I went through 8 bikes in 3 years. I'm beyond guilt! Biggest was an '02 Vulcan 1500 classic FI, which I hated almost as soon as I bought it. Smallest was a Rebel 250, which I loved, but it wasn't quite enough on the highway. I think the GS500 is about the perfect size. I like it better than any of the other bikes I've had, looking at the total package. By that I mean the fun factor, good gas mileage, the flexibility, and the relatively low maint costs. That was the big beef I had with the BMW I had - the routine upkeep.  BMW stands for "Bring My Wallet"!

We bought my daughter a Ninja 250, and that also is a really great bike.  I steal that from her once in a while for an afternoon, and I never regret it!

We in this country have a mindset that bigger is automatically better. In motorcycles, it's not. Smaller, lighter bikes have a lot going for them. I wasted a lot of money on bigger bikes finding this out the hard way.

I haven't had the GS very long, and the biggest concern I have is reliability. Seems like there are way too many posts on this board about various breakdowns and mechanical problems - more so than other bike specific boards I've inhabited. My GS already broke down and stranded me once. I'd like to keep it, but I'm not sure I can trust it.

So many motorcycles - so little time!

I'm dying to check out the Triumph Daytona 675. It's relased here around march next year, right about the time I will be looking for a second bike  (i'm most definitely keeping the GS).
At the moment i am liking : The Triumph.
                                      : '06 Yamaha R6.
                                      : Suzuki '05 or '06 GSXR600.

Quote from: dhgeyer


I haven't had the GS very long, and the biggest concern I have is reliability. Seems like there are way too many posts on this board about various breakdowns and mechanical problems - more so than other bike specific boards I've inhabited. My GS already broke down and stranded me once. I'd like to keep it, but I'm not sure I can trust it.

So many motorcycles - so little time!

I have had a gs for 1 year and it has been very reliable. I had to change some coils but that was the only problem. I think the main problems are due to the bikes being cheap transport and so are not maintained properly.

I just got my bike but I am lusting over other bikes!  I love the gs though I think it is a perfect bike for me to learn on.  I might keep it when I grown out of it so I can just maintain it and work on it so that if I need to work on a more expensive bike I will have the experience.

I just got my bike but I am lusting over other bikes!  I love the gs though I think it is a perfect bike for me to learn on.  I might keep it when I grown out of it so I can just maintain it and work on it so that if I need to work on a more expensive bike I will have the experience.

Quote from: dhgeyer... I haven't had the GS very long, and the biggest concern I have is reliability. Seems like there are way too many posts on this board about various breakdowns and mechanical problems - more so than other bike specific boards I've inhabited. My GS already broke down and stranded me once. I'd like to keep it, but I'm not sure I can trust it.

So many motorcycles - so little time!

My observations lead me to believe that the GS500 is as reliable as you make it.  In the four years I've had mine, the only trouble I've had was my doing (like flooding it or draining a weak battery).  From what I've noticed from others, it's been neglect (storing without fuel stabilizer) or alterations (jet kit) done to the base unit that caused problems.

Set it up properly and treat it right, and the bike keeps on running & running...

I check pretty much all bikes. Too bad my budget won't allow me to buy them all! Really digging the Ducati Hypermotard in the new Cycle World. 375 pounds and 130 Horsepower.

I just got a cbr600 last year and still lust after other bikes. This is a better bike than I am a rider so I think it is just about change. I like lots of different bikes. Before I wanted better handling and more power, now its more about the look and the sound they make.

I rode a 1977 GS400 for 27 years and had very few problems, basically just tune-ups incl. valve adjustments. The bike was written up in 1978 in Cycle World as "one of the ten best buys" for 1978. They described the engine as "bulletproof," and raved about the handling.

The 1989 GS500 and beyond is using that same GS400 engine, except for bigger bore, updated carbs, electronic ignition (yay!) and plain bearings on the crank and balancer, all of which make it even MORE bulletproof!

You can't find a more reliable, trouble-free motorcycle, bar none. I have no desire for a bigger or different bike, except for that *(&&^%^$%# seat. Lusting after stuff is what Buddhists recognize as the root of all suffering. So keep on suffering if that's what you want, but me, I'm riding.

I've been lusting for other bikes for years...but I just kept modding the GS. I strongly considered buying a new bike this year, but the ones I'm interested in are out of my financial reach...and expensive to insure. I can't wait to see the Daytona 675, as someone here mentioned, and I know the local Triumph dealer well, but they're still gonna be hard to get. I'd also be amped about a Daytona 955i or a Speed Triple, and a few other newer bikes, but I can't justify the expense. I'd be cool with a used TL or RC51 or even a Super Hawk too, but I don't want a beater and nice examples are at the very top of my spending limit.

I don't know what to do with myself if I'm not building or modding something and if I spend every last penny on a bike, I have no money to play with! Plus, I'm generally a cheapskate. So I've decided to build a new bike. I'm gonna take my time and do it exactly how I want. I've been collecting parts for a while and am getting close to starting assembly.

The bike started as a 1980 Yamaha XS1100 frame (I parted the rest of it out). I got the XS free from a friend - it didn't run, and the cost of parts just to get it running wasn't justified unless I did a complete resto...and stock the bike didn't fit me that well. Anyhow, that's the frame. I'm grafting a Hayabusa swingarm and monoshock onto the bike and will use a 'busa USD front end. I've got black 'busa wheels and brakes in the parts pile too, I just need to buy the steel lines to finish them off. I have a Yamaha FZ1S 1000cc inline 4 and wiring harness for power. I'm still looking for and deciding on bodywork, but I want to go with a vintage cafe look. I'm hoping to have the bike running sometime this summer, but realistically it'll be the following summer before I'm riding it. It's gonna be cool though!!