I'm an older (62) rider looking for a new bike for mostly local trips but that would include some highway riding at speeds of 65-70.

I know the GS can attain those speeds - and likely considerably more - but I'm wondering if it feels like it's overworking at that point or can you cruise at that speed for an hour or two without the feeling the bike is about to detonate?

I'm 6' and about 180.

Also looking at the Kawasaki 500 which I know produces more HP but the looks of the GS appears to my Walter Mitty side.

Ed

I ride about 55 miles to work, running the bike about 75-80MPH and she does great. I'm a little smaller, 5'8"  140lbs, but no problems. There are some heftier people on this site and I would think they would also agree.

I'm 42, a couple inches shorter than you (Ed), and about the same weight.  I have ridden my GS500 for MANY MANY hours at those speeds.  (See the long-distance trip reports on my website ... link below.)

This was my first bike, and it took me a while to get used to the high revs as compared to a car.  But these days the feel and sound at that cruising speed is almost like a security blanket ... ah, but I can tell that I'm starting to wax sentimental here.

Hopefully you'll get to hear from our very own 70+ gsJack and some of your closer contemporaries like John Bates and Cal Price.

I'm only 39, but this morning weighed 202 pounds, and my bike cruises very easy at 60 to 75, even sounds like doing no effort at 5,000 RPM in 6th gear at 60MPH... and can go up to 90 with no problem and top at 105... the TCP fairing makes the bike more confortable above 75, still there is some wind on the helmet, but not on the chest as with the naked bike. So self weigh and engine power aren't really an issue.

More important might be the bottoming front fork, and lousy rear shock, but they are easily fixeable.

IMHO, the bike has no problem at those speeds. A windshield would make riding a lot easier on you. Have you sat on a GS, my biggest concern would be your height. My tall friends find it a little cramped (but they ride cruisers mostly).

Quote from: EdI'm an older (62) rider looking for a new bike for mostly local trips but that would include some highway riding at speeds of 65-70.

I know the GS can attain those speeds - and likely considerably more - but I'm wondering if it feels like it's overworking at that point or can you cruise at that speed for an hour or two without the feeling the bike is about to detonate?

I'm 6' and about 180.

Also looking at the Kawasaki 500 which I know produces more HP but the looks of the GS appears to my Walter Mitty side.

Ed

Im a young 72 year old GS500 rider, down to about 6' even now from my previous 6' 2" height, and run about 240#.   :lol:

I bought my 1st GS500 in Mar 99 at age 66 and now have about 100k miles on my two GS's.  I still ride 4-500 mile days at 75-80 mph indicated, probably 70-75 mph at best with the optimistic speedo of the GS's.  You can run it all day long at those speeds, sounds like it's just humming along to me.  

Quote from: gsJack

Quote from: Ed

I know the GS can attain those speeds - and likely considerably more - but I'm wondering if it feels like it's overworking at that point or can you cruise at that speed for an hour or two without the feeling the bike is about to detonate

Ed

Im a young 72 year old GS500 rider, down to about 6' even now from my previous 6' 2" height, and run about 240#.   :lol:
I bought my 1st GS500 in Mar 99 at age 66 and now have about 100k miles on my two GS's.  I still ride 4-500 mile days at 75-80 mph indicated, probably 70-75 mph at best with the optimistic speedo of the GS's.  You can run it all day long at those speeds, sounds like it's just humming along to me.  

There you have it Ed.  Nothing speaks better of the GS than experience.

I'm a newbie novice at this game and haven't been on a freeway yet.  But I believe these guys.

I've done Seattle to Portland and back in a day, 300 miles or so each way, on my GS.  Comfy cruising.  One caution - your legs will do the work of holding you up, so after those cruises, my thighs were a little sore...

(This may be a naive view but) I equate engine stress with the percentage to redline.  At 6'4", 225 lbs (or so), I rev about 6K at 70 mph.  That's a little over half-way to the 11K redline, so I figure the bike should be very happy at that speed for as long as I can take it.

As the above testimonials suggest, the bike has legs.  If you can deflect the wind away from you (or otherwise hide from it), I don't see any problem with prolonged highway cruising.

I would do (and have done) something about the stock saddle, as one's tush can get weary after a couple of hours.  Either add padding to you or to the saddle and you'll have a 60+ MPG cruiser capable of over 250 miles between fill-ups.

Life is good with a GS500 under ya.  

Quote from: RedShiftyou'll have a [...] cruiser capable of over 250 miles between fill-ups.

I see that you have an '01+ model, with ~.8 gallons more than my pre-'01 bike(s).  Must be nice....  

Quote from: Kerry

Quote from: RedShiftyou'll have a [...] cruiser capable of over 250 miles between fill-ups.

I see that you have an '01+ model, with ~.8 gallons more than my pre-'01 bike(s).  Must be nice....  

I have yet to use that .8 gallons but I'm glad it's there.  

