Looking to get into street riding here. Have ridden dirtbikes and the like.  went looking at some dealerships.  Was told by the dealer that a GS500 would not have enough power, and that I would get "bored" with it quickly. He suggested a SV650 or Kawasaki Z750S.  

What is your opinions on this suggestion? I am a big guy (6'1 210 LBS) and he said that was  factor in not going with a GS500.  I happen to like it and think it would be a perfect starter bike.

Ideas?

EE

I agree that its a perfect starter bike. Not that expensive, light and flickable, and very tame. Im 6'2 and 210lbs and I loved my GS. Never had any problems with it. Plenty of cheap mods can be done as well. I now ride an F4i and I feel the GS made me a better rider (especially if I had stuck with it longer). Dont listen to the dealers recommendations, they just wanna make a buck off the more expensive bike. (though the SV is a nice bike, the 750s is in NO way a good starter bike).

Tell the guy he's a homersexual and go to another shop. I have had no problems with my GS. I'm 6'2" also but weigh 180 or so, but I can't see 30 lbs taking the GS out of the picture. 130 maybe, but I don't even know about that...

Dave  

So you feel that it will have enough power etc, getting out of traffic if needed, etc.  

I was thinking it would be perfect, and I think I will go see another dealer, or just go buy the 500.

I am the same size as you, don't worry make gs500 your first bike, you'll love it.... .......although the sv650 would be a good choice as well, but i droped my gs, and was extremely happy it was a cheapy

oh, my bad, i guess cbr900rr is a perfect starter, i didn't see the other thread before posting

Quote from: SlavikI am the same size as you, don't worry make gs500 your first bike, you'll love it.... .......although the sv650 would be a good choice as well, but i droped my gs, and was extremely happy it was a cheapy

However, I think he's looking at a new one, which is not such a cheapy with the plastics. However, I have taken them off and love the look of it naked also.

I can easily hit 105 on it. I don't know where you live, but that's far enough over the speed limit for me. Twist your wrist and you're off, no worries.

Dave  

not interested in going super fast or anyhting like that, just wnat to make sure that if i need to get out of a situation etc I am not going to be lagging.  Seen too many bad things happen from underpowered vehicles!!

would you recommend a particular year? I have looked at new ones, but if I can get a good used one, why not.

Quote from: newriderSo you feel that it will have enough power etc, getting out of traffic if needed, etc.  

I was thinking it would be perfect, and I think I will go see another dealer, or just go buy the 500.

You were thinking correctly.  It's a perfect starter bike.  

FWIW, the "enough power to get out of traffic" argument against smaller bikes is undoubtedly one of the stupidest things you'll ever hear.  The chances that the GS will imperil you due to it's lower power are miniscule compared to the chances that a more powerful bike will get you into trouble because of the power.  Especially as a new rider.

edit:  The naked, pre-'04 models are your best bet.  No pretty fairing to damage if you drop it.  The bike's been made from '89 to the present, and 95% of it has gone unchanged.  Decide how much you can spend, and find the one with the least years/fewest miles/best maintenance you can.  

jeff

jeff

I'm 6 feet even and 250 and my 92 moves my pudgy butt around just fine.  I've never had an issue with it's power.

The GS, with me on it, has the same power/weight ratio as a BMW E36 M3.  Take a look at the car the salesperson is driving, and express shock that he would drive something so dangerously underpowerd on the freeway.

I traded my GS on an SV, and then went back and got another GS for the street.  If you get bored with it, you're likely not using it to its potential.

That wasn't somebody that told you not to buy the GS, it was a DEALER... Where do you think his interests lie?  With your safety, or his commission?

Quote from: newridernot interested in going super fast or anyhting like that, just wnat to make sure that if i need to get out of a situation etc I am not going to be lagging.  Seen too many bad things happen from underpowered vehicles!!

I understand that, but what Jeff P said is totally true - more power is WAY worse than too little.  Plus, as someone else pointed out, the "underpowered" argument with most bikes "ain't even the same f@#king sport" (Pulp fans unite!) when you compare it with cars.  An 85 Mazda 323 like my buddy used to have is underpowered; this has less but will still get up and go just fine even at freeway speeds.  An example is nice:

I bought my bike last Friday.  It's a 95.  On the freeway at around 75, an eclipse passed me doing about ninety.  The member that I bought it from was riding it to my house for me, and earlier that afternoon I had asked the same question: does it have enough to get up and go when traveling at 75-80 on the freeway?  With that in mind (and probably to enjoy it one last time ), he jumped out from behind me and caught up to the guy in only a second or so.  It goes plenty quick.  

Two other things:
1) go used.  Much cheaper, to buy and to fix.  My 1995 with 16k miles on it cost me 1900 with full 2 pc leathers.

2) if you're concerned about the power, drop a tooth in front, and if that still doesn't work, go up one in back.  That'll give it a nice kick in the pants for any sane cruising speed, though you'll lose a few mph at the very top end.

if you have a lot of experience on dirtbikes you might be able to get away with an sv650, IMO. But why not err on the side of caution? The gs500 is a phenomenal first bike.

I love my gs.  I am 5-11, 195 and If i need to get away from a car I havn't been in a situation yet that a downshift and a roll on throttle hasn't fixed.  It is not underpowered in my opinion and it is a perfect starter bike.  It has enough power to serve its purpose without having to much to kill yourself with if you make a silly error or get spooked.  He probably just wanted to make a couple of extra bucks on commission.

Go for the gs it is great AND easy to work on.

plus you can always mod it for couple more HP

Not that a 650 twin like the sv would be super high on insurance.. but another + to the gs500 besides floor cost is insurance cost (low... relatively)

- Jordan

Quote from: JoChan23Not that a 650 twin like the sv would be super high on insurance.. but another + to the gs500 besides floor cost is insurance cost (low... relatively)

- Jordan

Touche

one would be surprised to find that the sv insurance rates are rising. there have been many new riders on them binning them...they arent as cheap as they used to and more than a gs to insure, but not to the levels of sportbike rates.