How much for an '04?

[BigRedMonkeyButt]

A friend of mine is looking for a first bike for his wife, and he likes to buy them new.  
He's saying, maybe a R6, or something similar.  :dunno:

Im trying to discourage him from getting her a 100+hp first bike.

So, I suggest the new GS500F.  Faired, and cheap.  
He would consider it I think, but how much do they REALLY cost?

MSRP is around $5k.

What could he get one for?

I was also suggesting a Katana, Bandit 600, or ??  You guys have any other ideas?

[ScottWV]

Yamaha YZF-600R, similar to the Katana but better looking IMHO.  If I was purchasing a new bike, I'd serious consider it, looks like a great commuter but still sporty enough to ride hard in the twisties.  I hear it has excellent wind protection as well, which is my main problem with my quarter-faired GS.  Only problem with it is it's a Yamaha, so if you're a Suzuki loyalist it won't work.  But I'm not very religious  :lol:

Clicky:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/unitinfo.asp?lid=2&lc=mcy&cid=5&mid=25

[Joris]

The GS500F will cost ya 5000 u.s. dollars in the U.S. The GS500E will cost ya +-4500 u.s. dollars (2004 version, no fairing).  An R6 is a good one, but 120HP is a bit too much as a starters bike. An SV650 is a good bike, especially if you get the one with the small fairing, the SV650S. You stick with Suzuki, but you get more power. It`s cheap too!

[BigRedMonkeyButt]

The GS500F will cost ya 5000 u.s. dollars in the U.S. The GS500E will cost ya +-4500 u.s. dollars (2004 version, no fairing).  An R6 is a good one, but 120HP is a bit too much as a starters bike. An SV650 is a good bike, especially if you get the one with the small fairing, the SV650S. You stick with Suzuki, but you get more power. It`s cheap too!

I have a SV650, and honestly, I dont think they make great beginner bikes.  They have such strong engine braking, and so much torque, it may cause a beginner problems.  Yes, people start on them and do ok, but people start on SS 600's or even 1000's too.  
I just think the SV is a bit too twitchy for a starter.

So are you saying there will be enough demand on the new GS500 for the dealers to sell at MSRP?

[Turkina]

I'd recommend an unfaired bike... well at least no lower fairing.  I guess your friend has a enough money to play with, but I don't know if he wants to pay to keep that new bike looking 'new' if his wife isn't the natural rider he must have been    Considering that lower fairing kits should be available after his wife gets proficient, I'd go for the SV650S or the FZ6.  In that way, it's sort of the best of both worlds  

Of course, the best way to go is to use common sense, and not buy the shiny new bike to practice on... There are plenty of used bikes (500's) that run well and have taken the initial depreciation hit.

[squidscareme]

i rode a '97 yzf600r for quite a while and i loved it. great commuter but still very sporty. i think it might be a but much for a beginner, though.

[Lerxst]

I'd recommend any new rider start out on a unfaired used bike.  It aint as pretty, but when I dumped mine (and we all do starting out, so I'm told) I got a little road rash on the brake lever and a small dent in the tank... I picked it up and kept riding.  If I had the fairing... $$$!

[JohNLA]

I met a new courier last week on a brand new naked 2003 SV. I told him I liked his bike and he said he wished he had bought a GS and then he started oggeling mine. I made the joke, "You want to trade ?" He didn't laugh at me.  I told him how I hate the cold bloodedness of my bike and wished I had fuel injection. He said his was just like a car. :x  
Then he followed up with look at how my radiater sticks out on one side and then he began to yell about his herendously ugly fender. I had to take off so that was the end of my conversation but it helped my GS's ego  :mrgreen: .

[JamesG]

YZF600R is probably one of the WORST 1st bikes you could pick (besides a full liter bike).  Besides to obvious of its weight, 80+ HP, and acers of expensive bodywork,  the YZF is notorious for being very abrupt at low speeds in 1st gear and has a damage prone 2nd gear.  If he INSISTS on a 600 SS, a used (its not a dirty word) Honda F2 or F3 would be much better. They are very smooth and mellow down low where most newbies get into trouble.

If he still wants to get new, a showroom queen '03 or older naked GS is the perfect new rider's bike (especally for women, who's squid quotient is much lower).  A new '04 is a second best.

What ever he picks, you should tell him to just kick it over in the dealers parking lot to get the first crash out of the way.  That should be the reality check he needs to make a better decision.

[alerbaugh]

A beginner, if the clutch jumps and goes off could rip the throttle back.  On an R6 that would pop up the front tire.  On a GS if you rip it, there isn't as much, if any, punishment!

[pantablo]

I have a SV650, and honestly, I dont think they make great beginner bikes.

I couldnt agree more. I cant tell you how many women I see riding them and they look totally uncomfortable...saw one this past weekend just learning-5 months into it and she left her sidestand down when she took off. I managed to tell her in time though...

BUT, same day I saw a new woman rider riding a NEW R6. She was babyin gthat thing around sweepers so slowly I really felt for her-she must have gotten it to be hip with her riding buddies on their gixxers. I wish her luck... no gear except jacket and helmet.

Slightly used GS is best bet and probably cheapest way into biking. Otherwise look for 10-15% off MSRP or thereabouts. Depends on the dealer and the part of the country you're in, may be more.

[Turkina]

A beginner, if the clutch jumps and goes off could rip the throttle back.  On an R6 that would pop up the front tire.  On a GS if you rip it, there isn't as much, if any, punishment!

The first day in the parking lot, I lifted the front wheel of my GS    My carbs were all gummed up so I had to rev high and then I dropped the clutch by mistake.  Good thing I don't soil my pants easily  :mrgreen:

[fuzzymemory]

How tall is your friend's wife?  The GS sits a bit lower than the SV650 and R6.  I've also seen shorter riders happy with the Katana.  A buell Blast is an excellent learning bike, and you can get an extra-low seat for shorter riders (like 25.5 inches, compared with over 30 inches for most japanese sportbikes.

[BigRedMonkeyButt]

How tall is your friend's wife? The GS sits a bit lower than the SV650 and R6. I've also seen shorter riders happy with the Katana. A buell Blast is an excellent learning bike, and you can get an extra-low seat for shorter riders (like 25.5 inches, compared with over 30 inches for most japanese sportbikes.

She's probably about 5'5".  But she isnt a . . . . petite girl.

I'll push the GS, Katana, and Bandit.  We'll see if he bites.

[john]

How tall is your friend's wife? The GS sits a bit lower than the SV650 and R6. I've also seen shorter riders happy with the Katana. A buell Blast is an excellent learning bike, and you can get an extra-low seat for shorter riders (like 25.5 inches, compared with over 30 inches for most japanese sportbikes.

She's probably about 5'5".  But she isnt a . . . . petite girl.

I'll push the GS, Katana, and Bandit.  We'll see if he bites.

A nice way of saying she is big boned?  Well it helps a little as the suspension will sag a tad more than if whe was 95 pounds wet.   The Kat it user friendly for shorter riders, the SV is a tad tall, a 2 year old Kawi zx6 (now called the zzr600) would be cheap and is also friendly to shorter people.

R6 for a beginner  Not smart at all.  It took my fife years to get up to a 100 hp bike.  Now she can bust out wheelies on my z1000 (ok not really, but she can pop up her zx6R in first gear...barely).