GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

In another thread aussiegs asked; "A rich person walks up to you and asks how much for your bike?"
The thread drew some interesting replies, http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57737.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57737.0)

Surprisingly a lot of people simply asked for between $1200 and about $6000. (seems reasonable to me)
This led me to an equally important question. . .
Why did you buy your GS500 in the first place???
Obviously for economical transportation, but in the bike market there is a lot to choose from.
So why ride a bike that is frequently referred to as. . .
An entry level machine, Training wheels not included, etc...
Or as one Yamaha parts vendor I used to deal with in the UK summed it up; An outdated rust-bucket that's so underpowered its actually dangerous".
Personally, with several different bikes in the stable, I simply do not understand why the GS gets such a bad rap. (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2wc9e/ummm.gif)

So all things considered, tell us, Why did you buy yours?

Cheap and parts galore available here.  I intended to make it a stock bike for my son to learn on and knowing the 500 wasn't known as widowmaker, figured it would be a good first bike.

best bang for the buck - 2004 moto for $2000 and $20 a month for insurance. 50+mpg and can still handle mountain runs :thumb:

Quote from: cbrfxr67 on October 07, 2011, 08:58:46 AM
I intended to make it a stock bike for my son to learn on and knowing the 500 wasn't known as widowmaker. . .

Agreed.
As a daily commuter, I frequently ride home from work rather tired. It's nice to feel the simple stability of the GS on the ride home.
In general, my other bikes require a lot more input than the GS500.
Hence the GS is my daily driver. It's the workhorse, and it runs good all the time, unlike my fuel injected bikes and their annoying, seemingly unsolvable, behavior problems.
-Ej-

I purchased my GS500 for 1300.  I was a parts build, with a 1990 frame and 2001 plastics, and new tires.  Started up immediately, and pulls strong.  PO even delivered it to my house in his van.

It is my first bike, and I wanted something that was cheap, relatively light, and easy to repair. It is not too powerful to learn on, but has enough power to keep for a while and learn how to get the most out of it. 

Its value as a learning tool and reliable second vehicle outweighs its monitary value.  I would still consider selling it, though, if the price was right. 

I've been eyeing up the FI SV650s when my skills and finances can handle it.  Not yet.

Quote from: tialloydragon on October 07, 2011, 11:52:11 AM

Its value as a learning tool and reliable second vehicle outweighs its monitary value. 
I would still consider selling it, though, if the price was right. 
I've been eyeing up the FI SV650s when my skills and finances can handle it.  Not yet.

Rock solid reasoning right there!  :thumb:

I'm no master of roadcraft, but it has been my experience that lighter bikes are confidence inspiring while heavy bikes can be quite exhausting.
I spend a lot of time in traffic (hilly terrain too) because that's what exists here. I also have the occasional need to traverse gravel roads and such.
Don't tell anybody over at StromTrooper.com but my GS500 is so much more manageable than my V-Strom on soft gravel roads.
The DL1000 has a tendency to dig itself a hole on the soft stuff while the GS500 seems to simply motor right over the top of it all.
Just sayin'
-Ej-

I bought mine for the looks, and I still think it's a sharp looking little bike...and it fit into the budget that I had set aside to buy myself a toy that year and left enought to purchase my riding gear  :thumb: ...

It was the perfect bike to learn the skills of riding on without having to lay out serious cash...I sold it at the start of this year, and I still miss the "Little Guy"...  :sad: ...wish I could have kept it as a second bike (then I would still have something to ride...  :embarassed: )

Later.

For the same price at dealers and a few private sellers were trying to sell vtr 250's, hyosung gt250's etc. I found my k3 with a private buyer and fell in love with it. My mate advised me to go a naked bike first up because of insurance and repair costs if I dropped or crashed a fairing bike. Plus in my country it's the law that a learner can't have a bike that's over 650cc or 150kw/tonne. So yeah a 500cc cheap naked composed naked bike thats easy to maintain and fix, a good online following, and cheap to register and insure. Plus can get you moving quick without too much trouble.

My pre-requisites for a bike were...

Can be used as a commuter (liter bikes are not commuters IMO)
Can also be capable of doing weekend rides (250s are out)
Can handle occasional two-up (always figured nothing smaller than a 400 should be used for two up)
MUST have a large tank for extended riding range
MUST be comfortable
MUST be naked (I despise fairings. My first bike in the mid 80s was faired and they copped a heap of damage when it was crashed)
MUST be good Value For Money (this is, of course, subjective and based on comparisons)
Would be bought New (so my list of available bikes was shortened to only what was currently available)

Where we are, SV650s had stopped being available as naked bikes - it was the newer Gladius with a minuscule 14 liter ('bout 3.5gallon) tank and gawd awful looks. No naked 600 Hornets left when I was shopping (had seen some a few months earlier but none available at the time). And so the choice had come down to the CB400 or GS500. They were both Serious Contenders.

Performance-wise, they were close enough not to matter. But the CB was at the bottom of my two-up criteria, had a smaller tank, lower seat (I'm 6'2) - and - was $3k more than the GS500! Plus, it didn't come in a color I liked whereas the GS500, for the first time, had no decals on the tank other than an embossed S - I dislike chevron decals.

So the GS500 won out on what I perceived I received for my dollar - a bike better suited to my height, with a larger gas tank, that looked better, came with a center stand which I wanted anyway and was substantially cheaper. In short, better bang for My Buck for what I was after in a bike.

Michael

for me it was mainly oh cool a free bike

I bought it to help a guy make a few more payments and keep his family in their home.  He got a job soon thereafter, and while I had originally intended to sell the bike for a small loss I made the mistake of riding it and started tinkering with it.  It'll likely be here a while. 

My first GS:  I was sitting on my friend's porch in the city enjoying some drinks and watching his neighbor load a truck for a move to Texas.  He couldn't fit a pressure washer, a TV, an exercise bike and A GS500.  I had a little cash in my pocket and the rest is history...   ;)

-Jessie

I was at a Yamaha dealer looking at an new FZ6 back in 2007.
My young Son called me over to a used blue & white GS500F and he seemed fascinated with it.
I looked it over and was repulsed: (http://www.blueshirtsbrotherhood.com/images/smilies/puke.gif) It was heinous!
I asked him "why this thing"?
He proudly replied "Its carbureted"
Note: Kids that grow up on 2-stroke machines (shy away from 4-strokes) and outright despise electronic fuel injection. So anything carbureted is a plus.

