Ok, so i have limited motorcycle experience and i was wondering if the gs500f would be a good starter bike. I've done research and i don't want a 250 because a lot of people say that you get bored of the lack of power quickly and i don't want to regret not getting a bigger bike once i learn to ride. So i thought getting a 500cc would be better so i still have power but not too much that it will overwhelm me. is this a good idea or should i still start on a 250?t
also..
if i did have to start on a 250 could you please give me some good 250cc bikes other than the ninja?
I love mine - but then I'm not a total newbie. Its my first motorbike after a long break, but I've ridden mountain bikes and road pushies for years. If you're a total newbie I would go the naked (GS500E) as the fairings are easy to damage and expensive to fix if (when) your drop it.
Compared to 250s - a bit heavier, but heaps more low end pull (torque) so the GS is easier to ride in my view - don't have to worry about keeping the revs up.
have no fear.. gs500f is the best bike for you. nuff said go buy one and come back to this forum to thank me.
Quote from: jawntybull on August 18, 2008, 11:33:35 PM
I love mine - but then I'm not a total newbie. Its my first motorbike after a long break, but I've ridden mountain bikes and road pushies for years. If you're a total newbie I would go the naked (GS500E) as the fairings are easy to damage and expensive to fix if (when) your drop it.
Compared to 250s - a bit heavier, but heaps more low end pull (torque) so the GS is easier to ride in my view - don't have to worry about keeping the revs up.
well im not a total newbie i do have some experience, but that was 4 or 5 years ago. i rode my friends dirt bikes with him all the time. i have maybe 15 hours under my belt.. but like i said it was a while ago
MUST it be a faired bike?
Im just thinking you would be less sorry if (when) you drop the faried opposed to a naked.
It seems not many can honestly say they never dropped a bike - myself included.
Quote from: daniel483 on August 18, 2008, 11:23:52 PM
Ok, so i have limited motorcycle experience and i was wondering if the gs500f would be a good starter bike. I've done research and i don't want a 250 because a lot of people say that you get bored of the lack of power quickly and i don't want to regret not getting a bigger bike once i learn to ride. So i thought getting a 500cc would be better so i still have power but not too much that it will overwhelm me. is this a good idea or should i still start on a 250?t
also..
if i did have to start on a 250 could you please give me some good 250cc bikes other than the ninja?
MY advice is, buy a USED (naked) GS for your first streetbike. As has already been mentioned, you're looking at some expensive repairs WHEN the fairings get crashed / crushed. Ride the (naked) GS, learn to wrench on it, then sell it here when you're ready to buy a faired GS.
That being said, don't shortchange the Ninja250; that is an excellent motorcycle, and the LACK of power is what makes it so forgiving for new / re-entry riders. Learn to ride a Ninja250 well, and you can really humiliate the morons riding the big fours when the road gets tight and technical. There is a REASON why people don't begin their racing careers on liter bikes; unless you're riding two-up all the time, the NON-liter engines are better for all-around riding, and a LOT cheaper to insure and maintain.
Look at it another way; butchers use meat cleavers, while surgeons use scalpels... which would you rather ride? Butchers wobble through corners, because they only know how to ride fast in a straight line, while surgeons use their scalpels to dissect each corner, and derive the maximum enjoyment from it. Riding with surgical precision, carving each corner precisely, getting your lines exactly right each time, is a thing of joy. If you ride only flat, boring FM (Farm-to-Market) roads out on the open prairie, then it really doesn't matter what you ride, you won't have any twisties to learn from. BUT, if you DO have access to more varied terrain, with off-camber decreasing radius bends around every tenth corner, then more engine power is only overkill. You want a motorcycle that you can ride the wheels off of, and the GS500 or the Ninja250 would suit you better.
Truthfully, I can't recommend any other 250cc motorcycle, simply because I'm not aware of any that are HALF as capable as the Ninja250. You could always buy an old Honda XL250 / Yamaha XT250 / Suzuki DR250S / Kawasaki KLR250 to streetify, and use that instead of a GS500 or Ninja250, but then you have to deal with the inherent compromises of riding a dual-sport full-time on the street. It can be done, but I'd suggest simply starting with a pure streetbike, at least until you've developed your skills beyond the "still learning how not to fall down" stage.
