Noob has a question...Be gentle

[normdogg]

So...

Just registered, long time lurker however. I have the buy-a-bike fever, been reading street bike bike magazines and have been doing extensive online research for some time, but have never ridden before. Went to the local (Knoxville) Suzuki dealer to see if they had a GS 500. Of course they didn't, but they had some kid telling me I didn't wan't something that small, and I have also heard that from friends who ride. The explanation I get is that the GS won't give me the get up and go that I might need. Keep in mind, I have no interest in going fast. Also, I am a great, big bastard. 6"3, 220 pounds. The kid was trying to sell me a Katana, which seemed entirely too heavy. He also tried to sell me a gsx-r 600, which from what I have read, is entirely too twitchy.

Anyone have any ideas. I just want something marginally quick, that handles well. If I need to make mods, I can do so easily. I am a toolmaker, I can do anything. Except make a decision, apparently.

Ya'lls input is greatly appreciated.

[TragicImage]

the GS won't give you any problems....


don't let a salesman tell you what you want.

[Unnamed]

I'm 6'4" 210 and I fit just fine. I've only been riding for a few months, but after that time, let me give you my impression of the power of the GS. I don't have trouble doing highway speeds at all, and from a stop I can out-accelerate nearly any car on the road.

The thing that motorcycle dealers don't seem to appreciate when they're selling sport bikes is that the acceleration in a GS is still incredible. Right now, even though I've ridden it for a while, it still scares me when I open the throttle at or above 7k rpms. Maybe eventually you'll want more power, but for a long time you won't be doing much more than hanging on when you really pour open the throttle. I promise.

[poolshark]

If it's your first bike, it'll have plenty of get-up-and-go. Heck, this is my fourth (not counting dirt) and probably least powerful, but it's been an absolute blast so far. I'm 6'2"/205, and size isn't a problem at all.

Oh, and to the sales-dicks trying to sell race-reps to newbies: 

[Susuki_Jah]

dont buy a gs new you can find them cheep enough used. you will want to buy a new bike after a year of riding it.  do some mods to it to make it quicker if you want and have a little fun with it. youll most likely end up a laying it down a few times so buying new would just make it worse.

im not all about going fast either but having a bigger bike and more power would be nice , the gs just takes a lot of abuse on the long interstate trips, I also have the gearing lowered so my interstate riding is in a high rpm than a  stock gs, plus the wind will beat you around a lot on the gs.

its an awesome bike though and definatly what you should learn on. but at the same time once you get a feel for a bike they are kinda all the same.

if you want a good alternative to start out with I would suggest a SV650.

I have been looking at the gsxr 750, SV1000, and Buell firebolt xb12R to add as my second bike.


happy hunting and welcome!

[mdbHokie]

6'5" / 205 and I don't have any problems on the GS.

[97gs500e]

Get the bike you want, but I would also suggest getting an older, used one for a first bike.  There's quite a few to choose from..

250 - 500cc's :

Suzuki GS500
Kawasaki Ninja 250
Kawasaki Ninja 500

There are only a few bikes of larger displacement that are suitable as a first bike.
near 600cc's or above:

Suzuki SV650/SV650S
Suzuki Katana 600
Yamaha XJ600 Seca II (discontinued; early nineties bike)
Ducati Monster 620 (discontinued last year, replaced with the 695)

Have you taken the MSF basic rider course yet?  I would strongly suggest it.  You'll learn a lot of valuable riding skills, and score a discount on motorcycle insurance afterwards. 

[gsmetal]

I'm 6'5" and tip the scales at about 230lbs.

I have a 92 GS 500 for scooting around town but I also own a 95 BMW GS 1100 for the open road and lenghty world travels.

I find the GS 500 a little too cramped after an hour for my big frame and long legs- it's a really fun bike to ride but I wouldn't want it as my main bike.

If I were you I would investigate the SV 650 just as an option.

[Jarrett]

For street riding, the GS is one of the best bikes you can get.  I'm 6ft, 200lbs give or take a few.  Too much bike on the street will get a new rider into trouble quick.  Will you want a bigger bike with in a couple of months of riding the GS?  Heck yes you will!  Do you need a bigger bike for street use?  No Way!  If you want to go bigger and faster, buy a track bike after a few months of riding street EVERY DAY!  Keep the high speed riding on the track.  Anyone who says you need a Super Sport or Super Bike for street use is not thinking clearly.  A 250, 500, or non supersport 600 is plenty of bike for twisties or commuting.  Remember the bike doesn't make that rider.  I rode twisties today with 3 other riders.  One on a Buell xb12R Firebolt/1200 CC, a zx6r/636cc, and a 250 ninja.  The GS won the battle of the twisties with the ninja coming in second.  The zx6r and firebolt were lightning fast in the straights, but slow in the turns.  The ninja was fast in the turns, and slow in the straights.  My GS was fast in the corners, and fast enough in the straights.  The zx6r had a new rider on it.  The firebolt rider was experienced, but cautious because it's a new bike.  250 rider has about a year of riding.  I'm sitting at about 6 months or riding and 8k miles. 

