Bought my GS for my birthday back in July. It's an 07 and when I bought it there were 2100 miles on it. At around 3300 miles I had to get a new set of tires to replace the old ones which were starting to show signs of dryrot and had a couple of nails in them. I learned how to ride on it and I can honestly say that it has made me a much better rider than if I had gone straight to a 600cc+ sportbike. Not having the same speed available to me forced me to ride more aggressively to stick with my fellow SB riders. Last week at 6800 miles I had to replace my rear tire (a Shinko SR741) which had served me well.
I will get to experience the fun for another 2.5 months until I pay it off in February. I will then sell it in order to give myself the money to purchase a Triumph Street Triple R. I look forward to the transition and hopefully at some point in the future I will be able to get a GS again and turn it into a track bike.
The GS is a great "learner bike" and I could not have asked for a better first bike.
You've ridden a measly 4,700 miles and you think it has taught you how to ride? Nah, it has taught you the basics of control, how to ride takes much more seat time than you've put in. I'd bet GSjack is still learning how to ride and his two GSs have like 100,000 on them each!
I'd do that distance in a tad over three months. If I was new to riding there ain't no way three months of riding is enough to claim to know enough to Upgrade to a Street Triple.
And you're replacing a tire at only 3,500 miles on it - WTF? What do you do, ride on a cheese grater?
I've put almost 35,000km on my GS and the only thing it lacks with the larger SBs is the acceleration Between corners. But that's only applicable if you Accelerate / Brake / Lean on your twisty runs. If you Pace Ride than that doesn't matter.
But what do I know? Maybe you've done numerous advanced riding courses and been taught by pros at track days. In which case I'll shut the hell up. Good luck with your St3 - just make sure it's an 08 or 09 you get cause the 2010 model has the odd air thing for Emissions and actually puts some of the exhaust out the front (so the tested exhaust out the back shows low emissions) and you'll finish the day smelling like exhaust.
Michael
Er, hope you have fun on the Trumpy hokierower!
Quote from: mister on December 15, 2010, 01:07:40 AM
But what do I know? Maybe you've done numerous advanced riding courses and been taught by pros at track days.
Maybe he just rides on different roads than you prefer? The GS is perfectly fine if you're doing nothing but taking tight turn after tight turn, but some people spend a lot of time in traffic, on the highway, and on roads that are only semi-twisty with some straightaways, and the GS isn't really ideal for any of those unless you like revving a bike to 3-4k just to leave a redlight and be able to just barely keep up with cars, or cruise for an hour at rpms that are just way too high for highway riding, especially if you like to be able to pass other cars.
The GS is a great bike, and it's great for learning and tight back roads, but it leaves a bit to be desired in other areas of riding, considering some people do get some enjoyment out of acceleration, myself included. Plus, even if it leans over just as well, if not better than bigger bikes, one thing it won't do is lift the front wheel when you go over the crest of a sharp hill between turns, which is by far one of the best feelings you can get on a motorcycle.
As far as the tire, it was already 2/3rds the way through before he got it, who knows what the previous owner did to it. I'm gonna guess burnouts? :dunno_black:
Regardless, have fun on the Triumph Hokie. I had a Triumph Speed Four from 2003-2006ish. It was a seriously fun bike and I'm sure the Street Triple will only be better. Just be careful on it because Triumph naked 600s are nothing like the Japanese naked 600s. A lot of naked 600s are more of budget/commuters, but Triumphs tend to be nothing less than naked sportbikes with an actual midrange and it'll keep up with any other 600 sportbike until you hit 130mph or so. I could feel my front wheel just barely skimming the ground when I would twist the throttle in first, and that was back when it was only 600cc and I was leaning forward with clipons. I'm sure the extra 75cc and the upright handlebars will make it impossible to keep the front end down when you really get on the gas. All that being said, before I picked mine up I had done about 15k miles on some 250/550cc beginner bikes, and the first time I pulled out of the parking lot on the triumph and accelerated up to 4k rpm, not even into the serious power yet, it still scared the hell out of me, and I thought I was gonna fall off the back of the bike. You get used to it pretty quick, but I'm not gonna act like I wasn't lucky I didn't die anywhere in the 22k miles I put on it. I've slowed down quite a bit since I had that bike, which is a good thing.
A lot of people who start on GS'es "move on" only to regret it, or atleast rethink about the GS in certain situations and slowly meander back to it and buy an older GS.
Its just that sorta bike, nothing too much, nothing too little, no big glaring mistakes, does everything fairly well, very little goes wrong and very easy to fix.
Cool.
Buddha.
Mister: First, off, thanks for the personal attack. Secondly, the 4700 that I've done in 5 months has been done purely on the weekends. Rode my bike to work the first couple of weeks but after picking up 3 different nails in my back tire (work commercial construction) I decided to take the car from then on. So my riding has been purely weekends or for errands that don't require carrying anything. No commuting, barely any steady riding, most of that has been full out, balls to the wall riding. I apologize for not being able to live up to your lofty standards. Thirdly, where did you get 3 months from? If I sell/buy in February that will give me 8 months. Maybe that's not the 10 years of apprentice-like training you require but it's better than starting off on a 600 supersport right out of the gate.
TT_four: The bike was an 07 with 2100 miles on it. It had been repo'd in Louisiana then bought by the dealer I bought it from. It had plenty of tread left, but I'm guessing that the the 3-4 years with lots of sitting didn't help. Like I said, the GS was a GREAT bike for learning how to ride. I never said I was done learning, but I'd prefer a slightly larger bike in order to be able to keep up with my fellow riders and continue to hone my skills. Thanks for the advice on the Triumph. I've heard rave reviews about it and it will take some getting used to, but from what I've heard it's a bike second to none (except that new BMW RR).
Buddha: Like I mentioned, I'd love to get a GS in a few more years as a track bike. The finances just aren't there at the moment. I'm sure I'll go back to the GS at some point.
You have to remember this is a GSTwin forum...and some of the guys are kinda protective of their luvved bikes...saying you are straying with "only" a few months and a few thousand miles under you belt doesn't sit well with some of them...some don't live in North America and maybe don't understand what kind of roads we have...there aren't any twisty country roads anywhere near where I live, I have to ride for over an hour to get to some twisty bits...all the roads are on the grid system because of the farm land here in the prairies...I feel the same way about the GS...it is an awesome bike to learn on, and I would be okay with keeping it...but it is physically small for me...I know there are taller guys riding them (Mister), but the bend of the knee is a little tight...if I hook my heel on the peg it is okay, but I like the more secure feeling of the ball of my foot on the peg and that is only comfortable for about 30mins then my knees start aching...I may end up keeping mine for one more season, or atleast into the summer before I "upgrade"...I put on over 9100kms (5690 miles) this season and it would have been more if it had rained less...
Just remember, you made the right choice with starting with a sensible bike and not following the herd to the supersports and possibly becoming a smear on the road...you fought the peer pressure and you now feel comfortable enough to try something bigger...just treat it like you are a new rider (because you are new to the bike), don't just jump on and expect that you can do full throttle launches like you can on your GS (very different results, especially with the Triumph Tripple...huge torque compared to the inline fours from Japan)
Anyway, good luck with the new toy in the spring...just use some caution...
Later.
I had the benefit of riding by myself for pretty much the entire first 15k(2.5 years or so) miles I rode. I didn't really bother finding other people to ride with until I got the Triumph. That let me completely skip that problem you have of feeling like your GS is too slow because I didn't have to try to keep up with any 170mph sportbikes. I'm sure I would've grown tired of the bike pretty fast if I had tried.
I've also had guys with their first 'big bike' come out and push their limits trying to keep up only to have their bike slam into a guard rail 1 mile into the fun roads, so you've just gotta be careful.
A lot of people here tend to think motorcycles are good for absolutely nothing riding twisty roads. That's my favorite part of riding, but I also enjoy plenty of other things you just can't do on the GS that some people probably take for granted if the only bike they've really been on is the GS. I still have the GS along with my Buell and I'll admit that the GS is definitely fun to take out sometimes, but 95% of the time I take out the XB without giving it a second thought so moving on to another bike isn't all regrets and dissapointment as some people on this forum would have you believe.
Just like Madjack said, I know a few great roads by where I live, but I spend 15 minutes on boring roads for every 2 minutes on the good roads. If I could pull out of a driveway and not leave a twisty road until I get where I'm going it might be a different story but I live in the city so I've got a few miles of redlight to redlight, cross a bridge, possibly jump on the highway for a few miles, and then make my way through some shopping districts, residential areas and general traffic before I can get to the roads that the GS is best on. I'd much rather enjoy the ENTIRE ride, and not just the 10% that's my actual destination and be bored for the 45% there and 45% home.
Quote from: hokierower on December 14, 2010, 08:50:36 PM
.....................The GS is a great "learner bike" and I could not have asked for a better first bike.......................
The GS500 is not only a good
first bike but it's an even better
last bike. :thumb: I had about a quarter million miles of practice on 4 Hondas before I
moved up to a GS500. :icon_lol:
He he, GSJack - and a GS also makes a great #5 through #42 bike ... I've owned 17 of them and didn't buy my first GS till I had owned a ninja600, a nighthawk, a kat 6, and a virago 535 in that order.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: madjak30 on December 15, 2010, 08:58:16 AM
...I know there are taller guys riding them (Mister), but the bend of the knee is a little tight...if I hook my heel on the peg it is okay, but I like the more secure feeling of the ball of my foot on the peg and that is only comfortable for about 30mins then my knees start aching...Later.
I was 6'2.5" tall and about 240-250# when I got my first GS and it was a very comfortable fit for me. Now almost 12 years later and down to 5'11.5" tall and 210# it's an even a better fit. Just hang onto that GS, it will be a better fit in a few decades. :thumb:
Probably you have longer legs, at 6'2" my inseam was only 30" and it's dropping past 29" now. But my legs were still bent quite a lot back then on my first GS. This pic of me and my bent legs on my GS back in 02 when I was only about 70 yo and we did 400 mile first and last days on those trips to the Smoky Mtns:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/02_BuRP_rainriders.jpg)
To each his own. I find that if I'm not redlining in every gear, all the time, in every corner, then I'm not ready for a new bike. I'm thinking that I'll be owning this GS for a lot longer than the 14 years that I had my SRX250. But, I do live half an hour from twisty roads.
Quote from: scratch on December 15, 2010, 10:32:51 AM
To each his own. I find that if I'm not redlining in every gear, all the time, in every corner, then I'm not ready for a new bike.
I don't even wanna know what shape your underwear has to be in before you decide its qualified to be replaced!
I dont even wash my underwear unless its got a more skid marks than the local drag strip.
Cool.
Buddha.
My wife washes mine. :thumb:
After 25 bikes..the GS500F is where I ended up! :cheers:
I don't doubt that in the future a GS won't end up back in my garage. I feel that it's a great bike and maybe I sabotaged myself by riding with people on larger bikes than mine. I will be taking it slowly on the new triple when I upgrade.
I'm not bashing the GS and saying that it isn't a great bike, it's just that I've got the upgrade itch and I really want to scratch it. I'm sorry :sad:
Quote from: gsJack on December 15, 2010, 10:14:06 AM
Quote from: madjak30 on December 15, 2010, 08:58:16 AM
...I know there are taller guys riding them (Mister), but the bend of the knee is a little tight...if I hook my heel on the peg it is okay, but I like the more secure feeling of the ball of my foot on the peg and that is only comfortable for about 30mins then my knees start aching...Later.
I was 6'2.5" tall and about 240-250# when I got my first GS and it was a very comfortable fit for me. Now almost 12 years later and down to 5'11.5" tall and 210# it's an even a better fit. Just hang onto that GS, it will be a better fit in a few decades. :thumb:
Probably you have longer legs, at 6'2" my inseam was only 30" and it's dropping past 29" now. But my legs were still bent quite a lot back then on my first GS.
