Yeah so this guy has cbr bike (i think ) and he just did a quick ride on my gs500 and he goes your motorcycle feels like a bicycle. This thing aint going to teach you anything about heavier bikes yadda yadda yadda. Is this true? I mean i thought if you start small then you can work your way up to heavier bike etc. But he goes everything is different on bigger bikes. Is this true or is this is true?
its 40 hp.
A modern 600 super sport is 100 hp. BMW now sells to the public a 1000 sport bike that was introduced at 190 hp and could easily make 250 hp but they capped it and worked some more on traction control and handling. 250 hp is for a later year on that platform.
Yes, if you double triple or quintuple the power it will feel different. Better? Well thats another story.
There is an old saying, "its more fun to drive a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow". This is true for cars as well.
Imagine owning it but never going full throttle on the BMW for more than a second or two, legally.
In the car world this is why a miata can be more fun than a lingenfelter Corvette or Ferrarri F540.
Yeah if you compare a bike that was designed in the late 1980s and hasn't been modified much since 1989 to a 2000+ CBR which are redesigned every other year (yay racing 8) ) then yes, it will feel different. I've ridden a friends ZX-636, and all of the skills you learn on a GS are transferable. There are differences however; the seating position/clip-on handlebars are quite different, the engine is extremely powerful (along the lines of attaining a speed greater than the GS top speed in 2nd or 3rd gear), the components are better (usually), and more. The clip-ons change the handling in a not insignificant way.
I was out riding with this friend a few weeks ago, we come up to a stop light and are joined by a guy on a 'Busa. Needless to say, on the city streets a GS is more than capable of holding its own. Once in the twisties you'll start to dominate most guys on a 600 (hardly any of them know how to actually ride).
GS500 is a completely different class of bike than a 600cc supersport. Its ugly, slow and old technology. It can do a lot of things a supersport can't do though, like be cheap (cheap to buy, maintain, fix and resell). You can leave it out on your street w/o worrying its going to get stolen, you can track it and then tour with it and then commute on it.
It will teach you how to ride though.
If you spend two years on a GS500 and always push your limits to where your tires have no chickenstrips and you outpace the super-sports in the corners, yeah you are going to be smoking fast when you hop onto a 600cc bike. The basics of safe and effective motorcycle handling don't change, your engine size doesn't matter. Almost anyone can accelerate fast, its cornering fast and braking well and picking good lines and being safe and knowing how to work on a bike that you are learning with the GS. If you ever get to a bigger bike you will master it very fast.
Personally, I like my GS too much to ever sell it. I dunno about you but I don't usually have to go faster than 110 mph.
you guys are right. If you leave it on the street then you dont worry about it getting stolen etc. Personally i like gs500 as well but this is my first bike so i wouldnt know any better.
But my only question is that if i spend a few months/years on this bike.. will my experience transfer to bigger bikes? or i will have to learn all over again....
All the intangibles (being smart, choosing lines, etc...) will transfer 100%. The mechanical skills (accelerating, turning, braking, clutch control, etc...) will transfer at a slightly less % - due to the differences in machines. But they will quickly return to whatever level they were at once you are used to the new bike.
I'm with Bluesmudge, I'm never getting rid of my GS (I really like it, and I've had too much frustration with it to get rid of it :cheers:), but I will eventually get a bigger bike as well.
it will be a little different, but the fundamentals will always be there, like making good decisions like with acceleration and braking
Its going to teach you in a hurry what will happen if you make a mistake ... as in, it will teach you and not just kill you.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on September 29, 2009, 05:19:48 PMIts going to teach you in a hurry what will happen if you make a mistake ... as in, it will teach you and not just kill you.
That was almost poetic... and true.
The best riders I know started out on small bikes. (Most of 'em have a good amount of dirt under their belt, too, which I also pimp for skill-building.)
Quote from: Roadstergal on September 29, 2009, 05:28:12 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on September 29, 2009, 05:19:48 PMIts going to teach you in a hurry what will happen if you make a mistake ... as in, it will teach you and not just kill you.