A few months later I found a black & silver 2007 with a mere 1200 miles on it for half the price of a new unit.
It's now 2011 and that GS500F gets far more usage that my Harley and my DL1000 combined!  :thumb:

It's very interesting to see how some of you GSers got started.
Thanks for posting you story!  :cheers:

The GS500 is the (old) Volkswagen Beetle of the motorcycle world. 

this is my first bike.
I wanted something "sportbike" looking
I didn't want something too powerful to learn on
I didn't want something that would be out of breath on the highway

the gs500f and ninja500 were the ones I looked at. found a killer deal on a new gs500f and jumped on it.

[POST HAS BEEN REMOVED BY USER]

Originally I wanted a ninja 250r, had cash in hand the dealer didn't have anymore, so I was SOL, I figured since the dealer kept mentioning how easy it'd be sell; that I would find one on craigslist, When a little add for a GS500 caught my eye, I got a 2009 with less than 500 miles on it for $1900 versus the ninja for around $3000,  :thumb:

ive had 4 of them total. 2 of the same one, anyhoo. it wasnt known as a ninjette either

Who's the noob who voted that he wished he bought something else?

I had not ridden in awhile. I liked the look of a naked version. I thought about the Honda nighthawk 750 but decided instead on the GS500 due to its pricepoint, look, feel, weight, and availability. This forum sealed the deal for me!!!
On a side note: I almost bought a used Honda NT650 about 14 years ago and have regretted it ever since.

From reading through the above few posts, two items come to mind. . .
1.) Some day I'm going to try a Ninja 250. I hear it's a great little bike.
2.) Hey aussiegs, Stop harassing my voter base!

Quote from: aussiegs on October 09, 2011, 03:06:30 AM
Who's the noob who voted that he wished he bought something else?

:police:

Quote from: aussiegs on October 09, 2011, 03:06:30 AM
Who's the noob who voted that he wished he bought something else?

That would be me.

The GS is not the quintessential perfect motorcycle to me.  Sure it is solid, simple, etc etc, but not perfect.

But i also voted 'best bang for the buck', though i think a Ninja250, ninja500, er-6n, ninja650, gsx650, any other lower cost introductory level bike would have fit the same bill to me.  I basically wish i had gone with the er-6n, which is the bike i really wanted at the time... but being unsure i even wanted to ride motorcycles or not, the low $$ used GS was acquired.... a few rides later i wished i bought the er-6n.  Plus my GS has been a complete PITA up until two weeks ago, when i got it running right.

Who knows, if i had bought the er-6n i might then wish i had bought something else; since now that i have the GS i don't see changing to the er-6n as being enough of a change to warrant buying it (yet), i would probably go for a bigger cc cruiser now.  [I really wanted a Triumph until i found out they are China made.  So there is probably a Harley or Victory in my future, distant future.]

Well first of I don't flip bikes or anything else, I tend to keep things I buy. Started riding back in '72~'73 on a '65 Harley FLH. Bought a Moto Guzzi 850-T3 new in '77 and still have it. Bought my new '09 GS500F in February of this year. Price was great for a new bike so it won over a Ninja 250 or 500. There are other reasons like the fact that most everything else is liquid cooled meaning more to maintain and wear out, etc. I don't need 100+ HP or top speeds of 150+ MPH. And while I'm 56 years old I certainly don't need a rolling couch/easy chair weighing 800+ pounds. Now I'm going to get my little underpowered GS out and go for a ride :thumb:

Dale

Quote from: Electrojake on October 09, 2011, 06:28:48 AM
From reading through the above few posts, two items come to mind. . .
1.) Some day I'm going to try a Ninja 250. I hear it's a great little bike.
2.) Hey aussiegs, Stop harassing my voter base!

Quote from: aussiegs on October 09, 2011, 03:06:30 AM
Who's the noob who voted that he wished he bought something else?

:police:

Sorry ej and gs500e, I really thought it was someone havin a joke. I wasn't havin a go I saw all the other votes and u see that one negative you'd think someone's being funny.

Best bang for buck and read on multiple forums that it's the best learner bike. Enough grunt to get in trouble but enough forgiveness to get out of it without too much blood  :icon_eek:

Quote from: gs500e on October 09, 2011, 07:56:43 AM

Who knows, if i had bought the er-6n i might then wish i had bought something else; since now that i have the GS i don't see changing to the er-6n as being enough of a change to warrant buying it (yet),

... i would probably go for a bigger cc cruiser now.
[I really wanted a Triumph until i found out they are China made.  So there is probably a Harley or Victory in my future, distant future.]

Wow!
You went from a GS500 to a Victory in one post! (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2wc9e/grin47.gif)
When you hit the right bike. . . Let us know what one it is.
In the mean time, keep posting here at GStwins. It's good therapy.

Speaking of therapy. . .
I detect a bit of "stress" in your avatar.
Just sayin'
Peace,
-Ej-

Quote from: Electrojake on October 09, 2011, 03:25:18 PM

Quote from: gs500e on October 09, 2011, 07:56:43 AM

Who knows, if i had bought the er-6n i might then wish i had bought something else; since now that i have the GS i don't see changing to the er-6n as being enough of a change to warrant buying it (yet),

... i would probably go for a bigger cc cruiser now.
[I really wanted a Triumph until i found out they are China made.  So there is probably a Harley or Victory in my future, distant future.]

Yeah down here it's the number 1 learner bike cause your fully setup on the road for under 10 grand. But it's facing new compitition from the new cbr250r, which is priced a couple hundred cheaper.
Wow!
You went from a GS500 to a Victory in one post! (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2wc9e/grin47.gif)
When you hit the right bike. . . Let us know what one it is.
In the mean time, keep posting here at GStwins. It's good therapy.

Speaking of therapy. . .
I detect a bit of "stress" in your avatar.
Just sayin'
Peace,
-Ej-

Quote from: aussiegs on October 09, 2011, 05:06:48 PM

Quote from: Electrojake on October 09, 2011, 03:25:18 PM

Quote from: gs500e on October 09, 2011, 07:56:43 AM

Who knows, if i had bought the er-6n i might then wish i had bought something else; since now that i have the GS i don't see changing to the er-6n as being enough of a change to warrant buying it (yet),

... i would probably go for a bigger cc cruiser now.
[I really wanted a Triumph until i found out they are China made.  So there is probably a Harley or Victory in my future, distant future.]

