hi. i'm new here. i live in VA, strait east of richmond. so after a lot of research, i'm pretty set on a GS 500. i've looked up specs and records and videos, but i just want some strait foward first hand information on the speed, upgradeability, and fuel mileage of these bikes.
so how could you relate the speed to a car? i drive a 1990 nissan 300ZX now, and have really never really riden a bike. so what car would you relate it to?
i see the timing advances, jet kits, exhausts, and a few other small things for these bikes. how about engine internals that up the compression? 9:1 could be improved upon. is this a do-able thing?
what mileage do you get in what type of riding?
thanks a lot for responding!
Quote from: KasbeKZ on June 04, 2008, 01:04:28 PM
hi. i'm new here. i live in VA, strait east of richmond. so after a lot of research, i'm pretty set on a GS 500. i've looked up specs and records and videos, but i just want some strait foward first hand information on the speed, upgradeability, and fuel mileage of these bikes.
so how could you relate the speed to a car? i drive a 1990 nissan 300ZX now, and have really never really riden a bike. so what car would you relate it to?
i see the timing advances, jet kits, exhausts, and a few other small things for these bikes. how about engine internals that up the compression? 9:1 could be improved upon. is this a do-able thing?
what mileage do you get in what type of riding?
thanks a lot for responding!
Welcome (possibly)!
This recent thread should answer many of your questions:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=41869.0
The GS is not the most upgradeable bike, but its a GREAT bike to start with :thumb:
Welcome to the site :cheers:
You can do mild mods very easily. Engine mods might be a little more difficult to get your hands on parts.
Compared to a car...
much faster than a civic
slightly faster than a 2008 Mazda XC-7 turbo
300zx is a really fast car if you have the turbo model...pushes what? about 300hp, bout low 200's without the turbo? The turbo model is probably about the same as this bike...Now bikes are in a different category when it comes to acceleration. The fastest cars are about as quick as the slowest bikes. Of course there are extremes, but for the most part... This is a great bike to start out on, but you may eventually want to step up if you are looking for speed. A faster bike will kill you if you aren't experienced enough for it though.
oh, and mileage is around 30-40 if you ride it hard, and can be from 55-70 if you commute and gear it right
Ive Raced Scoobys And Skylines in Straight lines , over a short Distance , and they dont overtake to about 90 mph ,
You didnt just jump into a 300zx For your first car , because its powerful, the same way u dont want to jump onto a GSXR because u will wipe out
Quote from: Jay_wolf on June 04, 2008, 01:43:07 PM
You didnt just jump into a 300zx For your first car , because its powerful, the same way u dont want to jump onto a GSXR because u will wipe out
Well put.
Quote from: KasbeKZ on June 04, 2008, 01:04:28 PM
hi. i'm new here. i live in VA, strait east of richmond. so after a lot of research, i'm pretty set on a GS 500. i've looked up specs and records and videos, but i just want some strait foward first hand information on the speed, upgradeability, and fuel mileage of these bikes.
1) so how could you relate the speed to a car? i drive a 1990 nissan 300ZX now, and have really never really riden a bike. so what car would you relate it to?
i see the timing advances, jet kits, exhausts, and a few other small things for these bikes. how about engine internals that up the compression? 9:1 could be improved upon. 2) is this a do-able thing?
3) what mileage do you get in what type of riding?
thanks a lot for responding!
hiya, welcome, almost ;)
1) there is no relation at all. accelerating briskly in a car is awesome,
until the first time you do it on a bike. then you're spoiled forever. cars will suck. bikes lean, pamper you with wind, gobs of wind, excitement that you're still alive and when it's over, will throw you into the weeds like a two dollar whore.
2) the gs can be tweaked a little, but it's near it's peak already. sorry.
3) i get 45-60 depending on how i ride. 45 is beating on it, 60 is ginger, 55 is normal. (a little of both)
Enjoy the ride, whichever you choose :)
Compare a motorcycle to a car? I really don't think it's possible.
If you want a faster bike, buy a faster bike. (AFTER you learn how to ride!)
As others have said, about 50-60 MPG depending on riding.
thanks a lot everyone! that really did answer everything!
quicktaco: you are right with those numbers. mine is the N/A, which gets 220 at the crank. (currently for sale BTW. about $6k)
thanks for the link. i did do a search for "possible buy" and for "speed" and some others, but didn't turn out too much. every forums search function really works different lol
so it sounds like the 500 will spank my 300 right now! i don't want to go crazy, i just love a good pull once in a while. but i do like the bike! i am officially looking for one!
so sprockets for front and rear are available? up and down? i'll be living in a city, but doing an occasionally long trip, so i'd like to gear it down for the city, and up for the trips.
can it really get 70 if babied? that's awesome. it's amazing anyone wants ninja 250's!.
thanks a lot every one. it sounds like a good bike to start with because the next choice is a gsxr 600, and i probably would die lol. i've riden four wheelers a lot, but never a motorcycle.
A good way to look at speed comparison, disregarding gearing and drag, is to look at power to weight ratio. The gs weighs say 400 pounds with say 40 horsepower. That's a 10:1 ratio. The zx is say 3000 pounds (and that's probably generous) and 220 hp. That's about a 13:1 power to weight ratio. The lower the ratio, the faster the machine.
Just for comparison, a 1996 civic has a 20:1 ratio
and a Corvette Z06 has a 6:1 ratio
The ZX300 turbo is about a 11:1 ratio
a shitty bike will get you more vag than a decent car.
Quote from: cd on June 04, 2008, 04:44:12 PM
a shitty bike will get you more vag than a decent car.
Good point O0
I thought the Gs weighed in at around 380 pounds.. and with a K and N Lunchbox and exhaust and heavy jetting , probs get a few horses outta her , 41 i think its around acceptable ,
1610 kg (3550 lb) 2+2
1496 kg (3300 lb) 2 seater for a 1989- 2000 300zx
so 222 BHP pushing 3300 pounds --- which is around 14.8 pounds For every Break..
Suzuki Gs 500
174 kg (384 lb) (GS500 / GS500E) Saying the Gs produces 41 bhp with Exhaust and Lunchbox : 9.3 pounds per Break
180 kg (397 lb) (GS500F) 41 bhp 9.6 per Break *HP*
A Compairison ,
Suzuki GSXR 1000 2007 444 pounds Wet . With 160 Bhp 2.7 pounds per Horse
Yamaha R1 2006 379 Pounds with 180bhp at the crank 2.1 pounds Per Horse
Ducati 1098R 381 pounds with 180 bhp 2.1 pounds per horse
*This is for Terry so he doesnt have to mention it agen*
So basicly the Gs is a little baby ,. but still has a less 5 pounds per break then the 300zx , and those 3 up there are reasons why to start on a gs or something.....
Thanks for the specifics Jay. I was guessing with numbers, but you got my drift.
You gave me the idea , The Old Wiki :thumb:
A GS is a classic starter bike, that means slow, and unresponsive. That is a great thing when you don't know what you are doing. It is however, simple and maintenance free compared to most bikes. Of course the owners love them, so do Volvo 240 owners.
I would say that the gs is highly responsive, maybe not in terms of raw power, but definitely when it comes to handling. It's the most flickable bike I've ever ridden.
Does nobody factor in rider weight and fluids anymore? In a car all those extras detract little from the total power to weight ratio because of the bulk of the car but it's significant on a lightweight bike. Hell if you loaded a 4000 pound car down with 2000 pounds you're sure to feel it. Same with a 400 pound bike with a 200 pound rider. But 40 hp for a gs is a little on the low side. It's true they are often restricted in europe to 40 hp but the gs is rated for 51.3 according to wikipedia. I doubt you'll see a 20% power loss at the wheels especially when the gs can slightly outrun the 250cc 4 cylinder japanese bikes which are rated at 45 hp and are lighter weight. So if I were to take a guess I'd say we have closer to 45 hp at the rear wheel, the 250cc 4 cylinder bikes have about 38ish horsepower to the rear wheel. One downside to revving so high besides shorter engine life is all that drag, rotational mass and the shear friction from parts reciprocating and rotating that fast kill efficiency.
Quote from: wreckhog on June 04, 2008, 05:40:47 PM
A GS is a classic starter bike, that means slow, and unresponsive. That is a great thing when you don't know what you are doing. It is however, simple and maintenance free compared to most bikes. Of course the owners love them, so do Volvo 240 owners.
dude, everybody
knows the gs is faster than any mullet wearing, viagra poppin, 350 camaro wielding wannabe. so it's GOT to be like, fasssssssssssssssssssssst
rev her to 7.5 G's and dump the clutch, then say she's unresponsive ;)
the 240 is love, safe, warm, cushy love. don't hate the big gurls :D
Quote from: bucks1605 on June 04, 2008, 05:45:55 PM
I would say that the gs is highly responsive, maybe not in terms of raw power, but definitely when it comes to handling. It's the most flickable bike I've ever ridden.