That was almost poetic... and true.
The best riders I know started out on small bikes. (Most of 'em have a good amount of dirt under their belt, too, which I also pimp for skill-building.)
this is how i say +2
and ...
Quote from: Bluesmudge on September 29, 2009, 05:04:22 PM
GS500 is a completely different class of bike than a 600cc supersport. Its ugly, slow and old technology. It can do a lot of things a supersport can't do though, like be cheap (cheap to buy, maintain, fix and resell). You can leave it out on your street w/o worrying its going to get stolen, you can track it and then tour with it and then commute on it.
It will teach you how to ride though.
If you spend two years on a GS500 and always push your limits to where your tires have no chickenstrips and you outpace the super-sports in the corners, yeah you are going to be smoking fast when you hop onto a 600cc bike. The basics of safe and effective motorcycle handling don't change, your engine size doesn't matter. Almost anyone can accelerate fast, its cornering fast and braking well and picking good lines and being safe and knowing how to work on a bike that you are learning with the GS. If you ever get to a bigger bike you will master it very fast.
Personally, I like my GS too much to ever sell it. I dunno about you but I don't usually have to go faster than 110 mph.
i wanna +1 that one
and ...
you're riding with the wrong people if they say you can't learn on a gs, a ninja 250, a dirtbike, a goldwing, or flying saucers. everything you do in life is a learning opportunity. everything. even just now, when you looked at your keyboard, and wondered if you should type something, or stand on your head. either one can teach. your choice.
:)
(fast sucks)
I get crap from some guys i know with with 600's because i got a "girl bike" or whatever. I'm perfectly happy with a 500 right now, its a blast to ride and definitely gets the job done. When the time comes to get a new bike (right now i have my sights set on a r6 or a triumph daytona 675) i'll be much more prepared to ride than these guys who started out on crazier bikes.
but yeah, as far as the op's question goes, compared to other bikes the gs isn't fast at all.
I also own a Ninja 600, along with my GS500. The Ninja is only an '89, but it is muuuch faster than my GS. I almost prefer riding the GS. The Ninja is a blast to ride, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather push the GS at 3/4-full throttle through some winding roads, as opposed to blasting down the highway on the Kawi.
But that's just me. :)
The GS is a great bike to build your skills on and leaves room for rookie errors. If you get on a bigger bike without developing good throttle control first you may end up in a surprise wheelie. And while not a sport bike, the SV650 is definitely a lot more powerful than the GS. When I go back to West Virginia next year though, the SV is staying home while the GS gets to work the twisties. The GS is just a fun bike to ride.
-Jessie
Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 05:11:33 PM
But my only question is that if i spend a few months/years on this bike.. will my experience transfer to bigger bikes? or i will have to learn all over again....
Depends on what kind of "bigger bikes" you change to.
I rode my '01 GS (first bike ever) for 3k miles, then bought a '03 YZF600R (specifically to see how a 600cc rides differently), then a SV650N. Now I switch back and forth between the three bikes.
Going from a GS to a YZF600R - Very difficult, not because of the power, but because of the ergonomics. I could hardly turn the YZF when I first started riding it. It turned out the low clipons on a sportbike requires a different riding posture and body positioning to turn effectively, and you have to learn it. I've now ridden the YZF about 1600 miles. It's great at high speed and relatively open roads, but when the road gets very twisty, narrow and steep (downhill), I still get nervous because it's just not as nimble as the GS at low speed.
Going from a GS to a SV650N - Not too difficult. The SV's throttle is much more abrupt, and the strong engine braking takes some getting used to, but the ergonomics are almost identical (except the SV's about 2 inch taller than the GS), you'd get used to the SV after 1-2 rides if you're already good with the GS. Still, on very twisty, narrow and steep roads, I get a bit more nervous on the SV than on the GS, partly because of the more abrupt throttle of the SV, and partly because my SV is a lot newer/shinier/more expensive than my GS. ;)
After riding a sportbike (low clipons, crouched down ergo), switching back to the GS does make it feel like a bicycle, in a good way. The GS's high/wide handlebar makes it super nimble doing u-turns, and running up/down super twisty/narrow/steep roads. While GS's power feels a little weak in the wide open situation, it actually feel great when the road gets gnarly.
deleted - double posted by mistake
GS is great for real world everyday street riding.