Yup, the inseam is my issue...I'm 5'11 w/ 33" inseam...the other problem is @ 275lbs, my GS is a lowrider... :oops:...poor little guy....
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XzHeOPXAEVE/TFELTGWwVhI/AAAAAAAAALg/mh6JZ-vFKis/s512/38949_447742535140_624880140_6366490_568387_n%5B1%5D.jpg)
Later.
I'm 6'3" and 270.
I moved on, and I regret it. As soon as finances are available to buy a new engine for it, I'll buy my Gs back.
I'll be sure not to make a "Goodbye GS" thread when I size up, lol.
Really the only reason I'd want to size up is to get a better bike to stunt with, that's what I'm really getting into these days. Been riding a friends 03 GSXR600 to learn, it's amazingly addictive. Overall the GS is a great bike, I still have a ton of fun riding her, I can get on it around corners like no other, but it doesn't really have that rush for me after trying out a supersport. Best of luck with the new bike bro, but keep your GS if you can afford it!
I had a few bikes before buying a brand new 03 Gs which I kept for four years, currently riding a 650 Bandit, thinking about a 1250 Bandit for next summer but I gotta confess when I see bikes for sale I'm always drawn to the GS, I recon I always will be. Once it's in your blood it stays there.
I've had my GS for nearly two years and 8,000 miles. I like it just fine and all but would trade it for a Triumph Street Triple in a heart beat.
Quote from: XealotX on December 15, 2010, 06:41:48 PM
I've had my GS for nearly two years and 8,000 miles. I like it just fine and all but would trade it for a Triumph Street Triple in a heart beat.
They're pretty sweet. I think with a little self control you can handle almost any bike at any skill level, at least after you learn the basics. I spend a year on a 07 CBR600RR for my first bike and I never dropped it and I'm not dead. 7k miles and 6 months on that bike, and 16k and almost a year on the GS and I've only dropped a bike once, and it was because some fagbag in a Accord forced me off the road.
Just don't get all crazy on the gas or make trips you aren't ready for and you can keep yourself out of trouble. I'm not saying get a liter bike for your first time out, you'll flick the throttle accidentally and wreck, but I think that many miles is more than enough to handle a Triumph Street Triple. I don't know why anytime people post about getting a new bike on the forums people have to put them down like they're retarded for wanting a nicer bike.
Quote from: tykho on December 15, 2010, 06:49:11 PM
I don't know why anytime people post about getting a new bike on the forums people have to put them down like they're retarded for wanting a nicer bike.
Well said :thumb:
-Jessie
I would be super tempted to get a street triple if I hadn't already had the old version. I feel like I'd be wasting time if I went back to pretty much the bike I had before instead of trying something new. Looks like it'd be a perfect street bike though.
and as far as the general conversation goes, the GS may be a pretty friendly and fun bike, but it won't do this with a twist of the wrist...
(http://www.moto-station.com/ttesimages/motodivers/nouveautes2009/Triumph_Street_Triple_R_ac10pz.jpg)
I think it is jealousy...they don't want you upgrading to something they don't feel they are ready for...or maybe the riding they do, it doesn't make sense to have any more power than the GS500 offers...??? who knows...I think they are partly trying to "mentor" the other person, thinking their judgement is better...but really, we don't know each other mostly and just share the common hobby of the bikes....
And like my signature says...If you're not having fun, you're doin' it WRONG!!!...if they are pining for a faster bike to keep up with their friends (better judgement aside) who are we to hold them back??
Later.
I am lucky enough to have a SuperSports bike whilst being able to keep my GS500F and I must say, as much as the SuperSports bike is a better motorcycle in nearly every area, I still think the GS500F beats it in the fun factor.
the way it squirms over bumpy roads, the way you really need to ride it at 10/10ths to get every ounce of porformance out of it, its just a really fun bike to ride.
Nothing wrong with a Speed or Street Triple. I believe they are both made for the European market so the suspension is designed for a 90kg person not a 70kg Japanese person. Nothing wrong with those bikes at all.
Nothing wrong with a person wanting to upgrade their bike to something bigger - hey, people's riding changes, what is a good commuter might not make a good weekend bike for where you are.
My issue is not with upgrading or what is being upgraded to and I'm certainly not jealous or trying to keep someone on a GS cause I've got one and don't want to feel left behind or wish I could upgrade too opr whatever Dr Phil reasons can be thought up. My issue is with the amount of Seat Time spent on the GS before feeling an upgrade is needed cause you've learned enough and the GS cannot teach you anything any more.
The 3 months I exampled was to show... your total distance is what *I* ride in 3 months (two thirds of my riding distance is weekend riding). And figuring an upgrade after what equals 3 months of my riding would not be wise.
I think, put 12,500 miles on your GS (about three times what you have done - even with the riding I now know you do), and your skill level will be more ready for the upgrade and you'll be a much more proficient rider before the upgrade. Plus, you might also find yourself in a situation where you can get your St3 and keep the GS as well - we all need at least two bikes anyway :icon_mrgreen:
I'm coming from... I meet new riders (not new to riding, new to me as in I've never met them before) and they tell me stuff like "I've been riding for 20 years." But when they ride I don't want to be anywhere near them cause they are an accident waiting to happen. And what they Should have said was, "I got my license when I was 18 and had a bike for three months and sold it, and now 20 years later after having a license all this time but not actually riding, I am coming back to it." And then I ride with some young people who are really new to riding (first year) and they do all the riding courses that are on and they go to track days and ask about technique and come riding every weekend with us and so on, and can outride all these "riding for 20 years" people. That is where I am coming from... from a position of seeing first hand the difference Seat Time makes to a rider's skill level and riding maturity. Just trying to impart some of that. Obviously, it came across as rather... abrupt.
