GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Well I never thought I'd say it, but I really feel tired of the GS. I've had it a year and have put over 8000 miles on her. I got used to the power real quick so I then started working on my cornering. I'm sure there are others far better than me but I feel like I'm really pushing the bike to its limits even in the handling department. I have gotten good enough to be able lean far enough to scrape the pegs in nearly any turn. I have even passed several guys on much faster bikes. When I'm going about the twisties, I can just feel the bike struggling to keep up. (All this is done with full gear btw). I'm not trying to brag about any of this, just trying to give a full description of whats going on.

My roommate just got an 03 SV650S. Besides the huge power advantage over the GS. It handles sooooo much smother. The bike doesn't feel jittery and nervous in the turns, it just seems locked in to wherever I point it.

My question is, is it worth it to mod the GS a little, or should I just save up for a new bike. I would like to move it performance wise in the direction of the SV. The only mods I've thought about so far, are a 15 tooth sprocket. (will the bike be noticeably quicker with this?)

I've thought about doing a VnH full exhaust with a airbox replacement filter, but I've read a lot of rejetting horror stories on here so I'm a little skeptical about it.

Also, what are some basic suspension mods that will help the bike. Does raising the rear preload do anything?

much to learn, you still have.

If you're scraping, it's time to practice hanging.  :mrgreen:

Im with Yoda :roll:  
I have been riding for 20 years and I dont feel that I have come close to learning it all. I've rode street, I've raced and I have raced dirt. You can always learn more. The GS is great in the fact that its at an almost perfect power to weight ratio. And it handles fairly well out of the box. Yes it could use more in the handling, yes it could use a shaZam! load more power but it's there. You just have to start moding it. Do the jets, do the K&N, do the Progressive front springs, Do the Kat rear shock swap,  do the exhaust, do the 15t and you will see a bike you didnt know you had. The horror stories on the jets most of the time stem from not taking your time and doing what the manual sez to do. That bike has a lot left in it, you just have to unlock it.

my .02

Mike

from reading a bit on this site, it seems like moding GS is definately has very limited benefits.  It just seems like there is only going to be so much that u can get out of it.  I would just trade up, at least that what I think I'll do in a year or two.

am I wrong?

Why don't you do a little modding, (150.00), new pipe, K&N, rejet, ride some more and see if your still tired. Then you can trade up. It's amazing the difference in power you get by doing this, like a whole new bike.

Where are you in the rpm band? Try sliding the rear. In a lower gear, in the higher rpms.

Then try sliding the front. English riding style it's called, Freddie Spencer used to use this method successfully in the '80's Grand Prix's. I wish I still had the issue of Motorcyclist that describes, in detail, how it works. What I do remember is with the rear weight bias of motorcycles (of modern m/c's back then), maintaining rear wheel traction and therefore thrust would get you around the track faster. Utilizing the larger rear tire's large contact patch, you would add throttle to "pull" the then sliding front end towards your desired direction. Sound like fun? The problem is you end up with more faceplants than tightends in an endzone. Know why we have carbon knuckled gloves nowadays?

I think you have done your time learning.  If you are a capable and considerate rider, and if you want a different bike (for whatever reason) then you should get one.  There is no rule that says you have to be an expert on one bike to move on to another... its about having fun and being safe.  If you wait until you are a GS-Jedi-Master to change bikes, you will be riding the GS for decades (as master Yoda implied).  It sounds like you probably are in the safe-zone for bumping up... which is to say that you aren't one of those people who barely gets past the break-in period before announcing that they have 'outgrown' the GS.  

The SV650 is a great bike.  Add better tires and stiffer fork springs and you will be in 7th heaven  ;)  Awesome, usable power, nice styling, and just as much in the way of mod possibilities as the GS for the wrenching-inclined among us.  There are days that I miss the GS (like the day my insurance bill comes), but not too many.  ;)

The spindly front forks, the weak stock rear shock, skinny tires and the flimsy swing arm mean that the GS will never handle really well.  With a single front disk it will never stop really well either - so no heroic late braking please!  The frame is good and rigid, but even the (very) moderate power that the motor can produce will quickly overwhelm the suspension.  You could uprate it (bigger forks, better rear shock, twin disks), but you'd be better spending the money on a different bike when you're ready for something better.   Either that, or practice going round really tight corners on a pogo stick before you try it on a stock GS  :)

Quote from: vtlionI think you have done your time learning.  If you are a capable and considerate rider, and if you want a different bike (for whatever reason) then you should get one.

I'm with vt.
I am in your same shoes, or was. I put 9k miles on my gs the first year and 4 months I had it, all in the canyons. I was regularly embarassing bigger bikes. I had upgraded the fork springs, the rear shock, tried better tires, etc. When I got to the point of wanting to install a different rear wheel to get bigger (better) rear tire I realized I just needed a better bike.

Thats when I got the 600rr and I havent looked back. it would cost you more than the sv would but a full on sportbike is far superior to the sv. You could buy a slightly used sportbike for the cost of a new sv (or a use sv with added cost of modding the suspension, which it still needs). You can get a 03 600rr for $5k.

Definitely save for a new bike and save for trackdays...dont spend your money on the gs. save for the next bike.

Get a new bike!

I did the same, rode the GS for about 1 1/2 years, put 15,000 miles on it and then sold it.  Used the money I got plus about another $1500 and got a nice used Ninja ZX-6.  The 600 class sportbikes are SO much better (faster, more stable) than the GS it's just increadible the difference.  Face it, the GS is a beginner, ladies, old mans, commuter bike.  There is just no comparison between a 100HP and a 40HP bike.  No matter WHAT you do, you'll never get more than 50HP from the GS.  And no matter what you do, you'll never get the light GS to stick in a turn as fast as the 600 class bikes.

So tell me. was the $1500 better spent on upgrades for the GS and STILL having 1/2 the HP or getting a used 600 class bike?

You decide, I did.

I still think an SV is a better second bike than a supersport.    Yeah the suspesion is from the Suzuki parts bin but cheap to make it quite decent.  I take a nice curvy road for my daily commute and I enjoy it way more with the SV than the GS.  

Go get whatever makes you happy.  

Quote
Face it, the GS is a beginner, ladies, old mans, commuter bike.

joerocker -  you are gonna get a lot of flames for this.  :lol:


BTW - Can we make this a GS and SV board?  All John has to do is add another forum section and change the logo a little.  I would make another donation if it helps the cause.  :mrgreen:

No biggie, I'm used to it...

Nawwww, nobody's gonna flame here...beginners are beginners, the ladies on this site have mostly moved on (and one even came back)...us old men know our place (and are too gracious)...but those commuters :x  :x  :x , have a little respect for those who deal with the human condition on a daily basis.  ;)

*looks around*  I don't see any ladies...  :lol:

Quote from: OrlandoGS

Also, what are some basic suspension mods that will help the bike. Does raising the rear preload do anything?

____
Raising the rear preload increases your ground clearance and steepens (quickens) the steering geometry up front.  Put a mark on the bodywork directly above the rear axle.  When you sit on the bike the rear sag should range from about 1-to-1-1/2" compared to the measure of the fully extended swingarm when the bike is up on the centerstand.  Of course, Progressive Springs for the forks  goes without saying.  The 15 tooth sprocket is another worthy  performance enhancer.  Yeah, don't waste your time and money on a pipe/filter/jet kit.  That's more show than go.

I feel like a hippie for this, but I'm going to agree with everyone :mrgreen: .  If you want performance/hp gains for the buck bigger bike is the way to go.  My understanding is that modding the GS's suspension makes a HUGE difference (I'm too broke to start modding) :( .  I've lived several different places since I got my GS.  Geography seems to make a big difference in when riders "feel" they've outgrown the GS.  If you live somewhere with crappy roads (read straight and flat roads) like me, the desire for more HP and straight line stability is greater.  I think every friggin' thread on this site includes the words "I kept up with bigger bikes and even passed some on my GS".  These people aren't riding in Coastal GA or Kansas where all the roads are flat and straight.  My advice is this...  if you feel confident in your riding and your safety as a rider, and you want a bigger bike, get one.  This is America Dammit you shouldn't have to ask permission to make your own decision.  Just my two cents.

I would say you are probably better off spending your money on a new bike. But, not for another middleweight. back when I upgraded from the GS, the wife and I chose to keep it since she wanted to learn to ride and I like using it to commute on. The GS has it's uses, but if I could only own one bike, I would want something a bit stronger than a GS. Honestly though, I would think you would outgrow an Sv650 pretty quick also. I had mine about a year, and to be honest I was starting to outgrow that also. Mainly due to the fact that I like to tour by bike, and middleweights just don't really cut it for long journeys. I really don't see the point in going from one small displacement bike to another. I would say, do some simple and inexspensive mods to buy you some more time, then when you trade up go for a nice 1000+cc. you'll be amazed how "relaxing" they are to ride. Ask yourself this, what is a 650 really going to do for me that my 500 can't? probably not much.

Quote from: joerockerGet a new bike!
Face it, the GS is a beginner, ladies, old mans, commuter bike.  
You decide, I did.

Ouch!   .... it's hard enough getting any respect riding a GS500.

OK .. I'm not that old and yes I use it for commuting (transportation) but as others have said, I have no trouble thrashing guys on 600's (in the curves).  

The progressive springs will make a huge difference in handling.  It's like a new bike after that.  Those stockers are not even safe.  I was bottoming them out on just mild braking.  

With 8000 miles under your belt you may very well be ready for a new bike if that's the kind of riding you do.  No matter how much you spend on the GS it will never be a 600RR.  I have ridden one and it is awesome.  Some of us though may actually prefer the old GS because it doesn't cost $300 for a valve adjustment, thousands for insurance etc. and also delivers plenty of fun at the same time.

If I were OrlandoGS, I wouldn't get an SV650 to replace the GS500. If you do a lot of riding and, in a way, competing, with your buddies, and you are going to spend the money anyway on a new bike, get something quicker and better than the SV or else in another 8000 miles, you will outgrow that too. How about a GSX-R 750? 1000?

By the way, I've only got around 4k under my belt but I love my little GS old man, ladies, commuter, beginner bike. Hi p Hip Hooray for the GS500!  :cheers:

Every bike has it's own character.  Depends what you want out of it.
I have a V-Strom 650, the GS500 and just got a KLR250.
I was riding the KLR250 today and thinking what a sweet bike.
Lets you go slow and enjoy the scenery.
The GS rocks when I commute to NYC or just want to clear my head.
You have to make it work to do the things you want it to do.
The V-Strom is great going in a straight line and just eating up the miles.
Plenty of power and can do 125 mph indicated without batting an eye.
Engine braking is pronounced the feeling is that it's "jerkey".   The GS and KLR are nice and smooth.

Quote from: joerockerFace it, the GS is a beginner, ladies, old mans, commuter bike.

:lol:  :lol:  :lol: Ok bud, Im none of those so what does that make me, some sort of freaky monster.  :bs:

I've already pretty much decided on getting an SV 1000. I love everything about the bike and if it feels anything like the 650 but with more power, i'm sure I'll love it. I'm not really into the GSXR's and such, i do lots of highway riding and the SV is just what I need.

where you live....
since i spent 1 yr...long ago.... in orlando
the roads ate flat and straight and....38 Ft of elevation in the state :roll:

depending on your wallet
TL-S would do good also at half the price

i personally have had...several bikes
i live at the base of the blue ridge "hills"
i am a cheap bastard
i have cheapest ins possible
i ride rats!
i do not commute
i ride highways only in the rain on the way home from a ride
i normally ride back roads for the giggle factor


i will get/build another GS soon(sell SV...boring on the back roads) just to clean up some kewl parts in the basement

You must not have explored all of orlando, I live over by ucf and there are tons of awesome back roads with plenty of tight turns. Also my home town in polk county has dozens of lakes with roads snaking around them, not a straight road anywhere in town, its awesome.

Good luck getting the big SV.  That's probably going to be my next bike.  I like to 'sport' :dunno:  tour.  With a few changes the big SV seems like a bike that I could ride 4 hrs. to the mountains, then have a blast in the twisties.

Quote from: OrlandoGSI've already pretty much decided on getting an SV 1000. I love everything about the bike and if it feels anything like the 650 but with more power, i'm sure I'll love it. I'm not really into the GSXR's and such, i do lots of highway riding and the SV is just what I need.

If you start dragging pegs right away on the sv1000 you will not like the outcome. Torque monster.


If you want to upgrade because you think you reached the "limit" of even the GS in 8000 miles then you will mostlikely get hurt on the sv1000. What tires are you using? do you have pictures? if you scrape the pegs there definitely has to be some good indication of working the tire, alot, since my pirellis are starting to melt on the front and im not even trying to drag anything.

If you want to upgrade simply because you want a bigger bike and wont let your ego think you can master it in 8000 miles or less then go for it, but dont convince yourself you have mastered the GS to its up most limits and NEED to go for a bigger bike. Heck I got a friend of mine racing an RS125 (two stroke honda) at a track here with the pros, in the open pro class (any sportbikes accepted) he finished second, only a few seconds behind a ZX10R. And he won the two other pro races he was in that weekend.

