Its been a LONG time since I made a post here....
I spent most of the day today at the Atlanta leg of the International Motorcycle Show (~700 bikes on the floor). I almost cried tears of joy when I walked to the Suzuki area and saw a real-live GS500 on display! I took the bike off the kick-stand and put her up on the center-stand where she belongs!
The last event I went to where Suzuki was showing off their bikes (Suzuki Cup race at Road Atlanta in '05), there was NO GS500 love at all. (Only about 2 dozen GSXRs, SVs and Boulevards).
However, I do have some potentially interesting news.... Cagiva (one of the many Italian brands) USA is lobbying to bring a new 500cc bike to the USA. They had a prototype on display (photo below). It is called the Cagiva Moto 500. It will be a thumper (single piston engine) and sport ~60hp (this is according to the rep, so in reality that will probably be about 45-50hp).
Unfortunately for Suzuki... this bike will have a much sportier look than the faired GS500... complete with seperate rider + pillon seat. However, it being an Italian bike... it will probably cost about twice what a GS500 costs and require all sorts of crazy maintenance.
Here is the photo I took earlier today. Sorry about the grainy color... I'll use the flash next time (if I go back the show tomorrow).
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u297/Tzanman7/Mito500.jpg)
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=33112.0
It's not a GS (of course you said that so I'm not blabbing about that so...) but 500cc's and 60hp out of a thumper of a single? Nice. Also your shot looks WAY better than the lame publicity shots I saw.
BTW who else is drooling on those wheels?
GS has no real competition!....... :laugh:
Very cool bike that Cagiva ,unique with thumper engine. Ducati had it's own 550cc Supermono with something like 75HP but it
was race only.
I really don't like the latest generation of sportbikes,they are faster than ever, but in everlasting search of lightness
they became fragile,IMHO, to the point that if you drop one , it's vacuum cast frames and wheels don't cope as well as sportbikes of late 90's used to for example.
Of course you and I know bikes aren't supposed to be dropped ,but strange things happen :icon_rolleyes:
That's why I love real bikes that can be ridden reliably anywhere.........yeah like the GS :icon_confused:
If I had the $$$ I'd upgrade to a bigger GS,maybe R1200GS :dunno_white:
Anyone feel the same?
L6
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on February 25, 2007, 06:36:09 AM
Looks much nicer in this shot than in the previous ones I've seen. I wouldn't BUY one, but it looks good. Is that a real tank? Wonder what that knob at thigh level is...
Exotic bikes are one thing around town. Passing through Moose Lick, West Virginia where the nearest thing to motorcycle repair is Jimbo's Bar, Grill, Garage and Storm Door company, they're quite another. Riding is no fun if you're white-knuckling it with the constant thought of "what happens if it acts up here?" in the back of your mind. Having a rock-solid reliable bike gives you some degrees of freedom, and freedom from worry, that no exotic ever will.
"Competitive" it aint, but the KLR650 (which is a 650 cc thumper) has it's following. Biggest gripe seems to be that the extra vibration loosens a lot of fittings, things fall off if you're not careful. They use a lot of locktite.
I'm pretty sure that the knob at the thigh is the fuel tank petcock. The prototype at the show (that I took the photo of) had the tank loose so that you could open it up and peek down inside it. I didnt' get any engine photos... sorry!
The rep I talked to was very eager to get lots of feedback to try to get the bike brought to the US, but from what he said it seemed like a bit of an uphill battle with corporate.
Quote from: TarzanBoy on February 25, 2007, 11:26:46 AM
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on February 25, 2007, 06:36:09 AM
Looks much nicer in this shot than in the previous ones I've seen. I wouldn't BUY one, but it looks good. Is that a real tank? Wonder what that knob at thigh level is...
Exotic bikes are one thing around town. Passing through Moose Lick, West Virginia where the nearest thing to motorcycle repair is Jimbo's Bar, Grill, Garage and Storm Door company, they're quite another. Riding is no fun if you're white-knuckling it with the constant thought of "what happens if it acts up here?" in the back of your mind. Having a rock-solid reliable bike gives you some degrees of freedom, and freedom from worry, that no exotic ever will.
"Competitive" it aint, but the KLR650 (which is a 650 cc thumper) has it's following. Biggest gripe seems to be that the extra vibration loosens a lot of fittings, things fall off if you're not careful. They use a lot of locktite.
I'm pretty sure that the knob at the thigh is the fuel tank petcock. The prototype at the show (that I took the photo of) had the tank loose so that you could open it up and peek down inside it. I didnt' get any engine photos... sorry!
The rep I talked to was very eager to get lots of feedback to try to get the bike brought to the US, but from what he said it seemed like a bit of an uphill battle with corporate.
there probly wouldnt be to much of a market for this bike. while we think its cool the general population would rather spend their money on a GSXR or an R1 or somthing else. see the problem with these *exotic* italian or pretty much every other country other than asia is the price of the bikes and even cars when we import them. if they really want to do well drop the prices to close or at the same cost as the competition and actually give people somthing to want to buy it!
just because it is italian doesnt mean a damn thing. that sales pitch does not sell motorcycles.
still a cool bike and would love to see it in the states
My next bike i hope will be a R1200GS :icon_mrgreen: My dream bike, abit of off-roading on the weekends and some damn good touring plus comfy. i know its said to not perform as well as the others in its class, the Triumph tiger and stuff. but i believe it has its own catagory really, they compare it to the new triumph and the cbf1000f from honda. But those bikes are far far more focused on just road riding and touring than the GS. After seeing the long way round i have nothing but the upmost respect for those GS's. I want something that can do everything and take it in its stride even if its not focues directly onto one aspect in particular like riding on the road is for the triumph and the honda.
I loved "Long way round" :thumb:
The best series i have ever ever ever ever watched. Its inspirational.
Have you see "Race to Dakar"
Its almost like a sequal. Charlie Boorman (ewans mate on the long way round) does the paris-dakar with the same crew from the long way round. Its epic and definatly worth watching!
Watched the dakar but haven't seen that yet,thanks :thumb: