Compare your GS to other bikes for people considering something new

[tykho]

My next bike (2+ Years):

After that?

[saxman]

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  :

dealer near me has a brand new one for $8k otd. Not a bad price at all

[aaronjosephward]

My second bike is a Monster 800.
It rides pretty good and is a nice solid bike. With an exhaust, it sounds freakin' awesome. Much like the GS, it also does not have any adjustable parts, so modding with ingenuity is required.
I recommend the 800 or S2R as a step up from a GS500. More power, but not too much power, and it has the same torquey twin feeling.

As it sits now (bar end mirrors later installed)

[Homer]

Versys versus the Wee?  (lol, I love saying that)
Well, I've wanted one since they came out in 2006.  It fits my personality.  I got it new for a pretty great price.  It's got better brakes, better suspension, it feels better on the road.  And, I like how it looks.  
It's just gut feeling, really.  They're so close (along with the BMW), really just pick one and you can't go wrong.  

The only real problem - I like to jump curbs and climb up and down stairs.  The ground clearance isn't quite high enough.  

As far as USD forks, they're cartridges and adjustable.  The 650R and ER-6 have damping rods without adjustment at all.  
The 650 suspension is utter garbage, to me.  
If you push it, like a sport bike should be - it really shows.  Too mushy on the soft stuff, rock hard on the square-edged road faults.  Emulators and springs are mandatory, but then the rear sucks.  The rear spring doesn't have linkage (1100 lb rate) and is only modified with a $700~$800 aftermarket.  Versys has an adjustable rear.  
I just didn't like it.  The wind blew me all around on it.  At 80 mph in a sweeper, you'd nearly drift across your lane if there were any bumps at all.  I had to stand it up straight to hit an overpass - scared of any bump whatsoever.  Blech!

I had the front suspension modified in the first 3 days I had it.  Ricor emulators.  Sold them to the kid that bought the bike.  
All he cared about was the Scorpion exhaust.  
The Versys?  I dialed the rear down two clicks - haven't touched it in 700 miles!    
Besides, I can beat the pants off that Ducati up there on a whim.   

[bassmechanicsz]

I am thinking of upgrading to either a nija 650R, ER-6n, Versys or something similar in size to these bikes.  On the GS when going 65+ mph on open highways i significantly notice the wind and almost feel like it is throwing me around on the highway.  I was wondering how much of a difference these bikes would make as far as i guess stability in the wind at higher speeds.  I rarely go on 65+ mph roads now because it just isn't fun to get tossed around like a rag doll from side to side of the lane from wind.  The bike always feels stable and doesn't feel like I am going to crash but i am looking for something that will get tossed around less or are all bikes the same in this aspect?

Thanks

[Homer]

Well, since I've had both...
(This is my opinion.  Nothing more.)
I have very low body mass.  Wind is a problem. 

Crosswinds on the Ninja were a b!tch.  One word: Fairings.
In one week, I'd been swept across my lane more times to count.  Few times a day, once almost into a semi truck. 

On the V, only once.  During a severe thunderstorm. 
4 or 5 trees were blown down in that same storm, it was pretty bad.  Just last week, actually.  You can check the reports (central to southern NC). 
If the traffic is heavy (dirty, turbulent air), my helmet gets knocked around.  Not as bad as either the GS or the Ninja, though. 
I'm not upgrading to a bigger windscreen.  I just slow down and get out of traffic. 

The center of gravity (believe it or not) is only an inch or so above the Ninja's.  It's just the tank, seat, and bars are taller.  With that height, though, you get comfort, a 5 gallon tank (Ninja's is 4), and less knee strain. 
You lose cool factor with the GSXR crowd.
Two dozen people have asked me if it's a BMW or Ducati.  They refuse to believe it's just a Kawi. 

[hambonee]

I have not had a Versys so can only comment on the 650r..

I started with a ninja 250 then went to a GS500f

Both were GREAT communter bikes in town. However, even in still air, they scared me at anything past 60mph. Heck, even on I-90 going 50ish I would be blown around like a leaf.

On the 650r it was a totally new experience. It cuts through the wind like a knife.

