gs500e too weak?

[purerealm]

everywhere i've been hearing about gs500e being the right one
and sv650 being too powerful for a beginner
but look att his
http://www.goldengatecycles.com/review_detail.asp?sid=09287683X11K1K2003J10I22I33JPMQ537R0&rv=5999&veh=2098

she's a woman, 100 pounds, 5 feet aand she says it's too weak for her. that just doesn't seem right to me.
what do you guys think?

[vtlion]

there are those of us for whom the learning curve for riding is steep.  You'll 'outgrow' the GS's power sooner or later.  The point is that we all begin with the same level of experience... ZERO, and with that much, you want something with GS-like power.

The person in the review says that

after 4 months and riding with other friends who had 600cc's, I got bored and now I long for a faster bike

Sounds to me like the person isn't 'bored' as much as they're tired of getting smoked by their buddies.  I get smoked by some of my riding pals regularly, too, but that doesn't make the GS boring.  It's still alot of fun, and (if I can get it running soundly) I plan on keeping it even after I get my next bike.

another great thing about the GS is that, like you said, it saves you about $1500, which is a pretty good downpayment on your next bike.  It gives you some time to learn and ride and discover what type of bike you REALLY want to dole out 7 grand for.  If I had bought the bike I thought I wanted right from the start, I don't think I would be happy with it now (six months later).

peace

[purerealm]

thanks for replying!

so i see how it is

but what are your thoughts on getting the sv650 first like the reviewer said?

i'd save even more money if i skipped the gs and went straight to the sv650, which is pretty cheap too

i plan to ascend to hayabusa eventually!
.. after i take MSF and get that first bike .
i plan on taking MSF in about a month (after college applications)

[vtlion]

I suppose if money isn't an object, and you're comfortable with your riding ability, the SV is a pretty good bike.  I've only heard good things about it, and personally, I'd love to have a bike with Fuel Injection (starting a stock-jetted GS on November days in PA isn't gonna be fun) and slightly stronger low-end power for dodging the cagers around town.  

Personally, I've never been on an SV, maybe some of the folks who have ridden one could chime in.  I remember Pablo relating a story about his first experience on the SV650 a few months ago.

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4501

Beyond, that I'd say try searching this board.  Being the big-brother of the bike to which this site is dedicated, GS-SV comparisons are a common subject of threads around here.  There's alot of material already posted on the topic.

Good luck with your shopping.

peace

[TheGoodGuy]

here are reviews for the rest of the 2001 GS500's

http://www.goldengatecycles.com/review_list_vehicle.asp?sid=04069025X11K2K2003J12I17I53JAMQ537R0&veh=2098

2000 model GS500
http://www.goldengatecycles.com/review_list_vehicle.asp?sid=04069025X11K2K2003J12I17I53JAMQ537R0&veh=858


I think the issue is that many riders are only looking at the straight line performance. People with 600cc bikes or even an SV650 really cant corner, I see them at school, their cornering technquie isnt that great, cause if they give too much throttle it will move too fast, if not enough gas it will not be enough gas.

Needless to say on the canyons the 500 isnt bad, it would be nice to have more power though. OH well let me see what i see after I rejet in about 2 weeks.

[Blueknyt]

we know the GS is underpowered, we know it lacks the plentyful aftermarket mods that other bikes wallow in, But we ride these bikes because they are fun. my Yamaha xj 650, inline 4 will run at 120 on 3.5 cyl my gs will only do about 115 and its working to get there. but, the GS is so much more fun in the turns then the xj. ppl keep saying its a weak bike, but they dont laugh near as hard when i motor by them in the cloverleaf.  New guy on an R6 decieded to follow my group around, and luaghed so hard when he seen me pull up. i left, he caught and passed me and just as he hit the brakes to enter the turn, im coming right around him. we get to the turn around point and he said it was afluke, luck, we go again, i let him enter the turn (its a 270 degree turn mind you) before me, i roll up on the inside at the edge of the aprin give him the bird and throttle it some more creeping away till we exit, then he blows by me.  he's pissed at me saying i could have made him wreck, i told him, If your afraid of that, then dont play. and dont put down my little 14 year old weak twin that just stomped your brand new bike cuz you cant ride.  i havent seen him this weekend hehehehe.

[sublime]

I agree totally on the handling aspect of the GS,, but i was told the same thing when i called all my friends who had bikes while i was at the dealer, they said it is a good bike to learn on but i will want a bigger bike.
The only time i find that true is when i am going south in I-15 in san diego, and my poor GS is screamin to do 75 miles an hour. that is when i wish i had a more powerfull engine,, but onces again,, if its just joy riding,, no one needs 100+ horse's to handle hairpin turns and nice s-curves, that is where i love the GS  

[70 Cam Guy]

I agree that the GS is underpowered but I really don't mind it.  I was "used to" the power maybe a month after I got the bike but thats ok.  It let me concentrate on technique and learning instead of keeping me worried about spinning up the rear mid turn or looping the bike.  Lower power is good to have in our "infant stages" of motorcycling.

