GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: dyran on February 24, 2006, 03:40:51 PM

Title: Took the new bike out for a spin!
Post by: dyran on February 24, 2006, 03:40:51 PM
WOW, my 'new' 2001 CBR is so much more responsive than my old 1990 GS, I can't wait for it to warm up as the -12 C was a bit chilly for my likings.
Title: Re: Took the new bike out for a spin!
Post by: DerekNC on February 24, 2006, 05:48:14 PM
I'd love to have one myself. But there's a ton of other things to spend money on before I'll get around to replacing the GS.
Title: Re: Took the new bike out for a spin!
Post by: sys49152 on February 24, 2006, 06:43:38 PM
That's awesome.  I went the same path.  Here's some advice (not that you necessarily need it.. but anyways..)

The cam chain tensioner in the CBR is complete garbage.   If it doesn't already it will soon enough sound like a bunch of ball bearings flying around in your engine.  You can get a replacement one from Honda (it has a blue dot to indicate that it's the replacement version of the CCT), but from what I've read it makes very little difference.  It will start making the same noise in a year or two.

The Fuel warning light comes on a little too early.  You'll still be able to squeeze at least 50-60 km's out of the bike, comfortably.  Unless of course you're constantly above 7-8K RPM.

Whatever you do, don't go on/off/on the throttle in first at around 6-7K RPM.   You'll be able to float the front end up pretty quickly and scare yourself silly if you haven't done it before.

Be gentle, very gentle with the throttle when the tires are cold and/or the pavement is wet.  I've had the bike spin the rear tire pretty quickly on wet pavement.  And your natural response will be to close the throttle... and if you're not lucky, you'll highside. 

Enjoy!  Tell us all about it once you've had more time with it.  I've put 10,000km's on mine in 8 months (including the Canadian winter months) and still crave every opportunity to ride it.

edit: had to leave half way between my thoughts (and the visual inspection of my spelling/grammer error prone message) for dinner.