How does the Gstwin compare

[Victoria]

I know I'm speaking to the choir but.  By being as non-bias as possible can you compare the gstwin to other of the like, ie Ninja, buell ottoman, etc.  I want to be sure I have a chance to sit on as many as I can.  Also, handling, fuel effiency, etc.
Thanks everyone!
Vicki

[The Buddha]

Ninja 500 and Buell Blast (I presume) are both garbage.

However I have seen several bikes better in almost all aspects than a GS.

I personally like parallel twins over almost any other combination, so my list - KZ440 preferably with belt, Honda CM/CB 450, Yamaha XS and XJ twins, but IMHO the most trouble and design flaw free bike ever made is a 700 air cooled maxim. A 4 cyl cruiser.

I also like singles, and a savage 650 tops that list, as does the MZ (those are super hard to find though and parts may be an issue), and after all of this comes GS series twins, then a vulcan/ninja 500, in fact vulcan 500 is better than the ninja, its got belt drive and cheaper tars. I also like virago 535's especially for their crash worthiness.

You want a sporty beginner bike though, a GS500 has no competetion. Older the better IMHO.

Cool.
Buddha.

[mister]

Well... I think we should let Buell speak for themselves about the Blast. See the 30 second video here of how they have redesigned it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAeX_NKTvXQ and you can see the Official word from their website here http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/blast/

Honda's midrange bike similar in performance to the GS would be the CB400 - the new ones have VTEC and they are a 4 cylinder bike. Here's an 8 minute vid of some precision riding from a team in Japan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agt4XKlJZVw Of course, this bike being with VTEC, Fuel injected and water cooled is not really going to be DIY Wrenching Friendly. One of the women in my riding group has one (prior to VTEC) and she tells me she wants something a little bigger.

One older fellow we ride with currently rides a Virago 250 and he seems to keep up with us (although he does say the pegs vibrate, something I can attest to after riding one for 15 minutes and hoping off of it with an aching back - but I am 6"2'). Another woman rides a Suzuki Intruder 250. But we reckon it's on steroids or something cause it flies. Another rides an Aquila 250 and she doesn't complain. The 250 Virago guy has ridden his whole life and is down sizing. The 250 cc lady riders are just new to bikes. While the CB400 lady has a husband who rides as well - a VStrom.

Cruisers ride and corner differently. The riding position of them is not suited to my body's framework so I need something more upright. They also have their weight distributed lower so cornering feels different.

You generally won't find anything as economical as the GS nor with as large a gas tank. Nor so... Organic (basic mechanics a DIYer can work with without needing a mechanic's quals or special equipment). Nor so well priced - CB400s in my neck of the woods are offered for $6k for a ten year old one! while we can pick up four year old GSes for $4k-$5k (Aussie dollars).

Ninjas have fairings. Drop it and $$$.

For non cruiser midrange for new riders, *I* think the choice is between the GS500 and the CB400.

Cruiser wise... have a look at the Honda Shadow 400 - *I* wouldn't buy one and haven't heard many good things about the 750 Shadows, but am throwing it out there if YOU think a cruiser is something you want to look in to. Also check out the Virago range.

If you want odd ball, then the Piaggio MP3 is the go with two front wheels that lean!


But really... how many different choices do you want? What's your budget? New or 2nd hand? Do you want to be able to do some work yourself or will it all be done by a shop? Are you looking to stay in the midrange or aiming higher even as high as a liter bike? Fairings or naked? Cruiser or non-cruiser?

My advice... don't listen to Friends who say... "why don't you get X" when THEY aren't the one spending the $$$ and/or X is what they ride or want to ride. The bike MUST be YOUR uninfluenced choice to suit YOUR reasons and no-one else's.

I've had people ask why don't you get a KTM, or an R6 or and R1 or a CBR1000 or a GSXR. All of them bikes THEY own, or want to own, or know someone who owns.

So if you had pretty well figured a GS500 was the way to go and now you're having doubts even about that, I ask, "WHO has put other ideas into your head?" Yourself? Well meaning friend who isn't spending their money on the bike or wants you to buy something like what they have so they won't feel so silly for buying it?

If scooters are out and naked non-cruiser is your bag, then like I said, the GS500 and CB400 is what it comes down to. Throwing more and more bikes into the mix will just confuse you.

If YOU like it, feels good for you, feels comfortable for you, are able to handle it better, etc., etc. then THAT is the bike you get as long as it also suits your purposes, whatever those are and they are different for all of us..

Michael

[NF11624]

+1 for everything mister said.

We don't get the CB400 in the states... but it looks like a very cool bike and would probably sell like hot cakes here if the price was right.

When you take the MSF course you will know what kind of motorcycle you want (you won't want a scooter anymore ) - ask them if you can try out the other bikes at the end of class.

[The Buddha]

Only 250 virago is available in the US other than GS and ninja 500.
But I definetly will add, nothing with as large a tank or as good of a range. KZ440 is extrordinary for gas mileage, but pityful range cos of the small tank. Most of the rest are that same way. Cruiser = small tank.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Victoria]

Definite on the naked non-cruiser. Thanks for all the info----again

[gsJack]

Here's a ten bike comparo from a Cycle World magazine Buyer's Guide a few years ago that I saved that includes many of the bikes mentioned here and comes up with the right conclusion, "Sweet".    