Yeah down here it's the number 1 learner bike cause your fully setup on the road for under 10 grand. But it's facing new compitition from the new cbr250r, which is priced a couple hundred cheaper.
Wow!
You went from a GS500 to a Victory in one post! (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2wc9e/grin47.gif)
When you hit the right bike. . . Let us know what one it is.
In the mean time, keep posting here at GStwins. It's good therapy.

Speaking of therapy. . .
I detect a bit of "stress" in your avatar.
Just sayin'
Peace,
-Ej-

LMAO

From reading some of the other threads around here, as an example: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57852.msg656780#msg656780 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57852.msg656780#msg656780)
The question should be. . .

Why did you sell your GS? rather than why did you buy it.

I see so many stories about "used to own" a GS.
So, why do you HAVE to sell the GS before your allowed to buy another bike?
And why do you HAVE to buy a "bigger" bike? (I myself was toying with the idea of selling my GS500 for a KLX250, but decided the GS is a keeper).
Just an oxi-topic thought,  :dunno_black:
-Ej-

Quote from: Electrojake on October 07, 2011, 08:42:00 AM
Personally, with several different bikes in the stable, I simply do not understand why the GS gets such a bad rap.

I don't think the GS has a bad rap, I just think it's woefully underrated by the general population.

The reason I bought the GS is because of it being a simple, air-cooled, carbureted, easy-to-work-on, comfortable, cheap-to-insure, cheap to maintain, inexpensive tires, chain, no expensive bodywork, good handling light bike.

Paid 700 for it and knew I wouldn't feel bad if I dropped it since there is barely any plastic to scratch/break...

friend happened to be selling it but i heard great things about it already in terms of ride-ability and maintenance.

man they were right; its an air cooled twin, naked bike, and a simple proven design. couldn't get any easier for a beginner to get into the mechanics of it.

I, also, forgot to say easy and cheap it is to fix after a crash, how crash-survivable it is...

This is my first bike so I wanted something 1) cheap, in case I didn't like riding as much as I thought I would and 2) something that I wouldn't get myself killed on but could also take to highway speeds for short bits of time.  I really like the looks of naked bikes so I got an E.  Things I didn't think about but like: it's light and I'm not a very big guy so it helps when putzing around campus, I don't really have to worry about people stealing it or scratching it.  I'm tempted all the time to get a newer, slightly bigger bike (probably Bonneville) but right now my finances and especially my rider skill is keeping me in the gs500. 

Besides some issues with buying an older bike and not being very good mechanic, I've been happy.

Cheap and easy to work on and Honda didn't sell anything in its range to match it (at least in Australia at the time) and Kawasaki's ER5 just didn't seem as good  :thumb: :cheers:

Quote from: Roxtar on October 08, 2011, 04:17:26 PM
I wanted something "sportbike" looking
I didn't want something that would be out of breath on the highway
the gs500f and ninja500 were the ones I looked at. found a killer deal on a new gs500f and jumped on it.

Ditto to the letter.  Even the year of GS ;)

I was looking for a cheap, economical, easy to maintain bike that could do highway speeds happily. I'd owned a GS450 in the early 80s and it met all those criteria, so when I saw a cheap GS5 on eBay I bought it sight unseen. Its doing all that I expected (good and bad!).

After a 20 year hiatus from riding, I wanted something light and flickable.
My previous bike was a Virago 1000. Handled like a dog in the twisties.
Originally I wanted a GSX650F or Kawi 650R and only contemplated a GS500F or EX500 if the price was right.
As luck would have it I got a great deal on my 07 GS500F with a Yoshi pipe and only 5k on the clock.
Love it!
I did a few mods to make it a more comfortable commuter, and have no intention of parting with it.
I'll have to agree that the bike does get a bad rap by anyone who has more cc's.  Big deal!!!

Cheap to buy
Cheap to insure
Proven reliability

My only suggestions to Suzuki would be...
A more comfortable seat, would be nice.

none listed for me.
I honestly bought it because it was the first cheapest "running" bike of the season that I seen & could afford at the time. (that I would actually enjoy riding)

Initially wanted an SV650 but since the GS500 is also a naked bike (my fav. kind of sport bike), I therefore read up on the GS500 as well.

So, after owning it since May of this year, riding & wrenching on it and being totally new to both, I would Highly suggest this bike before anything else for someone in a similar situation.

Have rode it enough to know how to ride now (not being cocky there) and pretty much wrenched on everything but the main motor parts & electrical.
I got lucky with this girl, couldnt have gotten a better starter bike to learn to ride and wrench on.

Because of all that & being my very first motorcycle, I have absolutely no plans to EVER sell it.
I dont care how many engines or parts I go through, until the frame is shot... she'll be mine and on the road!

Also doubt I will ever replace her as far as a Sport Bike goes, there is enough speed, power, and handling for me to enjoy and not kill myself on.

Only other bike I will buy and ride is a cruiser.

i had a 2006 triumph tiger started to get hip problems cause you needed a ladder to get aboard ,saw a gstwin for sale with 1500km on it  and a lower seat height .glad i brought it lots of fun and ride 36 km a day to and from work  .Came across GSTwin forum while looking for a little increase in performance  ..

Why did i buy it?

The GS500 is well known for being a "learner bike", in the UK, they were used to teach people how to ride and pass the 'big' bike test. I figured if they can handle learners riding them day in day out, then it can handle whatever i throw at it.

Also, Everything i read said the GS500 is a relatively reliable, cheap to fix bike, and has a decent range fuel wise.

It was also one of the lightest bikes i looked at (GS500, ER5, Virago 535, CB500...) And, for the weight it has plenty of power for me, even WITH a passenger.

Oh, and its PURPLE!  :laugh:

I use my bike almost exclusively for commuting so I just wanted something that was easy to handle in city traffic, good on gas and cheap to buy and insure. On top of that the bike is very easy to maintain with its air-cooling and carburetors. Because it hasn't changed much over the many years it's been around it's very easy and cheap to get parts for it.

As an added bonus it can still be used to take out on the highway when the opportunity presents itself.

I think the bike looks nice too but that is of course a matter of taste. I think it handles nice too but the only thing I have to compare it to is a Kawasaki 650 LTD that I rode in my twenties. I prefer the GS over that one even though the Kawi had more power.

It looks very cool, sporty without a ton of plastic, practical and UJM and retro wihtout being boring or old.
Seriously the 89-00 body style if you ask me was the sexiest body ever made
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: Electrojake on October 10, 2011, 08:15:31 AM
Why did you sell your GS? rather than why did you buy it.

I see so many stories about "used to own" a GS.
So, why do you HAVE to sell the GS before your allowed to buy another bike?
And why do you HAVE to buy a "bigger" bike? (I myself was toying with the idea of selling my GS500 for a KLX250, but decided the GS is a keeper).
Just an oxi-topic thought,  :dunno_black:
-Ej-

I sold the bike for two reasons...I wanted more power (not needed, but I wanted it), and more leg room would also be nice...

I didn't sell the GS before buying the new bike...I owned both for a month before finding a new "home" for the little guy...

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C0sOP_bG7d0/TcDI_aGeezI/AAAAAAAABAo/UsTZhBt9MyA/s600/IMAG0010.JPG)

And I didn't HAVE to buy a bigger bike, I just wanted one...more torque so that wind and hills didn't make me have to gear down two gears to keep up with traffic...the GS would do it, but I was pushing it sometimes to keep up...now I have no issues with shortage of power...but it wasn't needed and I sometimes miss the "Little Guy"...

I loved my little GS... :sad:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lldR81fb9bo/TKjy3uk8xLI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/ok2CNNHij_0/s600/DSCN0979.JPG)

Later.

I sold my Harley in 1999 and really did not miss riding until about a year ago. I started looking around and thought WOW, I really like the sports bike look. So I went to a dealer and jumped on a few and like the way it felt and as I walked about I almost fell over as I looked at the price tag of these newer bikes $9-$12K. SO two months went by and I thought I should really go talk to someone to find out the In's & outs of purchasing a new bike. This time when I walked in I saw the GSF500 which looks like a sports bike, cool I like it. Then the price, 2009 Brand New 0 miles for excuse me $3100.00 at 1.9% WTF?????

Yes, so long story short, it's mine. I love riding it more than I ever liked riding the Harley and it has enough power to do what I want it to and I like the sports bike look. Made some mods and love read threads on this forum.

Got a great deal on it and a unforseen perk, my wife thinks I'm more sexy for some reason !! Maybe I should buy another 1  :kiss3:

here in Australia this bike goes for a premium.... there is a waiting list for second hand models and they sell for $6000 to $7000

ive been told by the bike shop last week that they would sell my bike for $7000... thats how much i paid for it brand new (not many bikes can be sold what you bought it for year later). i went brand new as it was the same price and i figured id rather new over second hand.

iam at the point that i want to do some touring and i have a big trip planned for next year so a big sports tourer is on the cards, the problem is the GS500F is a great little commuter and id love to keep it for a work bike but i dont think i want the hassle of owning 2 bikes at this point in time.

oh what to do, what to do....

Quote from: XLAR8 on October 11, 2011, 10:54:02 AM
but i dont think i want the hassle of owning 2 bikes at this point in time.

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/Videos/laugh.gif)(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/Videos/rofl3.gif)

Quote from: XLAR8 on October 11, 2011, 10:54:02 AM
the GS500F is a great little commuter and id love to keep it for a work bike but i dont think i want the hassle of owning 2 bikes at this point in time.

oh what to do, what to do....

Solution = keep the GS and get your Other Bike as well. Ride the GS to work and keep the Other Bike for the weekend.  :woohoo:

I do this and the plus side is, it reduces the load you put on your GS, so the clicks rack up slower and thus you can keep it for longer  :thumb: :thumb:

Quick side question: When you say BIG Sport Tourer are you referring to the FJR or another Suzuki, the Bandit 1250s say? Here's an article from the Australian Road Rider. Best selling Sport Tourers for 2009 - GS500F, GSX650F, Hayabusa (http://www.roadrider.com.au/CustomContentRetrieve.aspx?ID=349436&A=SearchResult&SearchID=2452717&ObjectID=349436&ObjectType=35) (Don't know why the Busa is in that list over the Bandit, but hey...

Michael

Back to the reason of why you bought it.

I bought mine for a couple of reasons. It had a really good reputation as powerful enough to be exciting while being a new rider, but gentle enough for a new rider, with excellent all round behaviors. It had the seating position I liked, felt good. It was the class of bike I was looking at, at the time.
The next reason was time and place. Went to look at a GS500E 08 model and there was a GS500F 07 model sitting in the driveway next to it. A repairable write off. Good price. Road well, nothing bent but the bars and some panel scratches. Went home with it.
The last reason it looks like a decent bike. Nothing flash but nothing sad.

Couple of years later I still have it.

Great thread.  My '96 GS500E is my first bike.  I began looking for a cheap ($500-$1000) older bike I could ride and work on.  I came close to buying an '83 Kawasaki KZ1000.  It was temperamental for the owner to start and really loud. I thought I wanted something in the 500cc to 750cc range.  I stumbled across the Suzuki on Craigslist.  It was a little more than I initially planned to spend but it looked great and had only 2700 miles on it. I think it may be one of the best purchases I ever made.  It has been easy to work on and super reliable.  I agree the seat could be more comfortable for longer rides, but it has plenty of get up and go for this novice.  And...it fits perfectly in my garage with my '74 Mini Cooper. Gotta admit, there's a little voice in the back of my head saying the next bike should be a Honda VTX1300 for cruising. Probably should test drive a cruiser before I make an impulse buy. 

I bought mine because I was in the market for a standard naked bike, the GS was the best bang for your buck, got my '01 3 years ago for $1995 with 6K on the clock, now has close to 10K. 

I have since bought a stable mate in an older Kawasaki ZX6 to fullfill the need for speed, but still ride the GS regularly due it is fun factor.

I have been riding for 45+ years so I didn't buy this as a beginner's bike...far from it. I didn't buy it for its practicality either. I bought my 2000 GS500E in SEP 2011 from a co-worker. He was the second owner and had put only 700 miles on it in 7 years. I bought it as a fun project. You guys here on GSTwin have pretty much identified all the issues and how to correct them as well as some cool performance mods. I have done a significant number of upgrades to date and I am happy with the bike and the improvements. I was going to sell it and still might as I am going to purchase a new Ducati Streetfighter in the coming months, but as long as I am having fun with it and as long as it stays in the 'rotation' rather than sit on the bench it will have a place in my garage.
Very respectfully, Tim

Quote from: Electrojake on October 10, 2011, 08:15:31 AM
From reading some of the other threads around here, as an example: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57852.msg656780#msg656780 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57852.msg656780#msg656780)
The question should be. . .

Why did you sell your GS? rather than why did you buy it.

I see so many stories about "used to own" a GS.
So, why do you HAVE to sell the GS before your allowed to buy another bike?
And why do you HAVE to buy a "bigger" bike? (I myself was toying with the idea of selling my GS500 for a KLX250, but decided the GS is a keeper).
Just an oxi-topic thought,  :dunno_black:
-Ej-

I bought the GS because when I did my homework I found out all the great things already mentioned in this post.  I sold it because of three reasons: 1 - the wife wanted something more comfortable for two up riding; 2 - the wife gave me a gift card for the local HD dealer; 3 - there was enough room for two bikes in the garage.

If I had the room, I would have kept the GS.  I still miss riding it.

- Porkchop

After I turned eighteen, I had to sell my 125cc bike to afford a car. Since then I had a massive motorcycle fever, but not enough money. I was looking for 600cc sportbikes, mainly old CBR:s, but prices were too high. One night I was once again looking for bikes from the internet and i found the Gs500e. The price was so tempting, that I had to give it a call.

It didn't have the looks or power of a sportbike, but it had two wheels and a engine. Later on I've noticed the benefits of a naked bike. It's fun to take on gravel or even offroad sometimes and it isn't that expensive to repair after little drop. It uses less fuel and is way more realible than my ex Aprilia...

  "TwinRat"
That's a cool handle.
I wish I thought of it!  :thumb:

I wanted something that wasn't too heavy, was easy to ride, cheap to buy, easy to work on, had a bit more torque than a 250 and most importantly could be ridden on a learner or provisional license in Australia.  I like naked bikes, I like things which pull pretty much from idle and I love the sound of a twin.  Given the choice I probably would have started on an SV650, but Suzuki have only recently started making a learner legal version, so I wasn't going to pick one of those up cheap.  If you want a 500cc ish japanese twin cylinder learner bike in Sydney, you get a GS or an ER5, and it's quite tricky to find an ER5 on the second hand market, they're just a bit rare.  The CB500 would probably have been perfect, but they were only available here as a personal import, so even rarer than the Kawasaki.  So GS500 it was.

I've put nearly 20,000 on my old beater GS this year, and I'm finding I love it for commuting, and enjoy playing in the twisties whenever I can as well.  My next bike will have to handle well, go reasonably hard, but also be tolerable on a daily basis.

I'll have an open motorcycle license on the 26th of February.  I don't know whether I'll keep the GS after that, but I definitely want another naked bike, preferably a twin, built after 1995.  My most likely are looking like the SV650, SV1000, and TRX850.

If I'm in a position to buy new next year, most of the naked bikes on the market at the moment are 4cyl, so while I'm turned on by twins I'd be stupid not to at at least test ride bikes like the ER6, FZ6, FZ8.  I might even investigate some 3 pot lunacy from Triumph, although I will never like the Striple's dentist's drill induction noise.

In the Twin cylider naked bike category I have also researched the TL1000 (may kill me) Honda VTR1000 Firestorm (sadly let down by it's fuel range on my favourite runs), and of course the Ducati Monster, which would probably be perfect if it weren't for it's rep as a money pit.  I'm absolutely in love with the Aprillia Shiver at the moment, but since my toys have to earn their keep I should probably shy away from anything Italian.

It was my first bike and I didnt want to kill myself on a cbr or gsxr. Looking back i should have got a used GS500 though.  If i could fix up a nice fairing for it (the stock is way to wide and boxie IMO) I would keep this bike forever. As it stands now I will ride till I save up to get a CBR600RR.  I dont really care about the power, just like the look of a true sport bike.  My GS aka Susie Q will always have a special place in my heart though. 

Y'know, after riding 25 years, I've realized I don't need that much horsepower.  I've rode my girlfriend's R6, and while it handles like a scalpel, I don't need 110hp, when 40 will do.

Quote from: Cosimo_Zaretti on October 13, 2011, 11:39:27 PM

In the Twin cylider naked bike category I have also researched the TL1000 (may kill me) Honda VTR1000 Firestorm (sadly let down by it's fuel range on my favourite runs), and of course the Ducati Monster, which would probably be perfect if it weren't for it's rep as a money pit.

I think Twisted might have something to say about that. Reputation is not always Reality.

Michael

Quote from: scratch on October 14, 2011, 08:48:47 AM
Y'know, after riding 25 years, I've realized I don't need that much horsepower. 
I've rode my girlfriend's R6, and while it handles like a scalpel, I don't need 110hp, when 40 will do.

Couldn't agree more.  :thumb:
I just want to get to work.
There are no "twisties" or breath taking vistas, just reality.
110 HP doesn't help much here.
(http://ict.illinois.edu/project_spotlights/SemiTraffic.jpg) . (http://technewslit.com/sciencebusiness/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/TrafficJam_DanielleScott_Flickr.jpg)
Just sayin'
-Ej-

So true, when it's 11:30pm after an arvo shift or night and your tired, you don't need a bike that's gonna snap its tail out when your a little sleepy from the lights. Great thing bout the GS, put it in 4th or 5th doing 60 and the bike becomes dopey and relaxing and it's not try and kill you at the next opportunity like kato.

I wasn't really even interested in motorcycles until my dad (who has rode cruisers for years) kept bugging me to get one.

So I took the MSF class, and was hooked. Saved up for months from my part time job, and got this 04 GS for $2,500 off Craigslist.

I want a 636 or a 750 reeeeally badly, but I don't have money for those for a while so I'm stuck with this guy for a few years.

It's a good bike, really is, but I'm probably always gonna be wanting "more".

After borrowing my co worker's 05 ninja 250R on and off for 1yr. after taking the safety course,I knew i didn't want a 250.
Saw the GS500F in the 2010 Cycle world buyers guide and loved the look and the price. Did the research on the GS. Love the gas mileage and the large tank, since it'll be used for commuting. Wanted the full fairing since my commute will be 90% highway with little traffic. REALLY LOVED THE UPRIGHT RIDING POSITION!! Like what i read about doing maintenance on the bike to save $$$.
     This is my 1st bike and I know that'll keep it as long as she can roll. Just wish it had EFI!

Quote from: rayshon on October 15, 2011, 08:09:38 AM
I want a 636 or a 750 reeeeally badly, but I don't have money for those for a while so I'm stuck with this guy for a few years.