I have never ridden any bike other than the GS but personally i feel like it is enough power when needed and isn't to much power that it will get you into trouble quickly. Going fast in a straight line is boring to me on the bike so I try to always take twisty back roads even though it is a slower route to get to whereever i may be going but it makes the ride more enjoyable. I believe that when or if i upgrade to a bigger bike all the skills you have learned on the GS will transfer over but will need to be adapted to the new bike so their will be a learning curve on the bigger bike but it will be a much quicker learning curve if you have already mastered the skills on a GS. Learning on a bigger bike can be done but would probably be a much longer learning curve. The GS is a very forgiving bike to learn on and is great for being able to do all your own maintenance so incase it ever stops working on the side of the road you will be able to fix it instead of having to call for a tow.
You should ask him to clarify when he says "bigger bike". I know we consider it small. It's skinny and has a low seat height, and the bars make it feel easy to ride, but a GS is heavier than a lot of newer 600s, and it is decently top heavy. The displacement/HP numbers are smaller, but that does nothing to actually teach you anything. I pass sportbikes on my bicycle all the time when I'm downtown, so being fast and learning to ride well is all pretty relative.
Ok, I can give a picture from all sides of the fence.
When I am at the office, I commute on a 125cc scooter, why, Because the office is right in the centre of the city, parking is a nightmare if you have a car, traffic is a nightmare and the scoot can change direction in a heartbeet, so I am in and out of traffic in no time. And its allmost as cheap as walking.
When I am working further afield, I use the GS as its still cheap as chips, but can easilly cope with motorway speeds, out manouver most things, and still beats most cars, yet still small enough to cut through traffic on the bigger raods and motorways.
My weekend plaything is a GSF1200, the power is nice, but you can hardly ever use more than a quarter of it on the road, the handling is fantastic, but its just too much of a lard-ass to cut through traffic and it has a healthy addiction to fuel, It loves the stuff, it uses more than the wifes car. But for touring, two-up, fully loaded with camping gear and long distance, its fantastic.
As the saying goes, "horses for courses". Depends what you use your bike for.....................
I traded a '98 CBR 600 for my GS and do not regret it one bit
How's this for a heavier bike - Kawasaki Concours (600 pounds, dry)
I traded bikes with a co-worker for a weekend to get a feel for it and see if I wanted to buy one. The biggest change is when you're pushing it around with the engine off. It is heavy!
Riding is another story. I was going down twisty roads faster in that tank than I normally did on the GS. It has a relatively low center of gravity and wide tires. It's a lot more stable in the turns. It does take a little more effort to get it to lean, but will do it without any complaints.
What you learn on the GS absolutely transfer over to a larger bike. As others have mentioned it's a great bike to learn on cause you can take it to the limit without doing triple the speed limit.
If your friend was talking about sport bikes, the only real difference you be a snappier throttle that might take a little while to get used to, but that's not a huge deal.
