Compare your GS to other bikes for people considering something new

[tt_four]

I've had this idea for a while, but wasn't sure if I really remembered enough about my last bike to contribute. A lot of people have been moving up to new bikes in the past couple weeks, and I've been on the lookout for a new one for a while now too. People are always curious what a good next step is since the GS is considered to be a beginners/learning bike. I think it would be cool if we could get a thread going so everyone who's ever owned another bike could give their best description comparing it to the GS. Every time someone gets a new bike we always ask for their opinion, but it'd be nice to get them all in one place so when someone is looking for a new bike they could read through and get some opinions.

Too keep it useful, start with as many specific details as you can, and once you get that out of the way you can throw your subjective opinion in so we stay on topic.

I'll start. I've owned 3 other bikes, a 1983 yamaha xt550, and a 2001 ninja 250, neither of which are really a step up from the GS, so I'm not gonna bother with those. My last bike was a Triumph Speed Four, so I'll see what I can come up with.

2003 Triumph Speed Four:

specs:

599cc inline 4
Dry weight of 374lbs (compared to the GSs 372-381lbs depending on the year)
98hp and 50 ft/lb f torque (compared to the GSs 45hp and 28 ft/lbs)
Seat height of 31.9inches compared to the GSs 31.1inches

official business:

Weight is pretty much the same, but the first thing I noticed when I got on the GS after riding the Triumph for a couple months was that it felt top heavy. The Triumph definitely felt a little bit more balanced, which makes it easier to move around when you're not actually riding it. Once you get moving the GS feels fine though, but for someone who's worried that a 600 is gonna be a bit larger, and harder to handle, I don't think I would consider it an issue. The triumphs seat is a bit harder and higher, so I couldn't get my feet flat on the ground like I can with the GS, so that is a negative if you're short, but I think the lower center of gravity makes up for it.

The triumph came with clipons(although the newer street triple has riser bars). The clipons are on top of the top triple, and when I had it I always wished they were lower, although I think having clipons under the top triple of the GS feels too low, so I think if I still had it, I would consider them pretty comfortable now. One thing noticeable was the lack of vibrations compared to the GS. The engine runs way smoother, and at lower rpms at any given speed, so it's much more comfortable when you're just riding around. The Triumph definitely had a bit more bulk, as far as a bigger tail and tank, but at 5'7 and 145lbs, I consider the GS to be a little small, so you get used to it. It just feels big until you get used to it(as with any 600cc+ bike). As far as the handling differences with the bars, the front end was very stable. Having stock bars on the GS puts a lot less weight on the front wheel and makes it a lot less stable, although much easier to steer with your arms. The triumph used a lot more body weight to steer. I should mention I do have clipons on the GS now, and the front end also feels very stable now, although the switch to clipons on the GS takes hand grip vibrations through the roof.

There's obviously a big difference in both power and suspension, but the thing I missed the most when I started riding the GS was the suspension. The suspension on the Triumph just felt completely solid. When you were on the road, accelerating, or stoping, it just felt good. It was fully adjustable with preload, rebound and compression on both front and back. When I touch the front brake on the GS I can feel the front end dive, and in general it just doesn't make me feel that comfortable. Everything felt easier on the S4 because you could really feel everything perfectly through the bike, whereas you have to wait and see what the GS is gonna do once the suspension catches up. The difference would be like if you tried to lift something heavy and first you tried to do it with a stretchy bungie cord. You could lift it, but there's not a lot of feet. On the other hand if you had a steel bar welded to it, and you grabbed it and lifted, it just feels more productive.