TT: I know the First tires were old. But the 2nd set has been used too - That is the set I was commenting on.
Michael
The one thing that always makes me squirm when new riders pick up nice new bikes, is thinking about how sad that bike is gonna be after the first time it falls over. Riding skill aside, there are just so many reasons that a new person can drop a bike. I dropped/crashed my yamaha xt550 more times than I can remember, I dropped my ninja250 a few times, usually from forgetting to take the lock off the front brake before I'd try to pull out of a parking spot, but I did lowside once from taking a turn too fast on a cold road with cold tires. I also dropped my triumph from the same brake lock, as well as trying to pull a bungee tight on the right side of the bike when it was standing on a slight incline. I'm not sure if I've dropped the GS, but we used it to teach Heather how to ride, so it's definitely been dropped. My Buell is the only bike I've had in my posession for a while that I haven't dropped, and I only got that one when I had passed 40k miles of riding. I've been debating picking up a supermoto for a next bike. I don't even want to think about how many times I'll be crashing on that bike haha.
It's just so much easier to swallow a low side on a GS instead of a nice shiny 600/1000cc bike.
congratulations on your purchase of a new bike
the GS is a bike, nothing more, nothing less
enjoy, don't crash the new one....just like the GS
your money, your life....get whatever you can afford
and if you have insane credit, get whatever you want
:cheers:
Quote from: werase643 on December 16, 2010, 06:28:47 AM
congratulations on your purchase of a new bike
the GS is a bike, nothing more, nothing less
enjoy, don't crash the new one....just like the GS
your money, your life....get whatever you can afford
and if you have insane credit, get whatever you want
:cheers:
Well said.
EDIT:
I put maybe 6k on my first GS that I started on... Moved up to a cbr 600 f2...Similar miles on that til it was stolen...Went to My ZX11 after that ( and added a VX800 later but anyway....).
Some have a quicker learning curve...some have better impulse control ( or a sense of mortality...).
Get some experience ( hopefully enough..) and upgrade when you feel ready......common sense.
I still like Gs500's...(I've had almost as many as The Buddha..)...
Anyway...
@mister: Don't take me wrong...I know what you are saying and totally agree with you...but atleast the guy didn't go straight for the sport bike (really the Street Triple is a Daytona without the faring) and try to learn the basics on the bike that would likely take his head off...I just wanted to give him credit for atleast that...I don't think getting a faster bike so that you can keep up with you buddies is a good enough reason to "upgrade"...you need to ride your own ride...if your buddies can't see that you are still learning and slow down to accomodate their friends new found hobby, then they are not as good of friends as you might think...but he's not my son, so I'm not going to say "NO, YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THAT YET!!" on getting a bike that I don't feel ready for myself (maybe I was projecting myself into my analogy...???)...not that I think I couldn't handle the bike, but I think I would ride it like an ass...
And as for me possibly upgrading, and I know you were talking about me as well since I have only put on a "few" miles more than him...it's not for added speed or being able to stunt the bike...I just want to be able to keep up with the flow of traffic when there is a strong head wind or a steep hill without having to do the shifter dance...I am thinking of keeping the GS until summer so that I can get back into riding on a familliar bike...possibly longer, I might wait until close to the end of the season to get a new bike (much better deals)...then I should be close to 20,000kms on my GS, which puts me in the ballpark of your guideline (which I do think is realistic)...
I just thought I would clarify my position on the issue...I just thought you were a little harsh on the guy with your first posting...
Later.
Quote from: Jared on December 16, 2010, 08:14:34 AM
Quote from: werase643 on December 16, 2010, 06:28:47 AM
congratulations on your purchase of a new bike
the GS is a bike, nothing more, nothing less
enjoy, don't crash the new one....just like the GS
your money, your life....get whatever you can afford
and if you have insane credit, get whatever you want
:cheers:
Well said.
EDIT:
I put maybe 6k on my first GS that I started on... Moved up to a cbr 600 f2...Similar miles on that til it was stolen...Went to My ZX11 after that ( and added a VX800 later but anyway....).
Some have a quicker learning curve...some have better impulse control ( or a sense of mortality...).
Get some experience ( hopefully enough..) and upgrade when you feel ready......common sense.
I still like Gs500's...(I've had almost as many as The Buddha..)...
Anyway...
We compared notes on that, we count em differently, I believe you had more cos there was 1 bike I bought and sold 3 times till my friend wrecked it. There was another that was 2 X. I count these as 3 and 2 respectively. You if I recall count only unique bikes.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: mister on December 16, 2010, 12:04:01 AMMy issue is not with upgrading or what is being upgraded to...My issue is with the amount of Seat Time spent on the GS before feeling an upgrade is needed cause you've learned enough and the GS cannot teach you anything any more.
I understand this train of thought. I'd like to say that I'm not upgrading because I don't feel like I've learned enough on the GS. I could keep this as my only bike and I'd learn stuff every single time I go out riding. I'm upgrading because sadly enough, the 45 ponies the GS has is not enough to keep me where I'd like to be in the pack. I get passed on straightaways by riders with less skill but on bigger bikes and am then forced to ride behind them on twisties which I find to be dangerous because of how badly they ride their bikes.
The 3 months I exampled was to show... your total distance is what *I* ride in 3 months (two thirds of my riding distance is weekend riding). And figuring an upgrade after what equals 3 months of my riding would not be wise.
I understand this too. If I could ride every day to work, I'd have a lot more miles on my bike. I explained why I don't. On the average workday, I leave my apartment at 6:30am and get home at 6 (on a usual day). I then PT in my apt., watch some TV, then go to bed by 9-9:30. On the weekends I make a short run to my groups meetup location, then go and ride and the trips are usually 250mi or less. I am not upgrading so I can have a faster commuter bike (MPG on the STR makes that a waste), I am upgrading so I can have a faster sport bike.