QuoteHow's this for a heavier bike - Kawasaki Concours (600 pounds, dry)
Ha! my dads bike that I ride occasionally is an 02 GoldWing 1800. 900 pounds without rider or stuff in the saddle bags. 110bhp 1800cc v6. Its hard as hell to turn compared to my gs but it turns no harder than my brothers zx6r 636. the goldwing is happy to grind the exhaust and pegs all day, that thing handles like no 900 pound bike should! i have actually raced the gold wing against my heavily modded gs with me on the gs and the gold wing cant keep up untill 50 where its a dead heat till 65. then he passes me slowly, when im topped out at 125ish hes still got some steam left and will power on to 140. in turns I know the gold wing could keep up for a while if stuff didnt grind so soon, but as it is i can easily put 30mph over the gold wings speed in every turn. some big bikes will blow your mind with there handling, I love my gs and would never trade it for any supersport bike but i am considering an sv650sf
if you haven't ye seen it, watch this vid of two Goldwings on Deals Gap - dragon's tail. The noise you hear on the vid is the camera bike scraping around the corners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo (2.39min) :woohoo:
Michael
This is a great set of posts because I have to admit that I am thinking about trading my GS500F for a 'bigger' sportbike. I really like the gs500, it's comfortable, easy to ride, and has enough power for anything that I would want to do with it. Perhaps it has to do with doing burnouts and wheelies and just being 'bad'. You can't really be 'bad' on a gs500. I should have my head examined for even thinking about getting a bigger bike... :cookoo:
Quote from: redhenracing2 on September 30, 2009, 11:18:05 AM
I traded a '98 CBR 600 for my GS and do not regret it one bit
Got any more CBRs you want to get rid of? I've got a GS I'd be happy to trade.
Lamahug: I know exactly how you feel. The GS is a fun bike, and perfectly acceptable for what it is, but there's nothing quite like 100hp and a nice suspension.
Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 05:11:33 PM
you guys are right. If you leave it on the street then you dont worry about it getting stolen etc. Personally i like gs500 as well but this is my first bike so i wouldnt know any better.
But my only question is that if i spend a few months/years on this bike.. will my experience transfer to bigger bikes? or i will have to learn all over again....
Everything you learn on your GS 500 will transfer to any bike you own in the future. Then after a while you may start thinking (like I did) "Geez, I had more fun on a lighter bike than on a big heavy monster" and you may wish you still had it. That's why I'll never sell a bike again unless I'm SURE I don't want it anymore. I've ridden bikes from 125cc to 1600 cc and I like mid-size bikes best, but that's just me. I'm weird. Ignore everything I type. I have to wring-out any bike I own from time to time. It's a genetic defect. That's why I don't want a CBR. I want to stay in one piece.
Tell your CBR riding friend that his bike doesn't weigh any more than yours. All it has is more power and bling factor. It doesn't handle any better. Middleweight sportbikes these days are all in the 400 lb range with gas, just like yours, and your bike handles about as well as anything.
Oh, by the way, take a look at this. If you ever learn to ride your GS like this I guarantee your friends will never utter a peep about what you're riding ever again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj-KrlE7LKc&feature=channel_page
Quote from: bill14224 on October 01, 2009, 05:48:32 PM
Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 05:11:33 PM
you guys are right. If you leave it on the street then you dont worry about it getting stolen etc. Personally i like gs500 as well but this is my first bike so i wouldnt know any better.
But my only question is that if i spend a few months/years on this bike.. will my experience transfer to bigger bikes? or i will have to learn all over again....
Everything you learn on your GS 500 will transfer to any bike you own in the future. Then after a while you may start thinking (like I did) "Geez, I had more fun on a lighter bike than on a big heavy monster" and you may wish you still had it. That's why I'll never sell a bike again unless I'm SURE I don't want it anymore. I've ridden bikes from 125cc to 1600 cc and I like mid-size bikes best, but that's just me. I'm weird. Ignore everything I type. I have to wring-out any bike I own from time to time. It's a genetic defect. That's why I don't want a CBR. I want to stay in one piece.
Tell your CBR riding friend that his bike doesn't weigh any more than yours. All it has is more power and bling factor. It doesn't handle any better. Middleweight sportbikes these days are all in the 400 lb range with gas, just like yours, and your bike handles about as well as anything.
Yeah but i am having second thoughts about this 1998 gs500e. I think it is costing me more. I might have to change the battery, fix the turn signals, odometer light, change the chain, change both tires etc etc and i just spent around 120 on oil change and filter. So combine everything and u got more then 500-1000 expense, add this to the price i bought the bike for and i could have had cbr for the same price? or am i wrong....
Don't think that you wouldn't have to do the same maintenance to any bike you buy, and Supersports are abused mightily by many of the idiots that ride them - so you would likely wind up sinking even more money in. I was talking with a guy who had a GSX-R 600 who either took of his fairing for a street fighter look (not likely) or low sided at some point (likely). Guy told me about a friend of his who bought a used GSX-R 1000... rode it down the block and the engine blew up. How much do you think a new GSX-R motor is? $300 like a GS motor?
Oil change you should be doing yourself - $5 filter, $10 oil, $10 oil pan, $10 tools the first time, afterward $15. Tires - many on here get them ~$100 a pair, sticky tires for a SS are at least $100 a tire. I think you can start to see the picture... the GS is one of the cheapest bikes around when it comes to maintenance, plus when you do move up, you'll be able to fix nearly any problem you encounter.
:cheers:
Quote from: NF11624 on October 01, 2009, 06:59:12 PM
Don't think that you wouldn't have to do the same maintenance to any bike you buy, and Supersports are abused mightily by many of the idiots that ride them - so you would likely wind up sinking even more money in. I was talking with a guy who had a GSX-R 600 who either took of his fairing for a street fighter look (not likely) or low sided at some point (likely). Guy told me about a friend of his who bought a used GSX-R 1000... rode it down the block and the engine blew up. How much do you think a new GSX-R motor is? $300 like a GS motor?
Oil change you should be doing yourself - $5 filter, $10 oil, $10 oil pan, $10 tools the first time, afterward $15. Tires - many on here get them ~$100 a pair, sticky tires for a SS are at least $100 a tire. I think you can start to see the picture... the GS is one of the cheapest bikes around when it comes to maintenance, plus when you do move up, you'll be able to fix nearly any problem you encounter.
:cheers:
hmmm. Wow. Thanks for that man. Yeah i am doing oil change myself the next time. I only did it in the store this time because i do not have a garage so i cant open it up on the street?
If Gs is cheaper to maintain then i guess i will stick with this lol
Oil change takes 20-30 minutes so maybe you could pull it off in the street :icon_twisted:
Seriously though, NY seems like a tough place to be a biker of any kind. There are a few other NYC folk on the board, try and get in touch with them and they might be able to help you out a ton.
Best of luck.
Not trying to bust your balls but $120 sounds outrageous for an oil change, was there other work done at the same time? NF11624 is right, unless you know the previous owner buying a used sport bike is a real crap shoot; especially a 600cc sport bike. I was talking to the owner of a local speed shop about this one day. His clientel is a lot of newbs/wannabes on crotch rockets and stunters. He is the only shop around here with a dyno (BTY: my 01' GS puts out a whopping 38 HP at the rear wheel :laugh:). 600's are the "cheapest" sport bikes so a lot of newbs choose them. Those that don't tear them up stunting them end up ruining them by neglecting simple things like oil changes. He said it is not uncommon to get in a bike with 10,000 miles on the original oil. And the really bad part is the ones that aren't stunted still look good appearance wise so some unsuspectng buyer thinks he's getting a great deal on what turns out to be a good looking used bike with an abused engine. Buyer beware I guess...
-Jessie
Quote from: NF11624 on October 01, 2009, 07:32:58 PM
Oil change takes 20-30 minutes so maybe you could pull it off in the street :icon_twisted:
Seriously though, NY seems like a tough place to be a biker of any kind. There are a few other NYC folk on the board, try and get in touch with them and they might be able to help you out a ton.
Best of luck.
Thanks man...
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on October 01, 2009, 07:36:48 PM
Not trying to bust your balls but $120 sounds outrageous for an oil change, was there other work done at the same time? NF11624 is right, unless you know the previous owner buying a used sport bike is a real crap shoot; especially a 600cc sport bike. I was talking to the owner of a local speed shop about this one day. His clientel is a lot of newbs/wannabes on crotch rockets and stunters. He is the only shop around here with a dyno (BTY: my 01' GS puts out a whopping 38 HP at the rear wheel :laugh:). 600's are the "cheapest" sport bikes so a lot of newbs choose them. Those that don't tear them up stunting them end up ruining them by neglecting simple things like oil changes. He said it is not uncommon to get in a bike with 10,000 miles on the original oil. And the really bad part is the ones that aren't stunted still look good appearance wise so some unsuspectng buyer thinks he's getting a great deal on what turns out to be a good looking used bike with an abused engine. Buyer beware I guess...
