I'm about to go look at a 1991 GS500E on Saturday, it's the only thing in my price range and it has 12k miles and looks well kept. I'm paying $1200 for it and it's coming with some other stuff (jackets, gloves, trickle charger, etc).
I've looked up everything I can about inspecting used motorcycles, but I figured it would be best to come here for advice and for y'all to let me know if this was a good deal and things to look for.
(https://images.craigslist.org/00b0b_llthWHVVXo1_600x450.jpg)
(https://images.craigslist.org/00404_dTObtyYngCI_600x450.jpg)
What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.
Hi Koronakesh, welcome to the forum!
I paid $1000 for my GS when I bought it and (from what I can see in the pictures) it was in roughly the same shape. If you do a search or two on here, you'll find many threads talking about what all to look for when purchasing a used GS... but off the top of my head it's good to check the condition of the chain, tires, evidence of oil leaks on the engine, leaky fork seals especially on these bikes), brakes, and of course scratches and rash, etc.
I'm curious about this one, I see one side of the tank has the original decals but the other side doesn't... plain tail plastics... mirrors don't match... aftermarket signals in the front... I'd try to maybe talk down a little bit lower :dunno_black: Oh but hang on, I just remembered about you getting extra goodies with the bike...!!
Have you talked to the current owner and asked anything about it yet?
Good luck and keep us posted :cheers:
Yeah, he let me know that it has had an oil change in the last 100 miles and that there is plenty of tread left on the tires. I read that the rust I can see on the exhaust is more than likely purely cosmetic and nothing to worry about, but I wasn't sure about the rust on the front wheel (is that the rotor?).
It has been dropped by a previous owner, as you can tell by the dent on the gas tank on the left hand side of the bike. I also noticed that the decals were different than original, just looking at pictures of the stock bike on Google. Apparently a mirror was also broken off. It also comes with an extra set of brake pads (and helmets, but I know used helmets shouldn't contribute to value), but he said the brakes were good as is anyways. The owner advised me that I would probably need to grease the chain soon and might want a new battery in the future.
Yeah the rust on the exhaust shouldn't be anything to worry about unless it's SO bad that there's a hole in the pipe. My exhaust looked very similar and I just scrapped the whole system and bought all stainless. There are other (much less expensive) ways to make it look better though!!
I'm squinting when looking at the front wheel to find some rust... if you're seeing some on the rotor, that certainly is possible. My bike had rusty rotor buttons that looked super gross... but didn't make the brakes feel strange at all amazingly enough.
He gonna let you test-ride it?
I have to admit, I'm in love with that color :icon_mrgreen:
With cash in hand, yeah I'm gonna get to test ride it.
It's actually my least favorite color from what I've seen was available with the '91 but at this point I'm happy with just about any bike. I'm concerned about the decals you're talking about because that would make me think that it has been laid down on the side opposite of the gas tank dent. I read that the GS500 is kinda built to be dropped, but if it has been repainted or has new plastics then it might be covering any potential damage. I'll have to check the footpegs I guess and see if they're been scraped.
I'm mostly concerned about expensive repairs - he claims it runs great right now. If it's replaceable stuff that's fine, I have to take it in for an inspection before I can transfer the title over to my name anyways, but seeing as I've never owned a motorcycle and can't repair it myself I'm pretty nervous.
Is working on a bike something you'd be interested in learning? I've been hangin' around this forum for a few years now and I've seen a fair amount of people start turning wrenches because the GS is so easy to work on... also because this forum has so much help and information!
I'd love to learn how to do things like routine maintenance, but I don't want to buy something that's going to turn into a money pit and a project which is why I'm concerned. I mean, the bike is REALLY old, but on the other hand the owner seems like a nice guy who takes care of it and it only has 12k miles. I'm just very skeptical.
Also, what should I ask the mechanic to look at or do when I have the bike inspected, if I do buy it? I want to make sure things like consumables are okay, if not I'll replace them right there.
First off, do you already know how to ride a motorcycle? If not, no worries. The GS500 is a great one to start with.
