GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Oh the GS500....
For months i've been drooling and saving it, then i moved to california which sucked up all my motorcycle funds. I've been forced to look at cheaper bikes like the ninja250 since i could get a used one for $1500-2000. Its a nice bike, but i REALLY love the look of the new gs500 '04/'05 with fairing (and the added power/weight is a definite plus since i'll be travelling on the freeway).
So for the past few weeks i've been trying to convince myself i want the 250 ninja, but after stumbling across GStwin.com tonight, i realized i was just fooling myself. Looks like i'll be walking to work for a few more months until i have enough money for the gs500 hahah :)

haha, i just thought i'd share my love of the GS500 with some people who will understand :)

Shaykai

Good things come to those who wait  :thumb:

:) It seems that way, and the GS500 looks like it will be worth the wait!


Shaykai

You should be able to find a good used GS500 for the same money as the Ninja 250. :)

Your right Bob, but I love the look of the fairing on the new models, so i'd most likely get a '04. Of course if i find a good deal on an older GS i might have to go with that.
:)
Shaykai

hey i got my gs for 1,500 get  a used one and you will be good to go :)

Quote from: shaykaiYour right Bob, but I love the look of the fairing on the new models, so i'd most likely get a '04. Of course if i find a good deal on an older GS i might have to go with that.
:)
Shaykai

Oh yea ... fairing snob ....  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: johnGood things come to those who wait  :thumb:

i've been waiting a LOOOONG time for my numbers to come up, and so far no jackpot yet :dunno:

:x I DONT WANT TO WAIT ANY MORE!!! :lol:

oh well,.... l may not win the loto. but at least i get to be with the one i love, my GS........................
OH!!! ya my girlfrend too ;)

:cheers:

Shaykai,
what part of CA are you in? I'm in L.A. area and there are a number of members in San Diego and San Francisco areas.

The gs500F is a good bike but I'm interested to know your long term goals. If you are learning and this is your first bike, then you surely have a "dream" bike out there. Do you? If you do, I would spend less money and get a used gs500 for the time being.

If you want a long term bike then get what your heart calls out to---the gs500. My 2001 gs500, basically the same mechanically as the 04 500f, was a great city bike and a far better commuter than my 600rr. But, since I dont commute or ride in the cityvery much I'm happy with the bigger bike...

The Ninja 250 is a good bike but we all can tell it is not what you want. You want the GS...wait a little longer and get the bike you really want. Never settle....you will regret it if you do.

Just go ahead and finance the thing and get it over with....


fett

Pantablo - I'm in Campbell CA, which is right next to san jose (In fact i walk from campbell to san jose to get to work).
Basically i want the GS as a good beginning bike, and i'll probably have it for at least a year, probably a few years. I plan on using it mainly to commute to and from work and all around the san jose area. I also plan on taking trips up to Carson City to visit my family from time to time.
I want to buy used since its my first bike, and now I'm kind of digging the look of the bike without the fairing (i was just worried about the wind, but i figured out i could put a small windshield on it instead of a fairing to help with that). So now it doesn't really matter what year the bike is, as long as its a GS, and its in good condition. After i save up the money i'll be posting want ads in craigslist and on this forum :)

Jeppy - :) I try not to settle in life, although i agree the ninja is a good bike, i think i'd be happier on the GS.

Fettcols - haha, no financing for me, i want to buy used and fairly inexpensive.

Oh i forgot, pantablo, i do have a dream bike that i'll be getting eventually (honda interceptor, or suzuki gixxer), but i really want to spend some quality time on a bike thats less powerful and learn as much as i can.

Shaykai

get a 2001 and up  :thumb:

i had bought mine for $2400 with 800 miles. since i've put on couple of thousand miles. and have done tones of mods.

before:

(http://www.gleamers.org/gs500/gs_cody.jpg)

after:

(http://www.gleamers.org/gs500/undertail/gs_undertail_side.jpg)

*droooool*

Keep an eye out on BayAreaRidersForum.com and craigslist.org

Will do scratch, i'm an active viewer of both, as well as southbayriders forum. :) (and those are just my motorcycle forums) I'm a forum whore for sure.

Cool! Very good, I go to SBR occationally, too! (rarely as of late, I seem to lurk there more...I don't feel I have as much to contribute positively over there as they have a very knowledgable group of regualrs)

Get naked.   :)

Is there a big difference between pre '01, and '01 and after?

Thanks :)

Shaykai

Carburetors. And, on the '04's+ there may be a further difference on the carburetors, but I haven't been able to get my hands on one. Methinks there is a throttle position sensor on the '04+.

