Newbie Question

OvrKill · July 21, 2006, 11:28:46 AM

Well I am looking to possibly buy my first bike and need a little advice. I don't want anything that is going to be too hard for me to control. Although speed isn't really a problem I currently own a '70 Pontiac LeMans with a 402 Big Block.

I get a chance tomorrow to look at a 1994 GS500E. It has 13k miles and some minor cosmetic issues and the price is $1,200. I guess my first question is about the price. That seems like a good price from what I have seen, do you think so?

Second and probably most importantly will this be enough bike for me? I am a pretty big guy, 6'4" 298. Would you think this bike just might be too small for me? I guess I mean power wise and aslo size wise.

I appreciate any help you guys could give me.

aaronstj · July 21, 2006, 11:38:38 AM

That looks like a good price to me. It kind of depends on where you are, though. GS's a fairly rare in my area, so that tends to drive prices up.

It should be enough bike for you. I'm also hovering around 6'4", and I don't find it too small. I do look like a 'tard on it, but it's comfortable enough, and certainly fast enough.

Admiral Crunch · July 21, 2006, 11:39:46 AM

The GS500 is very easy to control once you have a few hours of practice under your belt. I bought an older GS for a little more money than that, and it also had "minor cosmetic issues." I was happy with the deal. Depending on the exact issues, I'd say it's at least a decent deal. They're semi-hard to come by here, though.

I'm 6'2", 320 lbs, and the GS500 fits me very well. No way you'll really know until you sit on it though. If you have one nearby, stop by a dealer and sit on one. The faired model should sit the same as the older, unfaired one. it also has plenty of power to haul my butt around, and it accelerates faster than my car if I punch it. Of course, my car isn't esxactly a powerhouse, but it's more than adequate.

QuoteAlthough speed isn't really a problem I currently own a '70 Pontiac LeMans with a 402 Big Block.

I'm not quite sure what you mean here, but it's sending up a red flag for me. Are you saying you intend to ride fast? If so, I hope you're referring to riding on a racetrack....

RVertigo · July 21, 2006, 11:51:54 AM

Quote from: aaronstj on July 21, 2006, 11:38:38 AMI do look like a 'tard on it

I wouldn't say "Tard"... More like a clown on a tricycle.

OK... Not that bad either.

Unnamed · July 21, 2006, 12:09:58 PM

Where are you? As other people have mentioned, in some areas the demand is so high it drives prices way up. I think that price would be rather reasonable if it runs well. As for the size, I'm 6'4" and I fit on it just fine (although my knees don't fit in the contours of the tank). It could be more comfortable I'm sure, but I don't ride particularly long distances. It is nice to be able to flat foot it everywhere, I think I've averted a couple drops partly because of my height. I'd say give it a try, you'd be hard pressed to find other comparably good beginner bikes that are big enough (The Ninja500 sure isn't).

OvrKill · July 21, 2006, 12:23:56 PM

Quote
I'm not quite sure what you mean here, but it's sending up a red flag for me. Are you saying you intend to ride fast? If so, I hope you're referring to riding on a racetrack....

Oh no I am not crazy I don't intend to ride it too fast. I was just meaning the fast vehicle thing isn't new to me. It certinly is on 2 wheels though and I would take it very easy. In the car I have a roll cage and a 5 point harness so I try to play it pretty safe.

To answer the main question in the thread I am in Plano, TX very close to Dallas. I have looked around to find comperable deals and don't seem to find too many.

OvrKill · July 21, 2006, 12:33:57 PM

I guess I was also asking about the power of the bike because if the GS500 didn't work out I was also going to look at a 83 GS750ES although the owner has done a lot of mods to it and says it has 88 rwhp. I think that might be too much for my first bike.

OvrKill · July 21, 2006, 02:32:37 PM

Well I got a call back and I am going to look at the bike tomorrow at noon.

Wish me luck. lol

wildbill · July 21, 2006, 10:26:31 PM

Quote from: OvrKill on July 21, 2006, 02:32:37 PM

Well I got a call back and I am going to look at the bike tomorrow at noon. Wish me luck. lol

go for it. you dont wanna crazy modded bike anyway, 88whp is too much to learn on and you don't wanna customzied bike that was modded for their taste.

hmmmnz · July 22, 2006, 01:22:32 AM

probly the 750 would be too much, i find that horse power a bit much for that bike(i think hes telling porky pies)
plus the old gs750s still has twin shocks a single front disc, weighs a whole lot more, and doesn't take corners very well,
i'd say get the 500 get a sv650 shock or a gsx or gsxr rear shock. that'll lift the rear of the bike and make it a bit more comfortable for us 6'4" lads
im not sure how much 298 pounds is (im a metric lad) but with a new shock the gs is as comfortable and rideable as any other i have ridden/owned
let us know how you get on

OvrKill · July 23, 2006, 12:32:56 AM

Well it didn't end up working out.

