GS500- learning and moving on

[jlog65]

When/IF I upgrade it will most likely be after another 1+ years experience and to probably a 600.  Not for the increase in power but because I like the looks of the gsxr600s and cbr600s.  That being said I've wanted a bike since I was 16 but waited until I was older (25 now) because well, I know myself and didn't trust myself to not do something stupid and kill myself.

[SAFE-T]

I tend to scoff a bit when people say that they are "bored" with a bike.

You have to admit, the GS500 is pretty plain. I think this is the part people get bored with. I owned and ridden a lot of bikes over the years that I thought were 'good', but still didn't have any real pizzazz. I really like the 2002 E model myself, and would love to own one in a collection if I could afford it.

The SV650 is popular for a reason. I would have to ride a Sportster to know for sure, but most Harley's I've rode have been pretty disappointing.

My VFR800 needs a little TLC this year. My wife just bought an '09 FZ6R, so I may be riding her '07 GS for a while until we sell it.

[rickyny]

When/IF I upgrade it will most likely be after another 1+ years experience and to probably a 600.  Not for the increase in power but because I like the looks of the gsxr600s and cbr600s.  That being said I've wanted a bike since I was 16 but waited until I was older (25 now) because well, I know myself and didn't trust myself to not do something stupid and kill myself.

Me too bro, I was 18 when I first got the bug to own a motorcycle and bought a GS500 fourteen years later. That's 2 days ago. And after reading all the post on this thread I'm convinced that it'll be my last motorcycle..I'll keep it for ever.

[tt_four]

More fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow?

I disagree with it as a blanket statement. Each person has different ratings of what Fun is.

I'll agree that slow bikes are still fun to ride fast, and that fast bikes can be boring if ridden too slow, but is there a reason no one even mentions the option of riding a fast bike fast?? That one definitely sounds like a winner to me 

[madjak30]

but is there a reason no one even mentions the option of riding a fast bike fast?? That one definitely sounds like a winner to me 

That is what track days are for...fast bike fast on the street is just an accident waiting to happen...DON'T BE A SQUIDIOT!!! 

Later.

[jeffdodge]

That is what track days are for...fast bike fast on the street is just an accident waiting to happen...DON'T BE A SQUIDIOT!!! 
[/quote]

Well put.

[tt_four]

[quote author=madjak30 link=topic=55187.msg624997#msg624997 That is what track days are for...fast bike fast on the street is just an accident waiting to happen...DON'T BE A SQUIDIOT!!! 

[/quote]

While that is true, riding a GS fast on the street doesn't make you any less of an idiot than riding a zx10 fast on the street.

[omio]

According to my Suzuki dealer, I downgraded when I purchased my '01 GS500 E.  My learning bike was a '00 Honda VLX (VT600), 45hp of blistering power through a 4 speed and over 500#.  While I learned alot on that bike, mainly that I could handle a heavy bike.  My first drive of the GS was invigorating, I had no idea what to do with all of those gears.  The salesman actually stopped working with me when I decided to purchase the GS.  He thought I was making a huge mistake because the GS was an entry bike and I had been riding for a year, I should be getting a 650 or 1000, not a 500.


2 years later, I am still extremely satisfied with my GS and just now starting to modify it to fit my personality.  I will most likely move to a larger bike in a few years because I do mainly interstate commuting and the 500 labors a bit at 75-80 mph.

[tt_four]

According to my Suzuki dealer, I downgraded when I purchased my '01 GS500 E. 

They very rarely understand what's valuable to some people. When we got another dog and decided to trade my wife's nissan versa in for a subaru outback the guy kept asking us why we were downgrading. Understood the versa was newer and had less miles, but it was still a versa. It was nice enough but the engine in the outback is twice the size, has heated seats, auto tinting mirror, sunroofs, super storage, roof rack. It was a serious upgrade over the nissan, but all he seemed to care about was the model year.

[madjak30]

author=madjak30 link=topic=55187.msg624997#msg624997 That is what track days are for...fast bike fast on the street is just an accident waiting to happen...DON'T BE A SQUIDIOT!!! 

While that is true, riding a GS fast on the street doesn't make you any less of an idiot than riding a zx10 fast on the street.

I totally agree, but what seems fast on a GS and what seems fast on a ZX10 can be quite a world apart...I have had my GS500 upto an indicated 160kph(100mph), and I felt like I was flying along...tucked in behind my windshield and the throttle was pinned...but I test rode a Bandit 1250S and when I shifted out of third into fourth, I looked down and was surprised to see 155kph indicated...I did rev it out in third, but was just testing the accelleration...it didn't seem fast and I wasn't really trying...