It's a good bike, really is, but I'm probably always gonna be wanting "more".

Big powerful bikes are made for guys that need it.
If you feel the need. . . Then feed it!
But until you get a big expensive sport bike, you'll have plenty of time to practice on your GS500.
Might as well have fun with what ya' got till the GSX-R750 arrives.
Regards,
-Ej-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote from: skada76 on October 15, 2011, 09:20:09 AM
This is my 1st bike and I know that'll keep it as long as she can roll.
Just wish it had EFI!

My 2 cents worth. . .
I'm no master mechanic but having multiple bikes, it has been my experience that nothing is more user-friendly than an air cooled carbureted machine.
You can add "reliable" to that list too.
Cheers,  :cheers:
-Ej-

just bought my third one!

1- my 04
2- 94 parts bike
3- complete and titled 06 with needed engine work

Can't sell mine cause once it gets warm, it dies.....

Going to try to fix it up but have the gsx600f as my primary now.

Any new reasons on buying your current GS?

Bought mine because I wanted something faster than my 85 KZ250W LTD Belt drive. So I sold it for $1500 and bought the GS for $1300 and am extremely happy. :woohoo:

Same answer I gave to the same question 3 years ago...

It was cheap.

Sat on a Ninja 500. Legs so spread eagle felt like a gynecology exam or a lap dance from a 300 pound pole dancer. GS500 felt just right.

Bought Suzi May 2010.
Bought Junior August 2010 as a "working on learning bike" but fixed him up so I needed another as a learning bike.
Bought Trey Feb 2011 while leg healing from surgery. Now I have a bike to learn maintenance on. He has been a learning experience thanks to a bad previous owner that didn't take good care of him.

Collected parts. Building a bike from scratch. Built a bike cave just for GS500's (though other bikes may visit.)

If I was doing this on a computer people would say I need help. No, wait, I AM on the computer... on gsTwins so do I need therapy? I'm not the post whore of gsTwins, but am a parts whore.

Help me, please :sad:


Back to the question: GS500's are fun. The more you have, the bigger the party.

Looked at reviews, on starter street bikes, I didnt want a big bike or something that I would be afraid of. Looked at one for $900, and passed on it it had been layed down, and had a small oil leak on the oil cover. Ended up finding one on craigslist for $1,000 talked the guy down to $700.

Been wanting a bike for years, but something always seemed to come up. I had a little money and decided to spend it on one before something else came up. I like the bike will mostlikely keep it until I retire and buy a old hot rod or something, mostly I think if i sell it my wife will put up a big fuss about buying another one.

Took the MSF course and immediately started looking for bikes. I liked the naked/standard look and looked up good beginner bikes. I didn't want a 250cc so I figured the 500cc twin would be a great started bike but able to do highway *I know 250cc can do highway but 500cc doesn't have to rev as much* Figure I'll keep the bike for a couple years, get the basics of biking and then upgrade to a inline 4.

Found one locally and honestly fell in love. Even thought it was purple/pink the look was exactly what I had hoped for. Still cannot wait for spring.
Ian

I didn't buy mine, it was free and only needed a title transfer and cleaned carbs (not bad for an '04 with less than 5500 miles on it). I took it with the intent of fixing it up, maybe riding it for a few months, and selling it. After taking off the fairings, I liked the looks much more; after riding it for a few miles, I decided to keep it around. Taarna may not be everything I want in a bike, but she's got everything I need in one.

My first bike, an 07 gpx250, was destroyed when I was hit by a car who didn't see me on a clear sunny day @ 3pm.

I wanted a more visible bike. The gs was perfect. Slightly larger, brighter colours and known as a reasonably docile learners bike with enough kick to keep it interesting and safe.

I looked at nothing except gs500f bikes for 3 weeks before I found my one on bikesales.

Well my story is thus:  I always wanted a bike but my parents wouldnt hear of it, so I did with out for years.  One day at the office a coworker told me to come looke at this bike.  Now it wasnt a GS500 but was a 1988 Honda CB450S.  I fell in love with that bike so I decided right then and there that I was going to get into mororcycling.  So I started doing research on it and found that it was only sold one year in canada and america.  I know parts would be hard to find less the engine components beacuse it was a Honda 450cc.  I eventually found one and then signed up for a coarse.  In the time it took to register and actually go to the coarse I was still doing research on all bikes both new and old.  I found the GS500 to get such high praise from everyone around the world.  Now I realized that I have the Honda which I never rode befor but I didnt want to get stuck with a bike where parts are so hard to get so I then decided Im going to get a GS500F.  I took the coarse and started riding the Honda.  I love the bikle so much that I dotn want to get ride of it but I still wanted something that was better on the highway.  So I found a 2006 GS500F and never looked back.  I got it at the end of the year so its not safied yet but my parts list if growing on all the up grades Im going to do.  I love both bikes and dont think I will ever give either of them up.  Ones for vintage city riding and the other is for city/highway/ touring riding.
So In conclusion I got my GS due to the following:
1:  Parts are available and cheap.
2:  Insurance is very cheap for a bike.
3:  Loved the looks and performance.
4:  It has its own web site.  GSTWINS
5:  Easy to work on.
6:  I love oil/ail cooled engines with carbs.
7:  Initial price was low  (Best Bang For the Buck)
8:  I could go on and on but I think you all get the point..lol.
Cheers

Several reasons, but to be fair, it was essentially an economic decision. My first bike was a 73 Yam RD-350, and although I loved it, it just did not fit my needs. It got 70 miles per tank and I was commuting 70 miles a day - I just plain got tired of filling up every day, plus the fact that I was racking up a lot of miles on a classic two-stroke that was still in excellent shape. It was time to hand it over to another 2-stroke lover who could take care of her and not beat her up.

So, I needed a bike that could handle my commuting needs, deliver great fuel economy and be reliable. My kids also needed a car, so I had to find a way to get both on a tight budget. I stumbled across my 2007 at a local dealer - he was blowing out a couple of bikes - two GS-500's and a DL-650. I did my homework - I did not know too much about the 500, but knew that it was as powerful (but not as quick, and without that 2-stroke punch) as my RD, so I knew it would do just fine on the freeway. I learned that the heart of the 500 was a reliable, older engine design and would be easy to maintain, and got great fuel economy.  I figured that for the price, I could get a new bike AND still afford to get a decent car for the kids.

I will never regret my decision to get the 500. It has delivered all that I needed and more! It was after I bought it that I found out how much fun she was throw around on a tight road. That seals the deal for me!

:cheers:

The GS500F is my first 'big' bike after learning and doing time on a 125, which I couldn't wait to get rid of!

GS offers great value for money whilst building the riding skills up.

Only real gripe is the cold-blooded nature of the bike, but when she's warmed up is fine, and great for the odd commute.

I think ultimately I will upgrade, though I think it'll always be Suzuki.

Quote from: kg1709 on February 10, 2012, 03:06:13 PM
I think ultimately I will upgrade, though I think it'll always be Suzuki.

Don't be a brand loyalist!  Buy bikes based on the quality of their parts, not the letters on the tank!

I purchased my '98 GS500 because it was only $500 on Craigslist with new tires and chain, and in decent shape except for the effects of a lowside.  My experience from restoring a previous GS meant I could get the bike running well, and then either fall in love with the make again, or at least sell a mechanically perfect, cosmetically good bike without losing money.

Quote from: Electrojake on October 07, 2011, 08:42:00 AM
In another thread aussiegs asked; "A rich person walks up to you and asks how much for your bike?"
The thread drew some interesting replies, http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57737.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57737.0)

Surprisingly a lot of people simply asked for between $1200 and about $6000. (seems reasonable to me)
This led me to an equally important question. . .
Why did you buy your GS500 in the first place???
Obviously for economical transportation, but in the bike market there is a lot to choose from.
So why ride a bike that is frequently referred to as. . .
An entry level machine, Training wheels not included, etc...
Or as one Yamaha parts vendor I used to deal with in the UK summed it up; An outdated rust-bucket that's so underpowered its actually dangerous".
Personally, with several different bikes in the stable, I simply do not understand why the GS gets such a bad rap. (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2wc9e/ummm.gif)

So all things considered, tell us, Why did you buy yours?

it was cheap, looked great (kid in a candy store first bike), and sounded better. that, and the HD guys said it was a 'girls bike'. since girls are smarter and have vaginas, i figured i might get lucky.

gs500 gone 32,000 miles
cb350 gone 45,000 miles
drz400 LOVE IT 14,800 miles
fz6 DEPENDA-BIKE 35,000 miles

lusted after:
ktm 300 EFI dual sport
goldwing
motus (made here in alabama)
any dakar capable 900cc
concours (the old one)
anything from the 50's that isn't a HD
anything with 200 or fewer cc's
the skills to ride a two smoke like my buds

Was looking for a bike after selling my car, on the way north to look at a honda blackbird 1100, I passed this cool looking bike with a for sale sign on it on the side of the road for 2600 bucks. Stopped, looked in ok condition, called the guy.

he showed up, and said If I take it now I can have it for 1500.

I took it.

I took mine for a couple reasons.

#1 I have always wanted a bike and this fits about every aspect of what I was looking for in one. Cheap, econimical, dependable, and availible.
#2 I ended up trading a turbo for it which I have less then $100 in.
#3 I felt sorry for the thing. The guy that owned it was planning on making a "trick" bike out of it which would mean a certain a death.
#4 I like the way it looks.

I have a 2004 GS500F with 9500 miles on the clock. WHen I got it the motor had been removed and is in several parts. It has a spun rod bearing and needs a crank, 2 rods, gasket set, piston rings, and then put back together. I have purchased a good crank and 2 rods for $130 shipped so now I am looking for the other smaller bits since I found the hardest and most expensive part. I can't wait to get it back together and on the road.

Once you upgrade the suspension, brakes and seat, its really not a bad bike at all...



I bought it because its a 500, which is what I wanted.  Also because I dont want something I have to worry about getting stolen in the city. 

My first motorcycle.  I love naked standards.  Nothing else really fit the bill.  Got my 2001 500e for $1500 off craigslist that looked in pretty decent shape.  It turns out the gas tank was rusting from the inside out though.  Only thing I really see trading up to would be a Bonny T-100 although Duc 696s and honda 919s always catch my eye.

For the new folks here, or those not answered before, care to share why you bought your GS500?

I have owned many bikes since I got my license in 2000.

Started on a GZ250, went to a Vulcan 800, then a gsxr750 death machine, then a 1600 Vulcan, and finally a GS450.

The GS450 was unreliable. Always died. Igniters, coils, 28 year old electronics. I wanted something brand new, easy, and bulletproof.

Sold the 450 for $1200, and bought the GS500 in the spring if 2011. It has 10,300 miles on it now and ride year round. Got it for $3500 out the door brand new. Took a month of negotiating with dealers in Ohio and Michigan. It was the last of the last on the floor.

Never regretted past bikes or this bike. Every one of my bikes had a reason for buying and selling.

Bought it from a friend of a friend, for $500. Had 6400 miles on it, apparently after sitting for 2 years it needed new fluids, a new battery, a good chain cleaning, and a good carb cleaning.

I quickly found out I was in damn near over my head. Right off the bat I noticed one of the carbs was irreparably broken, so I ordered a replacement set. Changed out all the fluids, got a new battery, put in some new gas, cleaned out the new carbs, and eventually got it running....somewhat. Rode it 100 miles, and all the oil pulled a disappearing trick. The engine apparently didn't like that. So some new fluids, a replacement pair of carbs, a new choke cable, a new battery, and a replacement engine, I got the bike running again. But it wasn't running well, so I rejetted the carbs and got it running great.

Put another 400 miles on it and laid it down. Between buying it in June and now, it was down for almost 4 months, running briefly (I enjoyed that time), and now its down again. The good thing about having a spare engine is I already have the more expensive replacement parts. Its down for the season, which will give me plenty of time to repair it and adjust the valves. Come next riding season, it'll be running great.

Its was CHEAP and I think its a bit safer than my previous bikes (read a lot slower). Someone at work offered it to me for $150 USD so I snatched it up, I commuted with it for a few weeks but it needs help, I now have it apart going through the carbs and got a new tank for it and should have it back on the road soon.

It was exactly what I was looking for when I was 20 years old and in college.  I really wanted a naked bike that looked sporty and wasn't too big since it was my first bike (I took my MC license test on my dad's CB360).  I probably paid a little too much for it (just below KBB value), but I really liked it.  Had to replace the choke cable right off the bat.  No other mechanical issues until I started messing with things.  I haven't had it on the road in about 4 years, but I plan on getting it running again over the winter and putting some time on it next year.  That assumes the engine's not locked up or something from sitting for so long.

