you dont out grow the bike....just your riding style...what?

[johncam4]

for a long....actually ever since i got my gs i have been excited about up-grading to an sv or gsxr600...i feel like ive already out grown my gs after 4 months then i thought....what more do those bikes have that my gs doesnt.....that might be obvious but my skill level would still be the same on those bikes as it is on my gs.....i need to be the best rider i can be on my gs first...and take my skill and apply it to a new bike, not take a new bike and apply it to my skill.    im too young and too excited to know what i want.....i want bigger and bigger but i cant get myself to accept that is not the best approach....be happy with what i have ..do i speak for any one else or not.....wow what a schtick

[mp183]

You are doing it the smart way.  Give yourself at least 2 years on the GS.  It took me two years and 15,000 miles after not riding for 20 years to bring myself up to my previous level.  Good luck.

[i3randon12]

haha i know how u feel,,,,            ive out grown my bike       and its been about  a month and a half!!

im already lookiing for a gsxr1  or 600 myslef

haha i rush things

[ghettorigged]

Good way to look at it.... I'd rather be on my GS, learning road skills for a couple years, than upgrading early and learning a nasty lesson a newer/bigger bike!  

[pantablo]

....i need to be the best rider i can be on my gs first...and take my skill and apply it to a new bike...

That's it. You havent actually outgrown the gs, at least not until you are riding it hard enough that its limitations (suspension, tires, etc) are limiting your riding faster or better.

What most people consider "outgrowing" it is really their gaining comfort level with riding in general. This is a dangerous time for you-one of the most dangerous because your percieved skills are still ahead of your actual skills and you (I should say, one) has a tendency to lower their guard...become complacent a bit about safety....

Be careful.

[Dragonfly]

After 11,000 miles since last august, I feel like I have "outgrown my bike".
But there most deffinetly times when I go oh Sh#!, good thing I wasent on a liter bike.

I feel that I could most deffiently be faster on a bigger bike (in the twisties), but its really nice at times to just simply work on being smooth and consistant corner to corner.
This should help incredibley for when I get the Sv1k

[Will McClard]

Biger bikes help poor riders go faster. They become faster dragsters in the straights, but don't help much in the turns. If you learn to really ride your gs you will keep up with the big boys. You will learn how to corner and not just rely on a big motor to make you feel fast. Very few ride learn to ride their bikes to the bikes capacities. The American way is to try and buy greatness.

[gitarman]

I think johncam4 put it best....just be happy with what you have and go out there and ride!

The GS might be lacking in power but that makes you learn. Instead of using a bikes power to get out of turns (you know take the curve slow then just rip on it) with the smaller bike you gotta learn to go deep into curves, keep it in the powerband, hold your line, etc.

I like to think a year or 2 from now I'll look back on these GS days and be like "dude if it wasn't for rompin around on that old thing I couldn't be sittin on this AMA supersport podium gettin a kiss from the umbrella girl" :mrgreen:

[pantablo]

I'm with Dragonfly and Will. I did 9,000 miles of [mostly] canyons in 16 months and felt like I was ready to move up. Mainly because I was continuing to upgrade the suspension, even getting a new rear wheel for wider rubber...that's when I realized I 'needed' another bike.

I have to say that, even though I always understood what Will is saying about  a fast bike concealing poor riding I now really understand how a fast bike can do this. On my gs I had to learn good cornering in order to not lose any  momentum, and be able to keep up with a group or at least keep my pace up. On the 600rr I see guys [on a variety of sportbikes] slowing for the turns then slingshoting out of them down the straight. I still dont ever use my brakes. Mainly though, thats because I follow the principles of The Pace [see sticky link in Meet & Greet]. I keep a reaosnable pace on straights, not opening it up, then keep the same pace through the turns...

its fun that I can ride the 600rr as it was meant to be ridden. I have to say that it is much easier to ride faster on it. Where I used to do a consistent 65mph for the length of Angeles Crest Hwy (nice twisty road) really hustling the gs I can maintain about 75mph on the 600rr and not even break a sweat-the bike is so nice. it is a pleasure to have good suspension...but I digress....

Heres a little video of me on the gs...right click/save as--->videee-oh

First day I took out the 600rr I was able to scrub tires from edge to edge...ah the virtues of a smaller first bike.

[nl_carey]

Wait until you really know what the bike is capable of before upgrading. I have problems with the front end becoming <very> unsettled in bumpy corners (particularly on entry to corners if you're braking - scary moments have been had!) due to our marginal Queensland (Australia) roads, and don't like the rear shock in two-up.  However, I haven't upgraded either of these yet, and bike is old, so I'll hold off making any commitment until I've fixed these items up.
One of the major reasons I'd like a bigger bike would be better is to be able to put sticker rubber on it, I find here it's hard to find non-commuter tyres for the GS, and I've never liked 'average' tyres even on my car.
That said, I run with GSXR's, R6's and a range of litre bikes on rides (I ride just behind the fast group - I simply can't keep up in straights), and really don't find that much wrong with the GS aside from no fairing (though to be fair, that's why I bought it) and no real power to have a 'cruisy' time 2-up or overtaking at speeds greater than ~70mph (real speed, not indicated).
However, the GS is a masterful commuter, happy enough on smooth roads (I love resurfacing) and I continually get comments on how well I keep up with the 'big boys' using such a pokey 500 (I hammer it mercilessly during rides). It's so much more satisfying having people compliment you on how well you've done <despite> your bike, rather than people commenting on how fast your CBR/GSXR/ZX etc is compared to their model a couple of years older...
When I upgrade, it'll be for 2-up performance, better touring with a fairing and better rubber.

[ghettorigged]

I like to think a year or 2 from now I'll look back on these GS days and be like "dude if it wasn't for rompin around on that old thing I couldn't be sittin on this AMA supersport podium gettin a kiss from the umbrella girl" :mrgreen:

:lol: nice!