I wasn't calling anyone in particular an idiot, I was just saying that riding a fast bike fast on the street is very squiddy...

Later.

[tt_four]

haha, understood, a zx10 will do 115mph in 1st gear. You'd be there before you even hit redline in 2nd gear on the GS.

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

More powerful bikes will only be faster on the strait roads.

Er that depends entirely on what you mean by more powerful bikes.  If your idea of more powerful involves putting bigger a cubic capacity motors into a two wheeled armchair with no ground clearance, then yes your entry level, modestly powered lightweight four valve 500cc twin will outhandle an American tractor designed half a century ago. 

If, on the other hand, your idea of more a more powerful involves not only more horsepower, but also better frames, brakes, tyres, suspension, and the whole works of a modern sportsbike, then it's going to accelerate quicker, reach a higher top speed, brake better, flick into a corner quicker then hold more cornering speed and lean angle before the whole thing lets go.  It's going to do pretty much everything better, except possibly the tight slow speed manuevering.

All subject to the rider being able to use the capabilities of the better machine of course.  I followed a 675 Daytona up Galston Gorge this weekend, and (with a much more experienced rider on it) it did everything better than I could.  If I jumped on a 100hp+ sportsbike and tried to throw it around like I do with my very forgiving GS, I suspect it'd spit me off hard.  I know I'm not good enough yet.

Just to show you a nice riding stretch I found some Youtube footage of the road I'm talking about on another 675, this isn't our footage.  Nice bit of tarmac though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Cv1Kfivio&feature=related

[tt_four]

If I jumped on a 100hp+ sportsbike and tried to throw it around like I do with my very forgiving GS, I suspect it'd spit me off hard. 

The first time I took a bigger bike onto a back road that I usually ride the GS on, I forgot I wasn't on the GS, came to the first good turn and tried to just throw the bike through the turn like I do on the GS and quickly realized it wasn't the same bike, haha. The GSs handling is so light that it'll just effortlessly take turns. Bigger bikes take a bit more persuasion. Granted they have the benefit of feeling more planted and stable, so it's not like it's all bad, but still.

[ned from PA]

When I took my GS500E for a test ride (the day I bought it), I said to myself, "this bike is perfect for me, and I cannot imagine outgrowing it."  Two years later I was longing for just a tad more power.  Occasionally the carburetors would behave differently and give me that little bit of extra power, and I was happy again.  Then I tore them apart, re-did the Stage 3 jetting, and put a K&N Lunchbox air filter on it.  The intake manifold growl and extra power are great, and I'm again saying to myself, "this bike is perfect for me..." 

The key to happiness is wanting what you have rather than having what you want.  (Although if I ever win the lottery, a Street Triple might be in order.)

BTW, I test rode an SV-650S last year and did not experience love at first sight.  It was very nice but seemed more awkward in the corners than the GS500.  At one point during the test ride, I was shifting into 3rd or 4th and having fun.  Looking down at the speedometer, I was going 80 mph.  It is as if the whole "fun vs. rpm" graph was shifted up to higher speeds.  For me, I prefer the lower gearing of a 15-tooth front sproket on the GS.  Zero to 70 mph is the range of speeds where I spend 95% of my time, so it's nice to have the power band matched to that speed band with a six-speed gearbox.  Heck, bounding up to redline and shifting gears all the time is what keeps a smile on my face.

[tt_four]

I had a -2+8 on my bike for a while. It was fun, but anything over 45mph was just a hassle. Even cruising on back roads always had me wishing for 1 more gear. To be honest I barely even notice the difference when I went back to the stock rear sprocket. I'm still -2 in the front though.

If you want to upgrade, maybe consider something that's more about quality, and less about HP. A DRZ will keep you in the same speed/power range, but weighs 100lbs less, has a better suspension, digital speedometer. Keep the same great handling and fun as the GS.

[Twisted]

If I jumped on a 100hp+ sportsbike and tried to throw it around like I do with my very forgiving GS, I suspect it'd spit me off hard.  

The first time I took a bigger bike onto a back road that I usually ride the GS on, I forgot I wasn't on the GS, came to the first good turn and tried to just throw the bike through the turn like I do on the GS and quickly realized it wasn't the same bike, haha. The GSs handling is so light that it'll just effortlessly take turns. Bigger bikes take a bit more persuasion. Granted they have the benefit of feeling more planted and stable, so it's not like it's all bad, but still.

+1 to that. Jumping from the Ducati to the GS is a bit weird too. Takes a couple of corners to get re - used to the GS's agility as I find I am almost clipping the curbs cause it turns in so quick.