Is my gs500f slow or is it just me????

[tt_four]

We don't have CBR125s here, no cbr250s, no ninja400s. The only choice we have smaller than a gs500 is the ninja 250, which kills be because I love smaller bikes. I think those ninja400 look like way too much fun, but there's no engine size restrictions for beginners in our country, so 90% of people go straight to 600cc supersports

As far as the original topic.... I swear this gs500 is not one bit faster than my ninja250 was, the GS is about 11 years older than the 250 was, but neither of them had had any technological updates at that point. I went +8 in the rear with a new chain and stopped caring about top speed, which helped out a bit.

[bikegirl88]

We have no size restrictions in Canada either but insurance is the killer for most new riders. 

I thought about getting a 600SS but decided against as I did not think it was a good bike to learn on.  The Ninja 250 is a great looking bike and I know a few people that have these.  I believe that they are similar in performance to the GS500 but I think we have the edge.

[smartroad]

My bike struggles to get to 95 but that is because I have had to have the restricter kit installed because of UK law so I am limited to about 33bhp. All the kit is mind you, is a pair of washers between the carbs and the engine to reduce the available air/fuel flow!

[tt_four]

My bike struggles to get to 95 but that is because I have had to have the restricter kit installed because of UK law so I am limited to about 33bhp. All the kit is mind you, is a pair of washers between the carbs and the engine to reduce the available air/fuel flow!

That sounds like the kind of thing that most people here would have on their bike 1 day a year, and as soon as the new inspection sticker is on, those washers would be sitting in a parts box on my workbench.

[newbie]

Bikes a 07 gs500f with no mods and a little over 5k miles........carbs just cleaned, syched and o-rings replaced............I ride both ways depending on the situation........when im just driving around im pretty gentle, i come from the harley camp and if you beat a AMF shes gonna crap out on ya quick..........but when im trying to go fast from the line just doesnt seem like there is much power, and even on large hills i feel like i have to down shift and i takes forever to reach 95 mph

[O.C.D.]

I too had to realize that this is a slow bike.  I wanted it to be some fast bike when I got it but realized after a day or two that I should have bought a bigger one.  But it is fun as hell and very flickable.  Going to work has been very fun lately as I am "playing" more with the GS.  When I get on her though she has some stuff to give.  Just yesterday there was a guy turning in front of me.  When he turned he was playing Pac Man with the lanes.  I got sick of it and downshifted into first and floored it by him.  I was pretty satisfied with the move as it was a quick one.

But, I too would like a little more as well.  At least your's isn't a '92, lol. 

[Bluesmudge]

Yeah its a slow bike, but its faster on the road than the DRZ400 I started on (at least past 30mph), and "much" faster than the Ninja 250.
For me, its fast enough that when I decide I want to have a little fun, I can have a little fun. If I really push it I can pretty much keep up with my dad's Vstrom1000 when he is passing cars. Thats no supersport but it has a lot more horespower than the GS. The difference is that we have to downshift and really put the effort in on the GS to get the same response, but then you feel like you have accomplished something when the little bike accelerates forward.
It sounds like the OP either has high expectations for the bike, isn't riding it correctly for maximum power, or does have some sort of problem that needs to be fixed.

[O.C.D.]

It sounds like the OP either has high expectations for the bike, isn't riding it correctly for maximum power, or does have some sort of problem that needs to be fixed.

I agree.  Even though it is not a fast bike it still can get up and go.  But for such a new bike?

[bill14224]

Stock '07 can't top 95?  It should do better than that.  What noise?  A bone stock GS is as quiet as a new lawnmower.  You weigh 300 lbs.?  Cleaned your air filter yet?  It's kind of early for a bad battery, but check the water and clean the terminals.  When a battery gets weak enough it will rob ignition at high rpm which would explain this.  My first bike did that, I was 15, and it took me all summer to figure out why it would only do 55 when it should do 70.  Probably was a good thing, helped keep me in one piece while I learned to ride!

And yeah, with smaller engines like this you have to rev it up if you want acceleration.  It's not a literbike so you can't just roll on the throttle.

By the way, why are you dismantling carbs on a 2-year-old bike?  Did you leave untreated gas in it?  Otherwise it's probably a waste of time.

[tt_four]

I too had to realize that this is a slow bike.  I wanted it to be some fast bike when I got it but realized after a day or two that I should have bought a bigger one.  But it is fun as hell and very flickable. 

You should've seen the dissapointed look on my face after I first picked up my 250. I was still happy to have it, but I pulled out of the parking lot, made a right turn, gave it some gas, shifted up a couple gears, and realized I was already over the max 35mph in 6th gear that I was allowed to do for the first 500 miles of the break in period. That was a slow break in period. Now pulling out of the parking lot on my triumph for the first time was a WHOLE different story.