But if you are familiar with how a bike is supposed to run and handle, you can tell a lot just by hopping on.
Here are some big ticket items off the top of my head:
- it's unlikely that any rubber part on the bike would last 26 years. Check things like fork seals, all the gas/brake/vacuum lines, all the bits that go to the carbs
- engine oil is a fair indicator of how neglected the bike has been. If it's thick as mud or has shiny metal flakes in it, beware.
- get a flash light and look inside the gas tank for rust. is the gas clear?
- ride the bike around to get some idea if it powers up and runs smoothly. There are about a thousand posts here about broken or badly tuned carburetors. This can be a total time and money sink.
- on the front steering tube, look for the "steering stops". They are the little metal tabs that limit how far you can turn the handlebar. If the bike has had a hard crash, those stops may be tweaked. If so, walk away
Good luck!
Quote from: Endopotential on March 02, 2017, 09:59:42 PM
- on the front steering tube, look for the "steering stops". They are the little metal tabs that limit how far you can turn the handlebar. If the bike has had a hard crash, those stops may be tweaked. If so, walk away
Good luck!
SOME of us have taken to cutting the steering stops when we upgraded to taller handlebars, not cutting off all the way, just "thinning out" the GS has horrible steering lock tbh.
the bike has been down on its right side, you can tell by the rashed up engine plate. [easy enough to replace those btw, only cosmetic]
try to haggle the bike for 1,000. too much cosmetics and its a 26 year old motorcycle, that's borderline scooter status. and is in no shape or form, collectible.
Look on the sidewall of the tires for a born on date. Usually it's a 2 digit week followed by a 2 digit year. So "3606" would mean September 2006.
A tire that is 5 years old, even with good tread and mold flashings, should be treated as a tire that needs replacing.
When inspecting the chain also inspect the sprocket. If the teeth are hooked or pointed it's a bad sign. Typically a chain and sprocket should be changed together. If the chain looks old but the sprocket looks OK you can probably do just the chain, but even if the chain looks new and the sprocket looks old I'd expect to change both right away.
The rust on the front brake rotor I wouldn't worry about. It's bare metal and is constantly being ground away through use, so it IS going to develop surface rust just from sitting. It will naturally remove itself by just using the brakes. If you're worried about it you could always lightly score the rotor with some sandpaper, but you'll have to bed the pads again afterward.
Borderline scooter status? Wow, yikes. I obviously expect significant power loss due to the age, but scooter?
My only alternative is an older used Ninja 250 or a Buell Blast(no thanks). It's still going to have comparable power to a newer Ninja right...?
Quote from: Koronakesh on March 02, 2017, 10:49:24 PM
Borderline scooter status? Wow, yikes. I obviously expect significant power loss due to the age, but scooter?
My only alternative is an older used Ninja 250 or a Buell Blast(no thanks). It's still going to have comparable power to a newer Ninja right...?
I suppose it has comparable power... the GS500 can do highway speeds... but don't expect it to easily get around a 16wheeler.. its happy speed is around 55mph. I've had mine maxed out at 113mph indicated. only took like 2 miles in a half to get there... lol
Cruising at 80mph, while its not gonna get there SUPER fast, it can hang there for hours without issue.
The GS500 takes a certain personal personality to ride them. I just want you to know what you're getting into. point blanky, a new honda civic has more get-up an go then our beloved GS's.
It's going to be an around town bike, no highway. There's a wreck weekly and huge semis constantly, I'll end up getting myself killed if I try it. 55 is about the fastest I plan on taking it.
And I really hope it has better acceleration than a new Civic..
It's an exaggeration (mostly). Point being it's not a GSXR. J_Walker is a known detractor to the otherwise typical GS fanboy, so he doesn't pull any punches in saying the GS has shortcomings, which it does.
Still, I would be hard pressed to call it a borderline scooter. It's a 500cc, for crying out loud. 250cc would still be a step up, only like a Honda Grom or one of those European 175cc motorcycles are "borderline scooters" IMHO.
The new Yamaha R3 makes almost the same power the GS500 can make, but it's still short a few numbers, and it represents the most powerful machine currently in the 300cc class. The KTM RC390 seems to be on par for the GS, but the RC390 is sort of an odd-ball in that it's an almost 400cc single cylinder and nothing else on the market is really comparable. They toss it in with the R3 and Ninja 300 but it really does outclass those machines...
An older Ninja 250 would definitely be much weaker than the GS, and I'd recommend the GS over any 250 if highway/interstate miles are a concern.
Had mine to about an indicated 100mph before running out of road, but you're sitting there watching the needle take it's time from the 80s on up. Anything short of an airplane runway and you aren't getting anywhere near that kind of speed. Mine were geared up and were comfortable around 65-70 on the highway, but if you want more than that the performance is going to 100% depend on which direction the wind is blowing and how much the rider weighs, lol.
Around town the GS will be a solid little bike.
Re: The Buell Blast. User "qcbaker" has one, and I think he likes it. I don't know a ton about them, but I have heard good in terms of the reliability. They are under-powered, especially compared to the GS's 500 twin, and Eric Buell himself is known to despise them, but other then the aesthetics being a little love/hate I don't think it's a bad bike in the least.
I do ride a Buell, but I'm not particularly biased about the Blast. Most Buells are interesting machines that combine 'Murican engines with European design influences, the Blast just happened to be a ground up "beginner" motorcycle that Buell was sort of forced to make because HD didn't want to make a small engine cruiser. Look at them now, Street 500/750...
Didn't read the whole tread, no time right now, will come back later.
One thing to note:
If you show up cash in hand, and leave it there while you test ride, TAKE A FRIEND WITH YOU.
You know, so someone looks after your money while you're riding, so you don't end up with no money and a stolen bike at the end of the day. It's a known trick, not saying your guy is dishonest, but you have to be careful.
Man, that would be a fantastic starter bike. Tell him you want to start it from cold. Make sure the engine is cold before you try to start it. If it starts and runs, buy it. Offer $800. Let him talk you up to a grand.
RE: The Blast: I spent the day on a Blast once. it affected me so profoundly I wrote a poem about it. I'll share it with you to help you with your buying decision.
"The Blast" by Jim Moore
"The Blast,
Sucks ass."
Quote from: Jim Moore on March 03, 2017, 04:42:56 AM
"The Blast" by Jim Moore
"The Blast,
Sucks ass."
HAHA!
The one MC mag called it "B Last" ... which is funny. It's a dopey name for a bike that Buell obviously had no real interest in selling.
Back on topic, a '91 bike is not "REALLY OLD" like the OP said... but it is aging and it's going to need some rather routine but maybe daunting regular maintenance and repairs that are not due to intentional damage. Rubber parts all age, and there are about a dozen o-rings that probably need immediate attention if they have not just recently been replaced along with a good solid carb cleaning. And these carbs don't like today's fuels so they are going to take extra attention all the time. For that reason alone, if you don't like to tinker and if you don't appreciate the challenge that is carburetors (and believe me, it's a special kind of challenge), then you are much MUCH better off finding a fuel-injected bike that's less than 10 years old. If you don't want to learn the time-tested gearhead art of carburetor maintenance, run away from the GS and instead save another $1K and find yourself a fuel injected SV650 or an ER-6N that's been laid down a time or two. Or a freakin' GROM. A GROM will at least start up every day without question and get you around town just fine but it won't be any good at all for 2-up and don't try to take it on the highway, but seriously you have to be ready for the carbs if you are going to get an old twin. Without that tinkering spirit, the carbs will own you and you will hate life.
As for what to check when test-riding, all the guys here told you the right stuff, and I did all that stuff and still wound up having to get the top end rebuilt on mine because the true problem didn't show up until I rode it for >20 minutes. You're not likely to take a half-hour test ride, and if you did and had the problem I had, then you'd get stranded anyway.
