sry to write one of those totally redundant noob question posts but...
I finished the MSF course a couple weeks ago, and I've been looking to get a bike ever since. I was looking for a used bike, but pickings were slim, so I started searching for a new one, specifically a ninja 250. I still haven't gotten a bike, and I always eyed the GS500f with curiosity, but since its 5 grand new i never thought about it that much. recently in the local paper I found an '05 GS500F for "3900 o.b.o." (yoshimura exhaust, cold air intake) and compared to a ninja 250 new for 3500 or 3600, I thought it was worth considering. Considering I'm in college and I probably won't buy another, better bike (like a modern 600cc) until I'm out of college (4 years), and also considering I *might* outgrow a 250 faster than I think, it seems like its an option worth thinking. so:
1) Is that a reasonable price on an 05 gs500f? good? bad? ugly?
2) Will I be able to handle this bike? The biggest bikes I've been on are 250s in the MSF. Also I'm a pretty skinny guy, and 5' 8", will this be a problem? considering a gs500f weighs like 400 lbs? I've sat on them in the shop, but I don't know what it would be like out on the road.
you'll be fine for riding the 500.
as far as the price... its a best guess kinda thing.
Welcome!
Can you flatfoot the ones in the shop?
Oh, and I'm 125lbs, 5'10", and I can handle it, but I've been riding alot longer and this isn't my first bike. You've taken the MSF, which is the best thing to ever happen :thumb:
Go back to the dealer and sit on one again and throw it between your legs, back and forth (gently at first, don't want to topple it over and a whole row of bikes), to get an idea of what it would be like at a stop light (imagine it full of gas,which would add another 30lbs).
Quote from: 3000gt on April 25, 2006, 04:31:25 PM
Considering I'm in college and I probably won't buy another, better bike (like a modern 600cc) until I'm out of college (4 years), and also considering I *might* outgrow a 250 faster than I think
I would not get a 250 if I were you. I'm in the same boat, college student, got a used 89 GS500E for $1100. I probably won't buy another bike for a long time. The gs500 is perfect for me. I love it. Not too powerful but not so wimpy that I feel like I'm riding a dirt bike.
+1 on taking the MSF course! :thumb:
Oh, check insurance between the two! Get ready for a shock!
Quote from: scratch on April 25, 2006, 04:51:44 PM
Oh, check insurance between the two! Get ready for a shock!
actually I got a quote from progressive for full coverage for 380 something, its not much more than full coverage on a 250
Quote from: scratch on April 25, 2006, 04:51:44 PM
Oh, check insurance between the two! Get ready for a shock!
Yeah progressive insurance for me (age 23, single, no tickets/accidents) was the same exact price for a Ninja 250 and my GS500F.
-Turd.
Where are you located? You should check craigslist for your area to find some good used bikes, either GS's or Ninjas. If you go with a GS500E ('89-'02), it will be much cheaper than any GS500F you will find.
Just go get a GS500E and forget about the Ninja 250. The E is cheaper than the F and way more attractive if you ask me. You'll be much happier, especially if you plan on having it for as long as you say you will. It's a very forgiving bike and when you decide to move up (or not), you'll be a much better rider for it. Also, you'll have this whole GS community at your finger tips if a problem (as rare as they are) ever does come along. :thumb:
Definitely not the 250! You'll get bored with it really fast. I don't think you need to worry at all about being able to handle it. 5'2" female here and I think it handles great. This is my first bike and what I learned on. You'll be golden and love it! As far as the price goes, seems reasonable, but check around a bit. Scoping out ebay and craigslist can give you a good idea.
Watch out for dogs......