Quote from: shaykaiIs there a big difference between pre '01, and '01 and after?

different carburator...some other small changes (also there were small changes made from year to year) but the biggest change is the appearance. it's got a more refined look. it's got a bigger tank/rear body so it feels bigger too.

pre 01:



01-03



04-05

Thanks for the pics Jetswing :)

Shaykai

Quote from: fettcolsJust go ahead and finance the thing and get it over with....
fett

There's something to be said for that.  $5,149.00 MSRP.  From Suzuki's website:

Assuming 9.95% APR (which is REALLY high, BTW; you can do better), 5 years, estimated payments are $109.27/month.  You can save a whopping $10.27/month for a while (probably catches up to you though) if you take advantage of their:

"Special Offers
<snip>

"Any NEW Suzuki Model, as low as $99* a Month for 60 Months!
Variety and Flexibility! That's what Suzuki's new finance offers are all about. For a limited time, Suzuki is offering payments as low as $99* a month on any New Suzuki Motorcycle, ATV, or Dirt Bike depending on the amount financed. Lower payments are available on approved credit. See financing details for rules."

Of course you have to pass a credit check I'm sure.  I'll let you check "rules" for yourself if you are interested.

OTOH, a used bike has some advantages, like lower insurance which can really add up.  A new one you want insured to the hilt.  (Anyone know what a hilt is...nevermind!).  Then again you are in CA, right?  Which means it will have to pass an inspection.

I hate to say it, but if you like fairing you could try getting a used 500-Ninja.  It seems nobody keeps those long, but they are good bikes.  Hard on my wrists but dang easy to maneuver.  You might also check the posts on adding fairings to used GS500's.  I ignore them because I like my naked '98.  Though when I get the urge and the $$$, I may opt for a new GS myself.

BTW the three pictures in the previous post showing the evolution of the bike give some hint that the seats have gotten better.  Look particularly at how they meet the tanks, to tell  one from the other from a quick eyeballing.  I'm told by pretty much everyone that they have gotten more comfy too.

FWIW,
Mike D.

Quote from: shaykaiIs there a big difference between pre '01, and '01 and after?

Thanks :)

Shaykai

Let's not forget the oil coolers added to the '04's.  Some think that's to compensate for the fairing blocking side winds when you're stuck in stop/go traffic.  Supposedly the fairing better direct air to the engine when it's moving.  I would think that and the oil cooler would be a big help on a long highway ride in hot weather.  But I don't really know.

--Mike D.

Quote from: geekonabikeThen again you are in CA, right?  Which means it will have to pass an inspection

Nope.

An oil cooler would be a big help anywhere, anytime.

Well I'd not totally agree ... see oil cooler will help, however is it better to encase the motor in plastic and use a cooler or is it better to leave it open and not have a cooler ... and ... I'd have to say if you spend a lot of time in traffic and in city and standing and idling ... open is much better even without an oil cooler, if you are doing high speeds ... I believe oil cooler will be better ... however that is a small diff ... the air cooled GS has the motor vertical and hence will catch a lot of air flow unlike a slanted air cooled motor like a yamaha seca ... I have never had any trouble in burning heat with the GS ... agreed it was only California central desert that I was in, hotter places out there ... death valley, Arizona, Texas ... many ... so no idea really of how hot it can be before the motor starts to over heat.
Cool.
Srinath.

I never noticed the difference in the front fenders before...  The pre 01 is alot longer in the back :dunno:  I guess that is the fender more prone to heat damage.

Quote from: Stephen072774I never noticed the difference in the front fenders before...  The pre 01 is alot longer in the back :dunno:  I guess that is the fender more prone to heat damage.

i think that's just an extention, which you can install on any model...

Yeah, it's easier to see on a light-colored bike:

(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/100_1219_FrontCaliper_HangingFree.jpg)

That extra black piece is some kind of rubber.  The fender above it is what wrinkles from the heat.

Hey your brake is loose... J/K.  

Thanks for the pic, I see.  I can even see the bolt on the stock photo JetSwing posted.  I had never noticed that before... cool.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=e7bf448e958e0d387f6e81f24ffe71c1&threadid=103880

Welcome to Cali...  Land of everything expensive and taxed to death. :x

haha, things really are more expensive here. I went to the store to pick up a few things which would normally be under 20 dollars, and i left paying over 30!

Shaykai

That's so true ... I am called California man ... and people try to charge me more ... now I dont know if they do charge me more ... but I constantly am surprised by getting a lower amount than I thought it might be in CA ... good surprise for a change ...
Cool.
Srinath.

When i used to live in nevada as a grocery bagger, i was always happy to help the californians because they always tipped (even though we weren't suppose to accept them).  :)

Shaykai