GS500F vs. SV650S?

[Alphamazing]

I just got through with a 550 mile trip from Austin to the Oklahoma border and back. Non-stop interstate travel the whole time, 80+ essentially the entire way. Had no problems.

Where'd you go?

Oklahoma. Just went up I-35 and back down.

[makenzie71]

You realize that Texas border 483 miles of Oklahoma, right?  You missed a lot of good stuff by staying on the interstate, though...

[Alphamazing]

You realize that Texas border 483 miles of Oklahoma, right?  You missed a lot of good stuff by staying on the interstate, though...

I had one day to ride. 550 miles in one day is enough for me, thankyouverymuch. I'm going on a lunch ride tomorrow and I start work on Friday. Had nowhere to stay the night either (unless I went to Plainview, but that's still a 10 hour ride from Austin).

[makenzie71]

The "483 miles" comment was aimed at saying you went to the OK border...lol...not that you should have ridden it all.

You hav family or something in Plainview?  That's quite a bit from any of the borders, though...

[Alphamazing]

You hav family or something in Plainview?  That's quite a bit from any of the borders, though...

My friend and roommate lives there and is bored as hell until he comes back to Austin.

[makenzie71]

Plainviews 45 miles from lubbock...and there's always a concert happening in lubbock.  Tell him to hit up Jakes...there literally is always someone playing there.

[foogle]

Having ridden both - I'd go for the SV any day.

I found I was at home on it within two minutes.

Quality, performance and handling are way better (as is resale) and I found the comfort acceptable as I'd owned a cafe-racer styled bike for a couple of years as well.

After purchasing my new GS500F and then riding the SV a couple of months later I knew I'd purchased the wrong machine.

My two penny/cents/centimes/pesos etc. worth.

[fuelish]

i had the same worry as you on one point,, x-way speed and the GS is only 500cc. i commute 1000/miles per 7 day work week and ride as much as possible. after i felt my motor was broke in well enough im running mine as fast as 90 mph in commute traffic for long distances. it handles it well i am surprized and gets stunning economy, i think the "v" configuration and larger displacement of the SV will supply big low end torque over the GS. that low end grunt is the only thing the GS is missing for me,, but then again i also knew i was buying a 500cc bike. just my thoughts.

[corndog67]

90% Rider, 10% bike.

Get used to it.

That's how I burnt the holy hell out of a ZX-6R. (Yes a 2006)
I personally don't like the SV650's looks or sound. (That's me, and not you, decide yourself)

If you are concerned about what bike is the absolute best, don't be. Either one that you saddle up you'll love!

corndog67... Sounds like your GS was a lemon. With the stock suspension my bike rode fine and only bottomed on really nasty bits. Flat spots? My bike only acts funny when I take off too soon (cold) or it's low on fuel. The Mikunis are fine, they are on a lot of bikes, and for me they work pretty bloody good! (Ok they have their issues, but nothing that makes life hell or even causes issues for more than 3 - 5 minutes.) Of course I got one of the bikes that seems to do well at 7000+ feet so go figure.

Sure you're not just sour today and the GS is your whipping boy?

No, it wasn't a lemon.  Just check the posts here.  The forks and the carburetion are both below par.  Someone else mentioned that the SV has crappy forks also.  True, but not  as bad as the stock 500.  I've rejetted mine, and it runs alright. Not perfect, but its ok.  It is reliable, gets about 50mpg, and always starts.  It will do about 110 mph.  But I have owned both, and in my opinion, the SV is just a much better bike.  The GS gets by, but the SV does wheelies, stoppies, you can haul ass on it, and you don't have to beat it anywhere near as hard as you do the GS, to get anywhere near the speed out of it. 

And, like you said, it's the rider most of the time.  I'm not sure what you mean when you say you smoked an 06 ZX-6.  The ZX-6 has about 65 more HP than a GS. 

Just my opinion.  I don't get attached to any of my bikes.   I look at them objectively, not with affection or attachment. 

[B18C5-EH2]

I think I can offer a unique perspective here since I have a 00 SV650 and my wife (read I ) owns a 1991 GS500E.

