Given those needs in a bike, it makes less than no sense to go to an I-4.

Your dealers suck.  I have always been able to ride any bike I wanted by asking.  It's test rides that sell bikes.

For me, the main reason for switching was having a reliable bike that *I* don't have to work on (much). I love the Baby G, but I'm not exactly a huge wrencher (heck, I get all proud and cocky when I hold a wrench correctly and manage to screw in an allen thingie w/o hurting myself or the bike!). Another thing I was looking for was a slightly less standard riding position. I found everything I wanted and more in my SVS.

My Baby G has now gone to someone who could work on bikes in his sleep with both hands tied up! He's already digging around in the carbs. The Baby G will be purring and lookin' all purdy again in no time!!!  

Quote from: RedShift...If you switched bikes, what was your reason?  Why did you Switch?

And for those that are like me, just thinking about trading up or out, what would it take?

for me, the gs500 was always a stepping stone between my MSF course and my sportbike. to that end it was fantastic. I dont miss it at all though (remember I do the opposite riding to you, I ride trackdays and canyons ONLY).

When I got my 600rr I thought it would be another 6 months of riding before I got my sportbike legs so to speak...nope, I was fully up to speed by my 3rd or 4th ride. it took me another 6 months before I got to the track but since that day, I've gone to the track almost once a month.

Quote from: RoadstergalGiven those needs in a bike, it makes less than no sense to go to an I-4. .

You may be right.  The only real peeve I have should be easily solved with $170 for an AirHawk.  

Quote from: RoadstergalYour dealers suck.  I have always been able to ride any bike I wanted by asking.  It's test rides that sell bikes.

Dealers around me have been subsisting reasonably well by selling to the already sold.  With $2-$3/Gallon gas, they're quite happy not generating used vehicles or dealing with the paperwork to prevent law suits, or so they say.  Sales are good -- why take chances?

I'm not disagreeing with you.  I just get this "take it or leave it" attitude from my sucky dealers.  

I'm half inclined to drive 3 hrs down to Toledo and visit Honda East.  These guys know how to move two wheels and are willing to win one's business.  (Of course, I'd have to have more than no sense to switch.)  

I'm waiting to get a little more experience until I move up to my next bike which will more than likely be a YZF-600R. From what I read it seems like the perfect bike for me. At least from what I've read it seems like the perfect all rounder for me. I haven't ridden one, but I've sat on it and it's so comfortable. The GS does serve my needs well, but I want to run the 1/4 mile in 11 seconds along with daily commuting and track days as well.  Concerning maintance, I don't know if this is a help or hindrance, but it is carbed.

And like Pantablo, this bike is my stepping stone. My original plan was to get the cool looking newer super sports and I will do as many track days as money will allow me, but I love riding and I love riding long distances and I just don't know how relaxing it would be for me to ride 100 miles up to the strip, race all day, and ride back 100 miles. I've done it on the GS already and I'm not sure how comfortable a 600 super sport will be like. I have a feeling that the YZF-600R is much more like the GS in that respect and it should be okay and comfortable to do every week.

Remember I don't know how the newer super sports will actually be after having gotten used to them so I can't honestly say. Take what I said with a grain of salt. It's my newbie opinion.

Quote from: pantablo... I dont miss it at all though (remember I do the opposite riding to you, I ride trackdays and canyons ONLY). ...

True.  I am a recreational rider.  I ride to work, I take off for a few hours or an all-day trip, but almost always end up at home again after the day is done.  Someday I'll sign up for a track day, but don't need an SV650 to do that, just fresh tires.  

For that kind of riding I don't need another bike.  I haven't lost the thrill of riding the GS500, but still have this nagging feeling that there's something better over the hill.

Shoot, I can't really explain why I would want to switch -- it's not logical.  Perhaps it's a form of greed.  :dunno:

A longing for the new and hip.  That's steered me wrong, and I ended up back at the 500.  I have pretty much the same riding patterns as you.

Dealers are like that here to, no test rides what-so-ever.  You can have them start it up and listen but they won't let you test ride, even the used bikes.  The dealers here say it is an insurance thing, ok can't fault them there.  I plan to go down to the dealer show and test ride my ass off, i think its in kentucky somewhere in the spring.  I however won't be replacing the GS anytime soon.

