I'm wondering how many owners here are experienced riders that have owned many other motorcycles, but have still chosen the GS500 as their ride? I ask partly because, I have 35 years of street riding experience, and 6 years of dirt riding before that. I have owned 18-19 motorcycles ranging from 90cc Trail 90 Honda, to 750cc Honda, and 1000cc H.D. And yet, I'm thinking of buying a new GS500F for myself. My wife doesn't really show any interest in riding on the back any more, so I don't need as much power. I'm 51 years old, so I've gotton over at least some of that youthful bravado (some, not all). I ride for myself and don't care what anyone else thinks of my ride. I mostly commute, go on some fun weekend backroad riding on some nice twisty roads near me. I like good gas mileage, and a Suzuki GS450ST that I had years ago got 60-65 mpg. Also, I like the fairing on the new ones, and hoefully it will give me some rain protection in out ever present Pacific Northwest weather.
I was in a dealership a few weeks ago looking at a GS500F. The salesman was talking with me, and I told hi, I was not a newby rider. Of course he tried to talk me out of the GS500F and into an SV650. He flat told me the GS was a begginers bike and that I would not be happy with it, and would be after more power immediateley etc.
So thats why I'm asking about how many of you are riding GS500s because you like them even though you are very experienced bikers.
Right now I'm riding a Kawasaki KLR250 dual sport. Its an absolute blast on trails, but marginal on the freeways-yes, I do ride it on freeways at 55-65, even 70 mph. The KLR is one tough motorcycle and never complains. But I want the ability to load up sleeping bag, tent, etc., and take off on a trip (riding solo) even if I have to ride a 500 mile day on a freeway.
Thanks, Jon Neet
I'm one. Riding 18 years. 650 Maxim, 550 Vision, FZR400, 750 Bonnieville, and had a GS500 previously in Hawaii; liked it so much I bought another one.
There is definitely others. They'll chime in.
Jon, you can put me near the top of your list of experienced riders with a GS500. I got my first bike at age 52 in 1984 and have logged over 320,000+ miles since then. I've had 6 bikes since then in order they were/are: CB400T, CB750K, CM400A, CB650SC, GS500E, and my present main ride a 02 GS500.
Bought the 97 GS500E new in 99 and it now has 79k+ on it. It was totalled out last summer and I restored it and it is now my winter/backup bike. Bought the 02 in Sept 03 when I found out we will only have new GS's with the full fairings now. I prefer them naked with a add on fairing myself.
I still ride 400-500 mile days on my GS's at 70-80 mph indicated on the freeways carrying a weeks supply of clean clothes, etc. The past few summers I've travelled to the Smoky Mtns to ride with friends thru the mountain twisties and kept up with them and they are mostly on liter bikes.
Years ago real riders travelled all over this country on the Brit bikes which were standards then. This beginner bike nonsense from the sales people and MC mags is just a bunch of baloney. They want to sell as much bike as they can and it is easy when most American purchasers are mostly image oriented in their purchases.
Just look at your GS500 as your modern day 70 Bonnie.
http://members.aol.com:/jcprrp/GS500vsT120.txt
Thanks for the replys here. Jack, one of my motorcycles was a 1976 Honda CB750K model I bought brand new in '76. When I finally sold it, it had over 30,000 miles on it. Now, my wife and I rode that bike, with full camping gear, from our home in Bonney Lake, Wa., (say, 30 miles S/SE of Seattle), down the Wa. and Or. coast highways and into Ca. down to Santa Cruz. The 750ccs were needed pulling all that weight with gear. We left Wa. State on Oct. 23rd, so lots of warm gear was needed. But I wouldn't bo loading the GS like that-just me riding with no passenger.ight take the wife on some short rides, but no long ones.
Jon Neet
The 89 GS I have with 46K now, was my fifth bike... Had a Ninja 600, a Nitehawk 650, a Kat 600 and a virago 535... Its the only one of that lot I still own, its in short the best of that lot, and I might add all of those were excellent bikes, I have owned 2 Kat 6's, 2 Virago 535's, 3 nitehawk 650's, and 5 GS500's so far.... Its the best of the lot, durability and reliability as well as ease of trouble shooting and repair are un matched ... I was 26 when I bough the GS and am 35 ... 2 months to 36 now, and my opinion of the GS has only gotten better in the 10 years I had it. I have continued to experiment, Have had a KZ440, a Vulcan 750, a GSXR 1100, 4 eliminator 9/10's, and still rank the GS at the top.
