To keep the bike, or get a bigger bike.

[crzydood17]

So, to start this off I love my bike. She has been the saving grace of my family for a short while and trudged through admirably.

But, she is getting older, and I am starting to crave a bit more power, I originally wanted to get a F4I or a SV650S when I started riding.

I can sell her now as she sits for about 1500-2000 (shes a little ugly and unfinished).

I can fix her up and probably invest more into her than she is worth over the next year or so.

I can keep her forever and ever and ever (or until my speeding ticket goes away and I can afford a more expensive bikes insurance cost easily)

[jestercinti]

I was in your shoes years ago.  Had a small bike, and waned more here's my timeline.

2000:  Started with a 2000 GZ250.
2001:  Bought a Vulcan 800.  Sold the GZ250
2002:  Mid-life crisis.  Bought a GSXR-750.  About killed myself 9 times.
2004:  Sold GSXR.  Bought a Vulcan 1600
2008:  Had a kid.  Sold all bikes.
2010:  Wanted a bike after not riding.  Bought an 82 GS450.
2011:  GS450 was a money pit.  Bought my GS500F brand new

I had the power, then came back.  To me, a small nimble little bike that is forgiving as hell is far better than a bike with a sh!t ton of power where you have to be on top of your game at its limits.

My 2 cents.  Hope this helps.

[DrtRydr23]

I can vouch for my YZF600R being a nice step up.  Sporty but comfortable, good mileage and handling.  It's a little heavy, but not really an issue for me.  If it wasn't for having to take fairings off for maintenance I'd probably keep it for a very long time.

[ohgood]

I was in your shoes years ago.  Had a small bike, and waned more here's my timeline.

2000:  Started with a 2000 GZ250.
2001:  Bought a Vulcan 800.  Sold the GZ250
2002:  Mid-life crisis.  Bought a GSXR-750.  About killed myself 9 times.
2004:  Sold GSXR.  Bought a Vulcan 1600
2008:  Had a kid.  Sold all bikes.
2010:  Wanted a bike after not riding.  Bought an 82 GS450.
2011:  GS450 was a money pit.  Bought my GS500F brand new

I had the power, then came back.  To me, a small nimble little bike that is forgiving as hell is far better than a bike with a sh!t ton of power where you have to be on top of your game at its limits.

My 2 cents.  Hope this helps.

this one speaks truth.

i4's are mmm, well, quick, but boring. so very few places to use them, or even 75% of their potential.

slow bikes are fun. check out some thumpers (510/690) or SM's. goooooooooobs of power, and very simple to maintain. hell even a 250 is as quick or quicker than a gs, but forget about being comfy on the interstate

[crzydood17]

By thumper you mean 2 stroke?

Its not so much I want the crazy power,

I am 6'2 300 lbs so I am a BIIG dude, thats why I skipped the Ninja 250 as my first bike.

The GS is awesome I just wish it was physically larger, I have rode my buddies SV650 and a F4i and I love them, power is so smooth and the fuel injection means there are option for upgrading and computer tuning instead of the black art that is carbs.

I think I have come to the conclusion though that the GS has served me well and I will keep her for a couple more years at least, and dump a few more bucks into her.

[DrtRydr23]

By thumper you mean 2 stroke?

Its not so much I want the crazy power,

I am 6'2 300 lbs so I am a BIIG dude, thats why I skipped the Ninja 250 as my first bike.

The GS is awesome I just wish it was physically larger, I have rode my buddies SV650 and a F4i and I love them, power is so smooth and the fuel injection means there are option for upgrading and computer tuning instead of the black art that is carbs.

I think I have come to the conclusion though that the GS has served me well and I will keep her for a couple more years at least, and dump a few more bucks into her.

Thumper usually means single cylinder 4-stroke.

[ThatOtherGuy]

Keep your GS500, it always good to have a second bike and having a less powerful bike helps you appreciate the more powerful bike.  I have a GS500, a Bandit and the wife's Intruder.  The GS500 makes a good commuter and then on weekends I really appreciate the Bandit.  Sure, first few days back commuting I feel under done but its probably good as the 500 is more agile and plenty of power to leave most cars behind.  Those that is doesn't don't worry as I pass them in traffic anyway.

[crzydood17]

ugg, I could never ride a single. I <3 high RPM. My poor little GS lives between 6 and 10K. I really want something that can turn 18K so I can figure out what kinda exhaust note to put on it to make it sound like a F1 car .

