Commuting on GS: Experiances & Opinions

[myfirstluv]

Hi guys and gals,

I have mostly been doing city and local highway commuting, but I am about to do turnpike and major highway commuting.

And Since I'm not satisfied with the available info out there I thought I would pose the question:

What are your personal experiences using the GS for commuting and if you have encountered any issues or problems please state your solutions?  

This is a very general question so PLEASE ANSWER FREELY.  It can be about the gear you use, mods to make the journey easier, luggage, mechanical issues, ride issues ETC....

Thanks

[black and silver twin]

There will be no problems going on a freeway, assuming your bike is in good shape. The gs can go over 110 stock so speed wont be an issue. Just make sure you look out for cars, cagers are dumb and blind. you will love it.

[myfirstluv]

My main concern, especially lately, is the wind slapping me in the face and then punching the bike from under me.  I don't know if the weather in NJ has just been that way recently, but I've never been this concerned about it before.  It was rarely an issue before and has kind of scared me a little.

My bike is faired with a sport touring zero gravity shield, which helps with buffeting and comfort.  I've been riding for just under 3 years with ~15k miles and ride all almost all year.  Which is kinda why I'm a little freaked out that it's bothering me.

It feels like it gets worse between 70-85???

Please continue with everyone's opinions and experiances

[adidasguy]

I have a stock 2009 GS500F and can say that going 60 to 80 I really don't feel anything. Smooth as silk. Cross winds can be bothersome, but then they would be even in a car. I have the middle Zero Gravity windshield on order, but even the stock wind screen seems just fine. I'm going to switch mainly for looks. If I was doing a lot of highway commuting, I might go with the GSX650F since it is a hundred pounds heavier. But I think the GS500F is just fine. I don't care for the bent over position of the R series. I prefer the more upright riding position.
My longest ride was 90 miles on I-90. After it I felt just fine - no pain or soreness at all. The Harleys, Gold wings, GSXR's and my GS500F - we all rode together as a well organized group.
I'm very happy with my GS500F. After that ride, I decided no need to upgrade to the GSX650F. Maybe next year.

[Shaddow]

I use my 500F every day to commute to and from work. It does city and highway speeds during that trip (maybe sometimes more  ). Love the thing, very comfortable for my frame, average height but heavy set. I found wearing a back back uncomfortable so I sourced a ventura bag rack from a wrecker (as I had a 65L ventura bag from my last bike). Carries a change of clothes, some minor tools, rain gear, fits my helmet, shopping on the way home etc. Maintenance is simple, parts aren't expensive, if ridden sensibly can get good fuel economy. Rides well in all weather as I ride sun, rain and occasionally hail but that hurts.


I don't have a problem with the cross winds. I used to but I talked it over with the riders I know and they taught me to ride better in the wind (cause I'm a novice really, even though its my second road bike). Here is Newcastle Australia the wind has been absolutely shaZam! the last two weeks. Winds 40-60km/h with gusts of up to 60-100kms hour. I also travel over a tall unprotected bridge which on a calm day is windy. It all about keeping enough space for the bike to move, offering less of a side profile, weight positioning and most importantly I found, staying relaxed. The stiffer you are the more it moves around. Doesn't mean I didn't think my life was about to end once or twice, but anyway.

I taken the bike a couple 1600 + kilometer (1000 mile) trips so far and found it a great touring bike. What I want, is a touring windscreen, hand guards to deflect the wind off my hands, cruise control(throttle lock) and some side luggage pods (Which I plan to make a rack for when I finish the car as its running out of time so the bike gets only what it must have now).

[Elijafir]

I was commuting 96 miles a day in southern arizona.. I-10.. Some days there was cross winds gusting up to 60mph.  I remember a couple of days that pretty much most of the ride I was leaning just a little bit against the wind.  Passing some of the big rigs it does kind of "feel" like the wind is trying to push the bike out from under you.. but, it never really bothered me.  Keep your tank full and the shiny side up. (Tucking helps 'fight the wind' and improves fuel mileage!)

