All right, can someone hook me up with the skinny on the new gs500f. This is going to be my first bike, so I'm doing alot of research on the market. I just went to the suzuki dealer, and I liked what I saw. What I want to know is how is it to ride. The only thing I've heard about the bike is that its a blast for the first couple months, but then it leaves you wishing for more power. I'm not looking for a race bike, but at the same time I don't want to look back in 4 months and say "I should have bought a bigger bike". Someone help me before I buy a cruiser.
I recently started riding myself. I got my motorcycle license about a month ago and I love my gs500.
Now to your questions. I was told the same thing when I started to look for bikes: "the gs is too small, you'll be selling it in less than a year." and that might very well be true. The gs certainly isn't the fastest, most powerful bike out there. That doesn't mean that it isn't a wonderful bike that is very fun to ride. A question that someone asked me once was "Is it more fun to ride a fast bike slow or a slower bike fast?" I'm not saying that the gs is a slow bike. You can still smoke many of the cages out there (except the occasional asian girl driving a Volvo ;) ). A friend of mine bought a sv650 recently. I took it for a ride, and it was a bit too powerful for me. Its not like I felt out of control, or that I wasn't able to handle the bike, I am just more comfortable on my gs for now.
Many of these thoughts are addressed in this editorial (http://www.beginnerbikes.com/editorials/formequalsfunction.htm) and I'm sure that it is written better that anything I'm going to come up with. :lol:
I took an MSF training course and I cannot recommend it (or something like it, like Harley's class) enough. You don't have to have any experience to take it. They taught me a lot of things that I would not have otherwise learned like how to ride over obstacles (branches etc. in the road) and even if you don't learn anything from it; you'll get your first several hours on someone else's bike (so if you drop it, it isn't yours! I saw a couple people do it) ITS WORTH A LOT MORE THAN YOU PAY FOR IT (unless your @$$ is worth less than $125 (what the class costs in MN))
Are you sure that you want to buy new for your first bike? A used bike is cheaper and if you drop your bike, it isn't as big of a deal becuase the older gs500s don't have the plastic ferrings to replace.
Last but certainly not least: GET SAFETY GEAR!!!!! I don't think I can say it any better than this post (http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9507) or this article (http://zrxoa.org/03Z1Rthreads/hitandrun.htm) so I'm not going to try. Please keep yourself safe, no matter what bike you buy. Statistically; you are very likely to drop your bike. Granted, it will probably be at <30mph and IF you are wearing safety equipment; you are likely to be OK. The question is what are you worth? Are you worth the cost of gear+training? What do the people close to you think?
I hope that this has been of some help to you. I also hope that you get a GS. It's a wonderful bike and I don't think you will regret buying one if you do (no matter what the salesperson tells you). Good luck, and I hope to see you back here once you have bought your GS500F!! :cheers:
Don't sweat it boxer...you'll love the GS500F. It's a great beginner bike and plus, why would anyone want a real fast bike if most of the time you ride in town...or at least that's how I see it. I've had my BLUE (best color :) ) GS500F for about a month now and it's awesome! Since I'm a beginner ( I took the MSF course last Oct) I've had some difficulties, just like any newbie, but I'm getting the hang of it, learning a lot from my little experiences when I ride and just enjoying my bike. Good luck on your search....from a personal perspective the GS is a great bike! :thumb:
Boxer04, you will like it. And if you have never riden before, the first time you get up the confidence to crank open the throttle and run it up through the rpms you will wonder why people call it "slow".
Those guys that say they need more power after 3 months remind me of little kids on a ski slope. When I was is college I learned to ski, and there were always these little kids flying past me as I wobbled down the hill. It was kind of embarassing really. But then I thought, yes they have thier little skis, and they go fast. But, not one of them could turn, sure I could point straight down the hill and go like he11 too. But thats not SKIING, I wanted to actually learn to turn and stop.
So, get a GS and invest in your skills before you invest in a "bigger" bike.
Ride on...
:cheers:
I could give my "I've had my little 250 for 14 years..." and the "Been riding 18, and like the GS, that's why I bought another..." speeches, but I don't want to bore everybody.
Get something bigger. I listened to everybody and got the 500F but now I regret it. 4 months later I am already looking to sell it. If you are going to have the money to sell it for a loss, then buy another bike in a year, then by all means go for it. I wish I would have gotten atleast a 600 :(
After a LOT of reading on this and other forums (and a quick check of the ole bank balance), I decided that a used bike was definitely the way to go as a beginner. Less expensive (price and insurance), less pressure, etc. Plus, since you've never ridden before, you don't really know what kind of bike will suit your riding style, body, tetc. untill you get some time on the saddle.
Why spend so much money on a new bike that will depriciate as soon as you sign the paperwork? You can get a used GS, ride it for a year, and sell it for essentiallly what you paid for it. By the time you want a new bike, you'll know what you reallywant. Plus, the insurance on a new (and faired) bike will really kick you in the nuts compared to an older, naked GS.
I really loved the Bandit I sat on, but I'm 100% satisfied with the '92 GS and only plunked down $1500 for the bike, taxes, title, gear, manual, insurance, blah, blah, blah. $1500 won't even get you the plastic and tank on a new GS.
just my newbie 2 cents.
One thing to say for a cruiser especially for those that are new to biking... they are like 10 times harder to wad than a sport bike. However, turning and braking the sport bikes will run circles around cruisers. I have done so many dumb things onmy cruisers, and not even crashed or even come close to crashing... This one time on a wet on-ramp with a dry line developing... I just take off from a light, get on the 2 inch wide dry strip on the ramp and whack the throttle open, while still leaned left... yea I am a GP racer on my vulcan ... at that same time my left foot that's covered in red North carolina mud at that stop sign... and I haven't noticed it... slips off the foot peg and whacks the road ... hard... The bike goes off course into wet and I nearly high side... I slid a bit, grip a bit, hit the paint strip at the edge and slide more and grip and nearly flip.... and I didn't even slow down too much.... Virago 535, or a vulcan 500, or a GS450 or a whole slew of others will stand you in good safe biking heaven... if you like cruisers. Before you buy though ask me... I have owned a bunch... and want to own the others.
Cool.
Srinath.
A used bike for first bike is briliant. I fact it shows you have really good sence. Hum yet you want to ride a bike, and that might not be sensable.
If you get the 04 you can take the plastic off, and put it back on when you go to sell it. Hide all the beginer goofs. :roll: