New guy

[OneJoeZee]

Hi guys.  I'm new to this forum.  Was recommended here.

Looking to start riding in the not so far off future and I'm looking at the GS500 for my first bike.

So far, I've found the site and information here very informative. I'll keep lurking and keep learning.

-Joe

[scratch]

Welcome!

[makenzie71]

CT12A's suck

[OneJoeZee]

CT12A's suck

aint that the truth... I've been through 6 of them so far.

Logic tells me to ditch them and go single, but I'd rather use that money and buy a bike. 

I know myself and buying a single turbo will lead to buying an expensive clutch, which will lead to buying an expensive fuel system, which will require an expensive fuel management system, etc etc.  I'd never get to start riding...  As long as I continue to just use stock turbos, I can keep Supra costs down, which is what I'm trying to do.

400-500 dollars a month in mods/high ass gas bill could be put to better use elsewhere...

[OneJoeZee]

Would buying a new GS500 be a bad idea?  I wouldn't be opposed to that.  I don't want to spend too much on a first bike but I'm not poor either...

Give me some insight.

[makenzie71]

hahaha I was just checking lol

I LOVED the CT12A's!  Just wish they were more reliable...I went through two sets before giving up on them and going single.  If the ceramic material had been just a little bit better...

I'll be looking for one to put a bike sometime, though...should do good for that.

The GS500 is a great bike to learn on...if you're a dedicated rider.  If you get bored easily...no.

[OneJoeZee]

hahaha I was just checking lol

I LOVED the CT12A's!  Just wish they were more reliable...I went through two sets before giving up on them and going single.  If the ceramic material had been just a little bit better...

I'll be looking for one to put a bike sometime, though...should do good for that.

The GS500 is a great bike to learn on...if you're a dedicated rider.  If you get bored easily...no.

You're right, the CT12s are great for what they are.  I recently dynoed 300hp@12.5psi which makes for a nice peppy daily driver but I'm getting pretty tired of having my Supra as my only vehicle and driving it everyday.

I'm not so worried about getting bored on the GS.  Even now with my craving for extra power from my Supra, the car is far from boring.  I'm not the type that always needs more more more. 

[makenzie71]

did you run with a market exhaust or fab something up?  I'd like to see the engine bay.  I love the good swaps.

To give you an idea of what you'd be getting into, your supe is pulling about 11lbs per hp.  The GS500 does about 16lbs per hp.  It's no slouch and that doesn't make it a bad bike or even a "slow" bike.  I'm just telling you this so that you don't get on it and get disapointed with straight line speed.  You'd be all focused on handling, and that's something the GS does really well.  It's a great machine with which to learn how to REALLY ride.

[scratch]

It is premature to decide if one is going to be bored on a bike they have never ridden before.

Buy used if you can, check craigslist.org for ones near you, they can be hard to find, so don't be discouraged; they are popular and reliable, especially with the new riding season coming up.  But, you're early in the season so you might be able to find one before anybody else buys it (but then the seller may not be so eager to give a discount and 'holdout' for a better offer).  Otherwise, there's nothing wrong with getting a brand new bike to learn on, at least it will be insured, and you'll know that there will be nothing wrong with it mechanically.

[OneJoeZee]

did you run with a market exhaust or fab something up?  I'd like to see the engine bay.  I love the good swaps.

To give you an idea of what you'd be getting into, your supe is pulling about 11lbs per hp.  The GS500 does about 16lbs per hp.  It's no slouch and that doesn't make it a bad bike or even a "slow" bike.  I'm just telling you this so that you don't get on it and get disapointed with straight line speed.  You'd be all focused on handling, and that's something the GS does really well.  It's a great machine with which to learn how to REALLY ride.

I'll throw up some pictures of my Supra when I get home. I'm surfing at work right now.

I'm aware of the hp/weight difference but I'm definately not looking into straight line speed right now. If so, I could do something squidly and just buy a 600rr or whatever.

General concensus and my lurking and reading bike forums since '04 tells me I'll learn more as a beginner on a smaller bike and I'm definately more interested in becoming a good rider first.

[rangerbrown]

CT12A's suck

[OneJoeZee]

I'm considering buying a new ninja 250 as well as the other options I listed.  I know most frown on buying new for the first bike but most also say starter bikes like the 250 don't depreciate much.  If I outgrow it in a few months, and lose some on selling it, I can live with that although I'll try to stick to keeping it for at least a full year/season.  

I expect you guys will be pretty opposed to buying new, but is buying a new Ninja 250 really so bad?  I'm not set on anything yet, just trying to get opinions about all options. Input good or bad is appreciated.

[OneJoeZee]

CT12A's suck

mackenzie and I are members of Supraforums.com 

That's how I found this site.  He recommended it.

