GS500 Vs. R6

[xunedeinx]

Ok, so after a good day of riding (Thanks Mother. Nature), wrenching (Thanks Manx for ALWAYS having what I need, and being friendly about it even though I don't drop big $$$) And having a good guy with me (Rpmwolf) He offered to let me try his bike.

So, gladly, I accepted.

Now, Its hard to compare for me, being I've only ridden dirt bikes, cars, and My GS before (and on the back of bikes as a kid), so I'll do it the best I can.

GS500 = AFTER all my mods (suspension, brakes, engine, etc.etc), I THOUGHT She was sporty. She got me around a corner great, kept up on north runs without leaving me tumbling down the gutter, and has been fairly reliable as a daily commuter.

Yea, when leaning, hanging off the bike, shes twitchy, sometimes I feel like shes trying to throw me off. If I pick a line, she tries to go in her own direction, so I man-handle her. I run out of tire, I run out of space (hard parts scraping), I got to wring her little neck to go fast. Hell, I have to TRY to go fast, it takes effort. Her suspension is hard, if I don't stand over big bumps or RR tracks, it sends a bone-shattering slam down my all ready messed up spine. When I shift, she clunks, gets funky, and sometimes forgets where her gears are, so she defaults into (no gear is better than the gear I can't find). She runs hot, turns my legs into waterfalls, most likely due to being air cooled. From now on, I'm going to think of her as a faithful 30 year wife, gets the job done, but a little rough.

Rpmwolf's R6 - My first impression, in a parking lot, afraid to scratch it, was, "Damn, this things louder on it than next to it". Second impression after kicking her into first was ," Damn, it shifts like a laser guided missile" It just feels engineered RIGHT. Its like comparing an AK47 to a Styer Sig, they both accomplish the same thing, but one is a masterful piece of machinery, the other just gets it done, with a little kicking and fighting.

Go around the parking lot a few times, and he lets me take it to the road. So, of coarse, first thing that happens is a TRUCK pulls sideways into my lane, and stops. Great chance to try the brakes, they're WONDERFUL. Front didn't try to dig a hole to China, and the rear didn't lock up like I'm used to. Great. Get going again, and damn, the things rides like a f%$king Cadillac! Its smooth, it isn't fighting me, it goes where I WANT it to go, and it does it there promptly. The few corners I took, my first impression was "shaZam!, it Isn't trying to kick me off". He later showed me the steering damper. I need one of those. So Nice.

Another impression, It isn't melt off your face fast like I was warned during the "oh, don't get a 600 cause their scary fast" warning, But it is VERY responsive, and come 8k, you have plenty of power at your mercy. Your also doing 65 in a 45 zone in second gear cause you didn't remember that you didn't have to wring her poor little neck to go.

Last impression. Not comfortable. Love the leg position, hate the arm and back. It HURTS!. I have no problem holding myself up with my stomach to keep pressure off the bars, used to that. On the GS the bars are twice the distance away, and almost, but not quite as low. Also, Its wayyy too high pitched. I suffer from pretty bad migranes, hence why I change pipes so often to find one that's a lower tone. It helps a lot. Being at 10k, its loud, and its an instant on for my migraine. I'm not afrade of the power, I've been in what felt like faster cars, I'm afraid of the pain.

Also (ya, I know I said final thought last paragraph), Up until about 6-8krpms, it had about the same power as my GS from 3-10k. yea, it was in a narrower power band, and I didn't have to WORK to tap the power, but it wasn't as much as a step up as I thought it would be. I liked how 6th gear actually felt like an overdrive, with enough TQ to actually gain speed, though.

Overall, I'd LOVE to have an R6 to wring out on weekends or a track, but every day, way too uncomfortable.

Its like the girls next store, yea, all the bits are in the right places, yea, she does everything right. Ya, she goes faster, works harder, and makes you smile. But, she isn't my wife of 30 years.

[ninjeff]

Nice little write up.

I enjoyed reading it.
Ive been wanting to try a 600. But, like most new riders, they have an aura of serious business behind them. I dont know if i can trust myself.....

[Phil B]

I KNOW I cant trust myself, lol 

[Phil B]

PS:

Yea, when leaning, hanging off the bike, shes twitchy, sometimes I feel like shes trying to throw me off.

Erm... how are you doing it?
And hows your handlebars?

[tt_four]

Nice save, I was getting worried for a while there, people here don't like hearing about bikes being better than the GS haha.

If your only real complaint is the comfort, it sounds like you just need an R6 with a few modifications 

[xunedeinx]

PS:

Yea, when leaning, hanging off the bike, shes twitchy, sometimes I feel like shes trying to throw me off.

Erm... how are you doing it?
And hows your handlebars?

On top, and usually from behind. Sometimes the bars are braids, though.

Seriously, im up on the tank, with  my ass off the seat into the corner, trying to keep rubber on the ground.

[Phil B]

Nice save, I was getting worried for a while there, people here don't like hearing about bikes being better than the GS haha.

If your only real complaint is the comfort, it sounds like you just need an R6 with a few modifications 

What.... IS.. that?

an R6 with GS front end? !! ? ! 