I ride both daily and I think I can give a truly UNBIASED opnion on the matter.

IMO either bike can be a great first bike, in fact they both have been thus far for my wife and I.  There are postives for both bikes, as well as negatives.

IMO the GS500E is a VERY easy bike to ride, and easier to deal with than the SV650.  I can toss the GS500 around effortlessly and I can lean the bike much further during low spee turns.  It's definately confidence inspring.  The bike is DECENTLY quick too.  I think the biggest plus for the GS is it's light feeling and ease of handling.

The SV650 is just a better overall performer, no matter how you slice it.  Damn well should be considering they cost more when comparing similiar years.  The SV650 has one huge advantage that the GS500 just cannot compare with - TORQUE.  Man you can pass in 4/5/6 gears on an Sv650 when the GS500 would need 3rd to pull the same way.  In a way the torque can make low speed tuning easier because once you go into the throttle in a turn on the SV650 it goes, unlike the GS500 which has to catch it's breath.

Life is not a dragrace though, so there will be many people who say the GS500 is plenty fast enough.  I agree to an extent, but from my own personal experience with both bikes I could not have a GS500 as my sole bike because I'd have grown bored with it too soon.

I'll be keeping my SV650 for years to come, with no signs of wanting an "upgrade."  I could not say the same for the GS500E even though it's a stellar fuel saver that's fun to ride.

My post here is not meant to thumb my nose at any GS500 owners - I'm just giving my opinion.

BTW:

I have a SV650 naked because I can't stand the clip-on bars' riding position on the Sv650S even though the SV650S is still more comfy to ride than say, an R6, CBR600RR, 636, etc.

[Alphamazing]

Life is not a dragrace though, so there will be many people who say the GS500 is plenty fast enough.  I agree to an extent, but from my own personal experience with both bikes I could not have a GS500 as my sole bike because I'd have grown bored with it too soon.

That's not really the issue. It's not about which bike is better or worse, but which bike is better for a beginer to learn on. That means flickable, confidence inspiring, easy to maintain, easy to handle, and manageable power delivery. That TORQUE involved with the SV650 can get a new rider into trouble MUCH faster than a GS500 can. Forcing the rider not to rely on power to keep up forces them to learn how to ride well if they want to go fast. THAT is why the GS500 is better suited than the SV650 as a beginner bike.

[dbNnc]

I'm picking up my new SV650S Sunday. 

[TadMC]

Hey DBNNC

Is that an Fmodel you have, and if so how do those clip ons handle, Im looking to do that to mine

[blue05twin]

Those are not clip on but look like SM2 bars. 

Sense smaller is better get an EX 250.

For beginner bikes the GS would be better but some people are really put off by the fact it's 500cc's, or by the image they are riding a bike that has less then 600cc's.  If they wan't to learn get the GS if they want image forget the SV and just get whatever supersport they like the best. 

You will be taking the MSF and then be riding a honda 250 for 6 months. . .dont' rush and limit yourself to just those two bikes.  After 6 months on the 250 you might want something different.  And who know's how your riding skills will develope

The GS was my first bike. . . but it won't be my last one.

[B18C5-EH2]

Okay I'll give my personal testimony about learning to ride a motorcycle.

I had never so much as ridden a dirtbike when I decided I wanted a motorcycle.  I was 26 (I'm 27 - been riding for a little over a year) and I just decided I wanted a bike.

I hopped on a Honda CBR F2 and rode down a street my auto repair shop is on (it's always empty) and after riding that bike off and on around my lot and street I began looking for bikes.

I bought an SV650 and hopped on it and rode it with zero issues to this day in terms of falls, scares, etc.

I don't buy into the "you must get a small displacement, light-as-possible" bike to learn on.  Sure it helps, but the problem is that once you coin up for a "starter" bike you can grow tired of it soon after you get comfortable with it.

Had I purchased a GS500 as my first bike I'd already have grown incredibly bored with it.  It's fun as hell, don't get me wrong, but I enjoy the power, feel, and sound of the SV much more.  Sure there are plenty of bikers who see the SV650 as a "beginner bike" and would much rather have an RC51, R1, whatever liter bike, etc. and think the SV is a weak, underpowered bike.

