introducing myself to the local board

[guf]

i read some where on here that some forum had 15000 members and 13500 had never posted, I don't want to be part of that stat.

So hey, new here! 696, first bike, i bought a new vespa in June, took the safety course in july and realized that i need a motorcycle.  My little brother ex sport bike rider, visited from Chicago and said i should get a monster, and remarked on how many people in SF had one as we drove around. After looking for used ones and then I went and looked at them new and fell in love.  A few more weeks goes by and i am now a new owner of a pearl white 696.

The drive home to SF from San Rafael was a bit scary with the freeway being a new rider, new bike, traffic on a Friday, hella wind going up the hill in Sausalito, fog and lots of bridge traffic,  and even worse fog , almost drizzle to my house in the outer Richmond. 6 days has gone by i commute everyday to the marina and joy ride home. when going out to dinner i always now chose the long scenic route and a even longer one home.

My poor vespa has quickly become out grown.

i also read somewhere about the "wave".  2 months and 900 miles on the scooter and maybe twice did i get a wave, one from a motorcycle.  on the monster,   tons and tons of waves from everyone:  motorcycle riders > scooter riders.
i also made a new fellow monster friend this afternoon at the light on van ness (nice guy, on a red newer one) and told me to look on the forum for group rides.
Glad to be here and part of the community

guf

[gojira]

Welcome! 

[ROBsS4R]

Welcome  [moto]

We have some Vespa Riders on this board as well and maybe a New Harley Rider in the Future 

I pretty much wave to anyone on 2 wheels 

Anyone have that photo of Micheal Moore doing a Vespa burnout in front of the dainese store 

[Cynic]

Welcome

[ptam]

Welcome! 

[gojira]

Anyone have that photo of Micheal Moore doing a Vespa burnout in front of the dainese store 

You mean this one: http://wongo.zenfolio.com/p973316074/?photo=292100508

[Labbedds]

I was the guy on the red monster.  Dis guy has a nice white 696.  Nice to meet you man, ride safe, come out on a group ride when you feel comfortable.

[Michael Moore]

Hey guf, welcome to the board.

I can imagine doing the ride from SR to SF was a bit interesting as a new rider. Sometimes the wind on the Richardson Bay Bridge will about knock you into another lane.

As for the Vespa, hang onto it, for those times when you need to hit the Farmer's Market or pick up some wine. Or do a burnout. 

[r_ciao]

Welcome guf.  Nice bike.  Mine's red.

[Spidey]

Welcome, guf. 

Good to see another monster/scooter owner around.  It sounds like you've already got the Duc bug.  Don't expect it to recede any time soon.  That said, don't worry about your vespa not getting enough play.  You'll start riding it again, when you figure out what jaunts on better on teh scoot than the Duc.  I use the scoot for short trips within the City.  The Duc is for long jaunts or for when I'm feeling wheelie-rific.

One of the big differences between the scooter riding and the moto riding is the perceived amount of required gear (though it's just as important on the socot).  I hope if you weren't wearing gear before that you are now.  Gear is good.  Trust me on this one.      

Locally, there's all sorts of fun to be had with the mosnter crowd.  There are montly monster-specific meet-ups in SF (zeitgeist) and SJ (Katie Bloom's).  There are also montly  Ducati bike nights in North Bay, South Bay and East Bay.  Group rides are posted fairly often and there's a monster-tech day every once in a while.  The local DMF racers--Tigerbike Racing--will be at Thunderhill this week and then at Sears at teh end of the month.  At Sears, there's always a BBQ on Sunday in the pits, where spectators mingle with the racers for a fun day of amateur racing.

Hope to see you in the twisties. 

[MendoDave]

Welcome.

[ducati_tim]

Welcome! You live in a great area for riding a Monster 

[Drunken Monkey]

Welcome!

And yes, more than a few of us are vespa/monster owners 

(Hey! Tim's posting from just down the hall during work hours... busted  )

(Oh wait, so am I  )

[somegirl]

Hey guf, glad you found the local board.

[guf]

Wow! thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Glad i poster on the local board looking and forward to meeting everyone.