-Jessie
yeah but one of my biker friend told me that its average price in nyc... maybe i should start doing this thing 2 huh? lmao
Man, and I thought the cost of living in Baltimore was bad... Definitely invest in the tools and do it yourself next time, it is a simple project to undertake. Just take your time and make sure you don't pinch the gasket for the oil filter when you re-install it. And find a place that you can drop off the used oil for recycling. Good luck to you!
-Jessie
Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 04:36:38 PM
Yeah so this guy has cbr bike (i think ) and he just did a quick ride on my gs500 and he goes your motorcycle feels like a bicycle. This thing aint going to teach you anything about heavier bikes yadda yadda yadda. Is this true? I mean i thought if you start small then you can work your way up to heavier bike etc. But he goes everything is different on bigger bikes. Is this true or is this is true?
It's obvious this guy hasn't been riding very long. The GS500 is a great bike to learning on. He only said that because the GS doesn't fit with what he like's in a bike. Most sportbike riders only care about the power / weight of a bike. And it doesn't matter that the bike is far better than they'll ever be able to ride. I've had lots of different bikes and have grown out of my sportbike phase.
yeah but one of my biker friend told me that its average price in nyc... maybe i should start doing this thing 2 huh? lmao
[/quote]
I live on the other side of the state and $120 is outrageous for an oil change, even in Tokyo! I change my own oil, but garages here charge $50-$65, depending on the cost of the filter and oil, synthetic is extra of course. If you have stock exhaust pipes changing the oil on our bike is so easy a 10-year-old can do it. I'm not kidding, it's that easy. When you're ready to do it just ask and there's a bunch of folks here who will be happy to walk you right through it. You will need a new filter and 4 qts. of oil. You will use about 3.2 qts of it and save the rest for topping-off later. Don't use car oil. I recommend 15W-40 truck oil from your favorite auto parts store. Just tell them you want it for a bike and they'll hook you up. Lotsa guys run truck oil in bikes, and I'm one of them. Good stuff and way cheaper than Yamalube.
Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 06:00:32 PM
i just spent around 120 on oil change and filter.
I had an oil/filter change done on my GS at a shop here in San Jose for about $100. Did it more for the convenience, but due to the high cost next time I'll probably do it myself. I thoguht it'd odd that oil change for a bike is way more expensive than an oil change for a car which is about $40 and worth it.
For you $100+ oil changers is that with a GS 500F? And do the fairings need to be removed for an oil change?
I can't imagine a 500e costing $100 for an oil change.
Quote from: VSG on October 02, 2009, 04:39:22 PM
For you $100+ oil changers is that with a GS 500F? And do the fairings need to be removed for an oil change?
I can't imagine a 500e costing $100 for an oil change.
The $100 oil/filter change was for my naked '01. I coudln't imagine it either, but that's what I paid. :laugh:
QuoteJust tell them you want it for a bike and they'll hook you up.
You tell them you want to put truck oil in a bike and they'll think you're nuts. They'll try to talk you out of it. Tell them you're putting it in a '84 International Truck.
Quote from: Paulcet on October 03, 2009, 07:19:10 AM
QuoteJust tell them you want it for a bike and they'll hook you up.
You tell them you want to put truck oil in a bike and they'll think you're nuts. They'll try to talk you out of it. Tell them you're putting it in a '84 International Truck.
I told the manager at the counter and he said using truck oil in bikes is popular, around here at least.
Jaysus an oil change in a dam Mercedes isn't $100.00! Changer yer own oil! It's a GS you can change the clutch for less than $100.00!!