Just started riding

[mister]

I went for a ride with a bunch of 1kers on the GS. Yep, they were all like, "it's carbs and air cooled" blah blah blah. After a quick 45 minute dash where they wondered where I was until they caught me on the straights about half way into it cause I won't speed like they do, they expressed their respect to the bike when we pulled up. Sure, after that they just all did their 40kph over the limit and got places before me - but in the end, only a few minutes ahead.

I still ride with 'em on my 919 and it's still the same - they go roaring off and I lag behind doing my thing. They get done for doing 40 over the limit and lose their license for six months before getting it back clean, I don't get booked. Strangest group to ride with.

Michael

[SAFE-T]

I just started riding my 2009 gs500f yesterday. I've been having a blast, despite everyone telling me I would get tired of it soon.

It's been 72 hrs. now...get tired of it yet 

[VegasRider]

not at all. I cleaned and lubed the chain today because I wasn't sure how long ago it was done and I had some spare time to kill  but the bike is a lot of fun, at least for a first bike, and I am able to make mistakes on it and not be in the hospital because of them. I did get to thinking though, how do you know when your truly ready for another bike. Not that I am anywhere near that point but will I just go out one day, possibly a year from now, and come home with a brand new bike only to feel I am not ready?

[Dr.McNinja]

not at all. I cleaned and lubed the chain today because I wasn't sure how long ago it was done and I had some spare time to kill  but the bike is a lot of fun, at least for a first bike, and I am able to make mistakes on it and not be in the hospital because of them. I did get to thinking though, how do you know when your truly ready for another bike. Not that I am anywhere near that point but will I just go out one day, possibly a year from now, and come home with a brand new bike only to feel I am not ready?

You'll know. You won't have any fears of anything, you've rode through a few seasons of rain/snow/heat and done fine, your throttle/shifting is steady and consistent (this is the major thing), and your confidence on any bike is super high. Everything you do on a bigger bike is magnified two times. Whereas you might be able to accidentally dump the clutch at a stop light and jerk your GS500 around you'll quickly 12 o'clock a 600RR for example.

[slipperymongoose]

Good luck, don't push your limits. Don't try and be a Casey stoner, or Valentino Rossi. Always wear your gear and just enjoy it. I started riding in march with my GS and I love it. Enough acceleration power and nice handling and good range.

[SAFE-T]

Will I just go out one day, possibly a year from now, and come home with a brand new bike only to feel I am not ready?

A year from now ? Maybe.

Most people find the plain-vanilla character of the GS get's boring after awhile. There are just too many other bikes out there that have so much more zip that eventually you can't help yourself ~ you have to try one.

One day you may or may not get another GS. There are lots of people out there with more than one motorcycle who have learned to appreciate the simplicity of their GS500, or who have chosen to enhance what the GS is good at and stop worrying about what it's not.

[Dr.McNinja]

Will I just go out one day, possibly a year from now, and come home with a brand new bike only to feel I am not ready?

A year from now ? Maybe.

Most people find the plain-vanilla character of the GS get's boring after awhile. There are just too many other bikes out there that have so much more zip that eventually you can't help yourself ~ you have to try one.

One day you may or may not get another GS. There are lots of people out there with more than one motorcycle who have learned to appreciate the simplicity of their GS500, or who have chosen to enhance what the GS is good at and stop worrying about what it's not.

I agree, the character of a STOCK gs is really mundane and boring. It's quiet and very lawnmower like. Also, the general amount of shaZam! I get from the people with 600RRs+ is unrelenting at best. I've pretty much gone lone wolf on rides just because every time I ride with the "big bikes" they feel it's their job to dust me to show me how underpowered my bike is and then give me shaZam! about it when I meet them at the place we're going. I can keep up with them (and if I had more balls - pass them) in the turns if I wanted. But I'd still get a tremendous amount of shaZam!. Once I get a 15T front sprocket here in the next 6 months when I need to buy a new chain and get my new jardine full + pods installed the bike will have some real character. It won't sound like as much of a push over.

My pride was kind of hurt when some @$$hole pulled my bike out of the crowd and said it looked like the most awkward standard bike ever. It made me want to rip off the fairings and spend all my money turning it into a cafe racer (it's roots). It hurt my pride so bad actually I rode the rest of them way home contemplating riding it this weekend or just putting it up for the winter. I don't think I could ever follow through with boxing my bike up for the winter though. I love riding too much - even if I do get endless shaZam! for it.

It takes some self control not to make up for engine power with a jaw-breaking left hook however. The gs500 teaches you more than just riding ability, it's teaches you how to keep your ego in check. The more you stay cool and collected during the learning phase, the humble you'll be when you move on to bigger better things.