The tank leaked like nobody's business. It was all rusted and had 5 holes. The previous owner had just patched some of them before we got there.

Not only that we found out he hit a pretty big pot hole with the back rim and it needed to be replaced. And even though he just put in a new battery we coudln't get the bike started.

I didn't really feel it was worth the $1,200 after knowing I would have to replace the tank (totally rusted), the rear rim, tires, the gauge bezels & the fact it wasn't running. It sucks too, I sat on it and felt pretty comfortable but didn't even get to hear it run.

I don't really see too many GS500Es for sale in the Dallas area so I guess I will have to keep watching.

Alphamazing · July 23, 2006, 12:58:43 AM

'02 model
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/183716649.html

I assume this is the one you were looking at: http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/183078087.html

'05 F model:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mcy/182361467.html

Admiral Crunch · July 23, 2006, 01:15:48 AM

Sorry it didn't work out, but I'm glad you walked away from that one. It MIGHT have been worth a very few hundred as a project/parts bike. I know I wouldn't touch a non-running or badly rusted bike with a 10-foot pole.

OvrKill · July 23, 2006, 12:19:44 PM

Alpha, you are right on the money that is the one I was looking at. And that '02 sold the same day. The '05 is a little out of my price range and I am really looking for one without the faring. I appreciate it though, I guess I need to keep coming back here and look around as much as possible to find one.

Admiral, after adding up what it would have taken to get the bike in good running condition I offered $800 and he said he had someone that already offered $950. Not that I totally believed that. If they did they hadn't come to see the bike yet. He had to run out and buy the battery an hour before we got there. And he was trying to finish patching the last hole as we got there. He said he had started it a month ago but the bike had been sitting for 3 years. And sitting on the bike I got some of the appoxy he was putting on the tank on my shorts

There are some parts on eBay I could have used to get it going but I feel like any more than $800 and I would have been pushng the total value of the bike. I guess I will just keep looking and while I am I will take the bike safety coarse and get my barings on riding.

Thanks for the help everyone.

busterkat · July 23, 2006, 12:31:08 PM

I do not know how far away this or your price range but ckeck this out http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-katana-gs500-w-helmet-cover-great-beginner-bike_W0QQitemZ180010226015QQihZ008QQcategoryZ50028QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Alphamazing · July 23, 2006, 12:32:30 PM

I'll keep an eye out on the Austin Craigslist for you. If any turn up that interest you I can check them out and see if they are worth you coming down here to check out.

OvrKill · July 23, 2006, 12:44:50 PM

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on July 23, 2006, 12:32:30 PM
I'll keep an eye out on the Austin Craigslist for you. If any turn up that interest you I can check them out and see if they are worth you coming down here to check out.

That is awesome, I really appreciate it. My email should be listed on the board here if you need to get a hold of me. I hadn't really thought, but I might have to look around further than the Dallas area to get what I want.

Busterkat, I actually hadn't seen that one yet and Mansfield isn't all that far away.

Alphamazing · July 23, 2006, 12:48:14 PM

When I was looking to get a GS after my first one I was looking as far away as Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas. Lucky for me I found one close by.

My parents drove to Arkansas to pick up their Miata.

NiceGuysFinishLast · July 23, 2006, 12:57:15 PM

Hahahaha.. the idiot was using epoxy to patch the holes in the tank? *rolls around laughing*

Good luck finding a good used bike though! I know was the resident nood (inside joke, but basically, lower than a noob, because I owned no bike) for at least a year here. I read everything I could, knew the answers to all the noob questions, but didn't have a bike to play with. I've been wanting one since I turned 17 or so... I bought my bike roughly a week after my 20th birthday. And I absolutely love it.

In fact, today's the first day in a week that I've been off work, and it's finally a dry, sunny day out.. so I'm gonna go ride..

GOOD LUCK! Oh yeah, and Welcome!

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