Again, im not saying you cant handle anything but a 500... far from it actually, im just saying make sure that whatever you upgrade to, that you do so for the right reason.

Quote from: vtlionI think you have done your time learning.  If you are a capable and considerate rider, and if you want a different bike (for whatever reason) then you should get one.

I too agree with pantablo and Vt. I had my GS for just over a year & in this time I run up 18.000kms on her  & found myself wanting soo much more then the GS could give me.

I did a lot of Big day rides - anything from 200kms to 500kms in one day.  
So I got myself a diff bike GSF1200s Which this weekend I did my first full day ride it was a 440kms around trip man what a diffs it has made I can wait  for next big ride :mrgreen: . If you can, buy it new, because then you know what you are buying :cheers:


all the best matt  :)  your friend

Safe Ride :cheers:

Quote from: OrlandoGSI've already pretty much decided on getting an SV 1000. I love everything about the bike and if it feels anything like the 650 but with more power, i'm sure I'll love it. I'm not really into the GSXR's and such, i do lots of highway riding and the SV is just what I need.

Wierd because I found the SV1000 literally a pain to ride.  The low handlebars at such an angle were very hard on my wrists while trying to operate the clutch.  Other than that, it is an awesome bike.  Very refined and smooth.  Lots of power anywhere in the rpm range.  What about a 1000 superhawk?  It seems more comfortable to sit on.  Never rode one though.

Quote from: matt86to...
I did a lot of Big day rides - anything from 200kms to 500kms in one day ........

That's a big day?

A big day is 1200km in one day  ;) or was that just plain crazy of me?

Honestly at 16hrs and 1200km I still found the GS500 to be fairly comfy, the tank did bruise my legs but I was doing mountain riding so leaning off both sides quite hard. Except sore shoulders, I found the bike comfy.

You're kidding right?  I can't IMAGINE spending 16hrs on the GS or ANY bike.  I'm good for about 2 hours and maybe 100 miles before I'm dying!

Am I a kitty cat?  Please Noooo...

Quote from: joerockerYou're kidding right?  I can't IMAGINE spending 16hrs on the GS or ANY bike.  I'm good for about 2 hours and maybe 100 miles before I'm dying!

Am I a kitty cat?  Please Noooo...

LOL I left at 6am and got back at 10h30pm... only stops where gas i'd eat a granola bar at the same time. Final count was 1185KM (750 miles). Average long days for me are 500-600km (300-400 miles) . Average regular days for me are 200-400km (150-250 miles).

My longest day was 16 hours as well - from 10:30am Central to 1:30am Mountain.  Crossed the Rockies at Independence Pass (12,095 ft or 3,687 m) and down to Aspen, etc.

(http://www.bbburma.net/Maps/2001_GardenCityKS_to_OremUT.gif)


But davipu has us all beat.  As of a while back this was his longest day.  He may have outdone himself since.  :dunno:

(http://www.bbburma.net/Maps/davipu_LongestDay.gif)

Quote from: Kerry..........

But davipu has us all beat.  As of a while back this was his longest day.  He may have outdone himself since.  :dunno:

geez... I wonder if he checked his oil when he got there if he did that all in one day  :?  :lol:  :lol:

I would expect that may have took a couple of advils though.  :lol:

oil checks every other gas stop, changed when i got home.  and no advils,  the back pain keeps you awake.

Quote from: davipuoil checks every other gas stop, changed when i got home.  and no advils,  the back pain keeps you awake.

Or if ya live in canada and do the 750+ miles that I did in October... the freezing cold keeps you awake and kills your dexterity  :oops:

I rode around lake ontario during winter...went through hail, snow, rain, sun...any weather you can think of...

left house at 6:00am and came back the next day at 2:00am...that's 20 hours straight!!!!...in winter!!!!

I'm another "moved on, but still looking back" GS starter.
A BMW heavy tourer in the middle and now back to Suzuki with a VStrom....and happy too. Mind you, I outgrew the urge for quicker quicker quicker about the same time as I left behind a similar obssession in the horizontal position ahem. :oops:
Now I'm thinking true comfort, enough acceleration and no attitude.
Damn.......I've just realised that I'm an old man after all.

I don't understand... if you want a new bike.. just go ahead.. and for others, why do you want to challenge other's riding ability?