[GeeP]

Welcome to the nuthouse!    

Most sales types are out to push you into a bigger bike, or whatever they have on the floor that's been there for a while.  Don't listen.  Only a very few seem to be truly interested in helping their prospect find the right bike. 

When I first started looking for a bike I went to a dealer one afternoon to get a feel for different models.  I walked in the door hoping they would have an EX500 (Kawi's version of a GS).  Nope, turns out they don't sell 500's.  Salesman:  "You see, a 500 is too small to ride on the street.  Only idiots that want to get flattened in traffic buy 500s.  You're not an idiot are you?  Plus, you'll have to shift to pass!"  I'd never heard so much bull in my life.

It was suggested that I buy this '04 GSXR-600 with 300 miles on it.  So I figured OK, I'll have a look.  I'm certainly not going to even consider it as a first bike though.  The guy's commentary went something like:  "Perfect first bike, you won't have to worry about fumbling the shifter to pass.  Great deal!  Oh, wait a moment, you can't flatfoot it.  Better forget about sportbikes son, come have a look at this cruiser here."  At that point I made a beeline for the door, haven't set foot in that place in 4 years.

To begin I would take the MSF course.  You can find info at www.msf-usa.org.  After taking the course you'll be in a better position to decide what kind of bike to look at.  You will also have your M endorsement.

What you'll find is that lots of power, strong brakes, tight handling, etc. will make it difficult to develop your riding skills.  It's the rider that makes a bike go fast and turn in hard, not the bike.  Without the rider the bike is just another hunk of inanimate metal.  Constantly challenge yourself to learn new things and develop current skills.  There's a lot more to riding than going fast in a straight line, something most salesmen have no clue about.

I think you'll find the GS is the kind of bike you're looking for.  However, I'm a little biased.   

[blue05twin]

Didn't read what everybody posted.   But the GS is a great bike you can't go wrong with it.  I would probaly buy a used one over a new one tho.  Or you could try these bikes also if you want a bit larger displacement.

SV 650
Ninja 650R

I would definately stay away from the Supersports till you had more exp. 

Take the MSF course you will learn so much and they make the learning fun. 

[normdogg]

Thanks for the responses, I appreciate everyon's time that has replied. I suppose it is time to get serious about finding a bike. Which leads me to te next question.

Anyone have any good ideas about where to find a used GS? I scan the local papers and online ads and can't find anything. Any tips?

[pantablo]

the common first bikes (ex500, ex250, gs500) are all in high demand and hold their value so they're hard to come by. have patience and keep looking in the local papers. you can also check craigslist online as well as doing an ebay search restricting it by region.

good luck.

[The Buddha]

Welcome to the nuthouse!    

<snippage>

I think you'll find the GS is the kind of bike you're looking for.  However, I'm a little biased.   

+1 ... The crap in the middle is irrelevant ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

I4

[Yankee Punker]

  I think you would enjoy a GS500 as your first bike.  It is easy to maintain, and work on, or modify, and is economical.
If you've not checked into insurance prices yet, that is something else the GS is great on. I pay $24 a month full coverage with $100,000 of PIP, when I checked the same coverage for a 05' GSXR-600 it would have been in the $140 range, for now I'll stay with a GS500 because I've got other responsibilities, and interests or hobbies that I enjoy as much as motorcycling.
 
  Plus I'm 6'1" and a lean 240lbs and have done some slight easy mods to my GS (re-jet carbs, K&N filter, 15T F. sprocket) and when I went to a 1/4 mile track in the fall I did a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds, and the 1/4 mile in 14.03 seconds at about 91 mph, that was my first time actually at a 1/4 mile track and I think I turned out some pretty fair #'s for a near stock GS, with different mods like a larger re-jet, after market exhaust, K&N pods or lunchbox filter, and maybe even a 14T sprocket I could make those #'s even a little better. But then don't forget the GS  ain't about going fast in a straight line, because our little bikes can make up in the curves for what in lacks in the seat of your pants horsepower.

[pandy]

Welcome to the nuthouse!    

<snippage>

I think you'll find the GS is the kind of bike you're looking for.  However, I'm a little biased.   

+1 ... The crap in the middle is irrelevant ...
Cool.
Srinath.

It looks as though things have been pretty well covered here, so I'll just say +2!  And welcome!!!   

[whitetiger]

I just bought a 91' gs500 and I think I bought a perfect first bike... I used to race motocross and this bike gives me more power than I thought it would.  I'm also a big guy  5'11" and 250 lbs...

[GeeP]

Welcome to the nuthouse!    

<snippage>

I think you'll find the GS is the kind of bike you're looking for.  However, I'm a little biased.   

+1 ... The crap in the middle is irrelevant ...
Cool.
Srinath.

It looks as though things have been pretty well covered here, so I'll just say +2!  And welcome!!!   

See?  Toldja it was a nuthouse. 

[pandy]