weight limitations on a gs5r?

niccolai · August 20, 2006, 04:04:44 PM

Hey, I've been considering the gs500r as my first bike because of the affordability, and the fact that it's a first bike.

The only problem is I'm concerned that my weight might push me into the 600 class.

It's got a rear seat, so obviously it can hold at LEAST 300 lbs comfortably.

The thing is, I weight 417 lbs and I don't want this to limit my top speed to 43 MPH.

Just kidding, I weight around 210-220 lbs. I'm not trying to break land speed records on it or anything, this isn't the bike for that, but I don't want my weight to cut down my 0-60 time or top speed drastically.

First post by the way, I've been lurking for a couple days and this seems like a pretty cool hangout.

saxman · August 20, 2006, 04:16:25 PM

honestly, for a first bike, is a bit of a drop in 0-60 or top speed really that important?

there are several people on here that seem to be in that weight range that don't have a problem. I can't imagine it'll be a significant issue, especially for a first bike.

scratch · August 20, 2006, 04:18:43 PM

Welcome!

GS500r? There is no such thing. Where are you located? Maybe they have GS500r's in your country, but here they're GS500F's.

I know the weight limit, or carrying capacity, is over 395lbs, as my little '87 Yamaha SRX250 air-cooled 22hp single could pull that easily all the way up to redline in 6th gear.

niccolai · August 20, 2006, 04:29:18 PM

Sorry, F is what I had in mind

Like I said, I'm not looking for crazy top speeds, but I do want to be able to hit up to ninety, and I don't want to fatass my chances of that.

hmmmnz · August 20, 2006, 04:39:56 PM

i weigh 95kgs i think thats about 210 pounds(sorry i speak metric)
and i can get my gs over 100 and can cruise at 90 all day(literally,)
the pick up is fine, its no hyabusa but it does the job,
go for it you wont have any issues

Mr.7 · August 20, 2006, 04:46:53 PM

So if you speak metric, are you talking about 90 km/h or 90 mph.

Because I think that niccolai was refering to mph.

Back on topic, yes the GS can cruise at 90 km/h (which is 50 something mph I think) all day. It also can go 90mph if you really want to but I wouldn't recomend it that much. I can understand wanting to go fast, but I think that you will realy like the acceleration (as long as you keep the revs high) of the GS more than the top speed. It sure does beat my civic, I'll tell you that.

natedawg120 · August 20, 2006, 04:54:28 PM

I float arount 190 now, still loosing weight, and the GS is great. It will run plenty fast for street use and I havn't regretted making it my first bike yet. Its also easy to wrench on and maintain and used you could find one fairly cheap, nothing like saving a little when you can.

FearedGS500 · August 20, 2006, 04:56:25 PM

lol man get the bike ! i weigh 186-200 and i have no issues with it . i get up to 120 all the time ( when the roads long enough ) and i have no issues . you wanna do 90mph go for it , it holds up . 3 of us went to big bend ,tx ( from killeen,tx to big bend where talking .. 500+ miles one way ) and for about 300 miles we did a steady 80 then the other 200 (pretty much once we hit 1-10 the longest part of the trip) we did 90-100 for a good 200 miles at least and not one big had an issues !

Chris2P · August 20, 2006, 04:58:21 PM

I'm 235lbs and had my GS since 1990. No problem with it. Just crank up the crappy rear mono shock and upgrade the front springs.

Chris

Codger · August 20, 2006, 05:01:44 PM

214 lbs.
Made a solo 3200 mile trip.
Ride it in 80 mph Houston traffic.
No problem.

annguyen1981 · August 20, 2006, 05:07:45 PM

205 lbs here...

No problems getting to 90mph.

I can still beat a supped (sp) up ricer off the line. Happened today. What a tool...

hmmmnz · August 20, 2006, 05:48:16 PM

im living in scotland and my speedo is imperial so its 90mph all day, or 150kph,
it handles doing that all day, except for the fill ups that you have to do every 100 odd miles
the wee gs is sweet as, good as gold for us bigger lads

niccolai · August 20, 2006, 07:20:31 PM

Sweet, thanks for the answers guys.

I don't want to constantly cruise the thing at 90 mph or anything, I just don't want a bike that's going to redline at 70 mph with my ft ass on it

. I don't think I'll ever even try and get it up to any speed higher than that, I know some people punch them to like 120 MPH.

sounds like I won't have any issues though, which is great.

annguyen1981 · August 20, 2006, 07:27:10 PM

When I'm cruising on the highway at 70mph, I'm usually in 6th gear and doing about 6500rpm.

deathlucky · August 21, 2006, 12:58:11 AM

im about 265-275lbs 6'2" and i can do top speed of 180kmh (110mph)

i have ridden 2 up which would be abit over 400lbs and could brake 140kmh didnt want to go any faster because passanger didnt have gear or helmet on i no that was stupid so u dont have to tell me

domas · August 21, 2006, 02:16:45 AM

Weight shouldn't affect the top speed (practicaly). if bike weighs ~370 and you ~230, that's 600 pounds total. so +/- 70 pounds won't affect the performance drasticaly. Besides you will not be thrown around by the wind so much because of more weight.

Cal Price · August 21, 2006, 04:13:09 AM

Believe it or not a body called the International standdards organisation (ISO) based in Switzerland and part of the U.N. sets all kinds of standards, one is the weight of a "passenger" which is 75kilos.

This applies to aircraft, stability calculations on ships and lifeboats as well as things like escalators and elevators and all types of vehicles. Individual countries can set higher standards and a few do. In practice this means the bike has to be tested to oblivion with 150 kilos load, in fact it will have been tested with a fair bit more.

I only know this stuff because I used to work for a shipping company and we also had a fleet of mini-buses and big buses used for shifting passengers about and we had to make certain calculations and undergo checks and tests involving this kind of thing.

niccolai · August 21, 2006, 09:17:36 PM

Awsome answers guys, thanks.

doesn't looks like I'll be having any problems at all.

I plan on having the bike by the end of the month. I'll be doing a couple small mods (integrating turn signals with tail fairing, swing-arm side mount for the liscense plate, frame sliders, new bars) and I'm having a buddy of mine do a custom paint job for me. I'm thinking it's going to be all white with black components and hardware with a black brick pattern airbrushed on.

The idea is looking really good in my head.

Queso · August 23, 2006, 06:14:22 AM

I'm 150... I think it's a fast bike... It was still pretty quick with another 105 pounds of passenger.

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weight limitations on a gs5r?

Queso