[Paulcet]

My pride was kind of hurt when some @$$hole pulled my bike out of the crowd and said it looked like the most awkward standard bike ever. It made me want to rip off the fairings and spend all my money turning it into a cafe racer (it's roots). It hurt my pride so bad actually I rode the rest of them way home contemplating riding it this weekend or just putting it up for the winter. I don't think I could ever follow through with boxing my bike up for the winter though. I love riding too much - even if I do get endless shaZam! for it.

1.  You need to find a crowd of real riders.  Or no crowd at all.

2.  Grow a set, man!  I mean no offense.  But if an @$$hole's comment about your bike hurts your pride.... Spend some time riding and building your confidence.  And keep riding up until Christmas.  That'll put some hair on your chest!

[adidasguy]

My pride was kind of hurt when some @$$hole pulled my bike out of the crowd and said it looked like the most awkward standard bike ever. It made me want to rip off the fairings and spend all my money turning it into a cafe racer (it's roots). It hurt my pride so bad actually I rode the rest of them way home contemplating riding it this weekend or just putting it up for the winter. I don't think I could ever follow through with boxing my bike up for the winter though. I love riding too much - even if I do get endless shaZam! for it.

1.  You need to find a crowd of real riders.  Or no crowd at all.

2.  Grow a set, man!  I mean no offense.  But if an @$$hole's comment about your bike hurts your pride.... Spend some time riding and building your confidence.  And keep riding up until Christmas.  That'll put some hair on your chest!

That's right. Hang out with REAL riders that LOVE bikes and are not such bigoted a-holes.
I've had scary Harley guys come up to me on the beach or the ferry and show real interest in Suzi. They ask questions about how agile it is and how fast it accelerates. Their bikes are big and heavy, slow to accelerate. Sure, they're great for long trips and making noise. They know that and we really had nice talks about bikes and the differences between their big one and my nice little GS500.

Today on the ferry there was a dude with a Kawasaki something red crotch rocket. His riding buddy? A newbie with a 150 scooter!

Here, we don't care what you have. All bikes are good bikes. There is no reason to be ashamed of your GS500 (or even a 150 scooter riding with a liter crotch rocket!). One of my rising buddies today has a Honda 1300 chromed out big arse cruiser. We love riding together.

Like we say - find some real bikers to hang out with.

Now get out there and RIDE! Your GS500 is a great bike. Take pride in your bike.

[Dr.McNinja]

My pride was kind of hurt when some @$$hole pulled my bike out of the crowd and said it looked like the most awkward standard bike ever. It made me want to rip off the fairings and spend all my money turning it into a cafe racer (it's roots). It hurt my pride so bad actually I rode the rest of them way home contemplating riding it this weekend or just putting it up for the winter. I don't think I could ever follow through with boxing my bike up for the winter though. I love riding too much - even if I do get endless shaZam! for it.

1.  You need to find a crowd of real riders.  Or no crowd at all.

2.  Grow a set, man!  I mean no offense.  But if an @$$hole's comment about your bike hurts your pride.... Spend some time riding and building your confidence.  And keep riding up until Christmas.  That'll put some hair on your chest!

That's right. Hang out with REAL riders that LOVE bikes and are not such bigoted a-holes.
I've had scary Harley guys come up to me on the beach or the ferry and show real interest in Suzi. They ask questions about how agile it is and how fast it accelerates. Their bikes are big and heavy, slow to accelerate. Sure, they're great for long trips and making noise. They know that and we really had nice talks about bikes and the differences between their big one and my nice little GS500.

Today on the ferry there was a dude with a Kawasaki something red crotch rocket. His riding buddy? A newbie with a 150 scooter!

Here, we don't care what you have. All bikes are good bikes. There is no reason to be ashamed of your GS500 (or even a 150 scooter riding with a liter crotch rocket!). One of my rising buddies today has a Honda 1300 chromed out big arse cruiser. We love riding together.

Like we say - find some real bikers to hang out with.

Now get out there and RIDE! Your GS500 is a great bike. Take pride in your bike.

I do appreciate the motivation, ill never quit riding. Ive since gone lone wolf, I hope to find a crew down here. The amount of power hungry squids in Vegas is kind of depressing however.

[slipperymongoose]

Yeah stuff the haters they'll be dead on in wheelchairs from highsiding pulling out if their local maccas car park. Meanwhile you'll sail past on the GS.

[adidasguy]

GS500,  Honda 1300,  Honda 150 scooter, Kawasaki crotch rocket. (Guess you can't see the Kawasaki back there).
No fighting here.
Maybe you're hanging our with the wrong crowd.

