Ever on the look-out for what the motorcycling press thinks of the GS500, I thought I'd advertise that the March 2005 issue of Two-Wheels Only has an article comparing the GS500F to three other bikes used in-town by couriers (in London, England). The other bikes are:
- Honda CBF500 (http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/DispatcherServlet?hidActionDetail=viewproductdetail&hidAction=Lookup&hidProductID=74&hidSelectedProductCode=CBF500&hidProductName=CBF500&hidMSGID=10&hidMSGCode=TRADITIONAL&hidMSGName=Traditional&hidBannerPath=en%2Fpicture%2Fproduct%2FCBF500%2FMain%2Fprd_main_Banner.jpg&hidHomePath=%2Fjsp%2FmsgTRADITIONALHome.jsp#focusHere) (not available in North America)
- Honda CBF600 (http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/DispatcherServlet?hidActionDetail=viewproductdetail&hidAction=Lookup&hidProductID=69&hidSelectedProductCode=CBF600&hidProductName=CBF600&hidMSGID=10&hidMSGCode=TRADITIONAL&hidMSGName=Traditional&hidBannerPath=en%2Fpicture%2Fproduct%2FCBF600%2FMain%2Fprd_main_Banner.jpg&hidHomePath=%2Fjsp%2FmsgTRADITIONALHome.jsp#focusHere) (not available in North America)
- Buell CityX (http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes_gear/cityx/) (can be had on either side of the Atlantic) [/list:u]You can pick up an issue at better motorcycle-friendly newstands.
Roy...
Was it a good review?
Great... another trip to Barnes & Noble...
....I think it would be better to have either cut and pasted the review or a link to it, or scanned and downloaded the article......just seems a little pointless to tell us there's a review out there, and then nothing else....JMO
Sorry mastrind. Don't believe in a scrap and drop of the article due to that copywrite thing, especially if it's fresh on the newstands. But I will give you a summary:
Four riders, each take out one bike and try their hand at being a courier for a day. They write about the experience in 10 paragraphs or less, with the focus on opinions of each bike. So, right off the bat it's not really a fair comparison as it is a collection of individual impressions.
If you skim the pictures, specs and only read the Conclusion, you think the GS500 didn't hold up well. But if you read the whole article, you get the sense the GS500 did great with what it had. It's even more poignant when you consider only one rider ever did courier duty before, and he had the GS500. And he liked it for what it is.
Overall, I thought the article was fair, and left me positive that my GS500 is a great buy with plenty of performance for anyone who wants to scoot around town and beyond. :)
I read the comparison, and the GS didn't get a lot of respect. No big surprise there... I have yet to see any mag give the GS a 'good' review. It always lags behind the pack, primarily because it is being compared to machines with retail prices far in excess of the modest GS price-tag.
It seems to me that the expectations of the writers are always set far too high. It's like they expect the GS to perform like the cutting edge machines they usually test, and they are disappointed when it doesn't stack up :dunno:
I agree with you. Any moto-journalist is going to give the GS500 a failing grade compared to more powerful bikes. Seems only human nature -- who can feel entertained by a 40 HP entry-level bike when they usually ride bikes twice the displacement and four times the power. It's got to be a let-down.
Still, as I read the review Tim Dickson wrote, I felt reasonably good. Yeah, it has a mushy suspension (he called it "sloppy") and the brakes aren't anything special (he called it "lackluster"), but he also admitted it's built that way for a reason. "Ease of use", "manageable, simple to ride and unthreatening" all have their place with the GS500.
I don't know about you, but I enjoy riding mine, in the city or on the open road. I know other bikes are out there, but I'm not in any hurry -- I'm enjoying what I've got and learning all the time.
well he is right on alot of things about the gs500, it does have a sloppy suspension (in the city and over pot holes it can be a pain) the brakes are ok but somtimes you feel like you are going to lock and fly. the power is fun i dont have a problem with the power at all for what it is.
I love the bike though and wouldnt trade any of my experiences with it.
I don't give a hairy rat's ass what anybody says about the Baby G. I love mine and she makes me smile. Lovin' it...the 500 and this forum.
C.......
Quote from: cernunosI don't give a hairy rat's ass what anybody says about the Baby G. I love mine and she makes me smile. Lovin' it...the 500 and this forum.
you took the words right out of my mouth :cheers:
Who doesn't like to hear good reviews, though?
Go ride a Harley and then hop on the GS and compare the two. Its basically the same thing those magazines are doing. Not meant to bash Harleys in any way. But I do perform that switch between bikes and laugh everytime I get on the GS because its so much better, different bikes made for different purposes.
not the mention the fave bike in the review...i believe it was the cb500...is not even available for comparison here...and since its a honda it would probably be ooodles more expensive too...
- alex
i do admit to be slightly curious to ride a honda 500, the gs' only comparison here is the ex500 and i'm not really fond of that thing at all...
i remember the honda CX500, it was a transvers watercooled V twin (Think motoguzi) shaft drive, put the fairing and bagage package on it it was a Silverwing, torque was ok, power was eh soso, it was very reliable if you kept up on maint. really think i could have used a 6th gear.