Recently a friend bought a GS and in the last 6 months has managed to put 7K miles on it, and save for 1 incident or petcock related issues which they misdiagnosed and messed up the carbs etc, its been rock solid.
And I am with Jack... Naked is cool, heck If I thought we'd in the near future run out of naked GS'es on the used market ... I'd have bought a naked 02 myself... :lol: ... and I have a preferance for the 89-00 style ... due to the body parts I have collected up for that style ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Yeah, when my nephew was looking for a street bike (he had lots of dirt bike experience) a few years ago, I found him a really nice, low mileage older GS500 (can't remember what year) for a good price, and he really like it.
Jon Neet
still have my first bike...RZ350
had since then.....
ysr 50
RS125 race
F2
F3
GSXR600
SV650
GSXR750
another GSXR600 in basement...gonna sell it
ZX7R.....most uncomfortable bike i have ever ridden
R-1
TL1000-S
FJ1200
The SV replaced my street GS
it uses more oil than my GS did....
I just bought a street frame to convert my crashed race bike
back to a street bike and i will probably sell the SV in about a year or so then ride another GS
it's a cheap POS but it really is fun to out ride squids on liter bikes.....on the street.....cause they are....squids
I wouldnt say Im super experienced
been riding 4-5 years
bikes iv owned in order
93 ninja 600 (sold)
02 ZX6R (current steed)
01 ZX7R (sold)
95 GS (current steed)
00 CBR F4 (sold)
02 R6 (for sale)
I got the GS for my GF to learn how to ride but I ride it occaisionallly
It is a really fun bike to ride, Im not sure if my clutch needs to be adjusted but it was a bit hard for me to get used to taking off from stops without stalling
I was thkning maybe it was just due to less torque than the others but its not so much of an issue, the gs still has some trouble
Iv decided to keep the GS for the long haul, it just seems like it will be a great bike to have around and mod and fiddle with
I've had a bit of experience on bikes, started when i was 5 in the dirt, and been on the road since 16, now 22.
I started on a 82 kawasaki 250 and then a 72 honda 350. Then I rode my brothers ninja and my dads nighthawk. I really like my gs. On the supersports you'll never get to see what the bike can fully do. Insurance is just too much on SS bikes. My dad even loves my little gs. The engine is pretty much bullitt proof, its the same design thats been around for years so parts can be found if needed. so i don't think my gs will be going anywhere. hopefully it will be my nephew's 1st bike. He is 8, My dad will keep it going til then.
You can hit the twisties with it. Cruise at interstate speeds. You can run around town on it. Its a great beginner bike, so what more can you ask for.
I have a 2002 GS500 with over 18,000 miles on it and a DL650 with over 6500 miles on it. I use the GS500 all the time. It's great in urban traffic. Fits between cars nicely. It's a fun bike to run.
There is no comparison between the DL650 and the GS500. They are two different animals. The 650 eats up the miles and is a great long distance bike. It's water cooled so the engine will last a long time. The fuel injection is awsome. The valve adjustment interval is 14,000 miles. The fairing is good. You can hit 100 mph without batting an eye. You get very little indication of how fast you are going besides watching the speedo.
The only problem is that, in my opinion, you have to be 6'"0 tall to be feel comfortable on this bike.
Both bikes get 50+ mpg.
The main difference is when I make up my mind to pass with the DL650 I don't have to think twice. I just twist the throttle and it's done. On the GS500 it requires some mental calculations.
In my situation for 75% of my riding the GS is the better choice. I keep saying that if I had to give up one I would probably keep the GS500, but it's getting harder and harder to convince myself. After the winter I'll probably feel different. Riding that thing with the fairing is like sitting on my living room couch. The seat is better also.
The GS is a great around town bike or can be set up for canyon fun but its not a great freeway ride. If you plan on doing a lot of highway riding look for a bike with more power, liquid engine cooling, and better wind protection and you won't regret it.
I went from an older Honda CBR 600 (not first bike) to a couple GS500s and the difference is quite noticable.
