A Stock GS is an awesome bike...

[NYNJ8]

...problem is that so many buy their GS from a string of noobs who have molested the hell out of what is a very good stock bike.  In fact, in Stock form, the GS is the best bike of the 7 I've owned, including the SV.  Too often folks buy a GS and before they twist the throttle they have a list of must do performance mods.

I'm one of the lucky ones who got my hands on a stock '06 before it had a chance to turn into Frankenbike with a mishmash of jets and filters, and exhausts etc.  I did inherit a neglected carb but I think its a blessing because it kept the PO from riding it.  My bike starts on the first press, warms up in 2 minutes without choke in 30 degree weather, Accelerates crisply, and it is fast!  That's right, I don't know what my top speed is because it is higher than my normal traveling speeds.  I've had it up to 95mph and it accelerated briskly to 95.  My bike has reasonable fuel economy, manageable weight, very good range, and my two favorites: the centerstand and the price.  I'm only into my '06 for $1300 and it has 2500 miles.  If this bike had FI and somehow shaved off 30lbs I think it would be near perfect.  Yes it has limitations - all bikes do, but for most applications it just fits beautifully. 

I think I am officially one of those grumpy old forum bastards to gets salty and defensive anytime someone asks "how to get more top speed" or "if the GS is a good first bike" or says that they "outgrew the GS". See you guys on the boards

[twocool]

Right on, brother..

Cookie

...problem is that so many buy their GS from a string of noobs who have molested the hell out of what is a very good stock bike.  In fact, in Stock form, the GS is the best bike of the 7 I've owned, including the SV.  Too often folks buy a GS and before they twist the throttle they have a list of must do performance mods.

I'm one of the lucky ones who got my hands on a stock '06 before it had a chance to turn into Frankenbike with a mishmash of jets and filters, and exhausts etc.  I did inherit a neglected carb but I think its a blessing because it kept the PO from riding it.  My bike starts on the first press, warms up in 2 minutes without choke in 30 degree weather, Accelerates crisply, and it is fast!  That's right, I don't know what my top speed is because it is higher than my normal traveling speeds.  I've had it up to 95mph and it accelerated briskly to 95.  My bike has reasonable fuel economy, manageable weight, very good range, and my two favorites: the centerstand and the price.  I'm only into my '06 for $1300 and it has 2500 miles.  If this bike had FI and somehow shaved off 30lbs I think it would be near perfect.  Yes it has limitations - all bikes do, but for most applications it just fits beautifully. 

I think I am officially one of those grumpy old forum bastards to gets salty and defensive anytime someone asks "how to get more top speed" or "if the GS is a good first bike" or says that they "outgrew the GS". See you guys on the boards

[GS500Schultz]

WELL SAID!

[dennisgb]

You hit the nail on the head. The other post with the guy that was looking at how to get more top speed is quite bizarre...especially comparing the GS500 to sport bikes with twice the HP.

I bought my GS500 to learn how to ride again after 30+ years away. I wanted something lighter and easier to handle but with enough power to be able to ride at highway speeds safely. The biggest problem with smaller starter bikes is they struggle on the highway and that can be dangerous.

I ended up liking the GS500 so much I have kept it. I have other bikes that do different things better but the GS is always fun to ride. It's bone stock and won't get modded...oh I did put a tail light flasher on it and raised the bars because I like a more upright riding position due to a bad back.

[NYNJ8]

I do love small displacement bikes which I consider to be anything under 500cc.  Had a TU250, Ninja250r, xt225, and an older Suzuki 250 back in the day.  Only the Ninja allowed me to cover much distance with relative comfort.  Knowing that I could run at 80mph if needed was comforting, though the ride itself at that speed was not comfortable.  Depending on what part of the country you are in 250cc can really be incompetent for spending any real time on the slabs.  The TU was comfortable at speeds but couldn't sustain its speed unless you drafted and rode in a tuck. 

