Resale/tradein value?

[Velvetonefusion]

Hey guys I'm new here. I started over at SBN but also came here to get a bit more information on the GS500. I have been racking my brain back and forth between a ninja 500r and this machine and can find some excellent positives and negatives for both.

My worry on the g500 is that I will outgrow it more quickly than I would a ninja, based on the performance information I have seen. Since I plan on buying a 2005, that is a concern for me. I have heard varying replies on the actual top speed of this bike. My main concern is that it would be underpowered for my occasional trips down the interstate to Dallas and back (1.5 hours). What about gas mileage?

My main beef with the Ninja is looks. It looks older ad I like the new style with additional fairing on the gs500f much better.

Anyways, any additional specifics on this bike, newbie opinions on its drivability and whether you have grown out of it yet, and expert opinions on this bike's maintainability and reliability would be most helpful! Thanks!

[tdan553527]

Welcome to the site, I have an 04, I've ridden both, Ninja has more power, but the GS is more comfortable, handles better, looks better, and with a little modification you can get more power out of it.

I ride mine 1 hour one way to work on the interstate, running it between 80-90mph with no problems.

Gas mileage, I usually range in the low 60's.

Maintainence is no problem on this bike, very easy, especially with the helpful people of this site, THE BEST GS SITE OUT THERE!!

[Velvetonefusion]

Thanks for the reply. I hope to hear others as well! 80-90 without maxing out the engine is good. Say I'm cruising between 75-80 on the interstate...what kind of RPMs am I looking at? Am I maxed out? I have yet to sit on a GS500 as they didnt have one in the showroom.

As far as maintenance, you mentioned its easy especially with the people here. That is good! But my concern is not whether I have helpful people to help with maintenance but whether the bike will be maintenance free for the most part. I'm not referring to scheduled factory maintenance but of additional mechanical issues with this bike. I am getting a new one though so hopefully that may prevent most issues.

[tdan553527]

On the interstate, 80-90mph, 6800 rpm, redlines at 11,000.

For the most part, the bike is maint. free, the engine hasn't been changed for a long time, since the 80's, it's bulletproof. Just take care of it, watch oil level, maintain tire pressure, and it should last a long time.

[callmelenny]

I'll chime in for the older and more conservative riders and suggest you not get a faired bike if it is your first.

A 90's GS will have similar performance and when you drop it you won't break all that plastic. Also your insurance will be cheaper and you can spend the money you save on the purchase to buy good gear.

If you are set on fairings, then get the GS of course

If you start scraping the pegs in every turn then go for a "better" bike.

Grumpy old man of 35

[cheesy]

IMO if you are going to 'easily' outgrow the GS you would also outgrow the ninja.  They really aren't night and day bikes.


I would, however, recommend buying a non-faired 89-95ish year bike.  They can be had for VERY cheap ($1500ish range) in very good condition.  Ride it for a year or so then move up to something faster/bigger.

[goat]

Gas mileage, I usually range in the low 60's.

Speak for yourself :lol:. I get about 25-30. Then again, my carbs aren't quite adjusted right. I just hope someone doesn't light a match behind my bike. The excess fuel coming out of the tailpipe might catch fire and burn the poor bastard with the match.

BTW, this is not normal. tdan's 60 is closer to normal. I just screwed up the jetting and haven't fixed it yet. The GS is a great bike. I think you should get one   Its a good thing that I'm not biased or anything, though.

[xtalman]

I wouldn't buy a 2005 500R or GS500 if you think you'll outgrow it pretty soon.  When I was in your shoes last July, I decided I probably wouldn't be able to appreciate the performance difference between the two bikes since I was a beginner.  I ended up looking at used GS500s, EX500s, and EX250s, and bought the one that was in the best condition and the best value.  I have not regretted it one bit.  The important thing is to just start riding.  With any of these, you'll probably want to move up in a year or so anyway.  I ended up buying a '96 GS500, learned to ride it, and learned to maintain and repair it.  It is a superb beginner bike.

It may be underpowered compared to a sportbike, but not to cars. If you do feel the need for more acceleration, change the front sprocket, it'll take about 15 minutes.  Acceleration is better than most sports cars.  Fuel economy is better than most economy cars (I get about 45-50 mpg, typically cruise the highways around 75-85mph).  I'm not sure what I'm revving on the highway, but I'd guess around 8,000 rpm at speeds around 80mph.  I think redline is 11,000.

As far as outgrowing it, yeah, I wanted more power.  I'm not much of a kneedragger, so I'm still not cornering to the best of its abilities.  I've scraped pegs a handful of times in the 9 months I've owned it though.