I think, put 12,500 miles on your GS (about three times what you have done - even with the riding I now know you do), and your skill level will be more ready for the upgrade and you'll be a much more proficient rider before the upgrade. Plus, you might also find yourself in a situation where you can get your St3 and keep the GS as well - we all need at least two bikes anyway :icon_mrgreen:
Wish I had the ability to have two, however that's not an option at this point in my life.
I'm coming from... I meet new riders (not new to riding, new to me as in I've never met them before) and they tell me stuff like "I've been riding for 20 years." But when they ride I don't want to be anywhere near them cause they are an accident waiting to happen. And what they Should have said was, "I got my license when I was 18 and had a bike for three months and sold it, and now 20 years later after having a license all this time but not actually riding, I am coming back to it." And then I ride with some young people who are really new to riding (first year) and they do all the riding courses that are on and they go to track days and ask about technique and come riding every weekend with us and so on, and can outride all these "riding for 20 years" people. That is where I am coming from... from a position of seeing first hand the difference Seat Time makes to a rider's skill level and riding maturity. Just trying to impart some of that. Obviously, it came across as rather... abrupt.
Even riding for as short a time as I have, I've heard this a lot and it usually is people who rode dirt bikes as a kid. Then they get on a SS and it's scary. There's a guy I ride with on a Yellow R1 who's like that. I'm only 23, this is my first bike, and while I was intimidated when I climbed onto that little GZ250 at the MSF course, riding a motorcycle just felt natural. I will continue to improve my skill set and will be sure to learn the intracies of the triple before attempting any of the things I do know.
Michael
I appreciate you coming back here and explaining yourself a little bit more.
Quote from: madjak30 on December 16, 2010, 08:40:26 AM
I just thought I would clarify my position on the issue...I just thought you were a little harsh on the guy with your first posting...
Haha, yeah I've got my opinions about how long someone should ride before they pick up a bike that will literally flip itself over backwards with nothing more than a little bit too much gas and clutch, but you just came on a little strong there. No need to scare people off.
Quote from: madjak30 on December 16, 2010, 08:40:26 AM
And as for me possibly upgrading, and I know you were talking about me as well since I have only put on a "few" miles more than him...it's not for added speed or being able to stunt the bike...I just want to be able to keep up with the flow of traffic when there is a strong head wind or a steep hill without having to do the shifter dance...I am thinking of keeping the GS until summer so that I can get back into riding on a familliar bike...possibly longer, I might wait until close to the end of the season to get a new bike (much better deals)...then I should be close to 20,000kms on my GS, which puts me in the ballpark of your guideline (which I do think is realistic)...
I actually wasn't talking about you and your upgrading.
20,000km is 12,500 miles. Is 400km/250mi a week for one year. Very doable. And what riding the GS forces you to do is focus on form/technique to get the most out of the bike. It's a single disk at the front so has less stopping power. Engine braking is less than bikes like a SV650. Acceleration is also less. So to get the most out of it you Have to become a good judge of the road and the techniques of the bike in general - pace riding if that's your bag or when to accelerate and when to brake (and cause you are just that bit slower you get a little more time to react). And to make them stick, over and over again. In this way, a 400km/250mi ride loop will see long straights, sweepers, twisties, switchbacks and all kinds surfaces. Even if you did the same route each time, by the end you've only done it 40 times for the year. Considering our Motorcycle Cops spend an entire month, day after day, all day, just doing Slow Riding, repeating a ride loop 40 times is not a big ask to develop proficiency.
It's like learning the guitar. Practice slow and the speed comes naturally. Practicing slow enables you to get it right before the speed. Cause it's hard to correct mistakes at speed.
The longer Seat Time also means more time spent in traffic of some description. More time spent working the throttle and controlling it. And being more As One with the bike, to the point where, I feel, you can then upgrade to Any bike (not just a larger mid range) with a better riding maturity and be able to handle the bike correctly Until you learn the nuances of the new bike. Cause statistically, most crashes happen in the first 6 months of the new bike.
Michael
Quote from: mister on December 17, 2010, 02:13:50 AM
Quote from: madjak30 on December 16, 2010, 08:40:26 AM
And as for me possibly upgrading, and I know you were talking about me as well since I have only put on a "few" miles more than him...it's not for added speed or being able to stunt the bike...I just want to be able to keep up with the flow of traffic when there is a strong head wind or a steep hill without having to do the shifter dance...I am thinking of keeping the GS until summer so that I can get back into riding on a familliar bike...possibly longer, I might wait until close to the end of the season to get a new bike (much better deals)...then I should be close to 20,000kms on my GS, which puts me in the ballpark of your guideline (which I do think is realistic)...
I actually wasn't talking about you and your upgrading.
20,000km is 12,500 miles. Is 400km/250mi a week for one year. Very doable. And what riding the GS forces you to do is focus on form/technique to get the most out of the bike. It's a single disk at the front so has less stopping power. Engine braking is less than bikes like a SV650. Acceleration is also less. So to get the most out of it you Have to become a good judge of the road and the techniques of the bike in general - pace riding if that's your bag or when to accelerate and when to brake (and cause you are just that bit slower you get a little more time to react). And to make them stick, over and over again. In this way, a 400km/250mi ride loop will see long straights, sweepers, twisties, switchbacks and all kinds surfaces. Even if you did the same route each time, by the end you've only done it 40 times for the year. Considering our Motorcycle Cops spend an entire month, day after day, all day, just doing Slow Riding, repeating a ride loop 40 times is not a big ask to develop proficiency.
It's like learning the guitar. Practice slow and the speed comes naturally. Practicing slow enables you to get it right before the speed. Cause it's hard to correct mistakes at speed.
The longer Seat Time also means more time spent in traffic of some description. More time spent working the throttle and controlling it. And being more As One with the bike, to the point where, I feel, you can then upgrade to Any bike (not just a larger mid range) with a better riding maturity and be able to handle the bike correctly Until you learn the nuances of the new bike. Cause statistically, most crashes happen in the first 6 months of the new bike.
Michael
That's it!!!! :thumb: :thumb:
Everyone learns at different degree's and I'm not about to tell anyone what to do. But anyone who's ridden for a few months, or even a few years and thinks they "know how to ride" ... I urge you to take a professional racing course (like this: http://www.fastridingschool.com/index2.html). You will soon discover how little you actually know ... or thought you knew ;) (unless of course you already have and you didnt mention it :)
That aside, still get a new bike. Getting a new bike (or anything new for that matter) is awesome!
Yup, that's why they call it the "learning curve"...you're never done learning, just the slope varies...sometimes you are coasting...sometimes you loose a little...usually before a steeper slope...oops...it's just the way of life...if you stop learning, you are probably loosing some...and I'm trying to learn guitar this winter too...my fingers hurt...and I still really suck... :icon_mrgreen:...same as the bike...practice practice practice...
Later.
One of my better halves has a 675 Daytona and a 250 Ninja (she kept her "starter" Ninjette after pickup up the Daytona).
Different tools for different jobs...she kills me in traffic and twisties on the Ninjette, and owns me wherever there's a decent straight on the Daytona. :icon_mrgreen:
In any case, congrats and enjoy!
The GS was my first bike and the best beginner's bike and all, but I don't get why people would ride it for over 6k miles or one year to "learn". It's not a question of outgrowing it, the same way you don't need to outgrow a Honda Civic before buying a BMW 3-series, but the fact that there are so many nicer bikes out there. By nicer I mean more modern design, fuel injection, better brakes (performance and feel), better suspension (performance and feel), better tire selection - the whole package that makes the riding experience much more enjoyable, not necessarily to go faster.
I owned my GS for about 1.5 years, and put about 8k miles on it, by the time I sold it. By then I owned 3 other bikes (YZF600R, SV650, DRZ400sm) plus the GS. Each bike has a unique character and switching between them gave me more experience than I would have gotten from riding just one bike. I was a little sentimental when I sold the GS, but I don't miss it. It was pleasant, but it was certainly not nearly as refined as the newer bikes. Thinking back, I feel that I held on to the GS longer than necessary - should have sold it after about 1 year or 6k miles.
Quote from: MysterYvil on December 17, 2010, 10:25:25 AM
One of my better halves has a 675 Daytona and a 250 Ninja (she kept her "starter" Ninjette after pickup up the Daytona).
Sorry man, I just gotta ask...how many better halfs do you have?? I find one wifey quite enough...there is no way I would go through that process more than once thank you very much... :icon_twisted: :thumb:
Later.
Quote from: madjak30 on December 17, 2010, 04:28:40 PM
Quote from: MysterYvil on December 17, 2010, 10:25:25 AM
One of my better halves has a 675 Daytona and a 250 Ninja (she kept her "starter" Ninjette after pickup up the Daytona).
...I find one wifey quite enough...there is no way I would go through that process more than once thank you very much... :icon_twisted: :thumb:
Later.
I doubt most people
plan on going through that process more than once.
Quote from: Gary856 on December 17, 2010, 04:04:45 PM
but the fact that there are so many nicer bikes out there. By nicer I mean more modern design, fuel injection, better brakes (performance and feel), better suspension (performance and feel), better tire selection - the whole package that makes the riding experience much more enjoyable, not necessarily to go faster.
When I got back into riding again after taking a few years off, the first thing I realized when I got on the GS again to take it for a ride it wasn't anything about the power that I noticed, it was the suspension/general sloppy feel of the bike. There's an amazing feeling to a bike that just feels solid.
Quote from: XealotX on December 17, 2010, 05:13:38 PM
Quote from: madjak30 on December 17, 2010, 04:28:40 PM
Quote from: MysterYvil on December 17, 2010, 10:25:25 AM
One of my better halves has a 675 Daytona and a 250 Ninja (she kept her "starter" Ninjette after pickup up the Daytona).
...I find one wifey quite enough...there is no way I would go through that process more than once thank you very much... :icon_twisted: :thumb:
Later.
I doubt most people plan on going through that process more than once.
No. Probably not, but I told my wife already...if this doesn't work out, that's it, I'm not getting married again...one time thing...
Definitely don't think it's the kind of thing I'd take a 2nd shot at. You can only promise your life to so many people before it starts to lose it's effect, you know? Not to mention how many more motorcycles you can buy when you're single....
Quote from: tt_four on December 17, 2010, 06:24:40 PM
When I got back into riding again after taking a few years off, the first thing I realized when I got on the GS again to take it for a ride it wasn't anything about the power that I noticed, it was the suspension/general sloppy feel of the bike. There's an amazing feeling to a bike that just feels solid.
Now don't go ruining it for us that have never road anything but a GS. We think that general sloppiness is how all of them ride. Let us be pleasantly surprised when we find out different! :D
Quote from: redhawkdancing on December 18, 2010, 11:00:05 AM
Now don't go ruining it for us that have never road anything but a GS. We think that general sloppiness is how all of them ride. Let us be pleasantly surprised when we find out different! :D
Did your spill on the ice last week knock some marbles loose? :cookoo: :icon_mrgreen: or were those pics of someone elses bike...and in your avatar? :police:
Hey man, were sharp like tacks in here... :cheers:
Later.
This thread made me dust of my GS and take it to the hills.
Had a blast on it!!! The weather was just right, and having to pick the right gear to navigate the road at the right speed was so much more rewarding than my gixxer which you can just basically leave in 3rd.
Don't be scared of upgrading to bigger powerful bikes. Just respect them. Take it easy and gradually get used to using the power, because trust me, they can bite you and bite you quickly if you don't respect them.
All I'm saying is the GS is an awesomely fun bike to ride, "bigger n better" bikes are also fun, but often its a different type of fun.
Quote from: madjak30 on December 19, 2010, 01:13:17 AM
Did your spill on the ice last week knock some marbles loose? :cookoo: :icon_mrgreen: or were those pics of someone elses bike...and in your avatar? :police:
Hey man, were sharp like tacks in here... :cheers:
Later.
I believe you're thinking of redhenracing. We'll still say you're sharp, but I'm thinking maybe..... slightly used #2 pencil sharp??
Went out yesterday with the same group of riders as usual on a pretty decent ride. After we got done with one road, the leader of the group pulled up to me and asked if I wanted to switch bikes for the next road, a pretty simple and straight forward ride. I'm on my GS500 and he's on his R1. I ask if he's sure and he says yea, jumps off the bike and just says that since I'm looking to upgrade, I should start to get a feel for what a bike with some real power can do. So I jump on the bike and start it up. Let go of the clutch a little bit and the bike moves forward like it's got a purpose. We take off and I start in the back of the pack, kinda getting used to the controls and the different riding style. Start getting more comfortable and I go to hit the gas...WOW! Now I love my GS but it only gets really responsive >7k rpms and even then you've only got 3k to play with before you hit the rev limiter. Not the case with the R1. I rolled on the throttle at the low end and the damn thing just took off. I was cruising and looked down and the speedometer read 100mph. That's where my begins to top out! I shift up and hit the throttle again and the bike just took off like a bat out of hell. Looked down again and I was at 130 and climbing (this is on straight country roads with no traffic going either way with a clear sight line, no twisties). At that point I back off the throttle and just coast the rest of the way. I pull my helmet off when we stop and I've got this huge shaZam!-eating grin on my face and the guy who owns the bike just starts laughing.
Like I said, I love my GS but the MASSIVE difference between the two bikes is astonishing. There wasn't the constant bouncing/dancing of the front wheel around the corners, the powerband was EVERYWHERE and not just above 6k like I'm used to, the sound was AWESOME and the handling was just smooth. I picked a line and the bike just followed it, no questions asked.
Finished up the ride and came out near the Triumph dealer. Stopped in to get all of my pricing info out of the way so I knew exactly how much to ask the bank for. 5 more payments on the GS, sell it and roll that money into the Triple R. No more 2010s so it'll have to be a 2011 and the dealers won't know until January how many bikes they'll be allotted. CANT FRICKIN WAIT!!!
This is semi-off topic, but in an earlier post it was mentioned that the gs is slow off the line/has a hard time keeping us with cars from a red-light. I'll admit I've only logged a few hundred miles, but it seems to lag in first. Is there anything (mods/changing driving style) that can rectify this? I love the bike, and love the acceleration once it's moving, but I do sometimes feel like cars are "waiting" for me to get moving from a stop.
Quote from: Pelikan on December 19, 2010, 11:08:36 AM
This is semi-off topic, but in an earlier post it was mentioned that the gs is slow off the line/has a hard time keeping us with cars from a red-light. I'll admit I've only logged a few hundred miles, but it seems to lag in first. Is there anything (mods/changing driving style) that can rectify this? I love the bike, and love the acceleration once it's moving, but I do sometimes feel like cars are "waiting" for me to get moving from a stop.
bigger rear sprocket or smaller front sprocket will both help off the line lagging of the gs motor.
Quote from: tt_four on December 19, 2010, 09:05:45 AM
Quote from: madjak30 on December 19, 2010, 01:13:17 AM
Did your spill on the ice last week knock some marbles loose? :cookoo: :icon_mrgreen: or were those pics of someone elses bike...and in your avatar? :police:
Hey man, were sharp like tacks in here... :cheers:
Later.
I believe you're thinking of redhenracing. We'll still say you're sharp, but I'm thinking maybe..... slightly used #2 pencil sharp??
Doh...and here I thought I was being such a smart ass...apparently with out the smart part... :cheers:
Sorry redhawk...oops... :oops:
See, I'm too cheap to even pay attention... :thumb:
Later.
hokieowner... when you get your Triumph you wont regret it. Those machines are incredible. Proud owner of a Triumph Daytona 675 09. Came from the GS500 as the first bike. Thank god i rode GS500 first.
I think you should keep riding your GS hard until you get your triple. The nice things about GS is you can have your oh shaZam! moments and survive. It seems you have a few months to prepare for the new bike. Take your GS to the tracks. Learning how to go fast on a slow bike is way more fun than going slow on a fast bike. Dont under estimate the GS500 skills.
Here is a link to me on the GS 500 on a trackday.
http://contour.com/stories/gs500f-on-track-day
Quote from: Pelikan on December 19, 2010, 11:08:36 AM
I love the bike, and love the acceleration once it's moving, but I do sometimes feel like cars are "waiting" for me to get moving from a stop.
Most people will recommend an exhaust/filter/jets, but I think with what you're describing I'd say the opposite and keep your bike stock. A change in gearing will help. At one point my bike was -2/+8, which made 1st feel a lot better, but anything over 45mph in 6th got super buzzy. That's obviously a drastic gearing change though. Right now I'm back to -2 in the front and stock on the rear and it seems fine.
As far as why I say to keep the stock exhaust... even with a few extra HP, loud exhausts make a bike seem like it's working so much harder than it is, which makes you want to keep the rpms lower when you're in traffic and around people, which then technically makes the bike slower. If the bike is quieter you'll be much more willing to run through the rpms without feeling like you're trying to race everyone around you. Even on my xb9 it still feels slow sometimes leaving redlights. It's twice as loud at my GS(vance and hines exhaust) and I find myself short shifting because anything more than 3k rpm and it just sounds like I'm intentionally racing away from redlights.
Quote from: hokierower on December 19, 2010, 10:44:57 AM
Went out yesterday with the same group of riders as usual on a pretty decent ride. After we got done with one road, the leader of the group pulled up to me and asked if I wanted to switch bikes for the next road, a pretty simple and straight forward ride. I'm on my GS500 and he's on his R1. I ask if he's sure and he says yea, jumps off the bike and just says that since I'm looking to upgrade, I should start to get a feel for what a bike with some real power can do.
