2012 International Motorcycle Show

[adidasguy]

Took Junior down. Nortwestrider took his bike, too. They are parked side by side in the Sound Rider booth.
Overall: The new Honda CBR500 is cool. The new Suzuki 250 - meh. Too heavy and too much money for a 250.





Meh - Suzuki is missing the boat on this 250.


Me like this Honda!



Too many other interesting bikes to show but if in the area - go to the show. Bikes park free,

[jestercinti]

Awesome!  They have these near me every once in a while.  Looks like it was fun.

[adidasguy]

It runs through Sunday. 5pm Sunday I ride Junior back home. Saturday is supposed to be a total mad house. Glad I have an exhibitor badge. It is worth the work to take Junior to the show. Talked with lots of people who used to have GS500's. I'll be back Sunday. Might skip Saturday - though I do have a badge and bikes park free. I'll take more pictures. Any requests? 

Unless posted as "NO!", you can sit on all of the bikes. Take all the pictures you want. I bought a new Scorpion EXO helmet. (on sale). Probably will buy more stuff Sunday. Handy to be able to try on all the new helmets.

[Suzuki Stevo]

The 2013 Suzuki GW250 might be ugly, but it has EFI & water cooling, could you imagine how many carb/jetting threads would be missing here if the GS500 had EFI? 
Yeah, the CBR500R is a good choice, the CR500X might be fun?
(My money's on the new Ninja 300, 39HP liquid cooling and EFI)  My interest in the Ninja 300 was to replace my carb'd Ninja 250 in the lightweight touring slot in my stable.

[adidasguy]

The GW250 is too much money for such a heavy bike. The CBR500 was lighter - about same weight as out GS500.
The Ninja 300 was there. I don't like the feel of the Ninja's. To me, the tank is too wide at the knees and my knees are spreads apart and always rubbing the tank. Same as when I chose the GS500 over the Ninja 500. I found the CBR500 comfortable and easy to tilt left & right with ease. Seems easy to handle. A test drive will have to happen.
Then GW250 just seemed too big and bulky for a 250.
I think the Ninja was about $4900 and the CBR $5900.
Interesting now to see how the center stand has become "optional equipment".
Not sure if I'll be there Saturday. I will be back Sunday from about noon to closing.

[codajastal]

Took Junior down. Nortwestrider took his bike, too. They are parked side by side in the Sound Rider booth.
Overall: The new Honda CBR500 is cool. The new Suzuki 250 - meh. Too heavy and too much money for a 250.

Patrick, What does the sign say about your bike?
I cant make it out.

[adidasguy]

Sorry they didn't mention GStwins.com. I could not have done it without all the help from the members here.
They did the final write-up.

[codajastal]

Sorry they didn't mention GStwins.com. I could not have done it without all the help from the members here.
They did the final write-up.

But thats a great write up for you bike though

[Bluesmudge]

I wish I could make it, but I leave for Cancun Mexico on Saturday and I have been too busy getting ready for that. Junior looks great!

[mister]

Nice one addy

I agree the tw is big for a 250 but that's what makes me think it will become the new 500. I actually like the look in person...

[Watevaman]

 Man that's a beautiful GS. Compared to the modern fairings, it looks so much better to me. Black and red color scheme, nothing really "in your face" about it. You did a great job on it.

[Suzuki Stevo]

The GW250 is too much money for such a heavy bike.

Have you ever done a cost to weight ratio on a Harley? 

(Lolz...I couldn't help myself)

[gsJack]

The GW250 is too much money for such a heavy bike. The CBR500 was lighter - about same weight as out GS500.......................The GW250 just seemed too big and bulky for a 250.

Actually the GW250 is about 20# lighter than both my naked 02 GS and the new naked CB500F according to published figures.  Suzuki still has the GW250 marked TBA as far as price goes but it's estimated to be about $4100 same as CBR250R w/o anti-lock brakes.  It does have about an inch lomger WB than the others.  My first though when I saw the curb wt of the GW250 was that the frame and suspension were designed for a 400-500cc bike as mister suggests above.  I look forward to seeing it at the International Bike Show when it gets here in late Jan.

[gsJack]

Had these specs available on my desktop pics so I copied them here:

                                Seat        Curb           Tank
                    WB      Height     Weight       Capacity

02 GS500     55.3"      31.1"       423#        5.3 Gal

GW250         56.3       30.7         401           3.5

CBR250R      53.9       30.6          357           3.4

CB500F        55.5       30.9          420           4.1

Ninja 300     55.3       30.9          379           4.5

[jestercinti]

Although the suzuki 250 forums would not have carb and jetting threads, they would be replaced with power commander settings, what type of antifreeze do I use, and how can I make my 250 as fast as a cbr1000rr...

And, at least 1 oil thread 

[xunedeinx]

That is one sexy GS

[jestercinti]

Edit:  Thought I was in LPW.

Glad to see things are going well.

[BockinBboy]

Edit:  Thought I was in LPW.

Glad to see things are going well.

Lol I had read the original post and I was thinking 'wha...?'

Thanks for the laugh. 

- Bboy

[BockinBboy]

Looks like an awesome event. Waiting for something like that closer to my area.

- Bboy

[adidasguy]

Looks like an awesome event. Waiting for something like that closer to my area.

- Bboy

By your profile, you're close to Chicago so......

http://www.motorcycleshows.com/chicago