I hope you allow USA guys here!

Hello, my name is Don and I just purchased a "new to me" 2011 GSX1250FA.

I live in western Nevada, USA and have been riding motorcycles most of my adult life, I'm now 66 yrs old.   My last rides were DL1000 and DL650 VSTroms, before that I rode Honda ST1100's for many years.

I moved from the ST's to the VSTroms because I want something a bit more lightweight, and thought I might like "adventure touring."   Lately I've been getting tired of climbing on and off the big Vee and wanted something the same weight or less but a whole lot lower.  The FA seems to fit these desires nicely.

I purchased the FA on Saturday in southern California, trading my "wife's bike"  the DL650 in on it at a dealer.  The FA had only 5230 miles on it when I left the dealer.  I put about 500+ miles on it on the way home, riding many nice twisty roads and also some straight freeway on the way home - the route took me through Yosemite Nat'l Park.   I'll post my ride report later, but am very pleased with the bike so far. 

I''ll be moving a lot of my accessories over to the bike from my DL1000 and then that one will be placed for sale also.

Looking forward to taking part in the conversations, and learning from you more experienced FA owners.

Hi Don and welcome aboard.  They let South Australians, and even Tasmanians on here, so I'm guessing you'll be fine.   
The Bandits are a great bike . For the money. Even better after a few tweaks here and there. I have moved onto something else now but still enjoy the fellow members company here that I still  hang around.  Enjoy.

Welcome along  Don. 
I'm sure that you will enjoy many miles of touring on the  Not Bandit.  
Like Hammy said, a few tweaks turn these bikes into a great allrounder. 
Enjoy.

A Sunny North Queensland Welcome to You SVDon.
Look forward to reading your ride report . . .
truck

Welcome to the forum Don enjoy your new ride

SVDon wrote: trading my "wife's bike"

I like that   

Welcome to the forum Don.  There already a few 'Yanks' among the crowd so you won't be alone (icestormmusic and captbruce are the most recent I think).  Love getting a few pics from your side of the pond as you have different a varied scenery to ours.  

ps: do me a favour and tell !tag that Samual Adams is a good beer!

Thanks for the welcome!   I need to wait a week, it seems, to post my initial ride report, getting the bike 500 miles away from home, as the report has inline pictures.  So you have something to look forward to.

Re:  Sam Adams is a decent beer if you like lagers.  My wife used to drink it often, until she discovered Heineken.    

I drink beer infrequently, but when I do I prefer alt style and ales.   Probably my favorite beer is Alaskan Amber, which is an Alt style beer.

Hi Don,
Two new recent members, Chunky (a pommy) posted this https://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t4826-if-all-goes-to-plan and DoubleD (from Denver) posted this https://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t4890-highest-paved-road-in-north-America

So we'll enjoy your report when you can get it up in a few days. If your trip covered any of Route 66 2Wheelsagain will be all over you for details

The reason you drink beer infrequently is probably because someone gave you a Samuel Adams Boston Lager without you knowing it when you were a young'un.

Glad to see you kept your old moniker. 2011GSX1250FADon really doesn't roll off the tongue

Welcome aboard

welcome to the forum Don  

Welcome aboard mate.
Just get the calculator out when we're talking modern metrics

G'day Don, welcome along.
Nah, we don't have any probs with people from the states, I mean, we let Honda riders chat on here!   

Kiwisteve wrote:G'day Don, welcome along.
Nah, we don't have any probs with people from the states, I mean, we let Honda riders chat on here!   

Thats good