beginner's bike???

[ballyhoo]

Every now and then, somebody refers to the GS500 as a  "beginner's bike."
That's dealer talk. Sort of like saying that a Honda Civic is a "beginner's car." Bullshit is what it is.

I started riding in 1967 on a friend's Honda 50, then bought a wrecked Suzuki 250 Hustler for $100, rebuilt it, and proceeded to scream around the outskirts of Blacksburg Va for a few years (I was able to get the Hustler off-road and into the woods on many occasions). In 1978 I bought a new Suzuki GS400x (for $995) and happily rode it nearly to death until last year. It was a great bike!

Then, when I  found out that Suzuki had essentially updated the old 400 into the great-looking GS500, I found a used 01 in PA for $2600. What could be sweeter?

From the looks of ol' GS Jack, Kerry, et al, I'd say the GS500 is more like a seasoned pro's bike. A bike fit for anybody that likes what motorcycles do. Then if you want to add some extra horsepower, acceleration, and want to die young, get yourself something bigger. The main deal is to have fun, get where you want to go, and enjoy.

[pixelmonkey]

well said.

i look at it this way...

its a great looking bike in stock trim, has a huge list of ways to modify it for not too much money, is LOW on insurance, and keeps me happy.

for those riders that think a 1 liter bike is the only way to go, i ask... are you compensating for something?

chris<pixelmonkey>

[Michael]

The GS500 IS a beginners bike, but not in the sense that it is only for babies or that you will grow out of it in a week.  It is in the sense that it gives the best grounding in the fundamentals of motorcycling in a package that is large enough to feel like a "real" bike, has good brakes and handling, and a power to weight ratio that will allow some heady moments but has to be coaxed to get you in real strife (stupidity aside, that is).  It is ideal for a beginner to learn the basics as safely as possible for little cost.  This does not preclude it from being a lot of fun for more experienced riders, and even all you'll ever need if you don't need to be constantly showing off or "compensating for something".

[The Buddha]

Come on guys ... I personally know of atleast 10 people that outgrew their GS in under a Year and in only 2-300 miles ... and now they own Harleys, or R1's or GSXR 1000's ... and they all have a good 2-300 miles on those new bikes to prove it ...  :lol:
And Ballyhoo... glad you didn't add me to the list of veterans ... Oh wait a min... that's some good company ... why didn't you add me dumbass... :x
Cool.
Srinath.

[Jace009]

2-3k miles that's it??? geez

I've put 3k mles on my "newer" gs since october. She is apart right now but I can guarantee you she'll be around for another 5k miles atleast....then hopefuly my g/f will pick up and intrest and learn to ride the GS500 and give me grounds to show her that I need a bike too...so I might be perswaded to jump into the 600 class:D

My first GS I put 8kmiles on her then sold it to pay for college...Year later I cna't live w/o a bike so I bought the "newer" gs that I have now. It's a sturdy, reliable and well balanced bike. Keep gas in it and oil the chain and she'll last for almost ever. [of course some of like to do preventative maintence   ]

I just got a quote for a 97' YZF 600 =$268 a year
Same coverage and from same insurance Gs= $146 a year. I had to just try one other option and a zx-9r will run you $500+ a year for reliability    if you crash on that well I guess funeral fees are up :dunno:

[Ed_in_Az]

The GS500 IS a beginners bike, but not in the sense that it is only for babies or that you will grow out of it in a week.  It is in the sense that it gives the best grounding in the fundamentals of motorcycling in a package that is large enough to feel like a "real" bike, has good brakes and handling, and a power to weight ratio that will allow some heady moments but has to be coaxed to get you in real strife (stupidity aside, that is).  It is ideal for a beginner to learn the basics as safely as possible for little cost.  This does not preclude it from being a lot of fun for more experienced riders, and even all you'll ever need if you don't need to be constantly showing off or "compensating for something".

Yeah, what Michael said. If you're inexperienced, it's about the safest bike you can get over 100mph on. If you're experienced, it's about the safest bike you can get over 100mph on. It's cute, fun, and IT won't try and hurt you.

[JetSwing]

dude, it's a beginner's bike...

[CAN_Porn*Star]

[The Buddha]

. [of course some of like to do preventative maintence   ]

:

Oh no .... never ... that's what the dealer is there for ... we let them take care of it...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Michael]

40 years ago 500cc was a big bike.
It still is.

Even then, 500cc was considered the smallest serious bike.  After all, you couldn't pull a chair with anything less (well, you could but it was cruel).  But the "gods" were all riding 650s and the real prize was a 1000cc Vincent.

[John Bates]

Here's an interesting read about beginning bikes. Written by Chuck Hawks titled   GOOD FIRST MOTORCYCLES

You may not agree with some of his choices, but he seems fairly objective overall

[gsJack]

40 years ago 500cc was a big bike.
It still is.

Even then, 500cc was considered the smallest serious bike.  After all, you couldn't pull a chair with anything less (well, you could but it was cruel).  But the "gods" were all riding 650s and the real prize was a 1000cc Vincent.

Even though I didn't start riding till 84, I remember the Brit bikes of the 50's and 60's.  Real bikers rode those real bikes all over this country.  Even the 500cc ones that couldn't pull a chair.  If the "gods" were riding the 650's then, they must surely have been some of the lesser gods.

We have only two 500cc vertical twins left on the US market, the GS500 and Ninja 500 aka EX500.  Just taking the more modest performer of these two, the 02 GS500 and comparing it with one of the later Brit 650s, the 70 Bonnie T120, we see the old 650 was no match for our current lowly "biginner's bikes."

http://members.aol.com/jcprrp/GS500vsT120.txt

Even if you could get the T120 up close to 100mph, you better have a lot of room left ahead to get it stopped again.   :lol: That was then and this is now and now is better.  

I used to be just an old man tolerated by some of the big cruiser guys that hung out uptown at the coffee shop till I went for a ride with some of them.  I always say there is nothing better than a good ride together to build mutual respect.  

You all remember the Royal Enfields of the 50's?  They are still built in India just about the same as they were then.  A comparo test in Cycle World showed the performance of these  new/old 500cc Brit bikes:

0-60 mph in 17.4 sec,  20.7 sec at 62.2 mph quarter mi, and 80 mph top speed.  16.0 bhp at 4500 rpm and 23.4 ft-lb torque at 2850 rpm.

A guy/gal could have been one of the greater "gods" on a lowly GS500 biginner's bike back then.

[bikenut]

Litre bike owner's compensating for something??

There is nothing that compares to the exhilaration of acceleration.  My GS is fun to ride,  very forgiving, comfy, 60 mpg, cheap insurance, and is stable at 110mph, but my REX has torque that is simply eye opening and heart pounding.  When you twist the throttle at 3 grand, you better be holding on tight (and leaning forward).

I've enjoyed every motorcycle I've ever ridden and I don't see why owner's of one bike need to put some other bike or class of bikes down.