Bottom line?

The GS500 is an excellent bike, and possibly easier to learn on but in no way does that mean that the SV650 is NOT an easy bike to learn on as well.  Where I think the SV650 shines is it's residual value, meaning long after you've learned how to ride a motorcycle you will still enjoy this bike and not feel the need to "upgrade" nearly as soon as you would with the GS500.

All of the above is again, my personal opinion.

[dbNnc]

Tad,

They are Suburban Machinery 2 bars. I like them. They do put a little more pressure on your wrists and hands than the stock bars but they make the bike easier to steer and flick around.

Doug

[B18C5-EH2]

Tad,

They are Suburban Machinery 2 bars. I like them. They do put a little more pressure on your wrists and hands than the stock bars but they make the bike easier to steer and flick around.

Doug

I actually have a set of suburban bars that came on my 00 SV650 that I swapped in favor of the more wrist-friendly stock bars.  i'd be selling them cheap if anyone needs them.



BTW one last thing, and I meant to type this up the first time for a direct comparison of the SV650 and GS500:

GS500E:

Better fuel economy
Cheaper (this is relatively speaking - good older ones can be purchased for $1,500-$2,000 whereas good SV650s start around $2,500-$3,000)
Easier to work on
Slightly lighter, but feels even lighter
Easier to toss around at lower speeds
Lower ride height stock (this is great for beginbers because you can flatfoot it easier)

SV650:

Much more torque and horsepower - no matter how you slice it more power and torque = more long term fun
Better handling capabilities at higher speeds - better suspension (not amazing, but certainly better than GS500 stockers), wider tires/wheels
V-Twin sound - sorry this is an opinion, but damn the runble of the V-Twin sounds so much sicker than the put-put from the Inline Twin
About the same weight as the GS500 due to aluminum frame even though it has the V-Twin lump

Both bikes are superbly reliable, and honestly both bikes could use upgraded fork springs and oil (I had my SV650 front forks redone with Racetech springs and 20wt. oil).  they are both entry-level bikes that are fun to ride.

[jbeaber]

My opinions....  I owned a GS500 for a year, my girlfriend owns an SV650 (2001, so carbed).  We both learned to ride at the same time.  she got her bike, then I got mine.  I think we took different approaches to our first bike.  She bought the SV with the intention of using it for a long time.  While she may get another bike next year, we intend to keep the SV because it is such a fun, reliable and useful bike.  It is good for everything.  It will get you from point A to point B comfortably, fun on the track, fun in the canyons, good power.  The suspension is decent, but nothing special. 
I bought the GS with the intention of learning to ride it, then get rid of it with minimal loss of cash.  I rode it for a year, got my experience out of it then sold it for what I paid for it.  I had an old bike with high mileage.  It was comfortable, I couldn't drop it if I tried (it's small and bottom heavy, easier than the SV to manage), was good in the twisties, good on my commute, comfortable.  I definitely played catch-up if she decided to open her bike up at all, it was not even close.  But, I sold it with no loss and comfortably upgraded to a much larger and more powerful bike.
So, in my opinion, after your time on the Rebel, you can upgrade to either bike.  If you love to the look and feel of the Sv, go with it.  It will serve you for a long time, great, fun bike.  Six months may be too short of a time (or may not be) to do a serious upgrade (like to a suprsport).  If you go the Gs route, you also will be happy.  It will treat you well, cost less, but, relative to the SV, you get less....  It all depends on how much you want to spend and what you intend to do...

[vtlion]

Allow me to clarify one thing.  The SV suspension does indeed suck, but it sucks MUCH less than the GS.  I have owned both, so I know what I'm talking about.

Whatever bike you get for your first, just get it used.  No matter how much you research the matter, you will not know exactly what you are looking for in a bike until you get one and ride it for a while to learn what riding is all about anyway.

[TarzanBoy]

NAS!  (Runs away, riced-out car blows up)