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CWDealsOnWheels/

[gsJack]

If you want to read something totally biased in the other direction here's the infamous Motorcycle Consumer News comparo of the GS500F vs Ninja 500R.

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/NinjaGScomparo07a.pdf

[The Buddha]

Definite on the naked non-cruiser. Thanks for all the info----again

Easy, you need a UJM, KZ440 followed by XS/XJ 400 and then the hinda CM/CB400/450's. All early 80's bikes, you want electronic ignition. not points. They cheap also. 500-1000 should net you a beauty.

Muhahahah hahahahah hahahahah I am dragging one more newbie into the abyss ....

Cool.
Buddha.

[Victoria]

Thanks for firing up my impulsive nature Buddha 

[The Buddha]

Oh well ... there was a good tinge of sarcasm in my comment.

You said non "cruiser" ... so I tossed you a few UJM's.
No way you didn't mean those. Google images for KZ440 should turn up some lovelies in case you didn't know UJM ...

What ... you dont like them ... no ... they look so cool, you know like a "road bike". Sarcasm there too, but directed at people who call them "road bikes" or even better yet, "rode bike", not at you.
Yes You laugh now, but please search for road bike or rode bike on craigslist and see how many you see.

Cool.
Buddha.

[The Buddha]

Oh I forgot - you should get a DR250/350/650, very light and very nice bikes, and definetly non cruiser.
Kawi KL series and the beautiful yamaha YZ and TT-R's and of course Honda CR-F's.

But for my $$$, KTM 300X/C etc take the cake.

All non cruisers, all light and very much fun bikes. Many available quite cheap.

Mu hahahaha hahahahah hahahahah ...

Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

The ninja 500s have more power than the GS, and have clipons, even though they're still rather high. It's more of a cheap beginners sportbike rather than the GS being a naked/faired standard. They're pretty similar from a beginners standpoint though.

I didn't see it mentioned, although I only skimmed everything above..... but my second bike was a ninja 250, and even though the engine is half the size of the GS, it was a pretty capable bike, and a good choice as it's right between a scooter and 500cc bike. I still have to say between riding that and the GS, I didn't really notice a huge difference between either engine. The 250 still hit 115mph(A LOT!) without a problem and was perfectly comfortable cruising at highway speed for 30-60 minutes. It's smaller in size than the GS, and the newer years, 2008-09 were redisigned and look pretty sharp.

[Gary856]

Don't listen to the motorcycle nerds who are trying to confuse you by listing a bunch of old and obscure models that only they like.    Just listen to me and get a GS. 

[The Buddha]

Don't listen to the motorcycle nerds who are trying to confuse you by listing a bunch of old and obscure models that only they like.    Just listen to me and get a GS. 

Hey, she said non cruiser, and those are non cruisers ... muhahahahahahaah ... I dunno why I feel like doing that ...
XS400 first bike, then graduate to XS 650, then up to XS750, then on to an XS850 and then a XS1100. See, its perfectly logically laid out. can your GS500 do that ... huh ...
Its also logical in this way, 400 and 650 are parallel twins. .
Then the 750 and 850 are Parallel 3 cyl ...  .
Then the big kahuna 1100 is a in line 4.

Properly made bikes all, and all non cruiser. Can your GS do that. Yea didn't think so. You can also get advancing years. 72 400, 73 650, 74 750, 75 850 and 76 1100. Its getting bigger, getting more cyls and getting newer. Perfect.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Gary856]

I feel like doing to Buddha what my wife and daughter do to me when I go blah blah blah about motorcycles to them.  

hint: they do this      

[The Buddha]

Dont worry, its a common reaction.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Roadstergal]

Don't listen to the motorcycle nerds who are trying to confuse you by listing a bunch of old and obscure models that only they like.    Just listen to me and get a GS. 

For a first bike - ja, nekkid GS.  Easy to find, cheap to buy and insure, easy to work on, easy to find parts for, reliable as all getout, no fairings to worry about.

After you've had it for a while, you can decide what godforsaken lump that nobody has heard of that you want to have as a masochistic project.     But keep the GS in the garage for when you need to get somewhere.

[BaltimoreGS]

+1 to tt_four   The Ninja 250 is a nice little bike and the old body style can be had pretty cheap now.

The Ninja 500 is also a decent bike but you have to be careful to find one that wasn't abused.

My daily commuter is an old Nighthawk 250.  It was an MSF training bike I got dirt cheap ($600) when the state sold off a bunch.  It is an excellent beginner bike if you can find one cheap.  They are super light and handle really well.  The drum brakes are a bit lacking but I think that helps teach you to be a cautious rider.  While not very quick it does manage to hold 70 MPH on the highway with my 250 lb ass and still get over 70 MPG.

And as everyone else will tell you, you can't go wrong with the GS500.  Happy hunting!

-Jessie