Man, what's up with the GS500?

[ace50]

Just picked-up this bike (2001) for my daughter and have never seen so many crash marks on engine cases before! This one and many others.
It seems OK when I rode it home. I've never been down, 5 years of riding, average 8K a year on 5 different bikes, up to 830 lbs. like my Royal Star. Is it the bike or just newbs?   

[DoktoroKiu]

As a n00b myself I can attest that the bike is very heavy with a full tank, and if you're vertically challenged like myself it is hard to maneuver it manually. 

[rexpepper651]

newbs. its a good starter bike. i bought a crashed one. few months later i crashed it lol

[gsJack]

Mmmm, hope you can still keep up with that daughter in a few months on that Star. 

[ace50]

Mmmm, hope you can still keep up with that daughter in a few months on that Star.

Please, V4 1300, NOOOOOOOOO problem!

[Twism86]

the bike is very heavy with a full tank

Huh? Very heavy? Even if you have a F version it should weight no more than 435-440lbs full of gas. That is pretty much on par for 500s of this class or just a tad higher. Compared to most motorcycles, this is very LIGHT! 

The GS is popular beginner bike, so its very likely to get dropped a lot over its lifetime as its sold off to new riders. Its not just the GS but all bikes that are popular for new riders.

[cbrfxr67]

gs win

gs win

star win

[Atesz792]

Mmmm, hope you can still keep up with that daughter in a few months on that Star.

Please, V4 1300, NOOOOOOOOO problem!

Just never ever go close to mountains

[DoktoroKiu]

the bike is very heavy with a full tank

Huh? Very heavy? Even if you have a F version it should weight no more than 435-440lbs full of gas. That is pretty much on par for 500s of this class or just a tad higher. Compared to most motorcycles, this is very LIGHT! 

The GS is popular beginner bike, so its very likely to get dropped a lot over its lifetime as its sold off to new riders. Its not just the GS but all bikes that are popular for new riders.

Compared to the 250-ish beginner bikes it is very heavy, but I intended to qualify that statement with "when you're short".  I have no problem moving her around when I'm not sitting on her.  I suppose it's a weight+distribution issue more than a weight issue for me.  That 5.3 gallons is a lot "heavier" on  a 400lb GS than it would be on a heavier bike with more weight in the engine.  Makes her very tipsy.

[ace50]

Mmmm, hope you can still keep up with that daughter in a few months on that Star.

Please, V4 1300, NOOOOOOOOO problem!

Just never ever go close to mountains

That's pretty much all I ride in, in VA, and I love it. I can sling the RS pretty well in the corners.
If I'm on my ZRX1100, you'd have no chance!

[robfriedenberger]

Haha ride a vintage bike for a while....youll find out what a heavy 500 feels like. Yes the GS is ppular newbs, and experienced riders alike, with that said because so many many newbs ride them they crash them too  cheap parts!

[Atesz792]

If I'm on my ZRX1100, you'd have no chance!

That comment is worthless without pics!

[cbrfxr67]

[DoktoroKiu]

Haha ride a vintage bike for a while....youll find out what a heavy 500 feels like. Yes the GS is ppular newbs, and experienced riders alike, with that said because so many many newbs ride them they crash them too  cheap parts!

I agree that a beginners' bike is more likely to have been dropped before.  I just wanted to add a newb's perspective as to one reason why it might be dropped.

I actually think it's the lightness of the GS combined with its fairly large fuel capacity of 5.3 gallons that makes it easy to drop.  A heavier bike will have a lower center of gravity for the same tank capacity.  I guess the proper term is "tipsiness".

Combine said tipsiness with short inseam riders and you get increased chance of dropping the bike.  If she were 1-2 inches shorter it'd be a non-issue for me.

[Alan_nc]

The E is 388 lbs, I've got dirt bikes that weigh more than that.

Try moving a Vstrom or BMW GS around and you will quickly see what 'top heavy' is.

I really think it's the newer folks not understanding HOW to move a bike around.

Once a bike starts to go over .....let it go.... you can really hurt yourself trying to "catch" it or going down with it.

[rexpepper651]

The E is 388 lbs, I've got dirt bikes that weigh more than that.

Try moving a Vstrom or BMW GS around and you will quickly see what 'top heavy' is.

I really think it's the newer folks not understanding HOW to move a bike around.

Once a bike starts to go over .....let it go.... you can really hurt yourself trying to "catch" it or going down with it.

yep! first time i actually laid my bike down was when i was turning around in my work parking lot and was going to slow. i actually slow and gently laid it down. it got past that point of no return lol no damage on that one. the second crash on the other had was a bit more wild.

[Wagoneer]

You all need to spend time at the gym I saw my bike falling over in a driveway (kickstand sunk into very hot soft Tarmac) and I caught it 3" from the ground.

After recently riding a 1700cc Harley, my GS feels like a bicycle.

But in saying that, from going from an empty tank to a full tank in the GS, there is that moment you need to adjust to all that weight in the tank. But in 250lbs, I'm half the weight of the bike, when I sit on it there really doesn't matter how much gas is in the tank.

[GS4me]

But in 250lbs, I'm half the weight of the bike, when I sit on it there really doesn't matter how much gas is in the tank.

I was going to say......  I've heard others say the GS500 is "top heavy" with a full tank but I'm 6' 1" @ 210lbs and never really understood that description.  I'm guessing either a certain height / or weight in the 190lb+ range must just be enough to  make the difference....

[DoktoroKiu]

But in 250lbs, I'm half the weight of the bike, when I sit on it there really doesn't matter how much gas is in the tank.

I was going to say......  I've heard others say the GS500 is "top heavy" with a full tank but I'm 6' 1" @ 210lbs and never really understood that description.  I'm guessing either a certain height / or weight in the 190lb+ range must just be enough to  make the difference....

At ~5'5" 130lbs it is a noticeable difference when I go from an empty to a full tank.  I can see how if someone inexperienced wasn't paying much attention they could let it tip beyond the point of no return, even if they are big and heavy enough to easily handle it most of the time.  That full tank speeds up the tip quite a bit.

I think it has more to do with the seat height than it does with the weight, as I can manhandle the bike all day if I'm standing to the side.  I've noticed more difficulty when switching from canvas boots to real riding boots, as they don't give you as much ankle flexibility when you need to literally be on your toes.  I actually end up using one foot to maneuver, and I'm getting pretty good at it.

[ndlsjk]

I am a member of the short riders club as well, at a staggering 5' 6.5" (yes that .5 matters) and 145Lbs soaking wet, the GS can be top heavy with a full tank of gas. Or without. I haven't dropped it in the year I've owned it, however I can see how it would go from being fine, upright, stable, to "oh shaZam! there's no way..." *crash* quite quickly, esp when rolling it around a garage/driveway.

I did drop my old EX500 due to inexperience, gravel, and a car that forgot what turn signals were....easy to pick up though and cheap to fix.

When I bought up the Kawasaki, me and 3 guys each took a corner and just lifted it up into the back of a pick up truck. So yeah. The 500s aren't actually heavy, they're just tippy.