Point of all of this is: no matter what, you should EXPECT to have to tear down the carbs and replace o-rings, clean thoroughly, and maybe replace the jets. Parts are not expensive at all (whole job is like $20) and it's not hard or even time consuming but it is a job that you have a 95% probability of having to do. While you are in there replace the intake boot o-rings (again, cheap and easy to do). You also will likely have to at the very least check the valve clearances and be prepared to fix that problem if you find one. At the mileage and age, I can almost guarantee you these things will need to be done. It will feel like a money pit if you try and hire a shop to fix one little fiddly thing at a time, but it really is cheap and easy to do yourself if you approach it from a standpoint of refurbishing rather than repair... that is, don't worry about what specific thing is wrong, just assume the carbs need cleaning and o-rings and the valves need adjusting and the fork oil needs changing etc. Your life will be happier if you just deal with it that way. $100 in parts fixes everything that commonly goes wrong as long as you do the repairs/renewals yourself. Barring any catastrophic problems, you'll be fine.
And don't believe these detractors who talk about how underpowered or whatever the GS500 is. Whoever said a Honda Civic can outrun it is flat wrong. My GS will easily go 0-60 in under 5 seconds if I have the nerve to try it and it is perfectly responsive at 70-75 mph. It's not the power that's the problem when you get going 70mph, it's the wind. The GS is lightweight enough that it is quite floaty on the highway at 70+ but you're already into the meat of the torque curve there and it'll make passes all day long. If you are getting a motorcycle to go 100mph then be sure and fill out your organ donor card. By the way my GS smokes my dad's cruiser, every car that has a 5-digit or smaller price tag, and every other Harley on the road. You don't hear Harley guys saying their bikes are just above scooters, do you? Well don't listen to the guys on here who rag on the GS500 either. But it will outrun an R3 or a KTM 390 or a Ninja 300 and it'll smoke a Ninja 250 at least until you throw in a bunch of corners and it'll absolutely drop a TU250X or Rebel 250 or even most 750-class cruisers like they were standing still. Truthfully unless you are actually racing, a GS500 is more than adequate for legal speeds on roadways. In a thousand miles of riding mine I haven't found a single situation where I thought I needed more power. Not one.
Thanks for all the information! On the bring someone topic, I'm taking two Air Force buddies and my concealed carry gun so we'll be okay. My friend has a Harley so I'm hoping I'll be able to get him on the bike too and let me know what he thinks.
Really not looking to take off with the bike or race or anything like that, so I'm glad to hear the reassurance.
I'll have to ask him about the right side lay down and what consumables like the o-rings have been recently replaced. I'm really hoping to take it into the shop and have them replace anything like that at one time, I won't mind dumping $200-300 to make sure it's up to date on maintenance it needs - I'm planning on keeping it at least 3 years.
Quote from: mr72 on March 03, 2017, 06:44:47 AM
In a thousand miles of riding mine I haven't found a single situation where I thought I needed more power. Not one.
I wouldn't quite go this far, but an experienced rider on a GS can easily keep up with more powerful bikes though the twisties. I have found myself in situations where more get up and go wouldn't hurt, but I compensate by keeping it at higher RPM's and focusing on my technique. Friends on bigger bikes can leave you in the dust on straightaways, but going fast in a straight line isn't much fun to me anyway.
Quote from: rscottlow on March 03, 2017, 07:55:27 AM
I wouldn't quite go this far, but an experienced rider on a GS can easily keep up with more powerful bikes though the twisties.
What is this use case, though? I mean, really. If you are using your motorcycle to "keep up with more powerful bikes through the twisties", why do you have to keep up with others? And seriously, what world are you in where you have to accelerate to 60mph in under 4.5 seconds or run a 1/4 mile in under 13.5 seconds? Those are wickedly quick numbers by any measure unless you are actually racing. Are your riding buddies really whipping from a 20mph corner exit up to 100mph in the half mile before the next corner when they have to lay on the brakes? If so, they have a death wish.