Of course, the Ninja250 DOES have a full fairing, so keep that in mind while you consider what to buy. Ask your insurance agent which motorcycle is cheaper for YOU to insure, and factor that information into your decision. YOU have to pay for this, so do your research, and make your decisions accordingly.
Best of luck with this; hopefully, I've given you some more things to consider BEFORE you decide to spend any money.
Lastly, buy the best gear you can afford; no matter how good a rider you become, the world is full of idiots in cages who can kill you faster than you can blink. Good gear pays for itself the first time the shaZam! hits the fan...
Remember, ATGATT, or, ALL THE GEAR, ALL THE TIME...
Quote from: GSnoober on August 19, 2008, 05:10:01 AM
That being said, don't shortchange the Ninja250; that is an excellent motorcycle, and the LACK of power is what makes it so forgiving for new / re-entry riders. Learn to ride a Ninja250 well, and you can really humiliate the morons riding the big fours when the road gets tight and technical. There is a REASON why people don't begin their racing careers on liter bikes; unless you're riding two-up all the time, the NON-liter engines are better for all-around riding, and a LOT cheaper to insure and maintain.
Lastly, buy the best gear you can afford; no matter how good a rider you become, the world is full of idiots in cages who can kill you faster than you can blink. Good gear pays for itself the first time the shaZam! hits the fan...
Remember, ATGATT, or, ALL THE GEAR, ALL THE TIME...
+1 on what GSNoober said.
Tony
Quote from: GSnoober on August 19, 2008, 05:10:01 AM
Lastly, buy the best gear you can afford; no matter how good a rider you become, the world is full of idiots in cages who can kill you faster than you can blink. Good gear pays for itself the first time the shaZam! hits the fan...
Remember, ATGATT, or, ALL THE GEAR, ALL THE TIME...
Excellent post from GSnoober. The only addition I would make is that gear should be your first priority. If possible, buy the gear
before you buy the bike. I know several people who didn't want to (or couldn't) dish out the cash for good gear once they'd paid for the bike, inspections, repairs, licensing, insurance, gas...
The GS500 has been an excellent first bike for me so far. I have talked to several experienced riders and they advise to stay away from buying a 250 because you will grow out of it so fast that it would be a waste of time and money. I have a gs500F but I agree with the above statement...a bare GS500E would be easier to stomach a drop.
the Ninja 250 is sooo much fun. I got one for my 4th bike. I did think it needed more power, but I tell you, it was every bit as fast as the GS500, you just need to rev it a little harder. And, you can definitely sell that ninja 250 for what you paid for it if you don't break it
this may seem like a silly opinion on a GS forum, but if you can find a good deal on one, I'd take the Ninja 500 over the GS500 any day. However, GS500s can be found cheaper on the used market, it seems the Ninja holds its value a lot better - because it's a better bike
I have a GS500E for my first bike and I'm loving it. Not enough power to be totally scary, but plenty of get up and go to ride on the freeway with no problem. It is also pretty easy to work on, which is nice..
Quote from: fred on August 19, 2008, 09:35:50 AM
I have a GS500E for my first bike and I'm loving it. Not enough power to be totally scary, but plenty of get up and go to ride on the freeway with no problem. It is also pretty easy to work on, which is nice..
ditto
Thanks for the help guys
Well here's my $0.02...
I have not motorcycle experience whatsoever prior to 2 months ago. I have tons of experience riding bicycles (road,mountain,cyclocross,tandem). I got a good deal on my 2007 and it has proven to be the perfect beginner bike. The best thing about the gs500 (to me) is that is has a broad power delivery, especially down low, so it is easy to learn taking off and clutching, but it doesn't have so much power you have to fear the bike taking off without you. Also, as your skills grow, it is unlikely you will outgrow it anytime soon- it's plenty fast on the highway and handles quite well. I think a Ninja 250 would be a great starter if you could find one cheap, and knew you only wanted it to learn on prior to buying something else in a year or so, I doubt it would be fun long term.
Yes its a great bike but i wouldnt buy a new one or one with a fairing. A 05 GS500F was my first was great to learn on, ive been down twice on the thing and dropped about 4 times. Might as well not have the fairing on it anymore but it still not falling completely off. Well whatever you get be safe!
IMO, the GS500, E or F models are perfect beginner/intermediate bikes. the only two issues I can think of is that they need a beefier suspension setup, and an oil sight glass is needed not a friggin dipstick.
