Wow, so were my old bikes really that crappy?

[Johnny5]

Or does the GS500 handle really that well?  It was beautiful in CT (And I was working from home) today so I took the new (new to me LOL) bike out for a spin.  Man the more I drive this bike the more impressed I am with it... went out on some backroads behind my house, very forgiving and easy to ride on twisty back roads.  Took it into a lot to practice low speed u-turns, fig 8's etc... wow easy! And a lot more power than my old Yamaha Special II, even more than I thought it would have.  You can really throw this thing around and maneuver it so easily.  I'm starting to think I got the deal of the century... LOL... I'll have to ride an SV650 and a Duc and see how they compare.

One thing I need to do is really loosen up more... I notice I'm really driving tense at this point, I'm sure that will go away as I ride it some more.  Thanks for listening to my babble LOL...

[RVertigo]

I don't think there is a bigger moto that handles better than the GS...  Wider tires, heavier, bigger...   

The H#nda 90 I used to ride handles WAY better than the GS...  But, you can pick it up and carry it around.     I'm sure lots of smaller bikes handle better...  EX250 I'd guess...

[Johnny5]

Honda 90... wow, Is that the old silver and red bike?  The S90 or something like that?  That's a cool looking cafe style bike...

Well excluding dirtbikes etc... Yeah I had an old Kawasaki Enduro that was a 125, you could maneuver that one pretty easily... wouldn't take that bad boy on the highway though...

This GS500 just feels a lot better than the old bikes I used to ride.  My cousin's old Shadow, a Rebel 250, and my Yamaha Special... the Special was Bombproof, but man it was like driving a wheelbarrow full of bricks thru any kind of corners LOL... and forget small slow radius turns.  I did have another bud with a mid 80's Nighthawk that wasn't to bad... it feels a heck of a lot better than the only somewhat sporty bike I used to ride now and again which was another friends Katana 600... that was a mid 90's or and that thing just felt so bulky.

I guess I'm just excited that I have a decent streetbike to start back out on LOL...  pathetic eh?

[RVertigo]

H#nda 90:  Pic   

In terms of tech, the GS is about...  Hmm...  1980...  But, compared to other bikes from '89, it's damn flippy for having as much power as it does...  Even today, it's flips faster than most bikes.

[WREX]

yeah baby...

[Johnny5]

Haha, yeah WREX that's the one I was thinking of... Flickable for sure LOL... I wonder how fast that thing would go?

[Onlypastrana199]

My S90 is better!!!!! I have the Super 90 not the Scrambler 90 which we all know is better  It goes about 65




God I love that thing...I just ordered a transmission for it...gotta get a set of piston rings and a petcock and I'll be up and running again!

[RVertigo]

The old H#nda 90 hit nearly 60 once...  Yes, it was down hill. 

[brett]

Or does the GS500 handle really that well?  It was beautiful in CT (And I was working from home) today so I took the new (new to me LOL) bike out for a spin.  Man the more I drive this bike the more impressed I am with it... went out on some backroads behind my house, very forgiving and easy to ride on twisty back roads.  Took it into a lot to practice low speed u-turns, fig 8's etc... wow easy! And a lot more power than my old Yamaha Special II, even more than I thought it would have.  You can really throw this thing around and maneuver it so easily.  I'm starting to think I got the deal of the century... LOL... I'll have to ride an SV650 and a Duc and see how they compare.

One thing I need to do is really loosen up more... I notice I'm really driving tense at this point, I'm sure that will go away as I ride it some more.  Thanks for listening to my babble LOL...

For the low speed stuff, the GS is quite easy to flick around. However, when you start riding some real twisties, it doesn't come close to a Duc. I didn't want to get back on my GS after riding my dad's Monster (S2R 800). It's amazing the difference a good suspension can make. The SV650 probably wouldn't be a dramatic difference - it's still Suzuki OEM crap for suspension.

It sounds like you haven't ridden many modern sportbikes. The GS just doesn't compare to them.

[sledge]

When you say the GS5 handles well what are you comparing it to?  The GS5 was launched circ` 1989. The design must be almost 20 yrs old now. My old 1985 CBX550F2 wasnt regarded as the greatest bike ever but in my view it outperformed the GS in just about every respect going, including handling. My view of the GS5 is mediocre and If you think it handles well you should spend some time on a proper sports/sports-tourer.....of any vintage. You are in for a big and pleasant surprise.

[RVertigo]

When you say the GS5 handles well what are you comparing it to?

Sport Bikes less than 500cc...



It was easier to flick around than the baby Monster...

[WREX]

smaller then the 90, let's not forget the Honda Cub.  50 years of production and 50 million sold - most sold err.. motorcycle in the world 

[sledge]

The below 500cc sports bike class doesnt exsist over here so I cant really comment but along with the UK Bike press and journalists I wouldnt put the GS5 in the "Sports" bracket, despite what Suzuki might claim. I have a bike mag in front of me that describes it as a cheap, entry-level bike, economical, easy to handle and ideal for learners/novices. The final comment made is sarcastic but painfully true "Got left behind by the competition years ago"

I find it hard to believe a bike that is essentially almost 20yrs old is going to handle any better or even on par with a modern day sports bike of a similar size/capacity. Most owners tend to get a few miles in on it then graduate to something with more power/capability.  Decent rubber and stiffer springing will help but that alone wont put it at the top of the tree......Some people are easily pleased I guess, but its each to their own.
If I was in the market for a new 500 .........
http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/DispatcherServlet?hidAction=Lookup&hidActionDetail=view_gallery&hidMSGID=10&hidMSGCode=TRADITIONAL&hidMSGName=Traditional&hidProductID=75&hidSelectedProductCode=CBF500+ABS&hidProductName=CBF500+ABS#focusHere

[Wrecent_Wryder]

I4

[reminor]

Read this funny Bash Your OWN Ride http://www.beginnerbikers.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10593 topic. After all GS does not seem that bad. I am personally very happy with my GS (expecially after progressive springs and jetting upgrades). I am totally fine with its power, and overall. But again I know no better.

Yesterday I happened to be at a dealership and sat on many bikes. I must admit I am still intimidated with the size and weight of them. I am not petite at 5"11' and 185lbs but sizewise GS500 fits me right. None of others felt "right" with an exception of Yamaha FZ6. Well, maybe some day...

[manofthefield]

Nice link reminor... for those who don't want to read it all... here's the one GS500 rant

[Johnny5]

It sounds like you haven't ridden many modern sportbikes. The GS just doesn't compare to them.

I haven't ridden ANY modern sportbikes LOL.  Except a Katana 600 a few years ago, and that thing felt really clunky.  My streetbike before I stopped riding was a Yamaha Special, if you tried to take a corner fast in that, you were visiting the weeds on the side of the road.  I figured the GS500 would be a good bike to get back into street riding with, and I actually am pleasantly surprised...  it handles really well, it was a HELL of a deal, and since it's 9 years old I want cry (to hard) if I do drop it.  The power is better than I thought as well, it's not a crazy powerful bike obviously, but it's plenty good enough to keep me interested for a while.  Also I'm pretty wide as a powerlifter... but I am damn short LOL, the only bike I can flat foot that I sat on before I bought the GS was a Buell Blast with the lower seat.  The GS I'm on the balls of my feet which is perfect.


I figure I'm going to enjoy this bike, become a better rider on it, and then sell it and get an SV650, or a Monster 695 (Hence the SV and Duc refernece).

[gsJack]

It sounds like you haven't ridden many modern sportbikes. The GS just doesn't compare to them.

I haven't ridden ANY modern sportbikes LOL.  Except a Katana 600 a few years ago, and that thing felt really clunky.  My streetbike before I stopped riding was a Yamaha Special, if you tried to take a corner fast in that, you were visiting the weeds on the side of the road.  I figured the GS500 would be a good bike to get back into street riding with, and I actually am pleasantly surprised...  it handles really well, it was a HELL of a deal, and since it's 9 years old I want cry (to hard) if I do drop it.  The power is better than I thought as well, it's not a crazy powerful bike obviously, but it's plenty good enough to keep me interested for a while.  Also I'm pretty wide as a powerlifter... but I am damn short LOL, the only bike I can flat foot that I sat on before I bought the GS was a Buell Blast with the lower seat.  The GS I'm on the balls of my feet which is perfect.


I figure I'm going to enjoy this bike, become a better rider on it, and then sell it and get an SV650, or a Monster 695 (Hence the SV and Duc refernece).

I traded a 85 CB650SC that I had ridden 50k miles in on my 97 GS500E.  Before that 85 Nighthawk, I had put 90k miles on a 81 CM400A, 80k miles on a 82 CB750k, and 6k miles on my first bike a 81 CB400T. 

I too was impressed with the handling of that GS500E compared to my previous bikes.  Now having put over 120k miles on two GS00's, I am still having a ball with my current 02 GS500. 

I have the last naked GS500 sold in this country, the 02 model, and hope they will bring the naked GS500 back to our market before my 02 is used up.  Seems a waste to buy an overpriced fully faired model and strip it naked.

[Johnny5]

I traded a 85 CB650SC that I had ridden 50k miles in on my 97 GS500E.  Before that 85 Nighthawk, I had put 90k miles on a 81 CM400A, 80k miles on a 82 CB750k, and 6k miles on my first bike a 81 CB400T. 

I too was impressed with the handling of that GS500E compared to my previous bikes.  Now having put over 120k miles on two GS00's, I am still having a ball with my current 02 GS500. 

I have the last naked GS500 sold in this country, the 02 model, and hope they will bring the naked GS500 back to our market before my 02 is used up.  Seems a waste to buy an overpriced fully faired model and strip it naked.

Hey very cool... I agree on bringing back the GS naked... an updated model... nothing crazy, maybe an aluminum frame and bigger tires, and a bigger engine.  But I'm sure it will not happen since they have the SV650.  I like the look and lines on the GS500e, and I LOVE the size of it since I'm so short.  I just don't feel comfortable on my tiptoes on a bike...  I'm a VERY big fan of the Hawk GT/NT650 as well, that bike was WAY ahead of it's time.  Geez, when the hell are these companies going to start focusing a bit more  on short people LOL?   I mean I certainly like the SV650, the Monster, the 599 etc but I am not into modifying the geometry of a bike just to lower it.  (Actually, Buell offers a short version of the Lightning, very cool looking bike, but I won't be spending 10k on a bike any time soon...)

[William M]

I started riding in 1980 and had several 70's bikes: Honda 360T, Honda 400F, BMW R60, BMW R100RS, and my fav Kawasaki 650 and can confidently say the GS handles much better than any of them.

The only place I'd give it low marks is with crosswinds, but that could be its size. I rode cross country twice on the Kawi and must have dealt with Wyoming/Utah winds (I remember 2 horrific storms in Kansas), but don't recall the awful "kicking out from under you" feeling that I get on the GS.

BTW, I improved this by properly aligning the rear wheel. I noticed it was worse with a wind from the right so adjusted the rear wheel "left" and later checked it with one of those wheel alignment checker gizmos and it was spot on.