatal issue here that will require some major clutch repair.

Please don't tell me I'm an idiot, I already know that fact, and am trying to learn how to shift, even after 36 years of riding on two wheels. The issue is I bought a porche to drive to the grocery store when all I needed was an old chevy nova...

No va in espanol is "no go"

And unless you really know, don't try to scare me for your amusement, beacuse then there really will be caca in my pants..

Somebody out there give me a credible answer!

thank you fellow MOA's for your collective expertise!

Red

[PGlaves]

I doubt seriously that you did any damage that will cause you grief. You probably burned the clutch a little and glazed things up a bit - but the glaze will mostly disappear with a period of normal use.

Don't baby it - but be attentive to the onset of chronic slipping. I doubt you'll see it but ....

[flash412]

...an old chevy nova...
No va in espanol is "no go"And "nova" in Spanish is the very bright, expanding, near-death stage of a star, same as it is in English. See Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp).

[KGT1200]

"And "nova" in Spanish is the very bright, expanding, near-death stage of a star, same as it is in English. See Snopes."


Hey when you've owned a NOVA, it means no go (1973 straight 6, auto)

And I do understand that in any language, including my spanenglish "no" means "no"; and va? as in slang for vamos? go!?

But who am I? just an old gavocho!!! Correct me if I'm wrong!

-Red :wave

[Nodakgus]

Though you have focused on what you think you "should have done", it seems apparent to me that your "riding awareness" and periphial vision is what made the big difference! How many others in your situation would even have noticed the SUV? :dunno

I purchased a 12RT after years of riding a modified Harley Road King. I still am getting use to this bike and I still am concerned about "getting into trouble" myself. The acceleration and quickness :bolt with this Boxer engine still surprises me!

[The_Veg]

Mitsubishi has for years marketed an SUV (even before that term was coined) outside USA as the Pajero. According to a blurb many years ago in Car And Driver, this led to extremely poor sales in one part of Argentina where 'pajero' was local slang for 'masturbator.'

[mjuskiw]

Its funny because I felt some of the sport bikes had more power than I would want for the street but the GS is no problem. I think it is a matter of balance and the GS has it all over just about any other bike I've ridden.

They matched the power with the right suspension and brakes; its a great design and lots of fun to ride. The power would be down right scary with a single front disc or less refined suspension.

I wonder with the SUV incident if a lesser bike would have stalled. I took some advice and found a nice quiet place and just progressively wailed on it, let it run did some quick stops and found out what it could do. Didnt want to be surprised on the street.

Being on a great bike makes it easier to ride safely as long as you resect it. Its just simpler to keep a space cushion around myself and get away from traffic ect.

I cant give you a rock solid idea on the clutch, I can tell you Ive smelled mine after climbing over a curb too cautiously. It smelled for awhile then everything was fine again in a few miles. I'd agree with PGlaves advice completely.

BTW I go to the grocery store on my GS all the time.

Mjuskiw

[ggfossen]

Red

I have a new R12Rt due next week. Rest assured, there will much trepedation the first time I engage the clutch. The fact that it has twice the power of my old R80 does give me cause to pause.

I think the bottom line is that you got the hell out of the way of the on-coming, and that, like, ain't dumb.

A point of curiosity, Jacksonville OR was used to film the Great Northfield MN Raid (Jesse and the boys). I was born up in St Paul, not too far from Northfield, but now live in Jacksonville. You don't really need to know that, but it might take your mind off the smell of clutch.

Gary

[KGT1200]

When I first moved to the ol "landolakes", I forgot to have the ol gal at the faribault DMV endorse my Motorcycle permit from Colorado. I went 2 yrs driving WITHOUT a licence, and it was partially because I had a "problem" in Colorado taking all the twisty windy foothills roads a might fast, sppeding in excess of the limit with a factor of 9! Now being an older fella with kids and wife, it was a great way to control my speed; the way I figured it, I no way wanted to get stopped for 2 wheel acrobatics, no way wanted to die on the flat and somewhat winding roads in Minnersoters! No licence meant a means to controlling my addiction to speed (not meth, but the REAL speed)!

Well that had to come to an end, because the risk of having to leave my Beemers on the edge of the road after a traffic stop out weighed the addiction of going way too fast. I somehow (somewhat) cured myself of the "ripping disease" and now ride like a normal person. Where it used to be common to pass three or four at a time all the while winding up the poudre canyon road west of Laporte and Fort Collins, now I limit my passing to one cage at a time, and keep it under 100.

But having said that, my GS is a challange every day. One day at a time I say to myself, "I'm not going to speed today" and I don't!!:brad :bolt

Red