Now the difference in power... I can't remember the exact difference, because I bought the Triumph 7 years ago, and back then I was younger and faster, and had no problem riding everywhere I was going at 10k rpm, as opposed to the fact that I usually ride the GS at 2500-4500 rpm and just take my time. The GS definitely picks up as soon as you hit 3k rpm and pulls ok. If I pull out onto a main road I can rev the GS up to 7k rpm and get up to the speed of traffic pretty good, but otherwise I usually take turns and with the GS just had more pull to get me out of a turn without having to rev the hell out of it. The Triumph on the other hand, you can definitely be at too low of rpms when you come out of a turn, but it's not the same as when the GS just does nothing but sputter. It still pulls, just not like you want it to. If you're in the right rpms, on the other hand, you can get from 0-80mph before you even know what happened. It doesn't have as much power as a cbr or gsxr, but it will keep up with them perfectly fine until you hit 120-130, when they'll start to slowly pull away. As far as what it was capable of... In 1st gear I could smoothly rev up to about 8k rpm, and if I'd give the throttle a good twist and pull back on the bars, I could get the front wheel to come all the way up. It would come up even faster if I'd rev up to about 6k, let off the throttle to compress the forks and then twist the throttle open again and it would pop right up. In 2nd gear I would stand up around 65mph(2nd topped out around 90), give a slight bounce on the pegs and twist the throttle and it would come right up again. I feel like if I wanted to slip the clutch when I was sitting down in 2nd it probably would have come up fine, but I didn't like to abuse the clutch. With a bit of practice I could also stand it up in 3rd gear. I would get going 90mph(3rd tops out at 115), give it a really good bounce and throw my weight back, and I could get it all the way up to balance as well, but it only took one speed wobble to make me not really want to set the front wheel down at 115mph anymore. If I try that on the GS I have to dump the clutch as hard as I can in 1st and still don't really do that great if I'm sitting down. You can stand up and bounce it, but that's a little excessive when you're only going 15mph. Another fun part of the Triumph was playing with it's power in the rain. When I'd leave a red light I could rev up to about 6k, let off the gas, lean forward and snap it back open and the back tire would just break loose and start spinning until you hit the redline, which was kinda fun, and something the GS definitely doesn't really have the power to do.

Also, in relation to power... It was an inline 4, which are all meant for top end, but supposedly the speed four engine was tuned for more midrange over the tt600. I thought it worked pretty well how it was, but I haven't really ridden any other 600cc inline fours to compare. I do remember the first time I rode it and twisted the throttle. I swore I was going to fall right off the back. The GS will move pretty good, but nothing that makes you think the bike wants to rip right out from under you. You get used to it though.

As far as any issues, I had 2 ongoing problems with the bike. First was the chain eating through the rubber swingarm guide. This was only a problem on the 1st year, as they switched the 2nd year from 14/39 to 15/42. Same gear ratio but it lifted the chain up slightly. I had about 3 of these guides replaced under warranty before the 2004 model came out and they finally had to admit it was a design problem, and I got a free new chain/cogset out of it. Had I known more about bikes, I feel like the problem could've been resolved if I had lowered the preload on the rear shock, which would have lowered the rear and dropped the swingarm pivot down. I was 21 and wanted a high tail and stiff suspension though, so I never really thought much about it. It probably wouldn't be a problem if I still had the bike now because I'd be fine with the rear being softer. The other problem is that no one at the dealership ever even mentioned that the suspension should be set up different, nor did they even think to set it up with me when I bought the bike, which is something I think a dealership should do when you buy a new bike, but who am I to say.

The second known problem, was that if the bike fell over on it's right side the gasket on the breather cover would leak, and it would let oil leak up into the air box. Obviously this is only a problem if you drop your bike, which I did, more than once. Currently I'd just replace it and be done with it, but back then I had a warranty, so I made them do it, and it was always a giant hassle because the service sucked.

Gas mileage, which I know people here go crazy for, I believe was around 40mpg. It varied sometimes slightly, but I always rode that thing around 9-13k rpm, so it's hard to say what your mpg would be if you kept it in the lower rpms sometimes. I think it would go anywhere from 35-43mph.


my opinion:

Overall, I loved the bike. I wouldn't have minded a little more power out of it, but it worked great for what I did. I rode it non stop, I put about 22k miles on it in the first 2 years I had it, and I rode it whether it was sunny, cold, or raining, and it worked fine for all of it. I thought it looked so much better than most of the other bikes that were out there, although the styling did look a little dated next to some other bikes like the 2003 cbr600rr or zx636r, but i still like curved bodywork more than sharp angular fairings. I got a little irritated at the stupid problems it had, but like I said I probably could've fixed most of them had I tried to myself, but I had a warranty  and hell if I wasn't going to use it, over, and over. Service was the worst. No one there had a clue what they were doing, I had to take the bike back for the same problems multiple times because they just wouldn't fix them. I always got attitude for being a younger kid with no money, as opposed to the usual guys they were used to seeing when they only sold BMWs. It's the same look you'd get if you rode the GS up to a group of harley riders and tried to chat about motorcycle stuff. By the end of it I swore I'd never own a motorcycle again that wasn't japanese, but after the past 3 years, I think I'd definitely enjoy having one again, and since I'm hoping to pick up a Buell this summer, that sentiment obviously didn't stick with me as I still think Japanese bikes are a little bland. This time around I'd just take better care of it, I'd make sure I had the suspension set up perfect, not drop it on the right side, and go back to enjoying having a bike that you never see anywhere else and really enjoy riding how it was meant to be ridden, instead of taking a racing bike and trying to ride it on the street.

