newbie

[zwoodward]

Hi guys,
My name is Zac and I will be taking my MSF class starting the 26th at the local Harley dealer on a Buell Blast. If all goes well I will be getting my license on May 1. At the end of May I will be looking to purchase a bike and I want a brand new one, mainly because it will be my primary mode of transportation and I really like the idea of a Warranty. My dad, a rider of 30+ years, will be cosigning with me and we have been discussing bikes. I definitly wanna stay away from the 600 supersports because I've scared myself plenty on a 70cc before so i was looking at the GS500F vs the Honda 599. I was originally looking at a Triumph Speed Four but my dad discussed his concerns with me and none of it had much to do with  hp or power delivery. He is mostly concerned about braking and handling being too sharp for a beginner. While the 599 does have significantly more brakes than the GS500 it is no where near supersport class, and while it is supposed to handle well its not supposed to do the supersport hobby horse shake over bumps. I’m not sure which to go with, my brain says GS500 but my heart says Honda 599. Also, my friend, whos actually a rather smart guy, wouldnt listen to my reasoning and bought a 2004 GSX-R600. I know he wont do anything stupid  and he'll probably be one of my main riding buddies, but I also worry about having a bike that I can keep up with him on without too much of a struggle. Suggestions are welcome.
Thanks, Zac

[soon2briding]

go with the gs500.. and for now dont worry about keeping up with him.. ride in your own comfort zone... know your riding limits and know that you need experience... and im guessing you are a brand new rider?
i think the gs500 has plenty of power for a starter bike

[gitarman]

Hey man good to here there's another rider out there. I guess its understandable that you want a warranty but won't you be crying the first time you lay a brand new bike down? It seems, and most people here agree, that buyin an used bike to start is a good idea. That said, the GS is a great bike, I don't know much about the 599 other than the mag. articles so I can't comment too much on that.

I guess if you think you can handle the extra power on the 599 (and maybe the extra insurance) I'd say go for what you want. Don't base it on keeping up with your buddy tho. He might out gun you on the straights but if you are both starting out technique is more important. He'll use the power to get him out of predicaments but you'll have to learn to use skills; eventually that will pay off with YOU becoming a better rider.

[Jace009]

if you scared your self with a 70cc bike I think 487cc [the gs] is going to make you piss your pants if you twist that throttle...I know I amlost did my first time :nana: ...anyhoot the gs's braking is very strong. It will lock up both tires before you realize what has happened. IMHO any bike under 750cc's equiped with disc brakes is good to go in the brakeing department. In our MSF class we used "old" honda rebel 250's...can we say wimpy drum brakes?  ya when I took the gs out for it's first voyage I nearly came off the bike.

That brings me to the point the newer gs500F's have the fairing if the bike hits the ground the plastic cracks. As a 2year rider now I can still see me droping the bike [cough again] if I do not pay attention. Most people drop the bike at some point. Usually in the driveway when the side stand sinks in

[zwoodward]

The GS and the 599 actually cost me the same on insurance. To clarify on being scared on the  70cc, my dad taught me to ride on a highly modded Buell blast with somewhere above 40 hp and I was very comfortable on that, just on the 70 one day (after i swapped the exhaust and put a carb on from a 125cc) i grabbed way too much throttle and it put the front wheel much higher in the air than I would have expected for a 70, caught me off guard. I'm not too concerned about the plastics, first thing ill do if i get the GS is put on frame and bar sliders. As far as the commuting goes, the GS does have the fairing but I know tons of people commute without fairings. If i get the job I want I will be riding over 20 miles each way to work. How would the GS fair on the trip?
Thanks,
Zac

[mwdbruno]

I ride about 15 miles or so to work as much as humanly possible and have no problems.  I do get hit by some winds this time of year, but nothing impossible.

[scratch]

Good for you taking the MSF course! What does your dad suggest?
I would first suggest used, but if you are determined to buy new (nothing wrong with that), I would suggest the GS. It is small, light, unintimidating, handles great, inexpensive and forgiving. Handling is important to me because if the bike doesn't handle well it wont help when you get into trouble.
As far as your freind goes, you should be learning how to ride and gaining more experience riding than trying to keep up with him. Be careful that he doesn't suck you into a turn and you end up getting in over your head and crashing. The GS, if you do get into trouble that you can handle, should be able to accept whatever steering inputs, throttle changes and braking (if any) to get you out of it.