GS can easily cruise at 80mph indicated for long stretches.  And the stock seat and riding position is surprisingly comfortable.  I see why so many consider this bike for commuting. 

[Elmojo]

I totally agree.
I've been down the big bike, big power route.
Now I'm looking for 'fast enough', cheap on gas and insurance, easy to work on myself, cheap parts, etc..
The GS ticks all those boxes for me, and many I'm sure I haven't even discovered yet.
Can't wait to get my new toy on the road.

[dennisgb]

Yes some of the smaller bikes are awesome. Here's one that I wish Honda had sold in the USA.

It's a CBR250RR Fireblade "Baby Blade" 4 Cylinder, Dual Overhead Cams, Water Cooled. Red line is 20,000 RPM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyKIhIAVE1c

Check out the rev limit here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwyksKx6txo

[Alan_nc]

Seem to be two groups of riders for GS500's: New folks and Mature (returning riders) .....yes I know there are many others.

I've ridden 1200cc BMW's for the past 15 years then bought a VStrom to sort of downsize.  I got tired of moving the big bikes around in a parking lot or in and out of the garage.  The GS is light, has plenty of power for road speeds and is comfortable enough for long rides.  I've put 500 miles on in a day with no problem.

Paid $900 for an 02 in very good condition.  Keep liability insurance only on it so it is really cheap to own.

Whats not to like..................

[MeeLee]

You kidding me?
fuel efficiency in the 50s is worse than the klr650, cb500x, and nc700x which all have above 60mpg, way more torque and 10-20mph more top speed.

engine SUCKS below 3k rpm.
and the new gamma of sport bikes and budget touring bikes, and standard bikes all have at least 50lbs shaved off the gs500 weight. (Cb500x, CB300x, yamaha sr400,...).
Stock handlebars are NOT comfy, everyone i know that ever had one all say it's a pain to ride in the city due to low/faraway handlebars
bulky...

Technology has advanced guys, time to update your views on what is good.

I'll tell you what I like about the gs:
i payed $2k for it. About 1/3 the price of any other bike of this caliber, and pricewize the same as the 250cc bikes.
some parts are cheap. Easy to work on. Center stand.

It is a beginners bike indeed, does what most people need, but the bad handlebar position, and the low mpg (60 after mod), make me want to get another bike (80mpg after mod)

[twocool]

Get rid of your GS500 immediately...it is the wrong bike for you!


Cookie

You kidding me?
fuel efficiency in the 50s is worse than the klr650, cb500x, and nc700x which all have above 60mpg, way more torque and 10-20mph more top speed.

engine SUCKS below 3k rpm.
and the new gamma of sport bikes and budget touring bikes, and standard bikes all have at least 50lbs shaved off the gs500 weight. (Cb500x, CB300x, yamaha sr400,...).
Stock handlebars are NOT comfy, everyone i know that ever had one all say it's a pain to ride in the city due to low/faraway handlebars
bulky...

Technology has advanced guys, time to update your views on what is good.

I'll tell you what I like about the gs:
i payed $2k for it. About 1/3 the price of any other bike of this caliber, and pricewize the same as the 250cc bikes.
some parts are cheap. Easy to work on. Center stand.

It is a beginners bike indeed, does what most people need, but the bad handlebar position, and the low mpg (60 after mod), make me want to get another bike (80mpg after mod)

[MeeLee]

Get rid of your GS500 immediately...it is the wrong bike for you!


Cookie


I'll sell it to you for $3k

You kidding me?
fuel efficiency in the 50s is worse than the klr650, cb500x, and nc700x which all have above 60mpg, way more torque and 10-20mph more top speed.

engine SUCKS below 3k rpm.
and the new gamma of sport bikes and budget touring bikes, and standard bikes all have at least 50lbs shaved off the gs500 weight. (Cb500x, CB300x, yamaha sr400,...).
Stock handlebars are NOT comfy, everyone i know that ever had one all say it's a pain to ride in the city due to low/faraway handlebars
bulky...