You're right, you might have to keep the revs up to achieve those numbers. But I am here to tell you that if you are actually using all of the acceleration capability of a GS500 on public roads, you are nuts. Where the lower power makes a difference is in whether you can accelerate without downshifting at highway speeds.. and seriously a GS500 will beat almost any car on the road acceleration-wise.
Maybe it's that I have been a long-time sports car guy and I'm not in motorcycling for the thrill of "try to hang on" acceleration or trying to drag a knee around corners. A GSX-R, the "R" is for "Racing". If you're not racing, a GS500 is more than adequate for pretty much everything you will use a motorcycle for. On the street, within 10% margin of legal speeds.
Quote from: Watcher on March 03, 2017, 12:41:20 AM
Re: The Buell Blast. User "qcbaker" has one, and I think he likes it. I don't know a ton about them, but I have heard good in terms of the reliability. They are under-powered, especially compared to the GS's 500 twin, and Eric Buell himself is known to despise them, but other then the aesthetics being a little love/hate I don't think it's a bad bike in the least.
I do ride a Buell, but I'm not particularly biased about the Blast. Most Buells are interesting machines that combine 'Murican engines with European design influences, the Blast just happened to be a ground up "beginner" motorcycle that Buell was sort of forced to make because HD didn't want to make a small engine cruiser. Look at them now, Street 500/750...
Yeah, I bought the Blast for my girlfriend since it's so beginner friendly and has a very low seat height. But since she hasn't gotten her license yet, I've been periodically taking it out on rides just to keep it from sitting. It is definitely a bit under-powered. The blast is a 500cc bike, but it feels much more like a 250, honestly. It'll do highway speeds and stuff, but its a bit sketchy since the bike is so small and light. But, the Blast handles very well and power delivery is nicely predictable (1st-2nd shift can be a little jolty if you've hit the rev limiter in first then shift though, since all the torque is down low in the rev range). Being a single cylinder, it can be a bit vibratey at speed, but it isn't too bad. After it's warmed up, at idle it can actually inch backwards gradually from all the shaking lol. It's also very simple to work on, which is a plus for me. All in all, its a perfectly competent beginner standard motorcycle. Styling is obviously personal preference. I dont feel strongly about it, but my girlfriend seems to like it.
Can't really comment on the reliability yet, as I've only had it a few months. But, I see no reason to expect it to be a problem.
Quote from: Jim Moore on March 03, 2017, 04:42:56 AM
RE: The Blast: I spent the day on a Blast once. it affected me so profoundly I wrote a poem about it. I'll share it with you to help you with your buying decision.
"The Blast" by Jim Moore
"The Blast,
Sucks ass."
I will say I much prefer my GS, but I wouldn't say the Blast sucked lol.
OP:
The GS is a great bike. Easy enough to ride to be beginner friendly, powerful enough to hold your attention for a while. As long as the bike is in solid mechanical condition, I think its the best choice out of the 3 bikes you mentioned.
RE: the GS's performance
The GS is much more powerful than a Ninja 250, and will easily outrun a non Si or Type-R Civic. Civic Si might give you a run for your money in the acceleration department, and a Type-R is probably going to smoke you especially on straightaways, but any of the econobox civics will get left in your dust. To get it to perform that way though, you'll have to ride it like you mean it. J_Walker, next time you ride , rev it to 9K+ before shifting, keep it near peak torque and it may surprise you.
But, like Watcher said, it isn't a GSX-R. Don't expect power wheelies or speeds greater than like 95mph or anything like that. But to mr72's point, people who ride their bikes on public roads as if they're on a track are crazy anyway.
mr72 mentioned that aside from "catastrophic" problems, it'll probably be just fine.
Is there anything like that I can feasibly check for? I'll check the gas tank for rust, preferably make sure the oil is good (not sludgy, no metallic bits). I'm guessing if it rides and shifts smoothly then the carb is fine?
And I hear a lot of emphasis on the chain, is that something that's really expensive?
Quote from: Koronakesh on March 03, 2017, 10:09:13 AM
I'm guessing if it rides and shifts smoothly then the carb is fine?
