Wife wants my GS500, new bike for me?

[Crimson]

My wife loves my 92 GS500E, and she is hopefully taking the MSF course this weekend if she gets in (She is an alternate).. I have been thinking about getting a new bike for some time..

I like the bare look of the GS500, and would like to get another bike similar to that.. My thoughts so far:

Buell - I am from Milwaukee, and I like the idea of an American made bike and supporting my local community.. I like the look mostly, but they seem pretty common and I don't know about the engines.. its sounds strange in a crotch rocket type of bike.

Ducati - Ducati Monster 750.. friend at work possibly selling his.. low milage.. 4000, lots of mods.. in great condition.. about $5k.. love the style, like the uniqueness of a ducati..

I am looking for a little more power than my GS500 as well.. I am around 260lbs.. 6'1.. so I am a pretty big guy.. Would like a 600 at least, but probably a 750 or higher.

Any thoughts on non-GS bikes?

[Black Snowman]

SV-650 would be the next step up, new Buells are nice but pricey for what you get, old Buells require a lot of TLC so if you're not mechanicly inclined you might want to avoid. Ducati's can be expensive to maintain.

Sounds like you're leaning toward a twin. Others you might want to look into include the Suzuki V-Storm, a Honda Super Hawk, or even maybe some of the cruisers depending on your riding style.

I myself would love one of the new Buells but it's just not "cost effective". But if money were no object I'd be on an XB12R. And a Y2k jet bike.

[South East Rocket]

I really don't like Buells.  I can't beleive a $10k bike can feel so cheap.  Honestly the plastic feels so low-quality and I'm not a big fan of their V-twin sound.  Why is it that TL1000's and RC51's sound so much better?!

[Fastdog]

The Monster sounds like a good deal; I'd go for it.  I've always liked the looks of them!

[Laura]

I'd get the Monster, although honestly, I'm only going on the way they look and the way they sound.

[Lex143ms]

have you checked into the honda 919?

[dgyver]

I ride a 2000 TL1000R on the street and it has been a great bike. I am 6' and 180#, no problem with power. I can easily walk down a 600. It may be a little heavy (on paper), but in the twisties it really handles great. They don't seem to carry much resale value, so used ones can be had at a fair price. They have a unique thump that does stand out. With your size and weight, consider a TLR or if you like it nakid, a TLS. If interested, check out //www.tlplanet.com.

[miket]

I am in the same situation: GF is taking the MSF course next week, and I am thinking of giving her my GS, which is too small for me anyway (I am 6' 3"). I am thinking of getting myself a KLR. At least I can do some easy dirt, and I still get to ride the GS when she's not using it.
I would like a multistrada or a V-strom, but I can't afford either at this time.

[zoltan]

here's a thought on the monster. my friend has a monster 620 and i have a sv650. he just hit 6000 miles and needs to drop it off for 2 weeks and pay about $450 to get his maintence done (valves and some other stuff). he'll have to do it again and be half way to his third one before i need to do my first. i also make more power than he does and mine is cheaper.

[sleeper]

omg~ Honda 919, I think that is my dream bike.  Love the naked look!

[rjsjr]

The duc sounds like a deal (would go for around $5500 around here, but motorcycles tend to be more expensive in the bay area), just make sure its been serviced regularly (6k valve check intervals and they're pricey but not nearly so much as if you don't take care of them).  Only 5 gears seems a little outdated, but at least it doesn't have that rattling clutch.  I still love those galuzzi lines and steel trellis frame.

Other popular choices are the sv650 (cheap, bulletproof, lots of fun, but not much more legroom), triumph speed four (goofy looks but handles well, also not a lot of legroom), kawasaki z1000 (haven't seen/ridden it yet), triumph speed triple (cool looks, good fun, great sound), honda 919 (way boring and makes you smell like exhaust), suzuki sv1000 (haven't seen it yet in person - not crazy about all the angles), fz1 (big hp, comfy, good sport tourer), and my personal favorite the Aprilia Tuono (a bad, bad hooligan and more bike than I need, but not more than I want  Too bad we don't get more of the midsize nakeds/semifaired in the US, the FZ6 seems pretty interesting

I'll probably go to a yzf-600r either this winter or next year (my knees can't take long trips on the gs and some wind protection would be nice along with a little more oomph for the highways), but I'm thinking more sport touring than naked hooligan.  Still, that Tuono would be fun ...

... rjs

[mrslush50]

VFR!!!!!!!!

[pantablo]

Another vote for sv650. While I personally like the monster better (I love the trellis frame and the "exclusivity" of it) I think the sv650 is a far superior bike. You should try them on of course. MOnster should be available for test ride since buying used....and you could "look" at a few used sv650's for test rides.

I would verify the service intervals on the monster though. I've heard it go both ways, expensive either way though so you want to make sure the intervals are far enough apart not to bankrupt you. Check with local dealer for costs of regular maintenance and there's a forum link from www.ducati.com (from their USA site) that you could ask a few questions to owners. Also hang out at local motorcycle hangout and talk to people that own the monsters.

For only a few dollars more than the monster though you could get a NEW sv650...

Decisions, decisions...

[loyolarobyn]

I'd say your best bet would be the Suzuki SV.  If the 650 seems too small, go for a 1000.  My bf just got one and they are fast and fun!

The Ducati Monster is a sweet bike, but the maintenance costs are too high.

[Diderich]

I've been saving for a duc monster 900 so i can give my wife's GS back to her.  There is a good forum for the monster at www.ducatimonster.org.  Its a lot like this board.  I don't have any direct experience with monsters except sitting on them at the dealership, and they feel sooooo light..i love it.  

As far as the maintenence goes...Ducs have that desmodronic valve system.  checkin/adjusting those is the expensive part...if you have the *#&$@ dealership do it.   Once you get the theory down, it doesn't seem to be any harder than on any other bike, though.  You just have twice as many clearances to check because you have to check the clearance on the valve open rocker AND on the valve closing rocker.  There is no valve spring to close the valve...neat huh?  There is a special technique and somebody linked off the ducatti board has a good writeup on it.

[crmeyer]

[lynstly]

Get a Tuono R, it's better than a house..

[ladybrid]

There is also a Triumph Speed 4 which is a 600.

[Rashad]

..... I'm not a big fan of their V-twin sound.  Why is it that TL1000's and RC51's sound so much better?!

BECAUSE its a HARLEY motor... uggh... Erik Buell had an awesome idea... just wish he would have completely followed through and totally cut ties with Harley. Its a shame that in this land of BEST OF EVERYTHING.. we have no true, good quality/value AMERICAN SPORTBIKE...acck... makes me cry. :nana: