The recent short article in Cycle World comparing the GS500F and the Ninja 500, stated that these two bikes might be the best deals in inexspensive "sport tourers".Anyone care to comment on the GS500F, or earlier GS's, as a sport tourer?I am thinking of getting a new GS500F, but the local dearler that has three 2004s left doesn't allow test rides.He also has a leftover 2003 Katana 600 for $5700.00, and a used 2003 Kat also.So I mentioned to the salesman that I would like to take the used Kat for a test ride-that way I wouldn't be putting any miles on a new bike.It was then that he told me no test rides.They will sell you a bike, and if you don't like it, you can bring it right back for a refund.Now I have had many offers to let me test ride new motorcycles at lots of dealers.I even went to the factory Buell test ride day at a local dealer, where you could test ride any Buell all day long on group rides.So I'm a little miffed about the no test ride policy, and would rather buy my bike at a place that allows test rides, but the no test ride dearler seems to be the only one that has any of these bikes left.
Birdmove :dunno:
I would never buy a bike without test riding it first, and would not recommend buying from that dealer. My reason being that it's fuzzy logic to expect someone to buy a bike that they've never even ridden. :roll: I wonder what other jankey policies they have up their sleeve...
Your other option would be to test ride the same model at another dealer then going back to the first dealer and buy the bike, if the price is better. Or you could get in touch with a local club and see if one of its members would let you ride theirs.
Where you located?
I'm near the Seattle-Tacoma area in Washington State.
Jon Neet
Funny that, so do I. My bike is fairly disassembled right now and after it is reassembled, in about a week or so, it will have k&n pod filters, aftermarket exhaust, aftermarket handlebars, and will be rejetted. So it won't be quite the bike that you would be purchasing, but would be indicative of the potential that your bike would have. Would be best for you to ride it before I make all the mods.
I am in the Georgetown area about a mile south of Safeco field.
None of my local dealers give test rides either... just the HD. So I feel your pain too. It was just another reason for me to buy used.
Locally here, Hinshaws Honda/Suzuki/Victory has test rides (maybe not the high dollar Victorys?), I-90 Motorsports has test rides on all there bikes (saw a guy Saturday test riding a Rocket Three Triumph), Cycle Barn told me to come up and test ride a Triumph Speed Four,etc., etc. But the biggest dealer in the area, RMC Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki/Yamaha won't do test rides.
Jon Neet
I'm pretty sure Bob Lamphere's allows test rides, and I know for sure that Aurora Suzuki does. I have had only good experiences with the people at Bob Lamphere's and recommend them highly. Just don't go to Aurora Suzuki to get any work done. You can, you'll just end up getting ripped off in a major way for shoddy quality work. They wanted to charge me $200 dollars to rejet my carbs, when it really should only take a couple of hours of your time and $16 in parts. Pretty much everything regarding maintenance you can do on your own with a basic tool set and the advice of the people here on the board, with the exception of mounting and balancing tires.
Quote from: BirdmoveAnyone care to comment on the GS500F, or earlier GS's, as a sport tourer?
What kind of info are you looking for? If you're curious about the kinds of traveling that have been done on a GS500, see:
Trips section on my homepage (link below)
*
red_phil's
Little GS on a big tour of Scotland. thread
*
pizzleboy's
Well, I'm back!" thread
*
This map of
davipu's personal Iron Butt practice run. It took him all of ... 5 or 6 riding days?
* Others that I don't have time to look up. :( [/list:u]
For related info, see also the
Question for Kerry thread and do searches on "touring" and "luggage" and "windshield".
I would never say that the GS is a plush ride. (I dunno, maybe the '01+ seat is better than the '89-'00 one?) Nor that it has all the power you would ever want for going uphill or for decisive passing at highway speeds. But it certainly gets the job done. I may move "up" someday to a larger "more capable" touring machine. We'll see. But if anybody tries to tell me that I can't get there from here on my GS...!
I've probably related this before, but a funny thing happened on my first (and longest) long ride in 2001. I had ridden from The Salt Lake City area in Utah to Decatur, Alabama to visit my parents. (2000 miles out, 1800 miles back.) On the return trip -- about 500 miles from home -- I stopped at a WalMart in Canon City, CO. Two older gentlemen were looking at my bike as I came out of the store . One of them looked at the license plate and said, "Don't tell me you came all the way from
Utah on that thing!" :? :? ... :lol: :lol:
Alot of shops do not do test rides because of the liability involved with allowing somebody who has never ridden a m/c before in their life, without any protective gear, hop on a brand new two-wheeled vehicle that requires more coordination than walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Somebody has toured the U.S. on a '77 Honda CB350 twin...two up! So, why not on a GS.