I had a few scares on it, but it's definitely a reasonable step up from the GS considering I bought that one right after my ninja 250. There are plenty of naked bikes that have detuned old sportbike motors in them, with a cheap suspension and other cheap parts, but the speed four is pretty much the only 600 at that time that I would have considered to literally be a supersport with no fairing on it and cheaper insurance. It will keep up with other 600s, and would eat an sv600 or any other of the naked 600s with no problem.



Anyway, hope that's a good start. I know there's some R6s, a ducati, an sv650, a versys, a speed triple, and some other bikes we can get a good start with. Hopefully I'll have another bike soon to write another review so we can get this thing going. I think it'll be a great resource after a year or so as long as it catches on.

[redhawkdancing]

Great review! I picked up some oil change stuff at the Zook shop today, and sat on a 600RR.  Sales guy actually encouraged me to get some more miles on the GS before I even think about it! 

[adidasguy]

Stopped into my zook dealer today. My bike was missing 2 of the plastic caps for the 4 bolts that hold down the handle bars. Just cosmetic, but they ordered them (no charge). We talked about the GS500F, rejetting, new exhaust and other things. I love my dealer - always time to talk to me and NEVER any attempt to sell me anything. He said the GS, with its 20+ year history, is such a rock solid design and a reliable bike that I'll get many years of riding from it. Also said that because of that, I'll never have to worry about parts availability.

We talked about rejetting to improve performance when cold. His answer? First, if I rejet, I'd need to replace the muffler and change the air box and retune it so everything works together. It can be done and will get a little improvement in performance with slight loss of MPG. Then he added, if a little choke when cold doesn't bother me, then why go to all that expense? Leave everything stock. That's a good dealer - explained everything and didn't try to sell me anything. In fact, a couple guys in the service department said the bike is so good as it is, why change it?

I think that says a lot about the GS500.

I park it in front of my office. I see lots of other bikers slow down or stop to get a look at her. Even choppers stop to look at her. Everyone says the GS500 is one beautiful bike. I used the drive up at the bank today. The teller knows I ride. Today he say the bike for the first time and said he now knows why I love to ride it. "I see why you used the drive up instead of coming inside." Asked if it was a 500 and commented "Sweet!"

My dealer sells Suzuki, Honda, Harley, Yamaha and Kawasaki. Today I told him I didn't see any other bike I would rather have (aka I have no intention of buying anything else because I love my GS) and he said he didn't blame me because the GS500 is one really good bike. When your dealer sell 5 brands and says the GS500 is great - what better testimonial do you need?

So why buy anything else? The GS500 is rock solid, has a long history, is reliable, easy and fun to ride, comfortable, looks great, is not too much bike that it controls you, yet enough bike for the freeway, gets 50mpg in the city and fits my butt perfectly (Oh, and did anyone say it is not an expensive bike?).

[Homer]

~52...54 mpg
$14/month insurance
Fuel injection, adjustable suspension, twin disks, digital gauge w/ white face tach, etc
Around 70 horsepower, enough torque
Out the door for $4798.00.  '09 with 0.2 miles.  Had change left over for a double cheeseburger. 


Met an old guy on a Ducati HyperMotard 1100 last night.  Came down from Delaware -700 miles, he'd already put in 15,000 in two years.  The clutch was already going. 
He liked the Versys better.  That pretty much sums it up. 
Side-by-side pics are on my phone, when I figure out how to transfer it. 

[drduimstra]

Has anyone heard of the Aprilia Shiver 750? What are your thoughts about it?

[saxman]

Has anyone heard of the Aprilia Shiver 750? What are your thoughts about it?

Cool bikes. Very comfy. I'd love one.

[plewis51]

Has anyone heard of the Aprilia Shiver 750? What are your thoughts about it?

Nice looking bike!

[saxman]

Has anyone heard of the Aprilia Shiver 750? What are your thoughts about it?

Nice looking bike!

much much sexier without that headlight fairing

[hambonee]

Just bought a 2009 Ninja 650R for 5.5K out the door. I was tempted by the versys but I am more of a sport bike rider and love having the extra wind protection the 650R provides.

In comparison...

Right off the bat the 650 barely weighs more than the GS..

I also took it on the highway and I can say the 650 handles the wind much better than the GS, cuts right through it. The gauge cluster is a bit goofy(all digital with an odd tach.)
just not going to TRY it!!! 

Only thing is it is a smallish bike again so at 6'3" I think I about tap the leg room out on the both the GS and the 650R. However, the 650 handles very well and is a heck of a ride on twisties!

Overall, the biggest two selling points on the 650R are fuel injection and no valve adjustments!
The initial service from dealer on the GS was 400 bucks. The Ninja will be under 100.

picture below:

[Homer]

Check your manual again.  
Valve adjustment at 15,000.  Shim under bucket.  