[twocool]

I'm in  NJ too.....I commute just about every day on the 09 gs 500F............50 miles a day on mon thru fri and 160 miles on sat and 160 miles on sun.......

Got bike on june 16...............2 months, yesterday, passed 5000 miles!

I do not ride on super highways but often go 60... 65 mph on state highways.......

Bike is a dream to ride............no worries or problems at all.....

average 66 MPG

Got a spider web bungee thing and strap a small bag to rear seat to carry a change of clothes and some minor gear....

You can't go wrong with this bike!

Cookie

[noworries]

Mirrors, better mirrors, that's what I'm finding I need with the GS on the highway. When I'm on the speed limit, I just hate traffic creeping up behind where I can't really see them in the stock mirror set-up. I've played about with the adjustment on the mirrors but just can't get it right for me. (Any suggestions???)

[adidasguy]

Get mirror extensions from TwistedThrottle.com
No more looking at your elbows.

[gsJack]

I took both my naked 97 GS and my naked 02 GS on 5 trips to the mountains with either my big Plexi 2 or my little Spitfire shields on them.  On the 4 trips from NE Ohio to the Smoky Mtns we did 400 mile first and last days on I-77 to get there and back running 70-80 mph indicated.  I was comfortable most of the way not getting cramped up much till the end of the day but a quick stop and a walk around the bike would loosen me up.  I took my last trip to the Smokies in 04 just before my 72nd birthday and don't think I'll do it again, too much arthritis now.  Sould be a piece of cake for a younger man/woman on a GS500 size bike.  The 02 trip to Lake George, NY was a 530 mile first day with about half interstate and half back roads and it rained half the time and it was a very long day.

[tucsondude]

throttle lock, give your hand a break from the vibes. vista cruise works for me, worth the $30

[fraze11]

I commute ~140kms round trip almost every day (save bad rain storm days) and I have no complaints.  In fact I bought the bike for this VERY purpose. My ride is 30% 400 series hwy's (I guess you would call that an interstate in the USA) 50% expressway riding and about 20% city.   As everyone else is said, its powerful enough for hwy speeds, on the hwy i cruise a 120kms no problems at all, its pretty comfy, the bike handles very well and all in all if I were using a 0-10 scale I would give it a 9 for commuting easily.  All the info I read about the GS with commuting in mind was; it has good horsepower, decent torque, light weight, great seat/riding position, very reliable bullet proof engine and exceptional fuel economy.  I mean the thing was made for commuting in my opinion.

Just get past big trucks quickly and watch out for eveything else and most of all...enjoy the ride.  Ever since I started riding to work I actually look forward to going to work...not being AT work...but getting there and back

[myfirstluv]

I agree, I look forward to my commute more than actually working. And I agree with everyone that I love commuting with this bike: mpg, comfort, maintenance.  I guess my balls have fallen off recently and I just didn't notice it

Maybe I should just keep my speed down with high winds.

I'm starting to lean on the idea of NOT upgrading my bike this year and just getting the givi topcase system and some more gear: A* Roam boots, mesh/summer overpants, and heated gloves and maybe a heated vest (depending on the info in the forum).  I already got a bright green vest for night riding since I'll eventually work the night shift.

[Caffeine]

Cross winds were an issue for me on both my GS's.   It did seem to get worse above 65mph for me.  After riding with friends, I would comment about the wind, to which they always replied, "What wind?"

When I got my V-Strom, cross winds were never a problem.  I think the GS is just more susceptible to winds.   I think we had a thread on possible causes a while back.

It's not a horrible problem, just one you may have to get familiar with and learn to place yourself in the optimum part of your travel lane to compensate for wind gusts.

[Chuck500]

I commute on my '07 GS500F almost every day in Houston, TX.  The trip is about 26 miles each way, 85% super highway (I-10).  Speed is almost never a problem.  The bike will make 70 mph with no issues.  Just ride your own pace and let the cagers do their thing.  Be alert.  Keep plenty of space ahead.  The worst issue I have is the slow bits when traffic really backs up.  Mainly it's heat, heat indexes have been 1005+ here lately.  High wind here made me nervous at first.  After a few trips I learned to lean into it to track a straight line.  The GS is light s o you will feel wind more than say a V-Strom.

