How would the gs500 with a windshield\bags compare to a Vstar 650\windshield\bags on the highway for comfort and wind.
Not worried about speed as I know both will easily do my highway speed.
I have only ever considered myself on a cruiser, until many forum choice topics have always added the GS500 to my list.
Now my curiosity is tweaked and have googled for months now.
Just trying to break the stereotype thought that sport look bikes are uncomfortable.
Test ride seems to be tough to get.....
NOT a new rider...just want a utility daily highway work commuter....only 30min highway each way at 100km/h and 120km/h for passing spurts. Even the 120 will offer a huge speed ticket.
Replacing a 1982 GN125 that I proudly rode for 9 years every single non-winter day as an in-city commuter. Loved it. But last year moved out of city.....obviously the 125 wont do highway. And anything will be less cramped than that bike.
Will still probably end up with a cruiser.....wife likes them better and wants to learn so she can use bike on my dayoffs. That and my construction boots and grubby work wear may look silly on a sport look bike. Seems easier to toss any saddle baggage on and go....gs500 seems limited without extensive searching
Waiting till summer bike prices are over :)
At 110 kph the GS500 would probably be fine. My 2004 GS500F is almost exclusively an in-town commuter. I love it up to about 60-65 mph, but for me at 70 it starts getting a bit "buzzy." Down here in FL interstate driving is often closer to 80 mph or 130kph and to me the vibration starts to get obtrusive at that point. If I were doing daily highway runs for 30 minutes or more I'd probably opt for something a bit bigger.
I commute daily with my GS (09 F model) of which ~30% is 100kmh + hwy. It's not the *greatest* on the highway, specifically at 120kmh + speeds. Don't get me wrong, its more that do-able, Ive been doing it for 2 years. I do get some arm and hand vibration after a while, specifically in my throttle hand since I can take my left hand off and rest it on the tank. But dont get on one expecting cruiser comfort ;) ... or even SV type comfort for that matter. Its the "cheap seat" commuter in my opinion.
Speeds here are obviously higher than where you are...120kph doesn't even get you looked at (limit is 110kph on major hiways...100kph on most other hiways)...the GS is excellent up to those speeds...as for the comfort issue, if you are comfortable riding a mountain bike, you will be comfortable on the GS...it is much lighter and easier to ride than the cruiser and will be more "peppy"...I really enjoyed mine, and miss the little guy...but at the higher speeds (above 120kph) you need to gear down and rev it to get acceleration...but up to 120kph, it goes quite well...
Since most of my riding is on hiway at higher speeds, I went for a bigger bike...if I was doing lots of commuting and riding in the city (I live in a small community outside of a city) I would have kept the GS, it was much better for bombing around town...the GS500 is higher performance than the V Star 650, so performance shouldn't be an issue for you...just getting over the sporty look is the biggest hurdle for you...if you go with the naked version, it looks more like a "standard" than a "sport" bike...
Good Luck!!
Later.
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.
Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.
If the above was for me - its not an excessive vibration but after a solid 30min at 120+kmh my hand is sometimes a tad numb for a spell. Since my bike is dealer new, and had regular service I'll *assume* that engine tuning, balanced wheel etc etc is all where it should be as per Suzuki dealer spec. THe seat is sh1t and perhaps some new gel grips would remedy the problem...again, Ive put just over 10k on the bike since new in 09 and thats daily commuting and about a dozen road trips. The above is my only real beef as far as the GS being a commuiting/touring rig.
I run my GS without windshield or bags, but I do occasionally use a Nelson-Riggs tailbag (of the smallest size). Even for all day rides at 65mph average, I don't find any fatigue than I would with a windshield that directs the windblast at my head; even during the winter. As for luggage, it depends on what you need to lug around.
For my 750 Virago, again I prefer to ride without a shield. It used to have a Plexifairing III on it, but it made the steering heavy, and I just plain did not like it. I have a Givi trunk and some JC Whitney catalog hardbags, that were installed by the previous owner, and I love 'em!
I've been riding for over 24 years, so crosswinds are no longer an issue, but if you're going to get a windshield, I would suggest the smallest you're willing to go for. My favorite, that I can transfer between motorcycles, is the National Cycle N2490, and it's more adjustable than Rifle's Spitfire.
Quote from: fraze11 on June 17, 2011, 10:29:56 AM
Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.
If the above was for me - its not an excessive vibration but after a solid 30min at 120+kmh my hand is sometimes a tad numb for a spell. Since my bike is dealer new, and had regular service I'll *assume* that engine tuning, balanced wheel etc etc is all where it should be as per Suzuki dealer spec. THe seat is sh1t and perhaps some new gel grips would remedy the problem...again, Ive put just over 10k on the bike since new in 09 and thats daily commuting and about a dozen road trips. The above is my only real beef as far as the GS being a commuiting/touring rig.
I'd say it's improper riding posture by putting too much pressure on the bars. Question: do you have problems steering going downhill? If you do, it's due to improper riding posture.
Quote from: scratch on June 17, 2011, 10:37:46 AM
Quote from: fraze11 on June 17, 2011, 10:29:56 AM
Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.
If the above was for me - its not an excessive vibration but after a solid 30min at 120+kmh my hand is sometimes a tad numb for a spell. Since my bike is dealer new, and had regular service I'll *assume* that engine tuning, balanced wheel etc etc is all where it should be as per Suzuki dealer spec. THe seat is sh1t and perhaps some new gel grips would remedy the problem...again, Ive put just over 10k on the bike since new in 09 and thats daily commuting and about a dozen road trips. The above is my only real beef as far as the GS being a commuiting/touring rig.
I'd say it's improper riding posture by putting too much pressure on the bars. Question: do you have problems steering going downhill? If you do, it's due to improper riding posture.
No, no steering problems anywhere. Again, not to cite wrong or right, but I actually maintain a fairly relaxed and comfortable grip while riding. everyone has a slighly different position. Yes sometimes in excessive windy situations I might have a more firmer grip but to my knowledge my riding posture is good.
In windy situations it is best to have less grip. When the wind buffets your upper body it can inflect unwanted steering inputs through your arms. Grip the tank with your knees, tighten your abs and use them to support your upper body, thus detaching your arms from the handlebars. A good way to test if you're too tight on the bars, or if you're putting too much weight on the bars, is to do the funky chicken. If you can't flap your elbows like a chicken, you're too tight (or leaning too much on them).
They're handlebars, not hold-on-for-dear-life bars.
Hope this helps.
Quote from: z driver 88t on June 17, 2011, 10:02:53 AM
At 110 kph the GS500 would probably be fine. My 2004 GS500F is almost exclusively an in-town commuter. I love it up to about 60-65 mph, but for me at 70 it starts getting a bit "buzzy." Down here in FL interstate driving is often closer to 80 mph or 130kph and to me the vibration starts to get obtrusive at that point. If I were doing daily highway runs for 30 minutes or more I'd probably opt for something a bit bigger.
I have a heavily modified 89 GS and three stock GS.I have no issues riding them 500 miles without stopping.If you are having vibrations through your bars,something isn't right.All most all of my riding is between 65 and 75 MPH and on interstates that are grooved and getting prepared for new black top.
I don't have a vibration problem with any of my bikes. However, I do have heavy R&G bar ends on all of them. Some people take off the bar end weights or put on pretty ones of aluminum that have no mass at all. Heavy bar ends dampen the vibrations. The full fairing on Suzi does make a difference in highway comfort. Riding Trey (no fairing) or Junior (belly pan and headlight cowling) there is a lot more wind. Another thing the full fairing does is help keep water off of your legs (Seattle, you know).
All my bikes now have the older factory clip ons. Those bars are thick steel and very heavy. I'm sure that helps keep down vibrations. If you put on aluminum bars, you'll be missing all that massive steel that helps dampen vibrations.
My first long trip on Suzi was when she still had the 2009 factory bars (they are steel). No vibration problem.
Keep the mass in the bars & bar ends, and like others said - keep things balanced and in tune - and you'll find your half hour highway trips on a GS500 are OK. Thicker gloves and softer grips help as they would with any bike you ride for long distances.
EDIT: Just re-read your post. A GS with a zero grav touring windshield and the cortech sport bags with probably serve your needs handily.
I have a Honda Magna and a GS500. The ergonomics of the 500 are much better for me on the highway. I put just over 1600 K (1000 Miles) on the 500 this week on a trip into the mountains of BC with no ill effects. On the cruiser my lower back is sore after about an hour.
Ken
Zapblam:
Thanks for asking.
For me, the GS500 is More comfortable than the Vstar 650 cruiser. I can ride my GS all day, 500km in a day no probs. two 500km days back to back, no probs. BUT, 10 minutes on the 650 Vstar and my back was aching like a mother. Couldn't wait to get off.
The GS can Easily be set of for touring. Here's a pic of one such set up (I use a tank bacg and the same rear bag as pictured - which can be flipped around the other way if carrying a pillion, or zipped back-to-back with another bag for more capacity.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/2007_Suzuki_GS500F-001.JPG/800px-2007_Suzuki_GS500F-001.JPG)
The 650 I rode, when doing a tight U-turn the handbars hit my knees. No such issue on the GS.
I ride my GS daily. With workboots. No-one thinks it is odd. And if they do, who friggin well cares? The opinions of strangers in cars of me on my bike is irrelevant to me.
As for speed. At 140kph the GS will sit at 9,000 rpm (redline at 11k) in 4th. But you can also just cruise along in 4th doing 60kph. So it's quite a useful gear for getting onto the highway. But once on the highway, kick it to 5th and then 6th and it'll sit all day. 100kph is 5k, 110 is about 5,5k and 120 is 6k. And it has no probs sitting at 120 all day long. Overtaking is a breeze. The 650 Vstar I rode had trouble getting to 120 and I wouldn't want to be trying to overtake anything on one. Here's a video of a GS500 doing plenty of overtaking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pXUfvzSx2k
Hope this helps.
Michael
I haven't noticed any vibration issues on my 09 model. I added bar risers that raised the stock bars up 1 inch and back 1 3/8 inch, which makes for a more upright riding position. Much more comfortable for me. I also added a laminar lip to the stock windscreen, which made a world of difference with wind buffeting. The Zero Gravity touring screen would certainly look better, but not having used one I can't comment on how much it actually helps with wind buffeting. I use Cortech saddle bags and top bag, and commute on the bike most days. The GS works great for me, and my only complaint is that wind gusts push me around more than on my last bike, which was a GS650GL. However, from an ergonomics perspective, the GS500 is much more comfortable than the GS650GL, which was kind of a cruiser style bike. My arse would hurt after about 30 minutes on that bike, and I can ride the GS500 for hours with no issues.
Awsome info guys. lol 140kph here would have bike impounded when caught. Bike will never see 130 kph. 120kph would be passing.
Have been researching seating ergos of cruisers and standards.....really has me second guessing that cruisers are infinately more comfy than any sport bike could ever be.
Mister.....that seems to be the ticket.....side bags for raingear and odd shopping pickups.....bungee my laptop/lunch backpack to seat like I did daily on my last bike.
The windshield do just as good of a job as on any of the small cruisers I have ridden? Often riding to work at 3am and in spring/fall temps as low as 5 deg celsius (40f)
I rode a 1982 GN125 thumper happily for 9 years.....wanna see buzzy, vibrations and underpower.
Picking a gs500 would be a huge step out of my cruiser shell and am really starting to lean towards something different.
Am going to test ride a 04 gs500 naked with 3500k $3500. The nakeds sit unsold for long times....the faired bikes sit unsold for 1 hr.
Going to research windshield stuff for a naked gs.
Damnit....NEW 09 GS500f on sale for $4999 ($2200 off).....I didnt want to spend over $3500......but its new and faired.....the tiny stock shield though.
man, a 04 gs500 is not worth near 3500... i picked mine up for 1500...
Anywhere that uses kilometers usually has higher bike prices.
And crzydood- weren't you just saying how the PO destroyed your bike? There's another reason you got it so cheap.......
Mmmm, seems I just replied to this same post over at the TMW forum, small world. :icon_lol:
lol yup, asking in 3 places. Is that a wrong thing? Sorry if its not proper.
even the msrp is $2k more than everywhere else, on any bike. hell $2k the lowest for any running bike reguardless of year, mileage and size.
Wife is not convinced of anything other than a cruiser. Looks like it will be a Vstar 650 or Vulcan 500......happy wife happy life. And there will be only 1 bike in this family, thats why I gotta choose carefully.
Quote from: Big Rich on June 18, 2011, 02:05:09 AM
Anywhere that uses kilometers usually has higher bike prices.
And crzydood- weren't you just saying how the PO destroyed your bike? There's another reason you got it so cheap.......
yeh she was a fixer upper but she ran... and I didn't know it would take as much work as it has... mainly mine was cheap because of a badly adjusted carb... adjusted it properly and cleaned it up and I was off to the races (not literally)... till other stuff was discovered...
Quote from: zapblam on June 18, 2011, 10:16:32 AM
lol yup, asking in 3 places. Is that a wrong thing? Sorry if its not proper.
even the msrp is $2k more than everywhere else, on any bike. hell $2k the lowest for any running bike reguardless of year, mileage and size.
Wife is not convinced of anything other than a cruiser. Looks like it will be a Vstar 650 or Vulcan 500......happy wife happy life. And there will be only 1 bike in this family, thats why I gotta choose carefully.
Wife is convinced without actually trying?
So if'n your wife has decided your bike will be a cruiser, why just limit it to those two? Why not throw in a Shadow 750 or C50 Boulevard or Triumph America or...?
Michael
Sticking to the 650ish bikes....I dont care for the bulky size of the 800s and up. I am the type who does not like to buy more than I would ever use.
I was originally looking at s40 for its meager simplicity and cost. Still on the short list but it is the smallest ergo wise of all the bikes I have looked at.
My dream bike (10 years from now) will be the Vstrom of that time. Looks like the gs500 would be a step in that direction.
Quote from: zapblam on June 18, 2011, 10:16:32 AM
lol yup, asking in 3 places. Is that a wrong thing? Sorry if its not proper.
even the msrp is $2k more than everywhere else, on any bike. hell $2k the lowest for any running bike reguardless of year, mileage and size.
Wife is not convinced of anything other than a cruiser. Looks like it will be a Vstar 650 or Vulcan 500......happy wife happy life. And there will be only 1 bike in this family, thats why I gotta choose carefully.
It's neither wrong nor improper, I just happen to notice it since I also go to the TMW forum.
Although I still favor standard bikes like the naked GS500 over cruisers the choice between the Vulcan 500 and V-Star 650 you mention here would be easy for me. The Vulcan outperforms, gets better gas milage, and is 40-50# lighter while they are both almost identical in wheelbase and seat height:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CW03GuideComparo.jpg)
Here's the whole comparo article I saved since they were very kind to the GS500:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CWDealsOnWheels/
That 03 CW Comparo reminds me I borrowed the pic of the GS500 from it to use in my sig pic here some years ago, with a different head on it of course. :icon_lol:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GSsigpic.jpg)
When I was researching bikes before picking the GS (mine's an 08 500F), I put a lot of consideration into this because I semi-frequently log serious highway time and mileage - 400-600 miles per day, about once a month, and at least 100 miles over most weekends. I can't speak towards a comparison with the cruiser you mentioned, but the worst I've ever had after my longest trip was stiff legs and, at the very end, a sore throttle hand. A lot of bikes, especially more powerful bikes, aren't really engineered to be comfortable for decent periods of time at high speeds - get to speed quickly, yes, but not to run at higher speeds for long periods.
Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.
I haven't noticed this sort of vibration either. On my trips, my average speed 85-95 mph, stopping for about 10 minutes every hour, or 100 miles, whichever comes second. No gel seat, stock windshield, no bar-end weights but I do have bar risers, normal leather/textile gloves with no padding, riding jacket. I can also vouch for this: she feels almost precisely the same at 107mph as at 90mph - and between 85-95 mph, I get 58-59 mpg.
Quote from: scratch on June 17, 2011, 11:06:35 AM
In windy situations it is best to have less grip. When the wind buffets your upper body it can inflect unwanted steering inputs through your arms. Grip the tank with your knees, tighten your abs and use them to support your upper body, thus detaching your arms from the handlebars. ...
Put another way, it's like riding a horse - you want light hands on the reins, a firm grip with your knees. 8)
I ride my '07 GS500F every day I work with a sports touring windshield and a bag rack with a big bag on it, for at least 30 mins at 100+ km/h. It has no trouble doing 140+, I've never notice the vibrations others are mentioning, fuel economy is good, maintenance is easy. It handles well wet and dry. Only thing I've noticed is in gusty wind (which we get allot of in Newcastle and gusty I mean 40-60+ knot winds) that the size of the side plays against it (remember mines a full fared). That is my only real complaint. Has enough get up and go to overtake (just knock it back to fourth and overtake with ease).
My 2009 GS500F. I ride 70+ miles round trip for work each weekday. At speeds 90+ MPH I don not notice any vibration. I am 100% all stock. No custom anything. My laptop computer is in a small bag on the rear seat. The only thing I dislike are wind gusts. I try to keep the speed fairly high during strong wind gust days so the bike has the tendency to stay straight. Probably any bike is bad during wind gusts but I don't know because this is my first bike. I love my GS500F. It is perfect for me.