CT12As are the stock turbos used on the 1JZ engine from the 3rd Gen Supra.  Which is what I have.

[makenzie71]

I expect you guys will be pretty opposed to buying new, but is buying a new Ninja 250 really so bad?  I'm not set on anything yet, just trying to get opinions about all options. Input good or bad is appreciated.

Yes.  The 250 is completely worthless outside of tight, slow-traffic urbanite commuting.  The GS500 is a much better bike and falls between the EX250 and EX500...sometimes I think even the EX500 is a bit much for some beginners because it's enough power to get you in a lot of trouble real quick.  The GS500 requires intention to put you in a tight spot.

And yeah, the 250's do not depreciate much...but if you look at that logically it's a bad way to invest.  Why buy a $2500 used ninja when you can buy a new one for $3000 out the door?

Buying a new bike as a beginner is only a bad thing becuase of the potential of damaging a nice, pretty new bike.  There's little risk outside of that.  We all suggest buying older because the bikes are incredibly cheap and you can usually sell for the same you paid...if not more sometimes.  I have yet to sell an EX500 for less than I paid for it.

[l3uddha]

So far, I've found the site and information here very informative.

??

not anyone here that I know...

welcome buddy   

[OneJoeZee]

I expect you guys will be pretty opposed to buying new, but is buying a new Ninja 250 really so bad?  I'm not set on anything yet, just trying to get opinions about all options. Input good or bad is appreciated.

Yes.  The 250 is completely worthless outside of tight, slow-traffic urbanite commuting.  The GS500 is a much better bike and falls between the EX250 and EX500...sometimes I think even the EX500 is a bit much for some beginners because it's enough power to get you in a lot of trouble real quick.  The GS500 requires intention to put you in a tight spot.

And yeah, the 250's do not depreciate much...but if you look at that logically it's a bad way to invest.  Why buy a $2500 used ninja when you can buy a new one for $3000 out the door?

Buying a new bike as a beginner is only a bad thing becuase of the potential of damaging a nice, pretty new bike.  There's little risk outside of that.  We all suggest buying older because the bikes are incredibly cheap and you can usually sell for the same you paid...if not more sometimes.  I have yet to sell an EX500 for less than I paid for it.

Thanks for the input on this.

I understand about dropping a new bike but if that's what happens, then that's what happens...  It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a used ninja to not be scratched up too much would it? I could drop a nice used one as well.  Your point about a used 250 for 2500 and a new 250 for 3000 is exactly the reason why I leaned toward buying new if I went the ninja 250 route.

I don't forsee myself using the bike TOO much for highway use.  I remember your post on SF about it being really good for city riding and such and to be honest this is probably where the majority of my riding will be.  i live in a small suburban city surrounded by other similar suburban cities.  The large majority of my driving is to school which is all surface streets.  I take the bus to work and if I choose to ride on the days I work, I could get to the bus stop using surface streets as well...  If I need to do a longer highway commute, I could always drive.

In short, your standpoint is if the large majority of my riding was city then a Ninja 250(new or used) would be a great for me as a new rider.  Correct?

[makenzie71]

When I say " tight, slow-traffic urbanite commuting" I mean downtown chicago/new york during business hours.  It's also a hell of a lot of fun on go-kart tracks.  If that's what you're looking at then yeah I think it'd be good...I'd even go so far as to suggest it.  If you're not in a crowded area and not dealing with dense, slow moving traffic, then I'd suggest something bigger.  It's an odd occasion that the GS500 isn't a superior choice in bikes...same weight, a little more power, looks better (personal opinion, I know), sounds better, and has a lot more room to "grow into".

And of course it's common for older bikes to come scratched up haha...but a scratched up, beat up 250 is hard to come by.  They're not good sellers as it is...if someone wrecks one it's likely to never change hands again...there's a LOT of EX250 powered shifter-karts out there.  When it comes to other rides, though, I can a lot of difference between a new $5500 GS500 and a good running, $750 1992 model.  That's more what we're talking about when we talk about cost.

[pandy]

Welcome, OneJoeZee!  We won't hold it against you that it was mak who brought you here! 

[OneJoeZee]

did you run with a market exhaust or fab something up?  I'd like to see the engine bay.  I love the good swaps.

Here's some pics of my '92, since you were asking.  Some pics are big. sorry in advance.

















Not too crazy on the mods list.


Blitz intake, custom ypipe and downpipe, apex N1 catback, koyo radiator, tein coilovers, Mine's ECU, Defi Bf gauges, full JDM factory recaro interior and exterior TT badging, Advan Model 5 wheels. some other stuff I'm forgetting...

You're familiar with Supras, so you can see why it was hard to pass this up.  Would take forever later on to find this car had I passed on it.

[Kasumi]

That is one classy looking care you got there. The engine bay! - ive never seen one in such clean and well looked after condition!