Unresponsive to throttle and brake. relative to many non starter bikes The GS is not even the most flickable bike that I own.....lol It sounds like an appliance and does not wheelie (without abuse). That said, it starts and runs as needed, sparkplugs cost $4 for the pair, insurance is low, it looks great, and has great ergos for me.
Quote from: ohgood on June 04, 2008, 06:04:41 PM
dude, everybody knows the gs is faster than any mullet wearing, viagra poppin, 350 camaro wielding wannabe. so it's GOT to be like, fasssssssssssssssssssssst
:D
Better make sure its not an LS1(346cid) powered Camaro, might be a coin toss then. My son's 2000 ss is making enough at the rear wheels to handle most gs500's. ;)
Quote from: wreckhog on June 04, 2008, 06:36:11 PM
it starts and runs as needed, sparkplugs cost $4 for the pair, insurance is low, it looks great,
[/quote]
I agree, if it's not a first bike, value is why you own one of these bikes overall low cost of ownership & operation. :thumb:
well it sounds plenty fast enough to me. if it can accelerate faster then the Z, i'll be ok. thanks for all the help guys. as i get farther into the buying process, i will probably ask a few more questions in this thread. thanks again!
NO NO NO!!!!
If you want fast you must get a 1098R, there's just nothing quite like being able to talk about that Veyron or Enzo you screamed past while sipping a hot half-decaf, no-fat, extra splenda latte.
guessing that was all sarcastic... lol. i feel safe to say that i will never feel the need to go faster then a veyron on a motorcycle...
The top end isn't there like the veyron has, but the 1098R would smoke the hell out of the veyron until it ran out of juice. Of course the veyron isn't all that swift, it just has killer top speed........a 600cc could probably out-accelerate it to about 120.
how is insurance on the gs for most? i'm 18, and have one wreck.. i pay 700 twice a year right now on my 300
Im 21 From yesterday ... i Have my bike insured at 2500 pounds ,. for 400 pounds a month 3rd party
400 pounds a month for a 2500 pound bike? Wow. So you pay 1/6 of the insured value of the bike every month as insurance.......
2001 GS. One ticket, no accidents, $300 year for comp/coll/uninsured and 250K/500K liability all with $100 deductible, in an urban area with major bike theft issues. Ie, way, way overinsured, but I have a house that I'd like to keep even if I do something stupid. Licensed for about 5 years. Sounds low, but if I got a sport bike that was 3-4 years older, like a ZX7 which I want to add, I'd pay the same. Have 3 bikes, and the other 2 are older and cheaper, but faster, with the same coverage. No multiple bike discount, unlike with cars. Same coverage on each Jeep is $1400.
I meant a Year :laugh:
A Daytona is 1200 A year ... And a Gsxr 1000 is 1800 a year ...
4800 for a gs... Nope lol
Quote from: ohgood on June 04, 2008, 06:04:41 PM
Quote from: wreckhog on June 04, 2008, 05:40:47 PM
A GS is a classic starter bike, that means slow, and unresponsive. That is a great thing when you don't know what you are doing. It is however, simple and maintenance free compared to most bikes. Of course the owners love them, so do Volvo 240 owners.
dude, everybody knows the gs is faster than any mullet wearing, viagra poppin, 350 camaro wielding wannabe. so it's GOT to be like, fasssssssssssssssssssssst
rev her to 7.5 G's and dump the clutch, then say she's unresponsive ;)
the 240 is love, safe, warm, cushy love. don't hate the big gurls :D
and then 12 oclock her lol
Quote from: 1 wheel peel on June 05, 2008, 08:54:55 AM
Quote from: wreckhog on June 04, 2008, 06:36:11 PM
it starts and runs as needed, sparkplugs cost $4 for the pair, insurance is low, it looks great,
I agree, if it's not a first bike, value is why you own one of these bikes overall low cost of ownership & operation. :thumb:
[/quote]frig 4 dollars for plugs, geez i bay 1.19 each for mine and get quite a bit of life out of them
Quote from: wreckhog on June 08, 2008, 07:48:23 PM
2001 GS. One ticket, no accidents, $300 year for comp/coll/uninsured and 250K/500K liability all with $100 deductible, in an urban area with major bike theft issues. Ie, way, way overinsured, but I have a house that I'd like to keep even if I do something stupid. Licensed for about 5 years.
but how old are you? that does sound like a good rate. i think they like to pound on 18 year olds though...
Veyron... I don't know what people see in that thing. It's just another pile of shaZam! with too many wheels and waaay too much baby fat.