Tried other bikes, I'm keeping my GS500F

[lamahug]

Well, my friend and I went to Shark Cycle in Stafford Springs CT Saturday, to look at other models and brands of motorcycles.  They had about 45 used sport bikes in their jam packed showroom.  We must have got on about ten different bikes, Honda CBR600's, Suzuki GSXR 600-750's, Kawasaki's and Yamaha's...This was my first time on these bikes and I was disapointed because not one of them was as comfortable as my 2004 GS500F.  I mean come on, you are crouched over on top of the gas tank, and my neck was getting sore within a few minutes of being on these bikes, and no rubber footpegs.   Plus, prices ranged from $4000 - $10,500.  

I'm keeping my used $2200 gs500F.

Have any of you tried different bikes?  What are your opinions?

[ineedanap]

Everytime I ride a different bike I realize how cheap suzuki was when they made the GS500 and how old the design actually is.  

[Chanse]

I had a GSXR 750 raced out before I liked it but, I still enjoy the comfort and handling of the GS. Even though its slow, I guess Im just getting older but I just dont have the need to go faster than 140mph on a bike anymore. Ive been to about 170 or 180 and Its not all its cracked up to be. I felt like the wind was pulling me off the handlebars and at that speed you have absolutely no time to react. Before you can get to the sh- in holysh1t your splattered on a car that just pulled out in front of you, a wall, or something. look up some highspeed bike crashes on the net, you dont even see the brake light come on before they hit. Thats pretty crappy.

[respite]

Everytime I ride a different bike I realize how cheap suzuki was when they made the GS500 and how old the design actually is.  

I get the same feeling.

[GeeP]

Bikes you should be looking at:

Honda 599
Honda 919
SV-650 naked
V-strom 650
Kawi ZR-7
Ninja 650

[The Buddha]

Yes and do not ever ever look at a gheydius ... you look at it and you'd turn into a fruit.
Cool.
Buddha.

[TurkeyChicken]

I tried out a BMW F800S a month or so ago and fell in love with it.  It seemed like a natural progression for me from my 01 GS500.  I just didn't want to drop $8k on it

[jeremy_nash]

I have an 86 ninja1000, it is more comfortable than the gs, much faster, but doesn't handle nearly as well, and didnt have an awesome website like this one to come to when I needed help with it.  from now on, when I lookk at getting another bike, I always see what support for it I can find on the web.  I guess my gs and this awesome site must just have me spoiled

[The Buddha]

I tried out a BMW F800S a month or so ago and fell in love with it.  It seemed like a natural progression for me from my 01 GS500.  I just didn't want to drop $8k on it

Correct, the logical ste up from the GS is still a GS, only its BMW's F800GS ...  ...

I'd do triumph's cafe style bike whatever its called as well.
Cool.
Buddha.

[applecrew]

 

If I had the dough.... I'd be all over the Triumph Street triple.... it gives me goose bumps just looking at it...
and I'd even be kind enough to "give" the wife my GS ... 

But I would also like to take a look at the BMW F800...

[tt_four]

If I had the dough.... I'd be all over the Triumph Street triple.... it gives me goose bumps just looking at it...
and I'd even be kind enough to "give" the wife my GS ... 

But I would also like to take a look at the BMW F800...

Those Street Triples do look sweet, but I used to have a speed four, which was pretty much the earlier version of the street triple, only with clipons and a 4-cylinder(I even put risers on mine at one point, and had always wondered why that engine wasn't already a triple). I was in love with the thing, but after having a bike as reliable and easy to work on as the GS, thinking about owning another triumph makes me want to give up on life. I'm sticking to Japanese bikes from now on. My current dream bike is a Kawasaki z1000, but I'll admit I'm pretty into the older zr-7 as well. They look like a great step up from a GS if you're looking for something smoother and stronger, that I don't picture killing you with speed and expensive repairs.

If you're looking for sporty, Kawasaki also updated that zr-7 with a Z750 that looks pretty fun as well, but it's one step closer to a stripped down sportbike than the zr-7 was.

[SeqArtMark]

Bikes you should be looking at:

Honda 599
Honda 919
SV-650 naked
V-strom 650
Kawi ZR-7
Ninja 650

I'd LOVE to have a Honda 599 (or any number of naked bikes).  I live in the land of windy, flat, straight roads so I don't know how practical it'd be.  Plus, at some point I'd like to do some distance riding (not cross-country but more than an hour or two).

[lawman]

I fondly remember my triumph TT600.  Handled well, light, fuel injected, powerful, but not insane, comfortable... you can find them cheap too.  A lot of plastic though.  And they handle low speed falls pretty badly...  Don't ask how I know.

[tt_four]

A lot of plastic though.  And they handle low speed falls pretty badly...  Don't ask how I know.

A gentle tip over on the right side is a GUARANTEED oil leak and gasket replacement. That one engine cover is what those bikes were best known for. Did you ever have the problem of your chain wearing through your swingarm like a high powered, dull-chained chainsaw because triumph put a combo of gears on the bikes that were too small, so they put too much pressure on the front of the swingarm and would just eat through that joke of a rubber guide? Man that thing gave me headaches. I do find it hard to imagine owning a bike that I could love more though, and oh man do bikes look so much better with some actual curves to them, instead of looking like some high tech junkie went crazy with a protractor like most modern bikes.

[gsJack]

Yes and do not ever ever look at a gheydius ... you look at it and you'd turn into a fruit.
Cool.
Buddha.

I like the SFV650, spent a lot of time sitting on it and looking it over at the late Jan bike show.  Those big pieces of fake chrome plastic or whatever they are on the sides of it just bolt on and would be first mod, just unbolt and pitch them.  Nice Duc style frame underneath.

After 150k miles on two GS500s I felt right at home on the Glad...errr...SFV650.  I would drop that name though.   

[Chanse]

Yeah I know its not a street bike but what do you guys think of the new honda fury?

[GeeP]

Yeah I know its not a street bike but what do you guys think of the new honda fury?

YAHCC

(Yet Another Harley Chopper Clone)

[XealotX]

Went on a 400 mile ride on Saturday. Holy cow was my ass sore. Might as well have been riding this...







My 2002 is an unbeatable commuter bike, but, for any trip over 100 miles (one way)...no thanks...I'll walk.

[average]

Get yourself a gel pad to go on your set. Helps a bunch.

[brickerenator]

I like the gladius. There i said it. I still have my man card  .

Speed triple is where it's at. They don't look all that comfy, but my friend rode his 06 from PA to FL. He made the return trip in 19 hours, and loved every mile.