I bought my GS after I sold a Hyosung GV250. There was nothing wrong with it, apart from the dealer being a scumbag, the EFI failing 3 times only having it 8 months, it being too small for me, too underpowered and an all round nuiscence.

I had a choice of 2 within a days travel to and fro to collect. One was an 06, bright yellow, looked awesome $5200. Had 18000 ks on it, but was on it's second engine, first one blew up due to a "manufacturing defect". (Yeah, the defect was that the bike wasn't supposed to be ridden at 220km/h down the highway, or ridden by a 17 year old piss ant)

Other was the bike I know and love today by the name of Spewey (A name designed by my younger brother and his friends. None of them are fans of Suzuki's). '05, black/silver and red, 31000 ks on it, came with a tank bag, helmet, 2 jackets, riding pants, Ventura Rack, and a full tank of fuel. $4600. The ride back home was the most fun I've ever had on a bike, until the stator shaZam! the bed and had to be replaced.

Spewey currently sits in my brothers shed, eagerly awaiting either new fairings or a naked conversion.

It was my first bike, it looked amazing, it was the right price and mileage was low. BAM! I have never regretted the decision.

My first one, I got as a roller and turned into a never ending project.  My second I got because of my appreciation for the first and this forum, and because it was cheap.  Definitely the best bike I've had (out of sabre, f2, f3, 250, or scooter).  Great commuter, great to ride, and easy to work on.

I previously had a suzuki dr125s but i couldnt do my full test on that here in ireland so i sold that for €500. A mate at work said he saw an advert for a '96 gs500e with 18500 miles on it.
I went to see it and liked it straight away, the guy wanted €950 but we settled on €825.
That was 4000 miles ago , test passed first time, work done ---- changed fork oil seals, changed fork oil from 10 weight oil to 15 ,made up nylon spacers for front forks, suspension bang on now,rebuilt front brake caliper, front master cylinder, new front brake pads, new mirrors, oxford heated grips, bar ends, carb overhaul and sync and new secondary fuel petcock.

I got the bike cheap and got a manual (and gstwin members) so i dont mind doing the work on it, the reward comes when you drive and it pulls like a train yet is managable to drive in town or on the road.

I fix machines for a living so i can take parts to work and sort them out and nobody is none the wiser.

Happy days.........

bought my first GS500 when I returned to riding on the suggestion of a friend who was a riding instructor.  haven't regretted it and even though I occasionally think about upgrading it, I realise it still ticks all the boxes for now so why go through the hassle of selling.  if I ever upgrade it, it will be to something more modern but semi naked like a GW250.  I only use the GS500 as a commuter and rare backup if the Bandit is not running for any reason.

I was looking for a bike for the bride..she saw the gs500 at a dealer and sad i would like one of those....found her a 2008 full faired last fall from a private sale with 1500km on it..mint condition.she got her m2 now and loves the bike....but here is the problem...i upgraded the suspension and now i love to ride it...its not an 1100 but it handles like it's on rails :woohoo:

My wife had liked motorcycles but never learned to ride. She took the Canada Safety Council course somewhere around 1995 and we got her a Suzuki GN125 for $400. She rode this for 2 years, then got a min condition 1984 Honda VF500C Magna. Owned this until around 2001 when I hit a deer riding it back from grandparents farm. Sat in garage for a year or two while I searched affordable used parts to fix it, but by then we were too busy with young kids to ride together so it sat for another 2 yrs and then we sold it.

I don't really have an answer, it just kinda happened (thanks to my dad!) so i went with it, though i am emotionally attatched to it now, i would buy another one, not for me but maybe for a partner  :icon_lol: but i also plan on getting a sport bike soon, though this bike is my baby and isnt going anywhere anytime soon.

Around 2008 she wanted to get a bike again so we found a 2007 Honda CBR125 which she rode that season. In the fall we found a 2007 Suzuki GS500F with less than 900km for an attractive price and bought that.

I lowered the suspension front and rear and had the seat foam cut down so she could get her feet on the ground. In spite of having non-standard ride height and geometry, it's still a very capable sportbike (or sporty bike LOL), and it's like an Acura compared to the JohnDeere tractor tech level of the GS.

Overall, I think I appreciated the GS500 more than she did, and I would certainly buy another one if the price was right. It's vanilla ice cream in a 49-flavors world, but I liked that it got most of the important things right, and the areas that needed improvement were straightforward and inexpensive to change. It could never be the only bike I owned ~ there's just way too many alternatives that are significantly better in the same price range. But I would love to have one for those days I felt like riding something elemental, yet modern enough to ride without worry of reaching your destination.

Fresh off learning how to ride, and eager to learn, I bought my 1993 GS500 for $1000 in the Fall of 2011.  I didn't want something that would be too hard to handle, so I was looking for something in the 500-600cc range with a standard riding position.  I knew the bike would be a bit of a project when I saw it, but it only had 6,200 miles.  I took a bit of a gamble and bought it.  After dealing with a rusty tank with an old coating flaking off inside, replacing the battery, fork seals twice (and eventually a fork tube), just about every replaceable component from the carburetors, chain, paint, tires, and the list goes on, I finally had a presentable and perfectly running motorcycle.  I know I have close to $2500 total in the bike at this point (funny how stuff adds up).  I did all of the work myself and with help from a friend.  I've gained such a huge wealth of information, that I really feel like this was the perfect bike for me to start with.  I learned about how to ride safely, and I learned how to work on bikes successfully.  I really couldn't ask for much more from my GS.

Because it was $150 and kinda started and ran when I got it. Figured what the hell I'll mess about with it. Got from an impound and fell in love with it. I've ridden many sportbikes and the GS has a personality that says "lets have a good time" while others say "lets show off until you are a little smear on the road". The GS says "I'm broke, you'll need at most two hours and $50" while others say "I'm broke, I hope you weekend is clear and Friday is payday ". While I love bombing a mountain on a bike that has "R" somewhere in the name and I find some enjoyment in figuring out complicated mechanical problems, the GS allows for a predictable simple experience rarely found in any machine.

My first road bike was a GS450 so I know they are simple and indestructible. I figured it would be the same just with slightly newer looks and suspension. I wanted something faster than my 250 but cheaper to run than the VFR. Being naked also makes it cheaper and easier to fix if you crash it, as I have unfortunately discovered.