What i dont understand.....

[dsmirnov83]

so you guys want to go the "lets defend our bike rout" OK I'll play along.

Actualy, I have recieved two complements for my choice of bike (1998 gs500e) and both were from guyes on much bigger machines. One was a harley something or other and the other was a friendly neighbor-hood shadow 750. Both were very friendly and the shadow said... "nice little bike" (he had lots of respect in his voice........ no, realy, he DID)

The thing I realized as the Shadow pulled away (waking up most people on that saturday morning with his abnoctiously laud "farting" pipes) was that we all love to ride, and most of us ride what we feal are comfortable tastefull machines. And no it's not the size that counts. If I can apreciate the laid back styliing of the Shadow and he can apreciate... well what ever it is that he sees in the GS then we can all get along on the twisty roads of life. (some faster then others and some scraping less crome, but we can all get along with big smiles on our faces)

It's not the cages it's their drivers and 1% of bikers

[vtlion]

I have to agree with dsmirnov83 about cruiser riders.  They seem geniunely interested when I meet them in the parking lot and frequently chat about the GS.  On the highway I miss a wave or two when a cruiser rides by, but when they see you at zero mph with your visor up, as a person and not a bike, they're just as cool as the rest of us.... with rare exception, of course  

[TheGoodGuy]

i dont have a problem with older rider, / mature riders who know that there is nothing wrong about riding a 500cc, each is their own and as long as their a good rider and stays to the laws they actually appreciate us riding a GS500 even if we have been riding for more than a few months.
They respect us cause we are sensible bikers.

But if they see a new rider on a new bike obviously they get a little worked up.. and its true i do too.. that's why this thread..

[The Antibody]

I have a friend who really shouldn't be riding. He has owned two bikes. He crashed both of them. They were both 6oo's. now he says he is going to get a hybousa. "What!" I said. "Are you crazy?" He thinks there is no problem, and it wasn't totally his fault that he wrecked. One of them was, he was just being dumb, and riding beyond his skill level. The other, he hit a deer. Under normal circumstances, I would oblige, but he was going over 70 in a 45. DUH!

 -Anti

[CasiUSA]

All I have to say is: No one gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari their first time driving, so why get a super fast bike your first time riding?

[panik]

Here, in Australia, you are only allowed up to a 250cc, or in some states, up tp 660cc with a power to weight ratio of less than 150kw/ton (no, I don't know what that actually means ), when you are learning, for the first 3-12 months (depending on your age and license)

The GS500 is probably one of the most powerful learner legal bikes here, and there are absolutly tons of people riding 250's.
I think it's totally crazy to be able to get a motorbike license and just go and get a 600+ cc sports bike.

Of course, I'm just hanging out for my unrestricted license, so I can get a 600cc sports bike  

[Adam R]

Well, if the 250cc bikes are 4 cylinders like the CBR 250RR or ZX-2, then they will have close to the power of a GS (but at much higher rpms)

If the 250 is a NSR, TZR or RGV two-stroke, however, it could have up to 70hp in street trim.

I guess the 400cc bikes might be over the power to weight limit in Australia.

[Jared]

Panik...best guess is about a 10 pounds per 1 HP rating  for new riders .... (1 kilowat is about 1.34 horsepower..). If your bike weighs 500 pounds..you are allowed  50 horsepower.......

I also think that displacement/power restrictions  for new riders should be mandatory......It's just common sense...(but  I guess not everyone is born with as much of that as they need ...)


Anyway....

[panik]

If the 250 is a NSR, TZR or RGV two-stroke, however, it could have up to 70hp in street trim.

I guess the 400cc bikes might be over the power to weight limit in Australia.

Those two stroke 250s are actually specifically banned for learners here, but the Honda RVF 400 is learner legal apparently http://www.geocities.com/nikoslz/Honda_RVF_400_Specs.htm  

Panik...best guess is about a 10 pounds per 1 HP rating for new riders .... (1 kilowat is about 1.34 horsepower..). If your bike weighs 500 pounds..you are allowed 50 horsepower.......

Yeah, that's about right. So if the GS has 47hp (35kw) and weighs 372lbs (170kg), it has a power to weight ratio of 205kw/ton (1000kgs)  
either my maths sucks, they don't measure power to weight like I do, or they approved it anyway?

Maybe they include fuel and a rider (+70kgs?) that would be about 145kw/ton...

Here are the Learner legal bikes in NSW, Australia. If anyone is interested. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/tests/motorcycleridertrainingscheme/motorcyclesnoviceriders.html

[Jared]

They may use the Rear wheel horsepower figure...47 hp is at the crank if I'm not mistaken....

Most gs's will get 42-43 rwhp with a Pipe-jet-filter upgrade ( if tuned well)..

So a stock one is less ...( I don't know the figure..)..

But yes maybe they do figure in a rider weight and fuel/oil in the bike...

[alerbaugh]

New riders should be required to take a riding exam of some sort.  I know it won't stop them from showing off but at least they'll know how to ride before starting of on 100+HP.