Get the GS. Not because the 250 isn't fast enough or that you'll get bored with it, but because it's much more cramped. Riding my wife's ninja 250, I find that my legs are way too cramped, and I'm about the same size as you (5'9). I'd suggest buying an older GS (E rather than the F) and saving your money for beer at the local pub instead.
the GS500E looks nice, tho I was talking about the f. what are the differences between the two?? besides the fairings? are the engines and frames the same?
originally my plan was to get a 250, keep it for a year or 2, ride the snot out of it, then get a 500 (ex500 or gs500). jumping from a 250 to modern 600cc like gsxr or 636 probably wouldnt be right, right? but shuffling through bikes like that takes some dough that i dont have (I'm a college student so basically I pay for bikes with what I can make over the summer, I have 3 grand saved right now and a good job for the summer) so i figured I'm gonna get one beginner bike and REALLY learn to ride on that and then get my dream bike (which is ever shifting, but right now is a stealth black 06 636 :bowdown:)
thanks for the advice and help everyone, there really is a good community.
Quote from: 3000gt on April 25, 2006, 08:35:06 PM
the GS500E looks nice, tho I was talking about the f. what are the differences between the two?? besides the fairings? are the engines and frames the same?
originally my plan was to get a 250, keep it for a year or 2, ride the snot out of it, then get a 500 (ex500 or gs500). jumping from a 250 to modern 600cc like gsxr or 636 probably wouldnt be right, right? but shuffling through bikes like that takes some dough that i dont have (I'm a college student so basically I pay for bikes with what I can make over the summer, I have 3 grand saved right now and a good job for the summer) so i figured I'm gonna get one beginner bike and REALLY learn to ride on that and then get my dream bike (which is ever shifting, but right now is a stealth black 06 636 :bowdown:)
thanks for the advice and help everyone, there really is a good community.
The main difference between the E and F models are the fairings and the added oil cooler. The forks, frame, tires, engine, wheels, pretty much everything, is the same. There are a few minor changes, but the main difference is the fairings.
I think you should go with the 500. You can net a REALLY clean E model for under 3k easy, which saves you money for gas, insurance, and most importantly GEAR. Were you factoring gear into your buying price as well? If you wern't, you should start. The 500 will keep you more than happy for quite a while if you learn to ride it right. It's got more than enough power for around town, the twisties, and most importantly getting you into trouble. It's still newbie friendly though, so don't worry about that.
I'm 5'10 and 130 and can handle this bike pretty well, so you're fairly safe in that matter as well.
Jumping from a 250 to a 600 supersport isn't the best idea, IMO, but from the 500 to a 600 is a better thing to do
when you're ready.
I'm factoring in gear, insurance (which I've checked the rates on for all the bikes I consider), gas, maintenance (oil changes), tires... did I forget anything? I kinda like the newer (near yr 2000) models, how much do those go for, ballpark? 3k? cuz im looking at 3.5 for a new ninja 250.
my insurance guy thinks anything that is 'bullet design' is a supersport racebike, and deserves the supersport racebike surcharge that makes coverage go from 400 to like 1900. basically he looked at the ninja 250 and saw that it has fairings so he dubbed it a supersport. I'm like wtf m8? well anyways i talked him down a bit. also a gs500 wouldnt be classified as supersport (lol no fairings! :laugh:) and therefore easier to get insurance?
You can probably net a clean '01+ bike for about $2.5k. There was one here in Austin recently for $2200.
Welcome to the club! You did the right thing taking the MSF course. I did the same thing, and purchased my bike a couple of days later. You'll love it!
The GS500 is a great bike to start on. Like everyone said, it's got enough power to get you going, but is forgiving enough to keep you out of trouble if you have the right mindset that you're still and always going to learn. If you don't mind paying more, I personally like the 500F with the fairing. How many miles are on the one you're looking at? I purchased my '04 GS500F with around 3500 on the odometer a month ago for a little over 3k. If you could negotiate it down to 3000-3100, you're getting a really good deal, depending on what kind of shape and how many miles it has on it. Even though the majority of the people here own the older models, almost all of the service information between the E's and F's are the same. Everyone on here is really helpful, and I've already learned a lot from this community and have done all the work on my bike myself. Let us know what you decide.
Regards,
Randy
If you really want the f, purchase it and take the fairings off until you feel confident enough that you want drop the bike and damage them. There's a thought.... O0
yes I was planning on riding sans fairings for a while with whatever i get...
I'll let you know what I do, I have finals coming up (college) so I'll be busy with that for a while, but after summer break starts (may 10th) I've got the whoooooole summer to ride :thumb: