everywhere i've been hearing about gs500e being the right one
and sv650 being too powerful for a beginner
but look att his
http://www.goldengatecycles.com/review_detail.asp?sid=09287683X11K1K2003J10I22I33JPMQ537R0&rv=5999&veh=2098
she's a woman, 100 pounds, 5 feet aand she says it's too weak for her. that just doesn't seem right to me.
what do you guys think?
there are those of us for whom the learning curve for riding is steep. You'll 'outgrow' the GS's power sooner or later. The point is that we all begin with the same level of experience... ZERO, and with that much, you want something with GS-like power.
The person in the review says that
Quoteafter 4 months and riding with other friends who had 600cc's, I got bored and now I long for a faster bike
Sounds to me like the person isn't 'bored' as much as they're tired of getting smoked by their buddies. I get smoked by some of my riding pals regularly, too, but that doesn't make the GS boring. It's still alot of fun, and (if I can get it running soundly) I plan on keeping it even after I get my next bike.
another great thing about the GS is that, like you said, it saves you about $1500, which is a pretty good downpayment on your next bike. It gives you some time to learn and ride and discover what type of bike you REALLY want to dole out 7 grand for. If I had bought the bike I thought I wanted right from the start, I don't think I would be happy with it now (six months later).
peace
thanks for replying!
so i see how it is
but what are your thoughts on getting the sv650 first like the reviewer said?
i'd save even more money if i skipped the gs and went straight to the sv650, which is pretty cheap too
i plan to ascend to hayabusa eventually!
.. after i take MSF and get that first bike .
i plan on taking MSF in about a month (after college applications)
I suppose if money isn't an object, and you're comfortable with your riding ability, the SV is a pretty good bike. I've only heard good things about it, and personally, I'd love to have a bike with Fuel Injection (starting a stock-jetted GS on November days in PA isn't gonna be fun) and slightly stronger low-end power for dodging the cagers around town.
Personally, I've never been on an SV, maybe some of the folks who have ridden one could chime in. I remember Pablo relating a story about his first experience on the SV650 a few months ago.
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4501
Beyond, that I'd say try searching this board. Being the big-brother of the bike to which this site is dedicated, GS-SV comparisons are a common subject of threads around here. There's alot of material already posted on the topic.
Good luck with your shopping.
peace
here are reviews for the rest of the 2001 GS500's
http://www.goldengatecycles.com/review_list_vehicle.asp?sid=04069025X11K2K2003J12I17I53JAMQ537R0&veh=2098
2000 model GS500
http://www.goldengatecycles.com/review_list_vehicle.asp?sid=04069025X11K2K2003J12I17I53JAMQ537R0&veh=858
I think the issue is that many riders are only looking at the straight line performance. People with 600cc bikes or even an SV650 really cant corner, I see them at school, their cornering technquie isnt that great, cause if they give too much throttle it will move too fast, if not enough gas it will not be enough gas.
Needless to say on the canyons the 500 isnt bad, it would be nice to have more power though. OH well let me see what i see after I rejet in about 2 weeks.
we know the GS is underpowered, we know it lacks the plentyful aftermarket mods that other bikes wallow in, But we ride these bikes because they are fun. my Yamaha xj 650, inline 4 will run at 120 on 3.5 cyl my gs will only do about 115 and its working to get there. but, the GS is so much more fun in the turns then the xj. ppl keep saying its a weak bike, but they dont laugh near as hard when i motor by them in the cloverleaf. New guy on an R6 decieded to follow my group around, and luaghed so hard when he seen me pull up. i left, he caught and passed me and just as he hit the brakes to enter the turn, im coming right around him. we get to the turn around point and he said it was afluke, luck, we go again, i let him enter the turn (its a 270 degree turn mind you) before me, i roll up on the inside at the edge of the aprin give him the bird and throttle it some more creeping away till we exit, then he blows by me. he's pissed at me saying i could have made him wreck, i told him, If your afraid of that, then dont play. and dont put down my little 14 year old weak twin that just stomped your brand new bike cuz you cant ride. i havent seen him this weekend hehehehe.
I agree totally on the handling aspect of the GS,, but i was told the same thing when i called all my friends who had bikes while i was at the dealer, they said it is a good bike to learn on but i will want a bigger bike.
The only time i find that true is when i am going south in I-15 in san diego, and my poor GS is screamin to do 75 miles an hour. that is when i wish i had a more powerfull engine,, but onces again,, if its just joy riding,, no one needs 100+ horse's to handle hairpin turns and nice s-curves, that is where i love the GS :thumb:
I agree that the GS is underpowered but I really don't mind it. I was "used to" the power maybe a month after I got the bike but thats ok. It let me concentrate on technique and learning instead of keeping me worried about spinning up the rear mid turn or looping the bike. Lower power is good to have in our "infant stages" of motorcycling.
Love the story about smoking the R6. I'm still slow in the twisties but I just need more practice in the hills. Most of my 3000 miles are city miles/comute miles.
Because of the lower power, you won't be scared of the bike and you can concentrate on other things. You will become a better rider than when you would`ve started on a sportsbike right away. Maintenance costs are low and tires are cheap in comparison with sportbikes.
A GS isn't a powerful bike in comparison with other bikes. But even this one will blow off cars easily.
BTW, the lady said that the bike was really heavy because she couldn't lift it when she'd dropped it. Well, duh!! it isn't a bicycle :P An SV will be almost or as heavy as a GS.
I've said it before and I'll say it again the SV650 is too much for a true beginner -If a rider is totally new to riding. I just see too many bad things happening.
This is exactly why I think the SV is too much. Watch this vid. The power hit is so string newbies aren't prepared for the power.
http://www.rsxworld.com/gallery/data/3009/6155crashzukimpg.mpg
By and large, I have to agree with the lady's review. The GS500's bang for the buck quotient ain't that great anymore, and new bike depreciation is too severe to trade up after a season of learning to ride. Nor is the GS any lighter than the current supersports. Surely, the '04 version needed major revisions more than it needed a full fairing. Either more power, or less weight. A GS500 stuffed into an EX250-sized chassis would make for a better beginner's bike AND for a superior sport bike. Oh, well.
If buying new, buy the SV650.
of course it also sounds like she is laying her bike down....if I read that right in the article....but I don't want to take the time to skim it again.
If she is having issues now, it would be more prudent to take care of them on the Thunder Twin...before moving on.
Personally I like the performance....yeah, most all other two wheels can take you....but few of the 4 wheels can!
I like that I can ride the bike hard....and not get into too much problems with control.
I kept a GXR750 in my mirrors(speaking figuatively, I don't really use mirrors :o ) for about 5 miles on the 110 in Hollywood Friday :mrgreen:
In 10K miles, I have only been passed once while lane splitting and it was by another 02 GS. It was also early and I wasn't really on fire that day. ;) I am not the best at cornering but I finally got to the edge of my new 550 rear Thursday night, out by UCLA. Once I replace my front, Pablo will be my Beeatch :nana:
The GS500's most dangerous aspect is the weak suspension. The stock set up will have you doing a good imitation of a pogo stick when you push it hard around corners. It's a shame because the frame is actually very good.
Much ado about nothing ...
I do know a young lady who's first bike was (is) an SV650. She love's it. She is about 120 lbs max but she is also the athletic type with probably higher than average co-ordination etc. I also know another woman who is about 95lbs and rides a monster 620. She seemed to be fine on it as well (although she dropped it once ... but who hasn't dropped their bike)
For me I think it would have been too much bike to start on. There was a couple of times on the GS where I said to myself ... damn, good thing I wasn't going any faster!
I've said before ... the more I ride the GS, the more I like it. It really is a great bike ... for me. I didn't have $10, 000 laying around for a sportbike and I don't have a bunch of sportbike friends either. I'm sure if all my buddies rode CBR's, I'd want one too.
If you have some self control, you should be alright on an SV650. If you don't, you can get yourself in trouble on a GS500 too.
Rob
You'll probably feel pretty comortable with the power, maybe even bored with it. But what makes a good rider is the ability to KNOW and MASTER their bike. Sure 600's can outrun me but most but most can't run corners with me... or at least as fast!
JohNLA wrote:
QuoteOnce I replace my front, Pablo will be my Beeatch
I thought he already was :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :nana: :bs: :thumb:
for the time being i think the gs will always win the bang for a buck contest easily. course i passed a gix 1k about 90+, but the(i think he was resting?) i got smoked, but oh well, for what its worth, the ol' gs will not be passed in value/=performance=$ category yet, it may eventually, but by whom and when? :thumb: :cheers:
The Video Link that John posted showed someone who had no clue how to ride, i think he would have crashed just the same if he was trying to ride a GS
Quote from: powrful1most all other two wheels can take you....but few of the 4 wheels can!
I like that I can ride the bike hard....and not get into too much problems with control.
This sums it up for me. I've only been riding for a month, and I think my GS is the perfect starter bike. I'm athletic, strong, have good hand-eye coordination, etc. I have no doubt that I could handle the SV (and it is kinda pretty), but I'm still having loads of fun on the GS and it was cheaper.
It's a no-brainer unless you've got cash to burn. (And if you've got cash to burn then you should go for the Ducati instead of the SV anyway.)
Yeah, the vid of the guy on the SV, seemed to have 0 exp with ANY bikes save a 3 wheeler. the target fixation or as i like to call it, Collision Vision was overly plain to see. he would have done the same on a rebel 250
Quote from: yamahonkawazukiJohNLA wrote:QuoteOnce I replace my front, Pablo will be my Beeatch
I thought he already was
That skinny SOB is very quick. It is hard on my ego :oops: I have many years experience over him but he is still faster :?
In my defense, I am still really learning to lean. I did most of my riding in Florida where the roads are flat and straight and the woman are anything but :lol:
Quote from: JohNLAThat skinny SOB is very quick. It is hard on my ego :oops:
:thumb:
Practice makes perfect...The gs is a great first bike for learning how to
really cormer. Also helps to have lots of canyons locally. Today's rain doesnt help things though.
Less HP means less to worry about while learning and just as much fun.
what about adding an exhaust pipe?
will that make the top speed any higher, and if so, by how much?
Too much power is a relative concept. The gs was never about stoplight drags, but I very much doubt anyone with 4 months riding experience is able to fully utilize the power of the gs riding while riding twisty roads well. I've learned a lot more riding the gs than I would have a more powerful bike where mistakes are much more costly and you can't use as much of the powerband.
The fact that this rider with 4 months experience is complaining about not keeping up with friends is a warning sign, with that little riding you should focus on skills building, not racing. You won't win and you just might get yourself really hurt. Your real friends will be telling you to take it easy, get comfortable on the bike, and have fun with that early in the game. They will lead slowly and follow while giving you tips. Motorcycles are counterintuitive (I still have to remind myself to stay on the gas when hot in a corner), it takes time to learn the skills and adjust your natural reactions.
That said, the sv650 is a great bike and really good value. It can be a handful, but I don't think you'd be crazy to ride one as a first bike, it just demands more attention and has less margin for error. I probably would have bought one if they didn't cost such a premium used. I didn't want a new bike as my first bike (less depreciation to eat if I decided to stop riding and less regret if I had [or will] dropped the bike). If you really think you need more power an ex500 might be a better choice - and is certainly cheaper.
I don't think a new gs is a great value (but can be a good bike), but used the gs goes for quite a bit less. Try finding an sv for less than $2K (they don't often go much under $4K, at least around here)! There are loads of good, (mostly) clean gses in that range. Being a popular racebike (in the case of the sv) also ups the demand for used bikes. You can buy a used gs, ride it for a year and sell it for more or less what you paid if/when you're ready for something else.
BTW, if you're in the area, Golden Gate Cycles is a *horrible* dealership. They are notorious for overcharging people in an unbelievable fashion on service and have a really slimy sales staff. Also, make sure you budget for good gear, wear leather or textile pants and jacket all the time along with a good helmet, gloves, and sturdy boots.
wow you live in san fransisco!
actually i live in cupertino, about an hour away.
i've been having trouble finding motorcycles that cost about 1000 dollars
i've been looking for '89s so that they would be cheaper.
I actually have no riding experience and plan to take MSF in about a month. I'll be looking at gs500e deals in the meantime.
I check craiglist pretty much everyday.
Thanks for the help, appreciated.
Craigslist is definitely the best place to check (I bought mine there for well below blue book, but I was patient). Bikes are just start to get cheap with the rains starting, late december is the low point and they stay pretty low until about march. Be sure to check out the bike show this weekend in San Mateo, there's a thread in the ride forum about Sac and local people going so you might be able to see some of our bikes there.
$1K is pretty low for bikes around here (especially if you are expecting sales tax, registration, and title transfer fees [~$100-150] to be included in that), most any good running usable bike stabilizes at about $1-1.5K. Lots of choices between $1.5-2K if you can save up a bit more (add another ~$3-500 for gear - not optional). Its doable, but you're going to have to be patient and shop around. If you don't mind doing a little work, that can help a lot. I saw two gses in the last couple months for ~$750 that sounded like the only real problems were a good carb cleaning (but you never know until you check it out in person).
Either way, do some research and don't spend money until you take the MSF class. Getting on the bikes (if only in a parking lot) gives you a chance to get a feel for things and decide if its for you. Make sure to bring *warm* clothes for the outside riding session, I was freezing (shivering actually) when I took the test even though I was wearing warm clothes. Damn fog.
BTW, you'll probably have more luck finding a 90-93 cheap. The 89s command a bit of price premium due to the clipon bars. Just keep an eye out for excessive rust (light surface rust is to be expected on an older gs) or major engine problems. Search the archives, there are lots of guides on what to look for. Another good resource is Adam's Used Motorcycle Evaluation Guide (http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html).
My opinion on the GS's power (or lack there of) can easily be summed up.
The bike is great to learn, and have fun with in the twisties. However, I grew out of mine in a mere 12 months, and after riding an RC51, its time to go bigger.
If its your first bike, the GS is absolutley stunning. Its equally as stunning if you are looking to carve up canyons, and toss it around. But, if your like me, and have an insaciable appetite for going fast, learn on the GS, and upgrade a year or so after. :cheers:
jumped on my cousin's yammy yzr600r the other day, and noticed a significant difference in power. it's fun for going fast, and i could see myself getting in a lot of trouble with it... i have to keep reminding myself to stay under control on my gs!
i always wanted a sv (pre 03 with tube frames are sooooo sweet) or a monster, but i think i need to hold off on that for a while until i'm 100% sure that i'll be able to keep it under control.
the gs is ideal if you already know more than likely you will NOT out run a good rider on a larger displacement bike. it can beat most cars though :mrgreen: no :bs: , however, in corners, it is great, and not too much power. I.e. not a death rocket :thumb: it has enough power for most people, and for those with a fair amount of seat-time, has enough power to get you to trouble, but not into it. (unless you get crazy with it)
As the proud owner of both a 93 GS500E, and a 03 SV650S, I'd say that both are excellent beginner bikes. If you have self control issues, you don't belong on a motorcycle to begin with, so I don't really believe that getting less power will make you any safer. As far as your first bike, you have to think about how long you will have to keep it, I rode my 500 for 3 years before I could afford a different bike. I picked my 93 up for about 1500 with 7k on it, and would definetly recommend buying used for any beginner. Most of the time with a 500, or a SV for that matter you can find great buys from people who have "outgrown" the machines in a year or two, and are practically giving them away while having already done the costly modifications that you would do to a new bike anyway (i.e. exhaust, fender elim's, etc.)