+1 on bikejunkie223.
I'm a beginner too. Bought my 2006 GS500F several weeks ago and I'm loving it. I tried Ninja 250 and Buell Blast before I chose GS500. Ninja 250 is a good beginner bike and I don't think one would outgrow it too fast unless your goal is to get a Hayabusa ASAP. However, if your goal is to take it moderately slow and learn how to ride properly while being very safety-aware GS500, in my opinion, is a better fit. It has better ergos for me (6'1", 180lbs). Blast is... well... it did not feel even close to gs500, it is not as a "complete, finished, thought through" motorcycle as opposed to the GS. GS is exactly what I wanted. Ninja 500 is also not bad, but again, GS ergos worked a bit better for me.
I must be the exception- I flopped my bike once trying to leave a stop sign uphill and stalled it, and couldn't catch it, put the smallest of marks on the timing cover- guess I got lucky not touching the fairing at all. The full fairing is really nice if you commute or do a lot of highway miles, keeps the wind off you. That's just me I guess, besides, if you jack it up you can always go naked- expensive to go the other way..
I dont know about the ninja 500. I think its probably a equally good bike to learn on. But a 250 will probably be too small. The gs500 isnt crazy powerful, its just a 500. But it isnt a weak bike either. Its got great get up and go. And its great to learn on because it sits low enough that I can extend my feet out while sitting on it and have great control over the bike when I menuever it. That may be what I like most about the gs500. Its not heavy at all.
Im moving up in a while. Ive owned the gs500 since january. I rode dirtbikes with a clutch as a kid, but never owned a dirtbike with a clutch when I was a kid. I never owned a motorcycle before ever. I dropped the bike twice and wrecked it in a corner cause I was riding to fast. I learned a lot by that crash lol. So I think I can move up now.
The bike is great at learning and commuting, but after a while you may want a faster bike. So dont go lower than 500. I go on the highway and cruise at about 75ish but any faster and my bike starts reving pretty high. Its like I need a 6th gear. So for that reason I want a bigger bike I can cruise on, on the highway. I also went to the twisties in the north ga mountains and found that I wanted a faster bike. My friends own ducatis, and everyone else had bigger bikes too. Not that you need bigger cause they have bigger, but I just felt I couldve gone faster, and keeping up with them was difficult.
But the gs500 or the ninja is probably the way to go. :thumb:
Quote from: Domindart on August 19, 2008, 05:48:07 PM
Its like I need a 6th gear.
Uhh, unless your GS is radically different than mine, you do have a 6th gear right above 5th.... Unless you've done something funny with your sprockets, you should be able to go 75 without over reving the bike no problem...
Quote from: fred on August 19, 2008, 06:00:12 PM
Quote from: Domindart on August 19, 2008, 05:48:07 PM
Its like I need a 6th gear.
Uhh, unless your GS is radically different than mine, you do have a 6th gear right above 5th.... Unless you've done something funny with your sprockets, you should be able to go 75 without over reving the bike no problem...
I have a 6th gear!!!!? oh wow lol but it still feels like I need a 7th...........
Fastest I have gone yet on mine was about 100mph passing a hay truck @ 8k in 5th- I don't think the GS suffers from a lack of gears. How fast do you ride regularly? The only reason for a bigger bike is because you just want one, anything else is a justification IMO. It's fine, I'm still planning on upgrading to a Triumph Street Triple after next year, but there is no logical reason to do it.
Quote from: bikejunkie223 on August 19, 2008, 08:18:33 PM
Fastest I have gone yet on mine was about 100mph passing a hay truck @ 8k in 5th- I don't think the GS suffers from a lack of gears. How fast do you ride regularly? The only reason for a bigger bike is because you just want one, anything else is a justification IMO. It's fine, I'm still planning on upgrading to a Triumph Street Triple after next year, but there is no logical reason to do it.
I dont know, I just feel it revs up higher than I want to cruise.. I stay at about 75 or lesser mainly due to the fact that I dont like to rev my bike higher, cause its my baby. I think I can go faster but it just starts to scream higher than I like. So in result I dont cruise fast as I like and the other bikers wizz by me lol. Anyways,
The sole reason I want a bigger bike is this: more power!
Wow, a street triple.. cool! My dad has a 07 speed triple. Maybe Ill get to ride it someday.. lol :o