I know someone that switched up from a ninja 500 to a R1. He acts like he misses the ninja sometimes ( :bs:) , but when his R1 was stolen he replaced it with another R1! :thumb:
Quote from: Pelikan on December 19, 2010, 11:08:36 AM
This is semi-off topic, but in an earlier post it was mentioned that the gs is slow off the line/has a hard time keeping us with cars from a red-light. I'll admit I've only logged a few hundred miles, but it seems to lag in first. Is there anything (mods/changing driving style) that can rectify this? I love the bike, and love the acceleration once it's moving, but I do sometimes feel like cars are "waiting" for me to get moving from a stop.
Personally, I've never had that issue when I actually give a hoot if a car is waiting for me. All you have to do is turn the throttle with a purpose, and get into third gear ASAP. If your shifting at 7000 RPMs or better, every car should be shaking in your mirror by the time you hit third. :thumb:
I do have a SV650 throttle to install in the future. That will take it to full throttle faster.
Quote from: madjak30 on December 19, 2010, 11:45:57 AM
Doh...and here I thought I was being such a smart ass...apparently with out the smart part... :cheers:
Sorry redhawk...oops... :oops:
See, I'm too cheap to even pay attention... :thumb:
Later.
No problems, Mon! :cheers:
Quote from: redhawkdancing on December 19, 2010, 02:55:14 PM
Personally, I've never had that issue when I actually give a hoot if a car is waiting for me. All you have to do is turn the throttle with a purpose, and get into third gear ASAP. If your shifting at 7000 RPMs or better, every car should be shaking in your mirror by the time you hit third. :thumb:
I do have a SV650 throttle to install in the future. That will take it to full throttle faster.
I hear ya. I probably just need more seat time...and at any rate will want to log a few K before I start changing things. Maybe I just need to be a bit more aggressive. I've been shifting at about 4500, but maybe I need to wind it out more. Just seems like in first it's making noise but not really going, but then as soon as I shift to second it immediately begins forward.
Quote from: Pelikan on December 19, 2010, 04:47:41 PM
Quote from: redhawkdancing on December 19, 2010, 02:55:14 PM
Personally, I've never had that issue when I actually give a hoot if a car is waiting for me. All you have to do is turn the throttle with a purpose, and get into third gear ASAP. If your shifting at 7000 RPMs or better, every car should be shaking in your mirror by the time you hit third. :thumb:
I do have a SV650 throttle to install in the future. That will take it to full throttle faster.
I hear ya. I probably just need more seat time...and at any rate will want to log a few K before I start changing things. Maybe I just need to be a bit more aggressive. I've been shifting at about 4500, but maybe I need to wind it out more. Just seems like in first it's making noise but not really going, but then as soon as I shift to second it immediately begins forward.
I'm not the expert here, but I have heard that a washer under the needle and a turn on the mix screws help the low-rpm drivability. Fatter pilot and mid jets might help too. Check with the Buddha.
I do not have trouble with traffic, either in town or on the highway. That's small town Statesboro and big city Atlanta. Maybe it's the way I ride, or dgyver tuned it up perfectly. Whichever, I have not wished I had more power to deal with traffic.
You'll get the best performance out of a stock GS500 by keeping it between 7000 and 9000 rpm for spirited riding. HP peak is at about 8500 rpm and torque peak is around 7000 rpm. 4 to 6-7k rpm is for just putting around. Below 3-4k and above 9-9.5k are useless unless you mod it a bit.
On my 97 GS I had to slip the clutch with higher revs until 3-4k to take off in a spirited manner, a 15T front sprocket helped it a lot. My 02 with the 3 circuit carbs does much better with a stock 16T front and doesn't need the rev/slip as much.
Had the same problem many years ago with my 400cc Honda first bike, it seemed so noisy when revved up that I rode it in a rather timid manner for 6 months and 6k miles and traded it for a new CB750, looking back it really wasn't necessary all I had to do was learn how to ride that CB400. Must be a common newbe problem. My GS500's have had all the power I've needed for traffic, interstate travel, or mountain play.
Quote from: Pelikan on December 19, 2010, 04:47:41 PM
Quote from: redhawkdancing on December 19, 2010, 02:55:14 PM
Personally, I've never had that issue when I actually give a hoot if a car is waiting for me. All you have to do is turn the throttle with a purpose, and get into third gear ASAP. If your shifting at 7000 RPMs or better, every car should be shaking in your mirror by the time you hit third. :thumb:
I do have a SV650 throttle to install in the future. That will take it to full throttle faster.
I hear ya. I probably just need more seat time...and at any rate will want to log a few K before I start changing things. Maybe I just need to be a bit more aggressive. I've been shifting at about 4500, but maybe I need to wind it out more. Just seems like in first it's making noise but not really going, but then as soon as I shift to second it immediately begins forward.
For steady riding around town, try changing around 5500 - 6000. It's not aggressive but more responsive than where you are changing.
Michael
Quote from: madjak30 on December 17, 2010, 04:28:40 PM
Quote from: MysterYvil on December 17, 2010, 10:25:25 AM
One of my better halves has a 675 Daytona and a 250 Ninja (she kept her "starter" Ninjette after pickup up the Daytona).
Sorry man, I just gotta ask...how many better halfs do you have?? I find one wifey quite enough...there is no way I would go through that process more than once thank you very much... :icon_twisted: :thumb:
Later.
I'm blessed with two better halves...I'm in a non-traditional relationship. Legally married and live with one (20+ years), and have been concurrently involved for six-plus years with (but don't live with) another.
We all get what we need, so it works for everyone involved. Plus, I get access to FOUR motos! :thumb:
Well, I have to admit that is a surprise response :confused:...I was expecting more of a "oops" or some other kind of typo response...lucky you for finding two that you can get along with for extended periods :thumb:...I have enough trouble with just the one...don't get me wrong, I'm happy but it does take work during the stressful parts as I'm sure you know... :cheers:
Later.
Yea 1 is enough headaches.
Cool.
Buddha.