I-4 is what I want, I really don't want much more power, I figure the poor GS is running around 50-55 HP so a F4i at 90ish isn't too bad and with a very solid i-4 and a comfortable seat (people have put 200K on them) I think it is basically the perfect bike.

[GSF500]

I had a 750 ninja, Harley 1200C, and 2007 gs500f and this is my favorite bike. I agree with what has been stated and thought about getting rid of the GS a couple times but the bike just fits. If you want more power, maybe try switching out the sprockets I heard this some where?? I would rather ride a slow bike fast then a fast bike slow.....It makes sense to me!! The GS is easy to maintain, cheap and easy to work on. I do agree with you about wanting more power sometimes but everytime I ride the GS I forget about it and keep my money.  Not sure what year your bike is....but I say keep it. Good Luck    

[Higgins13]

I had a 750 ninja, Harley 1200C, and 2007 gs500f and this is my favorite bike. I agree with what has been stated and thought about getting rid of the GS a couple times but the bike just fits. If you want more power, maybe try switching out the sprockets I heard this some where?? I would rather ride a slow bike fast then a fast bike slow.....It makes sense to me!! The GS is easy to maintain, cheap and easy to work on. I do agree with you about wanting more power sometimes but everytime I ride the GS I forget about it and keep my money.  Not sure what year your bike is....but I say keep it. Good Luck    

I run 16/46 Sprocets, That give me some get up and go

[SAFE-T]

Sell the GS and get an F4i. If you don't like it you can always buy a newer GS again.

[Higgins13]

Sell the GS and get an F4i. If you don't like it you can always buy a newer GS again.

Ya! you should only lose a couple thousand in that deal...

[SAFE-T]

LOL. How many bikes have you owned ?

[SAFE-T]

His GS is not going to increase or decrease in value, so he can always get another one in the same condition for whatever he sells his current one for.

The CBR600 is one of those bikes that is always in demand, especially the fuel-injected F4i ~ unless you crash it or put 50,000 km on it I can't see why you would lose money on that either.

Used motorcycle values fall to a certain point and then typically stay at that price almost forever ~ I bought a 1996 Yamaha YX600J Radian 600 in 1999 for $2100 that today in good condition would be worth...$2100. The 1984 Honda Nighthawk 'S' 750 I bought for $1350 can't be found for under $2500 these days, and the 1984 Honda VF500C Magna my wife got for $1800 can barely be found for under $2600. 

[SAFE-T]

Also forgot the 5th gen 1999 Honda VFR800 that has been $4000-$5000 since I first look at a used one in 2001, and the 1983 Honda VF500T Shadow I bought in 1986 for $1300 that now you can't find in the same condition for less than $2200.

[SAFE-T]

And if it turns out the GS really floats his boat, instead of putting money into his current GS that he already knows he won't get back out of it, he can spend what he would have fixing up his old GS and get a newer one in top condition.

[crzydood17]

Yeah, I think my bike will always be worth 1500ish. I would hope in good condition to sell it for 2500.

As a side note it is a 2004 with 21K miles but everything works and it is pretty darn fast with intake exhaust and a 15t sprocket.

I think I am going to keep it for another 2-3 years depending on my financial situation as it doesn't really cost me much to own it and its a pretty awesome bike for what i have in it. I will sink another 1000-2000 into it before I sell it and hopefully get 2000-2500 out of it.

I think I am going to get the tank dipped in carbon fiber and either go flat black on the fairings (as they are now) or wrap them in carbon fiber 3m vinyl. I am going to try and get the V&H restored and put a ceramic coating on it and then do the can in CF vinyl as well. Then do the 160 Tire mod and if I can swing it put on a SV or GSX front end so I have dual brakes. Who knows what this will do to the value of the bike but it will be a fun trip getting it there. 

[ThatOtherGuy]

not sure what its like in the US, but you get little back for your mods here in AUS IMO and IME.  basically as a buyer, I look at mods and if not done by a professional with receipts in hand, I figure I have to pull apart the bike/car and check it all personally to make sure the job was done right.  that puts a dent in how much I am willing to pay for a bike/car.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Mods generally do not increase the value of a vehicle, if you think your going to get your money back for that full exhaust system you added, your fooling yourself. I steer clear of modded rigs personally and tend to look for as close to OEM as I can get if not buying new.

[sikiriki]

Get the bigger bike