I was actually afraid a bit to ride it home after buying it after the other two bike. Once I got on 405 though(the local construction mad interstate) I was in heaven. It cut a straight line and kept it and seemed to ignore gusts and anything else. I did ride it home one night in a pretty hairy scarey rain storm and had to keep it to about 50 but I never felt like I was blown around. I was just on new tires and was not willing to play with rain and new tires. Stupid me for even doing it!

Now, that being said I am 6'4" tall and about 195. SooOOo..that could make a difference! It also DOES have significant helmet buffeting. I am installing a PUIG windscreen tommorow so will tell you how that makes it feel after.

One thing I have noticed and maybe some bike vets can tell me if it's bunk or not.

The 650r has a cut out in the fairing that supposedly creates a wind bubble to help keep in more stable. You can see it in pics ...



Is that advertising huba joo or something that really works?

oh, in the bikes defense it looks nothing like a gsxr lol..my opinion at least but I hate the looks of the gsxr and want nothing to do with them...my opinion purely!

[Homer]

I had the Puig screen.  It doesn't help.
The top of it just flaps around, because there's only 4 screws that hold the entire thing down.  
The wind still hits you about mid-chest, with stock bars.  

Edit:
You're 8 inches taller and 60 lbs heavier than Bass and I. 
The Ninja's set for a 175 lb rider that wants a cushy ride.  No pre-load adjustment anywhere, only compression on the rear spring.  Your weight settles it down even further.
The V has pre-load and compression adjustment on both ends.  No rebound, but I've found it to be near ideal. 

[hambonee]

sigh...



Oh, and do you have that luggage rack pic??!

[Homer]

Not trying to argue, Hammy.  
Just warning you, before you spend the money.  That thing's like $130!
When I say "flops around", I mean an inch of vertical play.  Seriously, it's bad.  
I was gonna try 3M two-sided molding tape under the screws, the $8 stuff.  But, sold it before I got around to it.  

It does LOOK better, though.  The tinted ones are nicer than the stock plexi.  

Edit:
Yeah, I took the pictures of the rack.  Then, promptly lost the SD card.   
I was wiring up a relay for deer-spotting lights all yesterday. 
Where are you, anyway? 

[hambonee]

DUDE!..no..thanks for the input!

The sigh was for it not working...I was hopeful!! THat is the ONLY thing I have to grump about on the new bike..lol..guess I gotta have something huh?..lol

I can return it to motorcycle superstores though if it flexes around too much. Their return policy is top notch.

[bassmechanicsz]

Thanks for the inputs.  I guess my next step is to go and actually sit on the bikes and see what feels comfortable.  I am leaning more towards the Versys or ER-6n over the ninja just simply based on looks.  I have the 500F now and liked the look of the fairings but the more i look at other bikes i think i am starting to like the naked look better.

[hambonee]

Edit:
Yeah, I took the pictures of the rack.  Then, promptly lost the SD card.   
I was wiring up a relay for deer-spotting lights all yesterday. 
Where are you, anyway? 

East of Seattle,WA...

Bellevue actually for people familiar with the area:)

[Homer]

I can return it to motorcycle superstores

Bingo.  
Plus, your geometry is different. 
Didja get the tinted one?  C'est magnifique!
You see that little lip, the inch or so right after the main bubble?  That's what flops.  You could possibly trim it and sand it nice.  It looks like it would deflect air, it's what I thought too.  It's just too little, though.  
It would be perfect...

Yeah, Bass.  Definitely sit on them first.  
The height of the V is gonna be the only thing that really scares you.  It does settle about an inch after a few hundred miles in the saddle.  It's *supposedly* tuned for more bottom-end opposed to top-speed, but I never noticed a difference.
You're not gonna go wrong with either one.  
We're both perfectly content.  (And I'm glad we can get along, Ham!)
Go with your gut feeling, I say.  Forget us, seriously.  We're just talking heads in internet-land.  Ride your OWN bike.  

[hambonee]

Yup!

Dark smoke. Will be interesting to see what it ooks like mounted up. Sun is actually finally poking out..might get some riding in after work even!

Oh, and just want to throw some kudos out to Kawasaki on the 3 bikes(Versys,650r,650n). Really, they put together 3 very different bikes off the same basic frame etc..Awesome work!