Quote from: scratchAlot of shops do not do test rides because of the liability involved with allowing somebody who has never ridden a m/c before in their life, without any protective gear, hop on a brand new two-wheeled vehicle that requires more coordination than walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Most places will check your license to see if you are endorsed, make you sign a waiver, slap a helmet on your noggin and send you off on your way with a smile on their face and dollar signs in their eyes. I think in these kinds of cases, a waiver would hold up well in court. It's really hard to make a dealer negligent if they take these necessary precautions.
It's also possible that only high-volume dealers can afford the insurance.
Quote from: scratchSomebody has toured the U.S. on a '77 Honda CB350 twin...two up! So, why not on a GS.
Indeed! In fact, Robert Pirsig's book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" was partially based on a real motorcycle trip he took with his son and two (married to each other) friends of the family. He and his son rode all the way from Minneapolis to the California coast -- and back, I assume.
I can never remember what kind of bike they rode (except that it was a Honda) but ~350cc sounds right. Maybe some of the old-timers can tell by looking at
pictures from the actual 1968 trip?
I recon if the dealers around here did not do test rides they would have to rely on selling a lot of helmets, gloves and jackets to make a living.
The biggest dealership around here recently won a "best dealer in UK" award from one of the bike mags. He is a Honda dealer and I bought the "wild blue Honda" from him in 2001. Given Honda's vast range he does not have a demonstrator for every bike but has most of the popular ones. Once of twice a year he gets a "Honda Roadshow" for a whole weekend or a Sunday, it usually turns into a big event BBQ etc with all sorts of demonstrations by top level pro riders and rideouts for begginers, and unfortunatley for me, last time a four hour waiting list to ride a superbike so I missed out! They also do much more frequent begginers days at both their branches and riding school. I don't think they would put in that kind of effort unless they believed it was worthwhile.
I don't see why the old workhorse GS should not make a sports tourer, it can carry as much luggage as pretty much any bike and I think "sports" touring is a state of mind realy, you need to ride comfortably within your own limitations and you don't need a 1300cc shaft-drive to do that.
A CB360. It looks so small! I do remember the other bike, the BMW R65, in the book. Never got to finish that book. Maybe I'll have the wife pick me up a copy for Christmas.
Quote from: Cal Price...you don't need a 1300cc shaft-drive to do that.
The equivalent of a two-wheeled Winnebago. Sorry, I don't want to fall asleep on a two-wheeled couch with a sterio. Much less in a four-wheeled, two-ton, climate-controlled, surround-sound couch.
In the book Pirsig mentions getting that loaded-down CB360 up to 90mph :o .
In an email interview printed at the back of the 1999 (25th Anniversary) Edition ...
Quote from: PirsigThe cycle that Chris and I rode is still in our garage and runs well. But I am now 70, have never had an accident and decided some years ago to quit while I am still ahead.
Anything to say to that (and touring in general)
gsJack? :)
Scratch,
Absolutely!
There are bikes more suited to STing, but;
The GS is up to the task mechanically, if you are.
Dom, where is this Bob Lamphere's? Right now, it seems about everyone is sold out of the GS500 2004 models except for RMC's, which has three.Is Bob Lamphere's, and RMC (Renton Motorcycle Co.) the same? If so, a salesman told me just Sunday, that they do not do test rides.
Understand, I've been riding street legal motorcycles for about 335 years, and dirt riding for 6 years before that.I've owned about 19 motorcycles, and never a ticket or accident yet.So, I don't care for this no test ride.
Jon Neet
335 years? Wow I didn't know they had bikes back in the 1600's.
:lol:
Yeah, RMC...
Wierd, I just called them and they said that in some instances they do allow it. I have never test ridden there but I've talked to somebody who has, so maybe it was one of those rare instances(coulda been a used bike). Sorry for the wrong information, I would hate for you to drive all the way there for no good reason. :oops: The offer to ride mine still stands, just give me a pm and we can set something up on a dry weekend. If you don't mind riding it without the plastic...I'm trying to let the clear coat harden before I start riding it again.
Oops.Thats 35 years.
I just called a dealer in Olympia, Wa.-Paulsons-that doesn't charge any freight or setup charges this time of year(only during peak season).Seems like a good policy to me to get some sales during their slow season.So on a new 2004 GS500F you pay the $4999.00 (unless you can talk them down a bit), sales tax, and license, and thats it.
Jon Neet
rider of 335 years
Just remembered, I know that Aurora Suzuki had a used gs500e there a couple of weeks ago, might still be there. I think they wanted $2400 for it with 6000mi. Don't remember the year. If you call, ask for Ryan Schomber. Good luck :thumb:
BTW, GS for sale on craigslist: http://seattle.craigslist.org/mcy/47536919.html
Quote from: DomBTW, GS for sale on craigslist: http://seattle.craigslist.org/mcy/47536919.html
Sellers of used bikes are often more flexible than dealers... especially if you show-up, in gear, on a motorcycle.