[mister]

My pride was kind of hurt when some @$$hole pulled my bike out of the crowd and said it looked like the most awkward standard bike ever. It made me want to rip off the fairings and spend all my money turning it into a cafe racer (it's roots). It hurt my pride so bad actually I rode the rest of them way home contemplating riding it this weekend or just putting it up for the winter. I don't think I could ever follow through with boxing my bike up for the winter though. I love riding too much - even if I do get endless shaZam! for it.

1.  You need to find a crowd of real riders.  Or no crowd at all.

2.  Grow a set, man!  I mean no offense.  But if an @$$hole's comment about your bike hurts your pride.... Spend some time riding and building your confidence.  And keep riding up until Christmas.  That'll put some hair on your chest!

First, you need to create some ready-made comebacks for this crap squids might wanna give you.

"Sure mate, your bike can sh!t all over this. But this bike is only for people who don't have something to compensate for"

"I'd let you ride it but the power will underwhelm you"

"Dude, this bike is so pathetically slow, I regularly get passed by mopeds. In fact, I dream of the day I can ride as fast as a moped. So what's your point?"

"This is a naturally aspirated 487cc bike that's built with 20 year old technology and you're trying to big note yourself? Get a friggin life you dork.

And my favorite...

"Fark off idiot."

I also like to call Them out... "I'm sorry, are you trying to big note yourself in front of your mates? Trying to raise your self up by trying to put other people down. Is that it?"... "I mean, seriously, why else would you try to belittle me and my bike in front of all these people if you weren't trying to be a big shot?" "You're not a big shot, you're a cockhead who just showed everyone how much of a cockhead you are."

You get the idea.

But really, like has been said, find other people to ride with. There's plenty out there who don't have such egos to stoke.

Michael

[rebel_rocket]

You're joking about people picking on you for your GS?
I get nonstop compliments even though I have a dent in the gas tank
Time to find a new group

[missk8t]

The people I know who ride bikes have put crap on my GS because it's nothing flash, but you know what I say to them?

"I'd rather have a bike that was designed years ago and never changed then one that was designed last year and keeps having teething problems. Also, my GS is perfect for me, I'm learning and it's got enough grunt to get me where I want to go but also enough forgiveness that I don't crash. So piss off and go pick on a Harley rider, oh wait... you are one.  " 

[hawaiianGS]

Just remember, it's not the size of the bike that counts.  It's how you use it.

[slipperymongoose]

In the end it's stil a 500cc motorcycle (shhhhhhh no one tell it's our gstwin secret). Still moves faster than a 250 and just about any production car, and handles with the best of em? How bout you ask ole mates who hang ship on your bike what there last service, and tyre cost them on there fancy R1's, gsxr's, hybusa's, and vtr1000sp1's? Not to mention insurance. Then  them I'm off to take my girl to a fancy restaurant while your stuck here in your local fast food carpark.

[Electrojake]

You're joking about people picking on you for your GS?

VegasRider, great thread you got here.
Some observations on the GS. . .
While no one has ever disrespected my GS500F to my face, I have certainly taken my share of abuse for it here on the internet.
I think it all started long ago when magazine reviewers kept calling it a "beginners bike".
I have also been told it's a rust bucket, (my 5 year old GS has no rust).
I have seen it referred to as a "girls bike", (my wife & daughter don't seem to like or dislike it compared to my other bikes).
It has been stated that it is woefully "underpowered", (heck, you want underpowered? Take a ride on my DL1000 anyplace below 4000 RPM. Now THATS underpowered!).

Two final thoughts. . .
1.) If at all possible, when you do buy a bigger bike, don't sell your GS500. Hold on to it. It will be the absolute best "second" bike you'll ever own!
2.) The most dangerous thing you'll ever do on a motorcycle is ride "un-alone".

Regards,
-Ej-

[adidasguy]

"Beginners bike" is just another way of saying it handles so easy and is so forgiving that you won't get into trouble (i.e. wrapped around a tree) when riding it. It means it was designed really well and riding it is very easy and you're like "one with the bike".

Would I want a bike that takes lots of practice to learn to ride? No.

Another come-back:
"I love my GS500. It is a real blast to ride. How do you feel about your bike?"

PS: I've had many people come to me in a parking lot and say "I used to have a GS500. I loved it. Then I moved up to a bigger bike. I really miss my GS500. Cool bike you have there!"

[VegasRider]

For my city riding the gs500 does what it needs to and more. I know I'll be happy for quite some time. Not to mention I have an extended warranty until april of 2013 ha