Opinion on Gs 500

[dwbarnes]

Hey Everyone.
I am looking for a starter bike but one that I am able to drive on the highway(the distance is around 400kms) Is the Gs 500 good for a 5'10" male wieghting around 225lbs and able to drive on the highway?
Thanks

[Alphamazing]

Yes.

[Egaeus]

I have no problems passing traffic on the interstate with a speed limit of 113 km/h.  I'm 6'0" 225 lb. 

Why do you use English units for weight and height, and metric for distance?

[dwbarnes]

lol.. I wonder that myself.. I guess cause I am from the Rock(Newfoundland)

[3imo]

5'6"  190lbs.

If I ever do buy any other kind of bike, I will never get rid of my GS.  Other bikes excel at one thing or another, but the GS seems to balance it all evenly.

except for the soft forks, but that was easily fixed.

[dwbarnes]

How do you fix the soft forks?

[Egaeus]

http://www.racetech.com/evalving/menu/searchstreet.asp

Use the spring rate calculator

[Unnamed]

How do you fix the soft forks?

You invest a few bucks and a couple hours and install stiffer springs in the front forks. They'll keep the front end more firmly planted and won't bottom out if you hit a bump. Its not a terribly difficult upgrade and there are some very good writeups here and on the the GS500 wiki about how to do it.

Go for the GS500. We're biased, of course, but it is a good beginner's bike and can maintain speeds over 100 mph if you want to. It gets a bit buzzy that fast, but they can do average/ fast highway speeds just fine.

[domas]

Just don't buy naked gs for driving 400 km, unless you are some macho man. The F model would be ok i think. And the GS will be always fast enough for you UNTIL you start chasing faster bikes.

[ducati_nolan]

Yeah it works just fine. I ride on the freeway all the time without any problems.

If you routinely do 400km rides (roughly 240miles?) I don't think it would be your best choice, the bike can do it but you could start getting uncomfortable. Something larger and with better wind protection would be preferable, unfourtunatly, bigger bikes with better wind protection make poor beginer bikes.

My advice is to get a used GS, put a windshield on it for the highway, and learn to ride on it. If you're happy staying with it, cool. If not, you can upgrade to a better cruising bike once you have some experience under your belt.

After saying this, I'm planning a long ride in the near future. Either a 500mile single day ride with a bunch of freeway or a 700-1000mile two day ride with a whole bunch of twisty and/or scenic two lane roads. Then, staying at my destination for a day or two, then hitting some twisties on the way home. 

[Alphamazing]

Just don't buy naked gs for driving 400 km, unless you are some macho man. The F model would be ok i think. And the GS will be always fast enough for you UNTIL you start chasing faster bikes.

I did 885km in one day on my naked GS. After a while you get used to the wind and it isn't as bad on long distances as most people would think.

[Susuki_Jah]

Just don't buy naked gs for driving 400 km, unless you are some macho man. The F model would be ok i think. And the GS will be always fast enough for you UNTIL you start chasing faster bikes.

go naked all the way . the faired Gs just aint hacking the looks .


really riding naked with no windshield is not a big deal. the bike cant do much more than 115mph if that, and thats not a lot of Force on the body. If thats to much force for a person you might rethink even riding a motorcycle.

I used my bike as a daily driver for a year before I bought another car. I rode on the highway at an avg of 90mpg. rain, shine, snow you name it.  thats what helmates and leather jackets are made for. 

[Wrecent_Wryder]

t4

[3imo]

I have made about 14 long distance (500mi+) trips in the last three years on my naked GS's.

Only problem is my ass starts to hurt after about 200miles.  BUT my friends on Harleys, and Honda shadows have the same complaint even with fancy corbin seats.

IMO any GS500 "price ranged" bike is gonna chap your ass after 240miles.  Deal with it.

BUY A GS and Have some of our Kool-AIDE. 

[OctaneMotorsports]

Why do you use English units for weight and height, and metric for distance?

I have found that 90% of canadians I have ever talked to including myself do the same thing. It's stupid to say, yeah, I am 250 cm tall...hahaha.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[7

[Susuki_Jah]

I have made about 14 long distance (500mi+) trips in the last three years on my naked GS's.

Only problem is my ass starts to hurt after about 200miles.  BUT my friends on Harleys, and Honda shadows have the same complaint even with fancy corbin seats.

IMO any GS500 "price ranged" bike is gonna chap your ass after 240miles.  Deal with it.

BUY A GS and Have some of our Kool-AIDE. 

My seat used to kill me after 2-3 hours. Little of my riding is typically highway, so that may be equivalent.

I tried a bunch of things, but mostly it turned out to be my position. I was pushing my rear end too far back trying to gain more legroom. After I retrained myself not to do that, but to fold my legs a bit tigher and sit where the seat itself wanted to cradle me, it got a lot better. Not great, but at least tolerable for long periods.

man my butt hurts after riding in a car to long! lol  you butt goes numb on a bike after awhile anyways.

[baco99]

being new to riding and only about 1000 miles on my GS so far, i'd definitely suggest a small fairing of some kind.  i'm 5'11" 195 lbs and i feel like i get thrown around a little on the highway, ~75 MPH.  would be nice to have something to deflect the wind off your gloves for those cooler mornings and evenings.

i'm hoping that my lack of accelerating power is due to the fact that it needs a tune-up and not the bike itself.  i do feel sluggish merging onto the highway.

[Susuki_Jah]

being new to riding and only about 1000 miles on my GS so far, i'd definitely suggest a small fairing of some kind.  i'm 5'11" 195 lbs and i feel like i get thrown around a little on the highway, ~75 MPH.  would be nice to have something to deflect the wind off your gloves for those cooler mornings and evenings.

i'm hoping that my lack of accelerating power is due to the fact that it needs a tune-up and not the bike itself.  i do feel sluggish merging onto the highway.

is your bike all stock at the moment?   I beleive a small headlight fairing with a small windshield would do you well.

[baco99]

won't be stock for long!
(see laundry list in sig)