[Pontiackid73]

Nice save, I was getting worried for a while there, people here don't like hearing about bikes being better than the GS haha.

If your only real complaint is the comfort, it sounds like you just need an R6 with a few modifications 

That is sex on 2 wheels.

[Phil B]

Yea, when leaning, hanging off the bike, shes twitchy, sometimes I feel like shes trying to throw me off.

Erm... how are you doing it?
And hows your handlebars?

...

Seriously, im up on the tank, with  my ass off the seat into the corner, trying to keep rubber on the ground.

Well lets examine this:
1. the GS is known for weak front springs/suspension
2. you're putting all your weight on the front!

For GS, you probably wanna hang off with your weight more back, then the bike would be happier?
and make sure you're not trail braking or nuffin either.

[LEMON8]

Yes what mods are in this...

I'm with you, i love the power but just dont want to be on it for a long time. I didn't try a R6 but a gsxr750. You can feel the extra weight but the power is awesome. Just not a fan of the position. But hey handlebars on that R6 looks nice.

[BaltimoreGS]

Modern aluminum framed sport bikes like the GSXR actually weigh less than a GS500, it just carries the weight differently.

-Jessie

[Twisted]

You want a naked more comfortable R6? Go  the FZ6



You want a naked more comfortable GSXR750? try the GSR750

[tt_four]

What.... IS.. that?

an R6 with GS front end? !! ? ! 

R6 streetfighter. There's a lot of nicer ones online but I didn't want to scare anyone away with something with too aggressive of a style, this one is pretty much a standard R6 with new handlebars and a headlight. I can't see the picture anymore because I'm at work and the picture was from a site that is blocked here but it's nothing more than ripping off the fairings, hiding a few cables to clean up the appearance, buying some handlebar risers on ebay, drilling your top triple, bolting on some dirtbike bars, buying a round headlight and some brackets, and you get a 120hp GS500.

I'd also recommend the FZ6 and GSR750 if that's what you're looking for(not to mention a triumph or buell which are in a whole other league compared to naked japanese bikes). I just don't like to give up the weight/power/suspension/performance of a bike just because I don't want clipons and a fairing, plus it's easy to find a crashed sportbike that's got a trashed front fairing anyway. One of the only benefits of our poorly thought out licensing system that lets 16 year olds buy 600-1000cc sportbikes is that it means cheap streetfighter projects for everybody else 

[cbrfxr67]

Great read xune.  Good stuff.

Your also doing 65 in a 45 zone in second gear cause you didn't remember that you didn't have to wring her poor little neck to go.

[bombsquad83]

Took me forever to figure out where this guy's right leg was.

[xunedeinx]

Well lets examine this:
1. the GS is known for weak front springs/suspension
2. you're putting all your weight on the front!

For GS, you probably wanna hang off with your weight more back, then the bike would be happier?
and make sure you're not trail braking or nuffin either.

With the not-so-rear sets, its hard to get my ass off the seat more rearward, so I compensated with two extra washers and 20 weight oil, and I believe .90 straight rate springs.

It isn't that the bikes unhappy, it's that compared to the new technology (that R6 front end, by itself, is a marvel), the GS really shows how old tech it really is.

Its why I wanted to do a FE swap, and stick an I4 in it. But, even than, I have a bike that will be unsellable, compared to now where I can revert it back to stock (Still have all my OG parts), resell the aftermarket back into the community, and resell it for 3k come spring time.

Its destroy my resale value for what I really want, and spend 3k more (all ready spent over 1k getting it to where it is now), or just buying the bike that is what I need.

And, the GS on Floridas super-slab S-U-C-K-S!!!

I'll wind up keeping the GS and use it as a track bike, and getting a 600/750/1k and sticking a nice seat, big windscreen, and comfy bars on it.

[xunedeinx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVqZ1AC3M9g

Thats where I'm from basically, BTW.

[SAFE-T]

Bingo. The GS is a competent albeit slightly rudimentary bike designed for beginners and those who care to tinker enough to make it better at what it's only just decent at.

[SAFE-T]

The only place where the extra power of a bike is a problem is where you don't want it and don't know how to control it, and situations where you lack the self-discipline to deal with it ~ that is, absolute power can corrupt absolutely LOL

[Phil B]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVqZ1AC3M9g

Thats where I'm from basically, BTW.

Wow. beautiful roads and country. Cant imagine wanting to ride in the wet like that on those roads though 
That stuff is looking like isle of man roads. yikes. (ragged edge narrow stuff)

(and the music sux)

You want a naked more comfortable GSXR750? try the GSR750

Personally, I think a fully faired GSR750 looks quite good



To tt_four:
Dunno about original poster, but if I end up getting a new bike, I think maybe a SV650SF with raised bars could be my style.
I love the look of the fully faired version, but the ergos of the S are crazy low. They're almost GSX level.
Actually.. they are GSX level.
According to cycle-ergos.com, for me, it would be:

GSX600F 31degrees forward lean,  SV650S 36 deg,  GSX-R600 42deg.


Owch.