[dlighthill]

Later that day, when another guy pulled up in his new Mustang GT500 and started revving the engine I just casually pulled away and shifted to second at 4k RPM..

yeah.....back when i was younger, & stupider, with my '94 fzr600 (set for the race track) i had a guy in a porsche pull up to me wanting to take me on. i ignored him for a while. then after too much persisting, on his part, i went down 3 gears, got up to 140mph, and let off the throttle....he finally caught up to me  

i much enjoy the power of my gs now in my "mature" years.

[bill14224]

I too had to realize that this is a slow bike.  I wanted it to be some fast bike when I got it but realized after a day or two that I should have bought a bigger one.  But it is fun as hell and very flickable. 

You should've seen the dissapointed look on my face after I first picked up my 250. I was still happy to have it, but I pulled out of the parking lot, made a right turn, gave it some gas, shifted up a couple gears, and realized I was already over the max 35mph in 6th gear that I was allowed to do for the first 500 miles of the break in period. That was a slow break in period. Now pulling out of the parking lot on my triumph for the first time was a WHOLE different story.

I don't believe that break-in period is for real.  I think they do it in an attempt to keep new riders alive.  The 250 Ninja has a high redline, so I don't see how running it during break-in at, say, 5000 rpm or so is going to hurt anything.  What makes me suspicious is the 35mph stipulation.  Break-in is all about keeping the engine under a certain rpm so the rings can seat properly.  Road speed isn't relevant.  A new rider could rev it up in first gear and do a poor job of break-in without breaking the rule.

[newbie]

The orings went bad in the carbs and the bikes idle was high cause of it and the carbs were soaked clean synched orings replaced.............not trying to be rude i do know how to drive when its all revved up there is a difference in the power between 7-9K but still is not fast to me at all and feels under powered.............way slow when me and my ol lday are on the bike (me 209 and her 105)........but since the 2 shops have taken a look at her im just going to assume these bikes are slower.......not that i dont like it, the gas usage is great and it is super reliable compared to my other 2 bikes, and i got a great deal on it.........just wish it had some power to match its looks!!!

[Bridger]

 Proper break in with any engine is fairly critical.  The most important thing is that you vary engine RPM's a lot to make sure all of the components break in properly.....and stay away from the redline for a bit.    Newbie, I kinda think you have SOME kind of a minor problem.  While these GS's aren't amazing by any means, your 07 should feel decently quick when ur riding solo.  No rocket by any means, but it should satisfy your needs.  I'd say look the bike over carefully and make sure everything is up to snuff.  My stock '09 will pull the front tire off the ground a couple of inches if I'm WFO on the second gear shift.  I only weigh 150 tho.....

[newbie]

What could be wrong....theres no leaks in the carb boots??? New plugs...fresh correct amount of oil.......i dont understand?

[tt_four]

I don't believe that break-in period is for real.  I think they do it in an attempt to keep new riders alive.  The 250 Ninja has a high redline, so I don't see how running it during break-in at, say, 5000 rpm or so is going to hurt anything. 

It wasn't a MPH limit, it was a rev limit, I don't remember how high, but somewhere around $4k I'd say, it's been too long to remember, but whatever the rev limit was only let you hit 35mph, the next couple hundred miles I could go 55 so I could atleast take it on a real road. I'll look up the break in later when i've got some time to see what it actually was.

[bill14224]

Newbie, I never tried a top speed run with a passenger, and I doubt many of us have.    If I tried that I would have to learn to maintain control of the bike while being punched in the ribs!

If your bike will go 110 with you by yourself running flat-out for a mile, that's all any of us get.  Remember, 25 ft-lbs. of torque and 47 HP isn't much.  The only reason a GSF can do 110 is because of its light weight and the fairing so increased load will kill acceleration and top speed.  So will a windy day unless it's behind you, which is where the stories of stock 120-130 mph GSFs come from.  That, and long, gentle, un-noticed slopes.

Even your old CB 750 was good for 120 in stock form, (after the suspension is upgraded to stop the weaving) so the GS will seem slow by comparison.  A GS gives up 20 HP to a CB 750.

It's an air-cooled 500.  The GSF looks like a Gixxer but performs like a 450 Nighthawk.

[lonewolfpup911]

you have to use 4th and 5th to 9500 rpm had mine to 115 and I weight 295, 6th gear has no acceleration power it is for hwy cruising

[guitarking135]

The reality is that its a gs500 again its not a supersport its more a sport touring if you want more acceleration go with a 14t front sprocket you loose your upper end spend but you got more get up and go.

[bill14224]

lonewolfpup, welcome to the board.  115 = about 108-110.  Our speedos lie.  My XS 750's speedo lies even more.  Manufacturers do this on purpose to try to keep hot-rodders alive by soothing their egos.  Try using a GPS and you'll see.  The speedo will only be off a couple MPH at legal speeds, (50 is 48 for me, just like my car) but the error will increase with speed.