Technology has advanced guys, time to update your views on what is good.

I'll tell you what I like about the gs:
i payed $2k for it. About 1/3 the price of any other bike of this caliber, and pricewize the same as the 250cc bikes.
some parts are cheap. Easy to work on. Center stand.

It is a beginners bike indeed, does what most people need, but the bad handlebar position, and the low mpg (60 after mod), make me want to get another bike (80mpg after mod)

[twocool]

THE 10 CENT RULE!!

An arbitrary but fun game to play with vehicles is to see if they can meet the "10 cent rule".

You need to see if the cost of the vehicle comes out to less than 10c per mile....

This is based on your purchase price....financing (if applicaple) and any unforeseen repairs...

You don't count "routine" maintenance costs...don't include gas or oil etc..

So for instance....My Honda Civic cost about $13,000 new....I drove it for 160,000 miles...and re sold it for $2000....

So that was well under the 10c rule!


My GS500 cost $4000 new....I just passed 45,000 miles....so I am already doing better than 10c per mile....Hoping to get 80,000 or more miles...so that will be down to 5c per mile...pretty good!

Getting a used GS500 for $1300 with only 2500 miles on it...has the potential for under 2c per mile!!!! Fantastic....

Take a luxury SUV, on lease....do the math...60c to $1.00 per mile.....ouch!!!!


Cookie

[twocool]

LOL!

Since I bought mine new for $4K....yours would be worth about 1/2 that..."IF" you didn't mess it up with your home brew "modifications"....

I'd say your bike is now worth less than $1000 because somebody would need considerable time and parts to get it back to stock....


You can find plenty low mileage, nice condition, stock, GS500 on Craigslist for asking price around $2K....many can be purchased for less than $2k....

To me your bike has no value at all, since it is all messed up!

Sorry..

Cookie

Get rid of your GS500 immediately...it is the wrong bike for you!


Cookie


I'll sell it to you for $3k

You kidding me?
fuel efficiency in the 50s is worse than the klr650, cb500x, and nc700x which all have above 60mpg, way more torque and 10-20mph more top speed.

engine SUCKS below 3k rpm.
and the new gamma of sport bikes and budget touring bikes, and standard bikes all have at least 50lbs shaved off the gs500 weight. (Cb500x, CB300x, yamaha sr400,...).
Stock handlebars are NOT comfy, everyone i know that ever had one all say it's a pain to ride in the city due to low/faraway handlebars
bulky...

Technology has advanced guys, time to update your views on what is good.

I'll tell you what I like about the gs:
i payed $2k for it. About 1/3 the price of any other bike of this caliber, and pricewize the same as the 250cc bikes.
some parts are cheap. Easy to work on. Center stand.

It is a beginners bike indeed, does what most people need, but the bad handlebar position, and the low mpg (60 after mod), make me want to get another bike (80mpg after mod)

[MeeLee]

My previous vehicles had the $1 rule.
but i included gas, oil and maintenance, and didn't include resale value.

The GS, as crappy as it's fuel mileage is, would still beat any Honda bike out there, including modern 250ccs.

$2k gs, vs $4k random 250cc bike, you'd have to buy about $1.9k on gas, rest on oil to be even from the start.
that's 633 gal of fuel @$3/gal, or 35k miles.
If the gs does 55mpg, and the other does 80mpg, it'd be interesting to know when both bikes will have cost as much as the other.

Ps: my bike is completely stock, save for some of the egr hoses that where removed, and a 35t rear sprocket. I just have to readjust the carburetor after the intake change.

[gsJack]

Get rid of your GS500 immediately...it is the wrong bike for you!


Cookie

[dennisgb]

Technology has advanced guys, time to update your views on what is good.

And your going to tell us about what's good?