There are two carbs.
Regardless of how it rides and runs, if you do not have ironclad reliable evidence that the carbs have been serviced in the last year (cleaned thoroughly, adjusted idle mixture and float height, replace o-rings etc.) then they will require that service sooner rather than later.
I wound up giving up and completely replacing my carbs. The bike ran fine when I got it but would not idle correctly. Once I got replacement carbs all sorted the bike ran like a scalded cat for about 15-20 minutes then would not run once it was warmed up. Turns out it had bent valves due to heavy carbon build-up that only manifested once the engine was at temperature. $800 and a top end rebuild later, it runs like a dream. That's the type of catastrophic thing I was talking about. It can happen, and it's pretty much impossible to detect on a pre-purchase inspection.
Quote from: mr72 on March 03, 2017, 10:52:04 AM
Quote from: Koronakesh on March 03, 2017, 10:09:13 AM
I'm guessing if it rides and shifts smoothly then the carb is fine?
There are two carbs.
Regardless of how it rides and runs, if you do not have ironclad reliable evidence that the carbs have been serviced in the last year (cleaned thoroughly, adjusted idle mixture and float height, replace o-rings etc.) then they will require that service sooner rather than later.
How much is that going to cost? Sounds like unless the owner has done it, I might as well have it done with the state inspection.
Quote from: Koronakesh on March 03, 2017, 10:57:46 AM
How much is that going to cost? Sounds like unless the owner has done it, I might as well have it done with the state inspection.
You DIY it's a one-hour job and if you don't have to replace the float needles it's $10 worth of parts (o-rings). Literally the hardest part of the whole job is figuring out how to get the air box back on.
I would imagine a shop would do it for $100. Dunno tho. I consider it maintenance so you might as well learn to do it yourself otherwise you're going to pay a fortune keeping the bike going.
you know the whole "can be fun in the twistiest" argument bugs me, just for the sheer fact I live in a state that is like 90% straight roads and highways. that being said. the GS is a fantastic in town motorcycle. and mine is a freakin mule. I just want to be realistic about things is all. another thing the GS doesn't like is really bad city traffic, its due to it being air cooled and all. if you're in really bad traffic and wont be moving much, its best to pull off and wait somewhere instead of sitting in it.
that being said, ill never sell my GS, because I wont get anywhere near what I put into it. so its moot at this point. I'll forever have my GS until someone comes along who I can donate it too. ;)
Asked some questions about the things y'all brought up, here's the response:
QuoteYes I'm fairly sure I mentioned that it had been laid down. Sorry if I hadn't. It has a dent on the left of the tank with some scraping and the decals are missing, but I'm not sure what happened to those. That was all from the previous owner. Apparently he let a buddy rise it around who didn't know what he was doing. He had it professionally checked out though. All the damage is only cosmetic. I took it into a shop to get everything checked out and have the carbs cleaned and jetted when I first bought it back in June of 2014. I've cleaned the carbs myself since, but I haven't really ridden it much in the last 2 years so it could pry use some realignment. I've changed the oil within the last 100 miles so that should be good for a while still. I also put a new battery in it for you this week because the old one kept dying on me.
You may have noticed that the mirrors don't match. Some punk ripped one off while it was parked on campus and left me a nasty note for parking in a parking garage. I didn't have the time or tools to replace it to match the other one because he broke the entire housing for the mirror too, so I have a little clamped on mirror for right now. I have the other clamp mirror, but I liked the oem mirrors enough to leave just the one on. Like I said, I'll give you everything I have so you can decide what you want to do with it.
Sounds pretty good to me. Thoughts?
You like it, I'd go for it. Price is in the ballpark.
Apparently it also has a Vance & Hines exhaust, don't know if that's good or bad. Guess I'll just have to hear it and decide for myself.
Not sure what he means by "could use some realignment" when referring to the carbs... Is he saying it runs rough or something? Other than that, it sounds fine to me. I would go take a look and test ride it if it were me. :dunno_black:
As for the exhaust, he said he had it rejetted when he bought it, so its probably fine, may just be a bit louder than stock.