Adam
I'm in your category. Raced Suzuki two stroke triples, my GS-E, owned other bikes - CBR600, a couple of dual sports, 69' Honda CL175 (excellent bike, still have it), CB350, lots of dirt bikes, a Bultaco (has to be one of my favorites).
I would not buy a new GS-F just because I've been putting around on the GS for so long (about 11 years) that I think I'm ready for something new. Everytime I get serious about a new bike though, I go out and the GS fires right up and I hit a cool wheelie down the street and I look at my bank account - "Oh look - NO NEW BIKE PAYMENT"....
And then there's the cool factor of lining up against an EX or a Hyabusa at the drags and kicking their TAIL. The GS is an awesome bracket racer. It's the slowest bike at the track but I beat EVERYBODY (I mean really smoke em') off the line and then watch them come up in the mirror. It's gotta suck buying a new 600RWhatever and having to ride home after the first race.
Now that I think about it, I'll keep the GS. :cheers:
I rode as a kid (in the dirt) and then got a Honda XL350 dual sport when I got my license. After that I got a 1980 GS750 that I put about 30k miles on.
I then quit riding for about 20 years.
I got my GS500 last year and I've put 10K on it already. I use it to commute about 20 miles (it's really like 35 because I ALWAYS take the long way) on country roads. It's a fun bike. Compared to the 750, it's VERY easy to manuver. It feels very light. It's about 40hp so it's NOT really quick. I'd say 0-60 takes about 5 seconds? I mean it will beat any car taking off but it's not REAL fast. It runs smooth without much vibration and 70mph on a county road feels like 25. It will do over 100mph. It feels secure in the curves. The seat hurts my ass after about 40-50 miles.
I'm always thinking about a new bike but when I get on the GS I really like it. Do I NEED something bigger/faster? No, just the typical "want".
I ride with my wife a LOT. Yes, it's underpowered two-up and doesn't stop well with that extra weight either. But, one up it's very adequate.
Overall, I'm happy with it because I got it used with 3k miles for $2500.
What would I do?
I'd think about a KLR650. You seem to like going off-road occasionally and the extra power of the 650 would help out on the highway too. I've thought about one as a second bike because we have a lot of dirt county roads around here. My problem is I always go too fast on the dirt and when something "weird" comes up (deep sand, deep mud, etc.) I don't have time to avoid it. Also, tires that are good in the dirt are not good on the street.
The GS is a great beginners bike and a great choice for us "old timers" who don't need to go tearing up the streets. Two-up it's barely sufficient, one-up it's quite fun. It's feels very light and is easy to handle. I also like the sitting position, not leaned forward, not leaning back, almost straight up.
You need to find one to ride before you decide.
Pick me! Pick me! I have been riding for 29yrs (gee, is it really that long? :o ) and in that time I have owned 20 motorcycles, including such things as an Auto Union 75cc scooter, numerous trail bikes of 125-650cc, various road bikes from 250-900cc and 1, 2, 3, and 4 cylinders, two- and four strokes. I have clocked up probably in excess of 500,000 miles. I have been fortunate to avoid any serious injury, and have only written off one vehicle- a car I hit with my Kawasaki Z900!
The GS500 does everything I need it to do and when I was looking for a replacement for my venerable SR500 single, the GS was at the top of every shortlist I made.
I bought my first GS not long ago after a long time not riding. I am amazed at how attitudes have changed in the last decade or so about bikes. I don't how salespeople can put a newbie on 700-800 cc bikes and send them out the door and every time I go to the local dealer for parts they give me a hard time about my little bike.
I don't know if I fit your description as "experienced" or not. I starting riding on little "mini-bikes" as a kid and have always been comfortable on and off road. However, when I decided to start riding again I took the MSF course and decided the GS was good bike for me. That was based on my experiences on 125-250 dirt bikes and up to 1100 cc road bikes. I have not been unhappy with my choice and the spirit of the GStwin community fits my own outlook (i bet some cable ties will fix that...:roll: )
Why I will stick with the GS or other mid-range bikes:
1. easy to work on
2. cheap insurance
3. great performance/$ ratio
4. like naked bikes
What might make me trade up
1. Wife decides she wants to ride on back frequently
2. Decide to tour extensively
3. Start doing lots of highway riding
4. Brain turns to mush and I start wanting to do stoppies and ride 100+ mph on regular basis. :lol: