My first bike....and would appreciate honest advice

[atariman2002]

Hello all,


I have passed my learner test here in australia and will be looking for a bike.

For the record and i am embarrased when i say this........I HAVE NEVER RIDDEN A MOTORBIKE BEFORE.....well not one of these....when i was 12 i would ride on my cousins 4 wheeler and their little DX80 but thats it.


Is in your honest opinion the gs500f a good bike for virgins like myself?


i am 32 years old married with children so have no intentions of hooning down the road at 180km's....just want to enjoy a nice weekend ride.

Cheers, and gday from downunder


Frank

[scottpA_GS]

The GS is a great first bike for you! I think you will love it.. I just turned 30 today  And I am getting ready to ride my GS to work.. I think that you will be very happy with the GS  It is my first bike as well.. Very easy to learn on..

[gsmetal]

Yup, great first bike depending on your height / weight ratio.

Plenty of power, light, quick little bike - I like to steal it from my wife.

I'm 6'5" and weight 240lbs.

It's not my first choice of bike to ride for anything longer than an hour but - as my wife points out to me so often - it's not my bike. 

My main bike is a 95 BMW R1100G. When I park the GS500 next to the BMW, it looks like a toy (funnny!)

[Wrecent_Wryder]

c45

[Kasumi]

I have never ridden the GS (yet) whooo going to look at one this afternoon for buying . But all the training schools here in England use either the Honda CB500 (think thats what its called) or the GS500 depending on who they have the contract with, if its good to teach new riders on then im sure its good for new riders to learn on 

[MarkusN]

Some would (will) argue against the faired "F" version because of the expense of the fairings if you have one of those little mishaps that beginners are prone to, but if you really prefer the faired version, go for it.

that's something I'd consider if I were you. Beginners tend to drop their bike a few times before you develop the necessary reflexes and situation awareness. Plastic is expensive in those cases.

[Turd Ferguson]

I've never even been close to dumping my plastic'ed up GS.  Oh God....oh God...what did I just do?

-Jinxed Turd.

[MarkusN]

Good on ya, mate, but hardly typical.

[will123]

I am 17 years old and the GS500F is my second bike. I truly love this bike. I have been 115 mph on it and it was still pulling. I would reccomend this bike to anyone.

[cell_491]

I am 17 years old and the GS500F is my second bike. I truly love this bike. I have been 115 mph on it and it was still pulling. I would reccomend this bike to anyone.

i hate you skinny people....my GS stops pulling after about 95mph

[PatrickInNC]

I hit 156 on my GS and it still kept going, I decided to let off, I thought that was fast enough.

You are definetely too old for a GS, i mean 32 come on! This bike shouldn't be ridden by anyone older than say 21, you should be on a 2 wheeled cadillac or.... wow this is a useless post, sorry






(goes back to corner)

[denman]

hey it's a good first bike or a good tenth bike.  see ya dude.

[John Bates]

..................... This bike shouldn't be ridden by anyone older than say 21, you should be on a 2 wheeled cadillac or.... wow this is a useless post, sorry..............

Hey, I'm 67 but when I ride I feel like 21. Isn't that all that counts?

[bbanjo]

hey it's a good first bike or a good tenth bike.  see ya dude.

It's true. My '02 is my main bike and I've been riding street bikes since 1985. It's just a good all-around daily bike. You may want to invest a few less $ and find one that isn't wrapped in plastic first in the off chance that you drop the first bike once. Not that anyone doubts your skills, but it can happen.

I love the look of the '04+ bikes, but I'd have bought a few uppers and lowers if I'd started with one. Look around the papers and find a cheap, low milage <'03 (I know that you cats can still get both in your neck of the woods) and really learn how to do it right. The GS is a great bike regardless.

[ajgs500]

152 

[bbanjo]

152 

Right on brother. I've done 152 while being towed by a Cayenne S.

[scratch]

Welcome!

Yes, this is a good beginer's bike, but yeah, if you can get an unfaired model, that would be better.  Check the insurance difference, too.

[samhkang]

Yeah, my 05' F is my very first bike. Never rode one before until the MSF course.  I got it brand new last october and recently just passed 1000 miles on it. It runs a lot better now that it is broken in or maybe I'm just more comfortable riding it with confidence. Today, I rode two up with my girl for the second time and my baby G pulled both of us like charm. Very strong bike and reliable. I like the fairing because of the looks and comfort on highway rides but yes, they are expensive to replace. Hope I never have to do that. My girl never rode bike before and she never had an interest in it but that all changed today. She loved it and was so impressed with my riding skills. hehe. She now wants to go get a matching jacket and a helmet. She felt bad for taking my helmet while I didn't have any. She is so sweet but I had to give her my helmet cuz her brain worth more than mine.
Go for it buddy. You and your girl will love it.

[LimaXray]

I never road on a bike until a little over a month ago when I got my GS500F... Because I'm a horrible person, I couldn't wait for the MSF course and I figured out riding myself.  Well, I admit I dropped the damn thing in my first 10 feet of riding, but there was not so much as a scratch.  I was originally thinking about taking the fairings off to learn, but once I started riding I realized it's not really nessecary.  I think after about an hour of riding the chance of you dropping it where only your fairings will be damaged decreases significantly.  My point is the GS is just a great bike as well as a great starter bike, I love the thing, and bet you would to.  You may want to look for any older unfaired model like others have suggested, but don't be afraid to get the faired version, you'll do just fine 

[Sam]

My very first bike, and riding experience is on a GS500/f  I love it.

comfortable, rides well,  it's been easy for me to get confidence and learn the fact that I feel so comfortable on it.