Quote from: qcbaker on March 03, 2017, 01:17:23 PM
As for the exhaust, ... may just be a bit louder than stock.
Yeah and if it's a full exhaust (header incl.) then it's probably a bit less rusted than stock :)
Quote from: mr72 on March 03, 2017, 08:41:34 AM
Quote from: rscottlow on March 03, 2017, 07:55:27 AM
I wouldn't quite go this far, but an experienced rider on a GS can easily keep up with more powerful bikes though the twisties.
What is this use case, though? I mean, really. If you are using your motorcycle to "keep up with more powerful bikes through the twisties", why do you have to keep up with others? And seriously, what world are you in where you have to accelerate to 60mph in under 4.5 seconds or run a 1/4 mile in under 13.5 seconds? Those are wickedly quick numbers by any measure unless you are actually racing. Are your riding buddies really whipping from a 20mph corner exit up to 100mph in the half mile before the next corner when they have to lay on the brakes? If so, they have a death wish.
You're right, you might have to keep the revs up to achieve those numbers. But I am here to tell you that if you are actually using all of the acceleration capability of a GS500 on public roads, you are nuts.
Quote from: qcbaker on March 03, 2017, 09:40:20 AM
... people who ride their bikes on public roads as if they're on a track are crazy anyway.
Well, I'm not going to wholly advocate using the street as a personal race-track, but we all can agree on one thing and that's that motorcycling is most fun when in the curves. So that being said, there's a time and a place. Going up the local mountain at posted speed is, honestly, pretty boring. You don't get a good lean at 25mph in the turns, they're much more fun at 40+.
That doesn't mean you need to be a hooligan around town and in traffic, or always take curves above posted speed, but if there's a curvy spot in the road coming up and nobody is around? Why not stretch your legs a little, so to speak.
I'll admit to doing this time to time, and personal experience trying to keep up with a rider on a CBR650R fared very favorably for me entrance to exit. Between the turns? Not so much.
But that's not to say the whole "GS500 can keep up in turns" is applying to street scenario specifically. Track days are a great way to learn and develop new skills, and I would definitely suit up and use a GS500 on the track. 90% of the other riders will be on 600cc sport bikes and the likes, and if you have really good cornering skills you can easily keep up, but you'll have no chance in the straights.
Quote from: mr72 on March 03, 2017, 06:44:47 AM
And don't believe these detractors who talk about how underpowered or whatever the GS500 is. Iit will outrun an R3 or a KTM 390 or a Ninja 300 and it'll smoke a Ninja 250.
In a thousand miles of riding mine I haven't found a single situation where I thought I needed more power. Not one.
Having tested a KTM RC390 in a parking lot and flailed it around a reasonable amount, I don't think this is quite true. It feels a lot more responsive, it at least makes power in lower RPMs so you don't have to really wring it's neck to get it to pull.
On paper the RC makes just a few numbers less power but is almost 80 pounds lighter than the GS500F, it actually has a higher power/weight ratio.
But I'll also echo your sentiment about the "need" of power. I've been on 500ccs for something like 5 years. First a GS, then a GS, then a CB, and even after getting my Buell I don't consider that I've "outgrown" the little 500s.
I have literally ridden to the edge of what those bikes can do. I've scraped pegs in turns, I've tucked down under the tiny windscreen of my CB with my elbow dropped so I could pin the throttle at redline in 6th gear, I've stayed on the ass of a Kawasaki Z1000 doing ** in some twisties, AND I was starting to experiment with getting the front end up on purpose. Yes, I was being a major hooligan, but I was also doing this in isolated areas where I felt in the least amount of danger.
Not trying to brag or advocate this behavior, my point is simply that I've been to the "wall" that the 500cc class has, and on every commuter street scenario there is NOT ONE SINGLE REASON why you would need more power.