Quote from: gsJackIm a young 72 year old GS500 rider

    Now he gave me sooo much enegy!

:kiss: ,
Rika

It seems we've had this conversation before.    Ed, see your earlier GS capable on Interstates? message thread.

You've been lurking here a long time.   It's time to go for it!    Quick, before the deals get harder to find in the Spring....

i agree for the most part with what people have said here in terms of the bike being capable of cruising at those speeds.  it's not a problem.  in terms of comfort though, i don't really like it.  it's not really the wind or the ergonomics that bother me.  it's the engine.  i'd prefer to be closer to 3500-4000rpm instead of 5000-6000rpm at 70mph.  it just feels stressful to me to be running around at those rpms.

there is no problem running 300+ miles a day.. i have done about 400+ miles a day no probs.. however you need wind protection otherwise it gets rather tiring..

I can do 250+ miles of canyons and stuff without teh windshield. But if im doing long distance crusing i got to have the windshiled put on. I did 300+ miles of napa, sonoma, marin and san fransisco and i was dead tired when i got back to sacramento. All that without the windshield.. it was so tiring..

As for the seat, you could always trim the seat skin and put some foam underneath and make it more comfy. The 2001 seat is hard, but teh 2002+ and specially teh 2004 seats are much more comfy.

I have grown to like the 6500 rpms I'm usually running on the highway, but I understand if someone else thinks it a bit fast.  Unlike some other bikes, it smooths out as you pass 5000 rpms, and 5-6K seems like the bike's happy speed.  A particular specimen might need some vibe control I suppose (achey shakey bars?), but I'm thinking the wind louder than the bike (I ride naked....you know what I mean) and so the noise doesn't bother me.  I admit my longest "tour" was a 2-hour (round trip) affair, so I defer to anyone who rode a lot longer.  FWIW.  Mike D.

PS:  But I appreciate folks on the list are honest about these bikes!

Kerry:

GUILTY as charged. I'm all over the place trying to decide.

At one time or another I've "decided" on a Concours, an FZ6, a V Star 650, a GS, a YZF600, a Monster, a V-Strom (650 version), a Moto Guzzi Breva, a Bonneville or Thruxton, a Sportster (883), a SV650  and probably some others.

I fear I'll be buried with road tests and brochures. I really do need to make a choice.

Truth to tell, I had forgotten I has asked this before.

I certainly appreciate the answers you all have given.

Ed

I think we all agree... The GS is the way to go... When I Bought the '04 500F the dealer pulled it out of the showroom and had it sitting next to an '04 500 Ninja... I stood there for almost a half an hour looking at these two bikes in the sun... I decided that the ninja was just funny looking with that upper and lower fairing set-up and bought the GS... I thought it would be easier to keep clean and one less muffler to replace..

fett

Quote from: EdKerry:

GUILTY as charged. I'm all over the place trying to decide.

At one time or another I've "decided" on a Concours, an FZ6, a V Star 650, a GS, a YZF600, a Monster, a V-Strom (650 version), a Moto Guzzi Breva, a Bonneville or Thruxton, a Sportster (883), a SV650  and probably some others.

I fear I'll be buried with road tests and brochures. I really do need to make a choice.

Truth to tell, I had forgotten I has asked this before.

I certainly appreciate the answers you all have given.

Ed

Hey Ed, I'm with you.  Well, except that I have a GS500 in my posession so I'm at least getting to know what owning one is like, rather than reading about it.  In your list, my favorites are the GS, the V-Strom, the Bonneville, the Breva, and if I'm dreaming about the highway for long, the Concours, and maybe a VStar.  If I want to "feel" the bike, the 883.  I'll keep away from the track, and don't try to make public roads into tracks, so no Thruxton, SV, no Yammy sportbikes though IIRC the YZF600R is nice and moderate (don't know the Monster).

Here's an idea.  Declare it to be your new hobby, and get multiple, purpose-built bikes.  Get a used Connie for when you need luggage, the GS for in town, and a Sportster so you know what that's like and can wear leather on Sundays.

Heck, they're all great, and they all stink, depending upon what you want at the moment.  If you get something that is too specialized you will miss out somewhere, so the VStrom comes first, then GS and Bonneville.

It's all clear now, right?

I've been there.  Have fun deciding.

--Mike D.

Well I can attest to the reliability of the GS.

1996 GS500
Mileage bought at  9,300 in september 2002 for $1,600
Current mileage as of this morning 31,500
replaced the front tire once and needs it again. $100
replaced the rear tire twice.$240

Cost of services done to the bike 0. did them myslef
New battery $40
new chain and sprockets $130
windshield $10
Amount saved on insurance   $3000
Therefore this bike has cost me -$880.  I like that.

I'm a big guy  at 6'2" and 260# and when I have a backpack full of stuff I'll be up around 280#.   And I go 120 miles every friday on the highway at 80mph and have never had a problem.