The 09's are pretty.  
The service manual says to drop the front about an inch.  Unless they corrected it for 09, they're set wrong from the factory.  
And, if you want cartridge emulators- call Ricor.  Theirs are $300... but... if you tell them you'll rate them online... they'll only charge you $150.  Just saying.  
(You don't have to drill the damping rod, either.  They just drop in.)

Edit:
By the way, I've got a luggage rack for one of those, if you want it.  And a brand new sport cover, still in the box.   

[JEREMY JOCK]

I've only been on the bike a few days, but I'm in love with my new (to me) S3.

The powerband is huge. Low-end for days, and a good bit of top-end, to boot. I haven't gotten to do too much back road riding, but this thing feels solid as a rock. I've leaned it over pretty far, just as far as the GS if not more, and not once did I feel any lack of confidence in the bike.

On the highway, or just straight roads in general, this thing rides like a f%$king hot knife through butter, compared to my GS. The GS was a little more comfortable when I had the stock bars on, but I wasn't into the seating position with them. I swapped them out for clip-ons. I got the position I wanted, but the vibrations increased SO much.

The Triple is a few pounds heavier than the GS. It looks lower, at least to me, but the seat is actually a couple inches higher. I can't get both my feet flat on the ground like I could with the GS. I don't care though. Plus I'm only 5'10"ish, so some won't have that problem. The only time I'd need to have both feet down is if I was moving the bike, so I'm willing to just hop off and push from the side. Whatever. No loss.

I'll get a better review up, and delete this one when I do. I just want another couple weeks before I can give full detail on every little bit.

Oh yes.

[johnn]

Here's a 2009 ER-6n (a naked ninja?) that I purchased on Friday.



I've only got 140 miles on the ER and just over 600 on the GS, so t's too early to do a decent comparison. Meanwhile my GS sits in the shop for a second week awaiting its initial servicing.

[Homer]

That's pretty country.  Is that your house? 

Interesting that all 3 versions of the Kawi P-twin have shown up. 
But mine can go anywhere in that picture, not just the road.      

[steitsma]

Anyone know why the Versys has upside down forks when its counterparts have convnetional, you would think they would all have the same??

[johnn]

Homer -

I live down in the woods, a mile from the nearest paved road and a few miles from the farm in that picture.

One comparison I can make between the ER and the GS is that the ER is easiier to handle on dirt and gravel roads. I have a steep and trecherous driveway and appreciate the big tires and low reving engine. The ER should easily win a low speed "race" against he GS. I can only imagine what a Versys can do in the boonies. I sat on one at the dealership. The seat height was a little tall for me, but I'm still green with envy.

[hambonee]

Check your manual again.  
Valve adjustment at 15,000.  Shim under bucket.  

The 09's are pretty.  
The service manual says to drop the front about an inch.  Unless they corrected it for 09, they're set wrong from the factory.  
And, if you want cartridge emulators- call Ricor.  Theirs are $300... but... if you tell them you'll rate them online... they'll only charge you $150.  Just saying.  
(You don't have to drill the damping rod, either.  They just drop in.)

Edit:
By the way, I've got a luggage rack for one of those, if you want it.  And a brand new sport cover, still in the box.   

OH!?!?

What rack and how much?

[Eklipse]

I used to want an R1 or a buell firebolt, but now I think my next bike is going to be a Yamaha V-Star. I'm not really into sportbikes anymore, and I'm glad I never owned one. It was bad enough maxing out the GS, if I would have had a bigger bike, I would have rode even faster and harder, not to mention trying to do wheelies and what-not.

[mister]

Homer: Why a Versys instead of a VStrom?

Eklipse: I rode a 650 VStar the other day. Heap of shirt. Couldn't wait to get back on my GS. VStar vibrated heavily in ALL gears and had a noticeble lack of power. You think the GS is gutless - compared to a SV650 or whatever - well the 650 VStar was worse than the GS. I couldn't get the thing past 81mph. And even That speed took a while to get up to. And while trying to slow turn the handlebars were bumping into my knees! The bike only had 200 clicks on it.

Michael

[rger8]

Aprilia Shiver    I would love one of those, just to kool! Anybody know what they go for? $$$$

Otherwise, I love my 06 GS 500 for my first semi-sport type bike but I really miss my beast! My KLR 650. It did everything really good but nothing really great! 

[drduimstra]

Aprilia Shiver    I would love one of those, just to kool! Anybody know what they go for? $$$$

They cost about $9000 new so its a pretty good price for an Italian bike  :