Cross country cruising at 80mph for hours on end, yeah, you might want something more powerful so it's lower in the rev range and just overall more comfortable for that long ride. But 9.7/10 times the only reason why you would get a bigger bike is because you
want it.
As fun as it is to just roll on and lift the front end up or go 0-60 in under 3 seconds, it's just 100% unnecessary.
That being said, I like my big old 1203cc Buell and I'll be hard pressed to get rid of it, but it's not just the power I like about it. It's the feel, the look, the name, the SOUND, a whole culture that surrounds the machine, not just the numbers the engine can make on a dyno...
I would LOVE to get another GS or an R3 or something small to flip around town on, but at this point I feel that I would refuse to actually downsize and would insist on keeping the Buell.
** I honestly don't know what speed. Too busy turning to look down at the cluster. 50+mph in like a 30mph zone? What most would consider "uncomfortably fast" for the turns. Definite hang-off speeds.
Quote from: rscottlow on March 03, 2017, 07:55:27 AM
Quote from: mr72 on March 03, 2017, 06:44:47 AM
In a thousand miles of riding mine I haven't found a single situation where I thought I needed more power. Not one.
I wouldn't quite go this far, but an experienced rider on a GS can easily keep up with more powerful bikes though the twisties. I have found myself in situations where more get up and go wouldn't hurt, but I compensate by keeping it at higher RPM's and focusing on my technique. Friends on bigger bikes can leave you in the dust on straightaways, but going fast in a straight line isn't much fun to me anyway.
After 180k miles of GS500 riding over 15 years I find myself in agreement with these 2 posts, couldn't have said it better. As far as higher speed performance goes don't forget a GS redlines at over 100 mph in 4th gear. Take it to the mountain twisties and keep it between 7-9k rpm for a couple hours to really appreciate it. GS500 road test data from magazine tests for 89-04 GS's, not much covered after that:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests_zps2aug8m6m.jpg
I have a GSXR, but prefer my 02 GS500. Below 80 I can ride it much more precise, faster and it's more stable/safer, no need to do more on public roads. Only thing I miss from the GSXR is the suspension, not power.
Also be mindful of experiences with GS power as it can vary greatly based on personal weight, altitude, condition.
My 02 GS has no trouble getting from 60-90 in a hurry (I'm a lightweight 150lbs), I think this is the best year GS, the torque curve is a great improvement from my previous E models. Those felt underpowered sometimes with heavy wind, high altitude, and needed more revs to get going, but usually not a big deal.
Awful news, guy just let me know he went out to check on the bike to make sure it was ready to go and can't get it started anymore.
Kinda heartbroken honestly, been waiting on this GS for two weeks. Looks like it's going to be a while before I get to ride again.
Sorry to hear that Koronakesh. Sounds to me like the price just dropped from advertised ;-)
Quote from: Koronakesh on March 03, 2017, 09:16:15 PM
Awful news, guy just let me know he went out to check on the bike to make sure it was ready to go and can't get it started anymore.
Kinda heartbroken honestly, been waiting on this GS for two weeks. Looks like it's going to be a while before I get to ride again.
Offer him $700 as is. Rent a trailer from U-Haul for $12.
Willing to bet it's something stupid. Battery, petcock, old gas...
He actually offered to let it go for $700.
I'd be willing to do $600 and get a u-haul, if you guys think it's worth it. $1500 is all I can put into a bike right now. Should I make the offer?
Might have to just go look at it and make the call based on the condition of everything else.
As long as it turns over its probably a fuelling issue. A good carb clean, new fuel and vacuum lines, and possibly a new petcock and you SHOULD be good to go. $120 including petcock plus a day in the garage. $20 if no petcock.
Of course new spark plugs and oil and air filter is a given.
Alright. I let him know I'd be willing to make an offer after inspecting it.
Quote from: mr72 on March 03, 2017, 11:13:45 AM
it's a one-hour job and if you don't have to replace the float needles it's $10 worth of parts (o-rings)
Listen to this OP because it's great advice. After replacing the o-rings and adjusting my cam shims, I'm quite happy with mine.