Quote from: davipuand no advils, the back pain keeps you awake.

davipu, you're just about as hard as they come.. :thumb:

Quote from: frostwent through hail, snow, rain, sun...any weather you can think of...

Frost, I know where you're coming from.  I rode home from downtown Toronto to Markham/Stoufville after freezing rain a couple of times this season.  Not fun, but very educational.

On a somewhat related note, after taking my wife out 2-up on the cbr600f4i, she swore she would *never* sit on the back of that bike again.   A couple of days later we took the GS out for a spin, and man, did it ever feel plush.  Completely different ride.  Not better or worse (for me), just different.  It doesn't have the crazy "kick-in-your-pants" acceleration, but it's ever soooo smooth and comfortable.

I kind of like "tweaking and making something better" myself. For less than $20 I was able to make a huge difference on my GS.. Fork spacers, new fork oil, timing advance, actually putting the correct tire pressure (there was 18 psi per tire when I bought it), drained the carbs, put some foam in the seat, adjusted the rear shock, and adjusting the handlebars so they fit me better. I even sliced off the top rubber from my footpegs which put my feet maybe 1/2" lower. OK, not a huge difference, but it fit me better.

I now have progressive springs on order, so that will bring my grand total to maybe $100. I also bought new tires (which any bike will need), which especially made a BIG difference from the stock tires that were still on it (and it was a 95!) and have Srinath's fork brace. My one splurge was a painted-to-match rifle fairing, but if you exclude that my mods haven't cost me much and it isn't the same bike as when I bought it.

I got it with 3800 miles on it (w/the K&N) from a guy who "outgrew it". So, I guess it depends on what you're after. For me I just enjoy the mod process, especially those simple, inexpensive things that make a big difference.

On another note: Was the Cheyenne to Salem ride all ONE day? I saw 2, 3 on this initially and thought that was day two and three.

I once rode from  Boston to west Ohio in a day on a KZ650.....and that was the days of the 55 mph speed limit.

yep that was all one day. MS Streets and Trips puts those in automatically.

Quote from: davipuMS Streets and Trips puts those in automatically.

Actually, the numbered waypoints were placed by me.  Sometimes S&T will "automatically" route you in a direction you don't want to go (or didn't go, if you're documenting a trip after-the-fact).  I try to put in only enough waypoints to make the route accurate.

Meanwhile, the little moon indicators ARE automatically placed by S&T -- to suggest overnight stops.  It takes the info you give it (about your average speed on certain road types, average frequency and length of stops, and average hours of travel per day) and calculates a per-day distance.  Then it places "overnight stop" moons at those distances, whether or not there is a campground or motel within a hundred miles!  :lol:

I just ignore 'em.

The sv650 is a great bike and you probably wont tire of it so quicky. My husband has had his for 5 years and still enjoys riding it. I've riden his a few times, love the way it handles and were it not for the height (even with 2 1/2 inch heels i can't flat foot on it) that would have been my 1st choice.

Quote from: LEVO on June 03, 2005, 05:20:40 PM
I still think an SV is a better second bike than a supersport.    Yeah the suspesion is from the Suzuki parts bin but cheap to make it quite decent.  I take a nice curvy road for my daily commute and I enjoy it way more with the SV than the GS.  

Go get whatever makes you happy.  

Quote
GO get whatever makes you happy.

LEVO thinks an SV is a 'better' 2nd bike than an SS (GSXR). ...
but for who?
if you like to mix it up off road a bit .. maybe neither the SV or a SS is suitable .. maybe u need a V-Strom type bike ...

Quote from: 905mike on October 29, 2008, 05:26:22 PM

Quote from: LEVO on June 03, 2005, 05:20:40 PM
I still think an SV is a better second bike than a supersport.    Yeah the suspesion is from the Suzuki parts bin but cheap to make it quite decent.  I take a nice curvy road for my daily commute and I enjoy it way more with the SV than the GS.  

Go get whatever makes you happy.  

Quote
GO get whatever makes you happy.

LEVO thinks an SV is a 'better' 2nd bike than an SS (GSXR). ...
but for who?
if you like to mix it up off road a bit .. maybe neither the SV or a SS is suitable .. maybe u need a V-Strom type bike ...

Man, old memories of the GS.

You are right.  I got tired off the SV and got an 848.
(http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3396/dsc03128cd4.jpg)

robin, your tights are fantastic ....




































holy thread revival batman !