When I bought the 650r I was just going NUTZ in the dealership between the 3...lol. But yeah..be true to thy self!

[Gary856]

GS500 – first bike, the perfect beginner's bike. Love the character of the engine (airy and zingy) when not in a hurry, but the power is barely adequate for commuting. Once maxed out at 75mph against a strong head wind. Tips in quickly in corners, but the suspension feels a little dead (not lively), and the brakes feel weak. After 7k miles, I still enjoy riding it, but feel it's time to move on.

YZF600R – second bike, had a hard time turning it in the beginning, but now my favorite all-around bike after I got used to the sportbike ergos. All the controls feel much slicker than the GS. Love the inline-4 sound and top-end rush. Enough low end torque to pull well even below 3k rpm. Awesome suspension – you can feel the bumps get soaked up and damped out in a well controlled manner, very reassuring when hitting bumpy pavement. Super stable at high speed, yet lively and tips in easily. Due to the lower clip-ons, not as easy to ride at very slow speed tight corners as the other 3 bikes w/ handlebars.

SV650 – third bike, feels a lot like the GS, except bigger, more modern, with a beefier/stronger engine. Like the easy torque just off idle, and quick handling. The engine revs surprisingly quickly, but has strong engine braking when off the throttle, so not much free wheeling compared to an inline-4. Stock suspension is awful if you care about suspension – bouncy and crude. Fuel injection is great. The SV is a very competent bike, but somehow it doesn't grab me emotionally.

DRZ400sm – fourth bike, looks pretty trick with the beefy up-side-down forks, wired wheels and semi-knobbies. The dirt bike ergo takes some getting used to every time I get on it. Feels super light, rails corners like a dream, hugely entertaining the hills and on rough/dirty pavement. Terrible headlight (weak, with dark spots just off center in the light pattern) for night rides. Not fun outside the hills, on normal streets, because not enough power. I feel seriously outgunned whenever a squid pulls up on a sportbike on city streets. This is a very niche bike for fun in the hills and on dirt. 

[lilwoody]

I have grown completely satisfied with my GS. The poking around on the net IO found this....

At one time I thought I really wanted a BMW F800 ST. That is until I started poking around on their site and found the problems that were popping up with the bikes. Motor probs, rear bearing probs, electrical probs, just too many problems for a bike that's going to cost 13 grand.
This new Honda NT700V looks like it just might pull me away from the GS if a Vette doesn't first. It's a proven design that has been cruising Europe for 10 years getting 50 mpg. One of the interesting options is the saddle bags have a pass through from one side to the other. It's a tad on the heavy side @ 560 and the reviews say a 6th gear would help but a tooth up on the sprocket fixes that. It's suggested retail is 10k but there's one on the flea right now for 8185 OTD in Arkansas.
I had looked at the Versus but it's just too tall for my taste. If they made one with a 30 to 31 inch seat height I would seriously consider it too, if I were seriously considering another bike. The Vette is still calling and with a Vette I can keep the GS. Then I'd have a bike and a Vette and my kids would have to worry about me for a change.

[adidasguy]

I took "Suzie" on a ferry ride last week end. Guys with the liter bikes and even one with an Intrepid 1500 really were interested in my GS500F. They asked lots of questions and were impressed with its style, power and acceleration. Shows you can really impress the big guys with a GS500. I sensed envy when they said how sluggish their big bikes were at accelerating on the highway. GS500 is right in the optimum power range at 6k rpm at 65mph. A little twist of the throttle and ZING! 80 mph!

Bought a new phone today. The Sprint person said he used to have a GS500 and now has a GSXR600. He wished he kept the GS500 because its ride is more comfortable (more upright, not rocket style) and his girlfriend likes the long single seat rather than a separate seat for the passenger so she can hold onto him.

Got nice comments at a stop light from a Ninja rider when he saw my GS500F.

[drduimstra]

What are people's thoughts about a Yamaha R6?

[gregvhen]

What are people's thoughts about a Yamaha R6?

its freakin awesome but unnecesary, and too expensive on insurance haha. but if i was goin 600 id go cbr, imo.