Aren't you the one trying to get 150 MPH out of a commuter bike?

[Old Mechanic]

I'll take the technology that created a totally reliable ignition system and the 6 speed tranny, monoshock rear suspension and dohc.
I don't want 4 cylinders, 4 carbs or computers. I like my fuel pump to be gravity and my cooling system to be the atmosphere. I like two cylinders and even one for local riding.

My vehicles
92 Sentra  @ $300 (it does have a computer)
89 GS500E @ $750
65 Honda 50 @ $250
04 GZ 250 @ $650
77 Schwinn Varsity @ $10

regards
mech

[GS500Schultz]

if you honestly think you're going to get 80MPG out of a modded 650, 700, or CB500x/r you're an idiot...

You should sell your GS and buy something else if you seem to hate it so much.

Every part i've seen for this bike is 1/3 the cost of my FZR600, hyosung GT650R, and my CB900C....

You kidding me?
fuel efficiency in the 50s is worse than the klr650, cb500x, and nc700x which all have above 60mpg, way more torque and 10-20mph more top speed.

engine SUCKS below 3k rpm.
and the new gamma of sport bikes and budget touring bikes, and standard bikes all have at least 50lbs shaved off the gs500 weight. (Cb500x, CB300x, yamaha sr400,...).
Stock handlebars are NOT comfy, everyone i know that ever had one all say it's a pain to ride in the city due to low/faraway handlebars
bulky...

Technology has advanced guys, time to update your views on what is good.

I'll tell you what I like about the gs:
i payed $2k for it. About 1/3 the price of any other bike of this caliber, and pricewize the same as the 250cc bikes.
some parts are cheap. Easy to work on. Center stand.

It is a beginners bike indeed, does what most people need, but the bad handlebar position, and the low mpg (60 after mod), make me want to get another bike (80mpg after mod)

[twocool]

$1 per mile is probably a reasonable estimate for the total cost of a typical SUV type of vehicle.

I think the Government allows something like $0.56 per mile for tax purposes....But I think that is based only on OPERATING expense, not including OWNERSHIP expenses.....

Unfortunately  fuel alone is not really a major expense...when you have to figure purchase price, depreciation, maintenance, registration, insurance, etc...

Motorcycles, with low initial cost, and while pretty  good on fuel, are actually fairly expensive to own and operate...

Tires are a big expense...but also maintenance intervals are closer, special oil, chains, sprockets, spark plugs, valve adjustments, special riding gear, jackets gloves, boots...

These pretty much offset any savings in gas of a motorcycle over a car...

Plus most of us have to own a car as well as a motorcycle...so we pay double for lots of things  like registrations, insurance etc...

The difference between 50 MPG and 60 MPG, in regards to the total cost of motorcycle ownership and operation...is meaningless....



Cookie

My previous vehicles had the $1 rule.
but i included gas, oil and maintenance, and didn't include resale value.

The GS, as crappy as it's fuel mileage is, would still beat any Honda bike out there, including modern 250ccs.

$2k gs, vs $4k random 250cc bike, you'd have to buy about $1.9k on gas, rest on oil to be even from the start.
that's 633 gal of fuel @$3/gal, or 35k miles.
If the gs does 55mpg, and the other does 80mpg, it'd be interesting to know when both bikes will have cost as much as the other.

Ps: my bike is completely stock, save for some of the egr hoses that where removed, and a 35t rear sprocket. I just have to readjust the carburetor after the intake change.

[Alan_nc]

Using 10,000/yr and $3.00/gallon for gas:

50 miles per gallon = $600.00/yr
60 miles per gallon = $499.00/yr

Any bike that gets a steady 60/mpg is going to cost a lot more than $1,000 (or have very few cc's).  In my area you can buy a good running GS for $1,000 or less (I sure did).

If you are modding your bike because you just enjoy doing that sort of thing.....great.....but you really aren't gaining much in either speed or mpg.

Just my .02