The GS is definitely a great commuter bike that is more than comfortable enough, and with the fairing it will be even better! (I'm only doin' 10 miles)

[JLKasper]

Zac,

Without having met you, it sounds like you've got your head screwed on properly.  Since your pop is ready to co-sign on the note, and thinks with his experience you're up to the challenge of a new bike, you must have it goin' on.  I'm probably your dad's age (or older), so I hope my advice doesn't sound so fatherly, but experienced as well.

The one bike of my 25 years of motorcycling I wish I had back was my '81 Kawasaki KZ550A.  In a lot of ways, it reminds me a lot of the 599; a good but not high tech engine, decent handling, manageable size, and favorable reviews by experts in the magazines.  It wasn't quite cutting edge when I bought it in '82, but it was fine for my needs.  The bike it replaced was a 1978 Suzuki GS400, which was buzzier, a bit underpowered for interstate riding (even with a 55 mph limit), and didn't stop or ride as well either.  In a lot of ways, the comparison between today's GS and the 599 is similar (with the exception of the fairing).  The 599 certiainly looks more appealing than the new GS.  Not only can it better keep up with current 600s, but would be more capable for high-speed travel as well, given the addition of some wind protection.

If you're willing to be careful during the learning curve, you'll be rewarded with a bike you can keep for years and will provide you with solid performance that won't go out of style.  Hondas consistently rate highly for the quality of the finished package, which can't be said for the GS.  Even after rejetting the carbs and changing suspension components, you'll end up with a bike that still falls short of a 599.  Listen to your old man (and if you listen to me, get the yellow one )!

Edit:  One of my favorite Hondas of all time was the CB400F ('75-'77).   It came out in yellow one year, and was lot like the 599; down in horsepower to its (2 stroke) contemporaries, but a smoother and more sophisticated piece.

[newtonent]

I have owned three GSs and have been very pleased with them.The new GS-F is probably the best one yet .I have a friend that ownes one and loves it. As far as the 599 Honda goes I have read some poor reports on it .It is a bit over priced and not all that good an all purpose m/c. If you are looking for a good all-around m/c the GS is hard to beat.If you want something a little quicker I suggest an EX 500 Ninja is a good choice,but maintence is costlier.Another good choice is the Katana 600. Each can be bought for between $5K-$6K new! Go out, sit on them,and decide which one best fits you. In the end its your money,and your the one who is going to live with it. Keep us posted and happy motoring!

[TheGoodGuy]

here is the deal.. i wouldnt recommend the 599 just because its a 4 cylinder bike..

more over your friend is starting on a GSXR.. you will beat him in the canyons when you get good.. he might get going faster on a straight line, but the first corner that he overestimates.. he is going to go down..

Get the GS, and upgrade the suspension and learn to ride the proper way.. the GSXR and the 599 are way too much of a bike..

[mp183]

Get the GS.  You want something to learn on.  The worst thing that will happen in a year you will want a more powerful bike.  The best thing will be that you will be safe and alive.  Don't worry if you take a loss on the bike.  It's not about money.  This weekend an 18 year old High School student was killed in our town and it breaks my heart.  I don't know what he was riding because it was hard to tell from the newspaper picture.  It did not look like a beginners bike.  Good luck and be safe.

[manofthefield]

I'd have to sit on one and maybe ride it, but I think I would love to have a 599.  It just looks damn good IMO.  Not to mention better quaility and more power.  That being said, I agree with whoever said it's overpriced.  Also, I know that I will be a better biker for having the GS500 as my first bike.  The fairing will help a lot for commuting, at least on those windy spring days that I've had all week :x   Bottom line: I think the GS would be a better bike for your purposes.

Oh yeah, I will be taking my MSF with those Harley theives the first weekend in June.  300 bucks?!  Well it was the earliest I could take it, if I would have even got into the other ones at all.  I am looking forward to trying out the Blasts, and to see how far superior my bike is  

[JLKasper]

Hmmm...  It appears I'm alone for recommending the 599, but since this is the GS forum, I can't say that I'm surprised.  I have noticed a couple of comments I should comment on:

I have never read anything negative about the 599, aside from its asking price.  For less money you can get a FZ-6 or SV650S; both with more features (fairing, FI) and similar performance.  The Yamaha was damned by faint praise in the recent Motorcyclist comparison, and the 599 would have beaten the SV had it not been for points deducted for a high asking price.  The conclusions are that the 599 is greater than the sum of its parts.  Despite a low-tech steel frame and carburetors instead of FI, the package works.  