I know you want a 2005, but I'd urge you to look for a used bike first, and save the extra money for your second bike.  I paid $2000 for mine, and just bought a 2004 Triumph Speed 4.  I don't think I would have been able to do so if I paid $5,000 for a EX500 like I initially wanted.

[vfrocket]

Bumper Sticker: "FRIENDS DONT LET FRIENDS BUY KAWASAKIS."

nuff said.

[raylarrabee]

just bought a 2004 Triumph Speed 4.

drooling...drooling...  

[Rema1000]

Say I'm cruising between 75-80 on the interstate...what kind of RPMs am I looking at? Am I maxed out?

Lemme check...
<click on "search" at the top of the page, type in "rpm speed chart", click "search", DONE>

Here's the post you want to read:
http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=64622#64622

So 6th gear @11k RPM (redline) = 140mph. You will not be able to achieve 140mph, since the engine lacks the torque to hit redline in 6th or 5th.  The point is that you don't run out of RPM, you run out of torque.  The GS can't reach redline in the top 2 gears, due to lack of oomph (that's a technical term ).  

The top speed for the GS is probably around 105mph in 4th gear (at redline), or 110mph in 5th gear (at about 9800 rpm).  The exact limit depends a bit on your weight, a bit on the altitude,  a fair amount on the wind, and a huge amount on your recklessness .

How this relates to freeway riding, is that you can tool along at 6k RPM just fine on the freeway in 6th gear, but if you want to pass, you'll probably want to downshift to 5th to get some "oomph".  And maybe downshift to 4th if there is some emergency.  

(note to self: an attractive person in a convertible does not constitute an emergency)

[Rema1000]

The real answer is that the speed differences between the two bikes don't matter.  In fact, the difference in the amount of maintenance between the two bikes is probably small.  The real difference is how they fit you, the rider.  You need to get on both (at least in the showroom).  Grab the tank tight with your knees, firmly, as if it were a mechanical bull trying to pitch you.  Hold onto the handlebars loosely with you hands.  Shake out your shoulders.  You need to be able to swivel you upper body around easily, turn the handlebars deftly... yet hold on to the bike firmly with your lower body.  Upper body = loose, lower body = welded to the bike.  Whichever bike fits you better is the one for you.

[The Buddha]

Gas mileage, I usually range in the low 60's.

Speak for yourself :lol:. I get about 25-30. Then again, my carbs aren't quite adjusted right. I just hope someone doesn't light a match behind my bike. The excess fuel coming out of the tailpipe might catch fire and burn the poor bastard with the match.

BTW, this is not normal. tdan's 60 is closer to normal. I just screwed up the jetting and haven't fixed it yet. The GS is a great bike. I think you should get one   Its a good thing that I'm not biased or anything, though.

OK unburnt fuel out the pipe ... enough for 25-30 mpg ... How does it even run ... that much fuel in the mix will prevent full combustion ... whihc is exactly why you have fuel in the exhaust, I get that, but it will burn so poorly you'd not get any power ... like its on 1 cyl ... more than likely 1 cyl is worse than the other and its causing your over rich exhaust.
Cool.
Srinath.

[cernunos]

Knowing what I know now about the two bikes if I had it to do over again I would still get the Baby GS. She's air-cooled just as motorcycles should be so you don't have to worry about coolant problems and the attendant maintenance issues associated with water-cooled engines. It seems to be a bike that can be very easily personalized if that's your thing. Every Ninja500 I've seen looks just like every other Ninja500. When doing valve adjustments you replace shims, so if you get it right it stays right until the next adjustment interval...unless it spits out a shim. I believe the Ninja uses a screw adjustment (I may be wrong) and the problem with that is that you can have a screw back out or break off...I've heard of people having rocker arms break on the smaller Ninjas. An old customer of mine has a son who owns a Ninja and he wishes he'd bought a Baby G. Like he says, there doesn't seem to really be much difference in the performance of the two, especially when we are on the two-lane roads with a lot of switch-back turns. Of course, neither he or I have the cojones to push these things to their limits. I guess it just boils down to your preference...I know I love my little White Owl, this forum, and all the helpful people who support it.

C.......

[conflicttheorist]

If I had a 2005 GS I would never need another bike.  It is sexy as hell, and I never need anything faster.  My girlfriend gets scared when I push the 95 gs just a bit.   However, if I did need something faster I wouldn't waste money on a ninja 500, which is just negligably faster.  I'd buy a cheap used GS to learn on and then save up for a GSX.  Now that bike has looks and cajones.