Out growing the GS

[Alphamazing]

People who say they would rather not buy a GS500 because they don't want to become bored with it after six months are missing the point of motorcycling.

Boredom is the sign of an uncreative mind.  If you want to scare yourself to stay interested, then you shouldn't be riding.

The GS500 is a great bike to learn on.  Eventually you may become curious about other bikes, or your tastes for riding may change.  These reasons are legitimate for trading the GS in for other rides.  But boredom -- not one of them.

Dude, I applaud you for that. Utterly brilliant.

I've got 8500 miles under my belt and am only planning on upgrading next year. Next winter, to be precise. I ride roughly 1000 miles a month, so should have at least 20,000 miles under my belt. I haven't touched pegs once, nor do I want to. As dgyver put it, "The only time my pegs touch down is if I crash."

[domas]

Also GS is great to find out what type of bike do you want. It is kind if in the middle of others. Little bit sports bike, little bit twin cruiser, and with that upright seating you can even find links to dirt bikes.

After trying GS for reasonable time, you can say: i want sportier seating and more power, or i want more low end power and relaxed seat position. I see GS as a neutral bike that will formulate your taste and riding skills (after enough miles).

After GS course you can go out and safely ride any bike on a market and choose it not only from sexy looks.

[pantablo]

RedShift: That was a positively BRILLIANT post.

I agree. I will be using that quote somewhere, I'm sure...Boredom is the sign of an uncreative mind...I love it.

[RedShift]

By all means.  No copyright on that phrase. 

It's based on the logic that you can have fun on any bike, and if the fun seems to be gone, you may need to "kick it up a notch".  Press a bit harder in the corners, drive a little harder on the exit, run a little higher on your tach before shifting, the mind is the limit. 

You don't need another bike for that.  You just need to think about your riding skills and how to make them better.  It's something everyone on a motorcycle should be doing.

Enjoy the Ride.   

[mp183]

I really think the GS has plenty to teach for 10k, 15k, 20k or heck as long as you are willing to learn.

You are not kidding.  Just rev it and it's another animal.
The damn thing is really quick in the turns but you should see my KLR250.
On the other hand you should see my neighbor on his 10 speed bicycle. 
He takes the turns even quicker.
Friend of mine borrowed a Hayabusa for a week.
Bike scared him because he's the type that, if the damn thing goes 186 you have to go to 186.
No fun having all that horsepower and you can't use it was his say on the matter.

[The Buddha]

I love it when people say they have out grown a GS and you ask them ... and like they bought it with 11,234 miles and it now has 11,567 ... woweee they do 333 miles and they've out grown it ... yea it took them 3 years to do it too ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[RedShift]

   Too often True. 

[fodder650]

Well then heck i have wildly outgrown my GS if that milage is a guide I need me one of them Hi a boos a thingy's...

Actually like you all have said. Instead of aiming for top speed. The bike takes well to suspension modifications and can be a nice lightweight corner carver

[Alphamazing]

I think to truly outgrow the GS is something like this:

The GS is great, absolutely fantastic, at doing what it was designed for. It was designed to be a budget sport bike and commuter bike. It was designed as a low-powered beginner bike that would teach a newbie how to ride properly and make the most out of the power he had. However, as soon as you start to push it beyond what it was designed to do it begins to show its faults. If you're riding it like a sportbike it just doesn't perform like a sportbike should sometimes. It's a starter bike and a commuter bike. Yeah you can have a lot of fun on it no doubt, but even if you are it's still a starter bike.

[melloGS]

If your scraping pegs...your 130/70 will have no chicken strips...

[Jenks]

I just got my license and GS a little over a month ago.  I've managed to put ~1500 km's on it so far, mostly city riding and one distance ride out to the mountains last weekend (600km round trip).  The bike has been easy to handle (big confidence boost), tons of fun in the corners and the mountains were a blast.  Even riding at 70 - 80mph for 2-3 hours wasn't bad.  The gf has a Gixxer 600 and while she's walking away from me while I'm at full throttle, I think a bigger bike would be nice.  However I realize I'm nowhere near ready for that kind of power yet and I haven't even come close to pushing the limits of my GS.  Maybe next year.......

Jenkins

[ets_gs500f2004]

me the only reason why i would go to the 600cc...... 1 for lookes mostly love there fearing alot more then the gs
2. a lil more for accelaration dont care about top speed more acceleration lol
3. cause i love honda cbr600f4i 2002-03 red and black

those are the only reasons but i still love my gs its really capable for a 500

[RedShift]

Alpha,

I agree with what you say but must suggest a clarification to your statement:

... It was designed as a low-powered beginner bike that would teach a newbie how to ride properly ...

Rather, the "bike allows the rider" to learn the proper skills at a respectable pace. The motorcycle does not teach anything.  It does not demand or encourage.  The rider learns the characteristics of the bike.

As said, it provides an interesting balance of features that will entertain new and seasoned.  It's a great all round road bike. 

[Alphamazing]

Alpha,

I agree with what you say but must suggest a clarification to your statement:

... It was designed as a low-powered beginner bike that would teach a newbie how to ride properly ...

Rather, the "bike allows the rider" to learn the proper skills at a respectable pace. The motorcycle does not teach anything.  It does not demand or encourage.  The rider learns the characteristics of the bike.

As said, it provides an interesting balance of features that will entertain new and seasoned.  It's a great all round road bike. 

Yes yes, I understand that a clarification (or correction, even) is needed on that.

You're clarification is just what I meant. Thank you! The GS is a very forgiving bike, which can allow a new rider to learn the joy of motorcycling as fast as he or she feels comfortable doing so. However, it can be fun to a more seasoned rider due to how flickable it is (a combination of skinny tires and various other factors).

A great bike for what it was designed for, no doubt.

[ets_gs500f2004]

if you guys ask me..... yes people make fun of my bike because its a 500 and they say the f is for females..... but i dont care cause its my bike my pride no one can take that away from me lol..... and also when i bought the bike my first thing i thought was is that every one told me ill sell it really fast cause of not enough power..... well it surprised me for a lil 500 when i first got it i thought wow this thing is powerfull... now im constantly trying to surpass myself.... im at my limits and not the limits of the bike.... i think to out grow a bike if there is such a thing is when you can get to the limits of the bike and that my friends takes a lot of time

   i only know one guy that can be at the limit of any vehicule he ownes like car or bike... and still yet wouldnt be able to be the best so i think its impossible to out grow of a bike..... just add some mods to it make it interesting for yourself

[Jake D]

Hey, Pantablo:

What year is your CBR600RR?  I have got my eye on an '03 with like 2300 miles on it.  Do you think this is a good bike?  Were there any problems that year that I should keep my eyes open for? 

Thanks!

Redshift:  There is one thing about your post that rings most true: the best reason people move to a different bike is curiosity.  I'm very curious about other bikes.  I want to sample all of them. 

[pantablo]

Hey, Pantablo:

What year is your CBR600RR? I have got my eye on an '03 with like 2300 miles on it. Do you think this is a good bike? Were there any problems that year that I should keep my eyes open for?

mine's an 04-same as 03 except different colors available. thats low miles for an 03. they're bombproof, but several people on the 600rr.net boards complain of rectifier problems on the 03. might stem from riding in hot weather with brights on (plus fan, etc draining the battery faster than the rectifier can charge it). Not as widespread as I make it out to be but isnt an anomaly either. not so on the 04 for some reason. no CCT problems to speak of. Solid bike throughout IMO.

[Jake D]

It is at a local dealer.  It  belonged to one of their mechanics.  I guess he never rode it.  $5999 for it.  I figure they would take my SV on trade.  They are also extending a warranty on it unil like 2009.  It is yellow and black.

Does that sound like a deal to you? 

[RVertigo]

If your scraping pegs...your 130/70 will have no chicken strips...

When 2up, you hit the center stand before the pegs and before the edge of the tire.  

[ajgs500]

If your scraping pegs...your 130/70 will have no chicken strips...

When 2up, you hit the center stand before the pegs and before the edge of the tire. 

LOL yes even with 2 skinny butt girls on the bike.