The 599 is too much bike for a newbie who chooses to attempt to emulate Valentino Rossi in the canyons; but if ridden in a sensible manner, it's not that much worse than wringing the piss out of a comparatively  underpowered bike like the GS.  Since Zac's dad only rightfully discouraged a S4 or a supersport, I must believe he thinks with his experience that the lad is up to a 599's capabilities.  

Last but not least:  since when is a 4 cylinder Honda such a disadvantage?  Granted, maintenance costs are higher (16 valves vs. 4), and it'll be harder to sync the carbs under a shadetree.  After 35 years of'em though, I think Honda has gotten the knack of building reliable fours.

I can't comment on the 599's stability, but I know that my GS has been blown around in crosswinds a lot more than I'd like; much more so than my old KZ which weighed about 40 pounds more (like the 599).  My money's still on the 599 for everyday use over the GS.

[pantablo]

Hmmm...  It appears I'm alone for recommending the 599....

 My money's still on the 599 for everyday use over the GS.

You're not alone.

I went the route of learning on a gs500. I think its a great first bike. probably  THE best first bike for a variety of reasons and I'm glad I did it this way. BUT I think the 599 is just as capable a first bike as the universally acknowledged  sv650. If you're going to get a NEW bike then get the 599. It has the old cbr600f2 motor and I consider that bike a good first bike too, "for a mature rider". It is an excellent bike (I heard from owners, no personal experience). I think it IS overpriced though. 4cyl engines can be peaky which makes them great to ride below about 7k rpms but a bit dangerous if ridden aggressively (for a newbie). The sv650 vtwin is more forgiving in that respect.

599 gets my vote in your particular case but I would strongly suggest buying a used gs500 first and ride that for a year before you commit to the inevitable newbie drop. You can buy one for under $2k (or buy my 2001 for $2800!) and sell it in a year for what you paid. THEN you'll have a better understanding of how you like to ride and what bike might suit your needs best. THEN drop some serious coin on a long term bike.

Oh and are you sure its the MSF course by Buell and not their Riders Edge course. They are slightly different a) not sure insurance accepts that in place of MSF (if they give you an MSF discount), b) graduating the Riders Edge class wont automatically get your driving test waived like the MSF will, and c) you'll be riding a Buell...

[bmagnant]

I was in your same situation.  I just took the MSF class and wanted a bike.  If you are set on buying a brand new bike i dont know if i would by a GS500.  I just bought a used one and i love it.  It is great to start with.  But i do see myself upgrading in a year or two.  I know little about the 599 but i would think about what bike you are goin to want in 3 years when you are still paying on the loan.  

I'm very happy with the used starter bike and moving up from there.

Good luck

[zwoodward]

Yeah its definitly the MSF basic course, my buddy with the gixxer took it and used it as a waiver for his license, also checked all the paperwork before i signed up. In my area it seemed the cheapest class was $250 but they only schedual on the weekends, the Harley dealer allowed me to schedual on a Mon,Wed, and Friday, so the money i save by not taking off of work during the weekends far offsets the $30 more that it costs at the Harley dealer. Dad's Blast is pretty nice, but thats my problem with the blasts, if I got one i would like one like his and the amount of money and work he put in it, I might as well get the 599. I havent considered the SV because of Insurance, I got quotes on progressive and there seems to be a 600cc barrier, something like the speed four or 599, even the gs500, are around 587 a year for the coverage i looked at and the SV is above 1700 a year.
Zac

[passive357]

i have also seen motorsports racing school which have a virtual fleet of race prepared suzuki gs500s for all the students starter bike.

i have been riding a '91 gs500 for 2 months and am extremely happy with its performance. i am a new street rider although i have alot of experience with motorcycles for off road use. this helps with being new to the road but there are many new things to learn. the gs500 is a great ride and i am always inpressed with its agility. the more experience is gain, the more the bike shows its potential.

i would recommend this bike to most begginners except for maybe very large people. my manager rode my bike. he is about 6'6" 350 lbs. that was rediculous.

[newbieone]

You may want to consider the SV650s as an option. It has about the same power as the 599, but much better ergonomics than the 599. Plus it's still a Suzuki, all around the sv is a bad ass ride!.  Good luck.

[Rema1000]

If I had to buy a new bike as a first bike, I'd get a Ninja 250.  Now there's a bike that demands to be ridden hard, just to get around.  For a first bike, you need to learn to use it, not be afraid of it.  You won't learn as much on the faster bikes (and by that, I include the SV650 and 599).

But I wouldn't recommend new; I'd get used, sturdy and pre-dented for a first bike.  And for that, the GS is a great choice.