GS OR ER-5 ?

[matteo34]

[spaz]

had my driving lessons on an er-5

can say i like the gs a lot more
i think the er-5 is better for easy trips around the country
and  the gs for a bit more agressive driving style

Build quality on the 03' GS500 I have is above expectation....

Only gripe is that the bolts holding on the front mud-guard have rattled loose, and the stock tyres suck!

Stay Safe  

[The Buddha]

OK The GS'es finish especially in the early years was bad and tended to rust more easy... but so is the EX. The GS feels good and solid, the EX just plain wrong... Just My opinion though.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Cal Price]

I went through the same dilema, also included Honda's CB500 which I did my direct access on. All very similar, obviously I ended up with the GS with the same worries as you. My 2003 seems fairly well finished, the poor reputation probably stems from UK "What Bike" and the comment "Ride it in the rain and it'll corrode before yor very eyes" This review has not been changed since the origional and whilst not perfect the finish is a lot better now. The bike press in UK has probably been influenced by that review ever since. The guys that write this stuff are all tearing round on Fireblades and big sports bikes and have a different agenda that does not have much time for "middleweight" bikes. Making a comparison with the quacker, a neighbor has one and told be it took him four hours to chage his plugs due to the position of the cooling rad, being air cooled the GS is very simple to work on and I have not heard of any problems with overheating, not in UK anyway. Incidently before the GS I had a Honda CG 125, they panned the finish on that as well but I kept it outdoors and rode in all weathers for two years and when I exchanged it there was not a mark on it which is pretty good for a salty coastal environment, sometimes I wonder who writes the reviews.

[Cal Price]

Keyser is right about the fron mudgaurd bolts, I lost a couple before my 600mile service. The dealer simply replaced, used loc-tite and no problems since.

[JohNLA]

I lost one fender(mud gaurd)bolt and one bolt from my rear caliper
I drive my GS 8 hours a day 5 days a week and it has yet to overheat. It does take forever to cool down at night. Which can suck, if you want to wash or wrench on it.

[Cal Price]

That's about covered it, best of luck with the test and the bike.

[chimivee]

Ditto on the fender bolts - lost 2.

[Dana]

Our 2001 GS didn't come with the front fender extender (hard mud flap). So I purchased one and glued it on with contact cement ( I didn't want to drill any holes in the fender). So far so good.

I think the GS has been a good bike but we are relatively new to the GS world (purchased mid summer). We looked at the Kawasaki but the styling was a little dated for our taste.

Dana out.

[JohNLA]

Oh, I was talking about the bolt in the fork brace.

[conradvr]

Ask and you shall receive

GS500 vs Er5
http://www.survivalskills.clara.net/er5_vs_gs500.htm

Bikes for newbies
http://www.survivalskills.clara.net/bikes_for_newbies.htm

Welcome to the world of bikes
Conrad

[ltsiopou]

Hi,

I am Greek and I am living in Finland. I own a GS '99 model for the past 1 and a half year. I have done about 20000 km since I bought it including an 8000 km trip to Greece and back with my girlfriend on May (no problem). I have traveled a lot as well in Finland and 50% of the time there was some storm... After I wash it (not so oftenly) the GS is like new! I just wax it after every washing and lube occasionally the cables. And my opinion about the British magazines (like Perf. Bikes and BiKE) is that they are very focused on fast sportbikes. Also, if the GS was produced by Honda, they 'd love it...

Just buy the bike, maintain it correctly and it will keep you happy.

P.S. Even the sportier version of the ER, the GPZ500S in Europe, or Ninja500 in US, it lacks on handling from the GS (in stock form). So think what the GS is capable of with some stiffer front springs and a better rear shock...

[matteo34]

thank you gentlemen for your comments and advice.

Youll be happy to hear that I will definatly be buying the gs when I pass my test.

Many thanks.