Some notes on my set up:

Bike has Zero Gravity touring screen.  Less wind than the stock, but a bit hotter.  Everything is a trade off.

Fitted First Gear saddle bags which stay on the bile at all times.  These are the largest soft bags I could find do a good job of carrying by work items and rain gear.  Before the saddle bags I strapped a back pack to the seat with bungee cords.  I have never worn a pack while riding.

I wear full gear on every ride, Olympia GT Air Transitions jacket with AST mesh pants.  These work well over a very wide temperature range.  I use Alpinestar boots and an Arai full face helmet.

You should enjoy the extra riding the commute brings.

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

[Grommett2k]

I do 80 miles RT a day. I have no major issues other than other commuters and some patches where the road quality is less than perfect (potholes, bumps, and grooves). Also, I wear a safety vest during my commute. I picked up one of the Rocket milspec ones. It has good visibility and a pocket on the front I put my badge in so when I get to the gate at work the guard can see my ID right away. 

[007brendan]

I commute about 10 miles each way to work, most of it highway.  On weekends, I sometimes take my bike into San Francisco, since parking a car sucks in the city on weekends.  That's also mostly highway.  The GS seems pretty up to the task.  I have a naked '98.  Coming home from work, sometimes the wind kicks and pushes me around a bit; a faired bike would probably be a little more comfortable in those situations.  I would definitely recommend buying some sort of motorcycle luggage if you plan on commuting a lot.  Wearing a hot, heavy backpack, or having to constantly bungee and unbungee stuff to your seat will get old after awhile.  I bought a set of cortech saddlebags last year.  It's surprising how much capacity they have.  I recently bought a tankbag from my neighbor and took off the saddlebags.  It works for nearly everything except groceries.

[myfirstluv]

Hey,

Look what I found. This should make winter riding much better for GS owners, since alternator output is low for us.  Also I'm not sure if this is true, but logic tells me that a warm core temp should increase warm blood flow to the hands.  I'm wondering if a heated vest will do the job into the high 30's since I've been doing short distances (~15-30 min; 20-50 mph) into the 20's with Joe rocket winter gloves.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/heated-vest/battery-heated-vest/
This heated battery vest got amazing reviews and is about $240 with a battery pack

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-gloves/gerbing-hybrid-gloves/
These gloves are expensive ~$300, but I can't find anything else like it for cheaper and they can be wired or used with a battery.

I'm having trouble finding good mesh pants for hot summers.  The best I can do is wear knee/shin guards under my jeans. My alter ego pants are hot above 60-75 with jeans under them.

On a side note look at this sale I found: $40 for $90 gloves.  I thought I would share this sale with everyone else.  Since I don't have gauntlet's I think I'm gonna give them a try.
http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/gloves/cortech_by_tour_master/injector_motorcycle_gloves.html

[Paulcet]

I've got those gloves. Certainly worth the price. But the seams on the inside could have been placed a little better. It took a few weeks of commuting to get them flattened out and my hands toughened up so they don't bother me anymore.....'course I might have been spoiled by the cushy Tour Master Winter Elites. I can wear those all day.

[bassmechanicsz]

I thought i was crazy thinking that the wind in NJ somehow has gotten worse lately and feels like it is moving the gs500f i have around alot more.  When i commute in my car i can't even tell that their is a wind but on the bike over 65mph it seems like the winds just move you around at their will. 

In one of the previous posts i believe burning1 had made a comment to about riding 2up and how the passenger was always bumping helmets when braking and having to use his arms to brace himself from the passenger sliding forward and pushing him off.  He stated that you shouldn't be holding on with your arms to being with to brace yourself on the bike but you should hold on with your core.  I have since then tried riding concentrating on using my core to hold the bike rather than my hands and arms and have noticed that at highway speeds the bike being more stable.  I could tell when i wasn't holding on with my core any more as i felt the bike start to get taken in the wind and once i corrected myself the wind wasn't an issue any more. 

This did not completely eliminate crosswind but i noticed a huge difference in stability in riding now based on how you hold on to the bike.