Love the story about smoking the R6.  I'm still slow in the twisties but I just need more practice in the hills.  Most of my 3000 miles are city miles/comute miles.

[Lars]

Because of the lower power, you won't be scared of the bike and you can concentrate on other things. You will become a better rider than when you would`ve started on a sportsbike right away. Maintenance costs are low and tires are cheap in comparison with sportbikes.

A GS isn't a powerful bike in comparison with other bikes. But even this one will blow off cars easily.

BTW, the lady said that the bike was really heavy because she couldn't lift it when she'd dropped it. Well, duh!! it isn't a bicycle  An SV will be almost or as heavy as a GS.

[john]

I've said it before and I'll say it again the SV650 is too much for a true beginner -If a rider is totally new to riding.  I just see too many bad things happening.

This is exactly why I think the SV is too much.  Watch this vid.  The power hit is so string newbies aren't prepared for the power.

http://www.rsxworld.com/gallery/data/3009/6155crashzukimpg.mpg

[Gisser]

By and large, I have to agree with the lady's review.  The GS500's bang for the buck quotient ain't that great anymore, and new bike depreciation is too severe to trade up after a season of learning to ride.  Nor is the GS any lighter than the current supersports.  Surely, the '04 version needed major revisions more than it needed a full fairing.  Either more power, or less weight.  A GS500 stuffed into an EX250-sized chassis would make for a better beginner's bike AND for a superior sport bike.  Oh, well.      

If buying new, buy the SV650.

[powrful1]

of course it also sounds like she is laying her bike down....if I read that right in the article....but I don't want to take the time to skim it again.

If she is having issues now, it would be more prudent to take care of them on the Thunder Twin...before moving on.

Personally I like the performance....yeah, most all other two wheels can take you....but few of the 4 wheels can!

I like that I can ride the bike hard....and not get into too much problems with control.

[JohNLA]

I kept a GXR750 in my mirrors(speaking figuatively, I don't really use mirrors ) for about 5 miles on the 110 in Hollywood Friday :mrgreen:
In 10K miles, I have only been passed once while lane splitting and it was by another 02 GS. It was also early and I wasn't really on fire that day. I am not the best at cornering but I finally got to the edge of my new 550 rear Thursday night, out by UCLA. Once I replace my front, Pablo will be my Beeatch :nana:

[Richard UK]

The GS500's most dangerous aspect is the weak suspension.  The stock set up will have you doing a good imitation of a pogo stick when you push it hard around corners.  It's a shame because the frame is actually very good.

[500rider]

Much ado about nothing ...

I do know a young lady who's first bike was (is) an SV650.  She love's it.  She is about 120 lbs max but she is also the athletic type with probably higher than average co-ordination etc.  I also know another woman who is about 95lbs and rides a monster 620.  She seemed to be fine on it as well (although she dropped it once ... but who hasn't dropped their bike)

For me I think it would have been too much bike to start on.  There was a couple of times on the GS where I said to myself ... damn, good thing I wasn't going any faster!

I've said before ... the more I ride the GS, the more I like it.  It really is a great bike ... for me.  I didn't have $10, 000 laying around for a sportbike and I don't have a bunch of sportbike friends either.  I'm sure if all my buddies rode CBR's, I'd want one too.

If you have some self control, you should be alright on an SV650.  If you don't, you can get yourself in trouble on a GS500 too.

Rob

[South East Rocket]

You'll probably feel pretty comortable with the power, maybe even bored with it.  But what makes a good rider is the ability to KNOW and MASTER their bike.  Sure 600's can outrun me but most but most can't run corners with me...  or at least as fast!

[yamahonkawazuki]

JohNLA wrote:

Once I replace my front, Pablo will be my Beeatch

I thought he already was :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :nana:    

for the time being i think the gs will always win the bang for a buck contest easily. course i passed a gix 1k about 90+, but the(i think he was resting?) i got smoked, but oh well, for what its worth, the ol' gs will not be passed in value/=performance=$ category yet, it may eventually, but by whom and when?  

[sublime]

The Video Link that John posted showed someone who had no clue how to ride, i think he would have crashed just the same if he was trying to ride a GS

[milo]

most all other two wheels can take you....but few of the 4 wheels can!

I like that I can ride the bike hard....and not get into too much problems with control.

This sums it up for me. I've only been riding for a month, and I think my GS is the perfect starter bike. I'm athletic, strong, have good hand-eye coordination, etc. I have no doubt that I could handle the SV (and it is kinda pretty), but I'm still having loads of fun on the GS and it was cheaper.

It's a no-brainer unless you've got cash to burn. (And if you've got cash to burn then you should go for the Ducati instead of the SV anyway.)

[Blueknyt]

Yeah, the vid of the guy on the SV,  seemed to have 0 exp with ANY bikes save a 3 wheeler. the target fixation or as i like to call it, Collision Vision was overly plain to see. he would have done the same on a rebel 250