How does the GS like to be ridden?

[mike_mike]

I have my brand new virgin 2005 GS500F, i've put about 75 kilometers on it. I'm riding within the break-in guidelines, but the bike seems like its much more happy at higher rpms in the 5,000 range than down lower. I find it takes off from a start much more smoothly if you rev it a bit.

Does the bike like to be in the 3,000-5,000+rpm range and out of the 1,000-2000rpm range?

[chris in va]

Definitely.  My 94 isn't happy below 4 grand unless I'm just slowly cruising through some sleepy town.  Even out on the highway it doesn't like throttle cracks below 5000.  Of course that could be due to the lean jets still in the carbs.

[annguyen1981]

My '04f doesn't like anything below 3K, but 3500 minimum for a happy bike.

[FearedGS500]

........ you payattion to the tach huh ?  never really watched it . only time i really pay attion is when i get in the high rpms and get ready to shift . most my shifts go about 8k but i like it around the 10.5k  to 11k  where this bike gets most of its power ( by what i understand) i noticed my riding style is diffrent from css,stray,budrick when we all meet up at the first sat. in march .... i would take off and leave them .. thats just how i ride. when i get on it . i go . i dont mess around.

[The Buddha]

Yea like 4K before it will do anyhting ... heck even after I jet it it will hold idle abd seem to not want to stall, but no way it will take any load before 4K ... Dont like revving - buy my cruiser motor equipped sporty standard ... VX 800.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Admiral Crunch]

I bought mine used, so I never had to do the break-in, but mine likes to cruise at 4.5K to 6k.  Below that, I can tell it's starting to struggle.  Above 6k, and I upshift mostly for better fuel economy and for a quieter ride, especially in residential areas.  If I need to accelerate more briskly, I wait until about 7 or 8 K to upshift.  I don't think I've ever been higher than 8.5k.  I tend to throttle up to about 4 or 5K to start from a stop.

[mike_mike]

........ you payattion to the tach huh ?  never really watched it . only time i really pay attion is when i get in the high rpms and get ready to shift . most my shifts go about 8k but i like it around the 10.5k  to 11k  where this bike gets most of its power ( by what i understand) i noticed my riding style is diffrent from css,stray,budrick when we all meet up at the first sat. in march .... i would take off and leave them .. thats just how i ride. when i get on it . i go . i dont mess around.

I still have quite a few miles to go becuase of the break-in before i can let the bike go into the so called 'happy-zone'

[FearedGS500]

going by the book eh ? good choice . i did not do that so much .. i went way up in the rpms and this and that .. did a few things i was not supose to but ....its ok .i got lucky and had no ill affects .. my valves are still in check after 5.5k nice. really nice

[mp183]

My 2002 hates anything below 4,000.
In top gear does not like anything below 5,000.
It likes to be run hard and fast.
Engine needs to breathe.
You'll kill it faster if you lug it than if you rev it.

[robinm1]

running in is an art in itself, the secret to a good long lasting motor is in the intial running in period, the trick is not to let the motor work hard, keep it spinning, do not lug at low revs in a high gear, do not rev it in a lower gear, ride it like it is meant to be ridden. Do this any you will be rewarded with a good motor that will give many thousands of trouble free running. On a slightly different subject I never fail to be amazed how in such a vast country as the states your bikes do not seem to do many miles, I read comments like "my 1995 model with 15000 miles" hell thats only 24000 kms in 11 years, over here in Godszone (NZ) that would be consired a very low milage bike, my "88 GSX1100FJ has clocked up 130,000 kms, thats 80k miles and the motor has never been touched, my 2002 GS500 does over 1000 kms a month just commuting to work.

[pantablo]

bike is happiest at 7-8.5k. I used to ride 5-6k around town and 7-9.5k rpms in the canyons.

[oramac]

Mine likes to cruise with the rubber side down  \


But seriously, I ride in the 7,000 - 8,000 rpm range until I get to my cruising speed.
I like to keep it wound up in case of the need for a speedy  manuever or exit.

[visionthing]

The engine is well known to basically suck below 3000rpm. I can *barely* get my 2001 GS off the line at those revs. There are ignition advance kits you can get to improve this, but why bother?
The mid range 4000-6500 seems to be fine for running around town.
Top gear below 5000 is only going to result in labouring and slowing down if you go through so much as a shadow!
It all seems to happen above 6500. Gets noisy & thrashy over 10,000 and doesn't feel like it is producing more power. However, next week's sport can install may change that 

=my2c

Bruce

[My Name Is Dave]

I'd recommend you try going over 8k at least once; the GS still has a little left between there and redline.

I bought mine used, so I never had to do the break-in, but mine likes to cruise at 4.5K to 6k.  Below that, I can tell it's starting to struggle.  Above 6k, and I upshift mostly for better fuel economy and for a quieter ride, especially in residential areas.  If I need to accelerate more briskly, I wait until about 7 or 8 K to upshift.  I don't think I've ever been higher than 8.5k.  I tend to throttle up to about 4 or 5K to start from a stop.

[scratch]

I ride mine like a big scooter.

[mike_mike]

The consensus is the GS likes to be ridden rather hard and likes to be on the bottom?   

[Jake D]

Actually, not to open this can of worms, but mine likes to either be trailered or ridden side saddle. 

[scratch]