Newbie needs help

[ryan_sri]

[RedShift]

Well, this mid-40's first time motorcycle rider thinks this is a great beginner bike.

Comfortable ergonomics, proven engine and chassis (16-years of a good thing), great mileage, polite power that will forgive errors in input but still run all day at freeway speeds, not to mention low buy-in and insurance prices and you've got one of the best bikes to learn on.

Granted you have asked this question to a biased lot of GS500 enthusiasts, but I chose my GS500 before latching on to this site.  I considered the Kawasaki Ninja 500R, but my 6'4" frame didn't agree with the gas tank flair.  I found the Kawasaka 250 a bit small, as I did the Buell Blast!.  Still, these are all good bikes, currently available new.  As with that fairy tale about the three bears, I found the GS500 to be "just right".

I bought a flyscreen to deflect some of the wind, but other than that it is stock.  If not for the poor riding weather here (called winter), I'd be out there every chance I get.  Love this bike, and as others will add, can be quite enteraining and configurable.

The price you quote for the 2000 GS500 sounds quite affordable, but I don't know the British market.  Suggest you check your equivalent of Cycle Trader.  It may be useful to test the waters and see what road insurance will cost.

If it is truly in good running order and it meets your affordability expectations, I'd say go for it.

Roy...

[starwalt]

Greetings and welcome! I concur with Redshift's comments. Just to add a few more, this bike was recommended to me by one of the parts guys in a motorcycle shop. I was looking at the Honda Hornet 599 (very nice but $7k   ) and taking some photos of a pristine RC30. He said the GS can't be beat for simplicity, reliability, and availabiltiy of parts.

My GS was purchased on ebay and is a DIY repair case. I enjoy "wrenching" and other repair tasks. If the GS has been well cared for, you should only need be concerned with normal maintenance and adjustments. I purchase a Brit mag dedicated to motorbike repair and restoration. It is just a super read and has excellent tutorial articles. Mr. Kerry of this group has many "how to" threads. I constantly find answers to question and new information here.

500 pounds is approx. $1000 give or take. Not a bad price for a 2000 model. I recommended a 1990 GS for $900 to a friend. He has no interest in working on a bike and just wants something ready to go. My 1990 ebay project was $416 and I have spent around $375 in parts new and used. My funding is ebay sales so my paycheck isn't being used for this new habit...yet.  

[Fint]

I just bought my first bike, a GS500, about two months ago. For a beginner, I'd say you can't go wrong.  It is definately quick enough, and handles nice. It may not have tons of power at the top end (above 120 kilometers per hour, you'll have to kick it down to 5th to pass some one) but that isn't anything that you'll really be displeased with.


If the milage is decent, I'd say go for it.

[scratch]

Welcome!

As a biker of some 18 years, I can tell you that this bike makes for an excellent beginner bike as well as a longtime companion. The bike you could own for a lifetime.