That thread about the Ducati Monster's got me looking at them, not that I'll be upgrading anytime soon.  But man I think those M750's are hot!  :mrgreen:

I think my ZZR is on its way out the door come spring time...jus not what I want...

Well I am just getting my Katana on the road over the last week or so and put on about 150 miles.  I still have the GS but the plan is to sell it in the spring.

The rush of the inline 4 at peak horsepower is amazing but it's going to take a while to get used to the extra weight of this bike.  The GS is light and agile by comparison.  

I think one thing I find annoying with the GS is that it doesn't have a lot of passing power past 75 mph.  The other thing i bought the Katana for was to have a bit of wind protection.  

I have ridden a CBR600F4i and they are not uncomfortable.  You could prolly do the things you are looking for on that.  I found that the VFR was not much more comfortable if at all.  The CBR600RR is a little less comfy.  Used CBR's seem to be a little pricey though.

for the next bike ... comfort is a primary concern.  I will likely end up with a street bike, a sport touring bike or an older supersport.  I would also consider the weight of the bike.  Next would be HP.

Right now I like the SV650(street) and Z750 if I were to buy new.

The YZF-600R has the most useless speedometer in the world.


I do the same type of riding as you do, RedShift (maybe a bit more canyons than commuting, though) and I too share that "hmm, I wonder what else could be out there" type feeling. I think it's caused by a desire to just try something NEW for a while, even if it isn't perfect. It's also probably because of the love for motorcycles we have. We love riding, and we might love riding even MORE with a different bike to tool around on. It's a mystery and an allure of the new and unknown. My riding experience has been limited to my dirtbikes, the two GSes I've owned, and a Ninja 500 I took for a ride, and a Kawasaki Eliminator 125 I used for the MSF course. After riding that 125, I deemed that cruisers were not for me. I couldn't deal with the forward controls or scraping the pegs in turns.

Anyways, it might not be a logical thing to want to get another bike, but is motorcycling in general logical? Sometimes not. That's what makes it amazing.

Is having a faired bike a problem from a 'need enough space not to scratch the plastics' perspective?

I bought my GS this past spring as a starter bike because it was reccomended alot online for a first bike.  A few months ago I started to look at what else was out there.  I use my bike for commuting to work daily and usually 3 to 5 hours worth of riding on the weekend on average.  I need to travel at least an hour from home to get to the twisty roads.  I generally take the bike everywhere unless I absolutely must take the cage.  I decided I was going to buy an '06 SV1000S sometime this winter when they hit the dealers.  Do I really NEED it...no not really.  Do I REALLY want it...Hell yeah.  A large displacement V-twin it seemed like a logical choice over an I-4 because if its (v-twin) amount of useable power and more "street friendly" delivery.  I actually gave the idea of buying used very little thought, I guess I just like the "newness" factor.  Is all this just an excuse just to buy a new bike?  I dunno but the way I look at it is life is too short to sit and ponder.  I want a new bike, I can afford the payments since I paid the cage off, so I am gonna buy one  

My suggestion.  If you want it bad enough then treat yourself to it.

Thats all

I'm thinking about what's out there as well. Along w/ many I got the GS as a stepping stone to a bigger bike, beleiving I'd kill myself on anything bigger than a 500 right away, correct or not I decided to play it safe and don't regert doing so. However, as mentioned I'm pondering what may be..

To answer your questioin what would it take?
One That I plan to keep and modify for a long time. Do I need a 1000, or the new 1400? I really don't think so, and don't see myself getting one, or wantng one. But a 600 I-4? Yea they seem really nice, I've ridden a few and I find there is a noticable difference between that and the GS. My choice is based on timing, insurance in Canada is a Buddha Loves You.. and when it's affordable for me to upgrade I will. Also, what aspects you NEED (maybe FI?) or ones you just WANT (extra 400cc that leagally you can't use) And then find a bike that's in the middle of those!
But I don't want to pay 3,000 a year for a 600cc bike atm. So I guess I have to wait.

My advice, maybe take a day trip and get riding some other bikes from distant dealers, or try something else before you just buy. And just in response to someone (sry forgot who) who wanted to get the YZF600 I think this is the last year they are coming out. (Read it somewhere, but it's worth looking into)

no real reason to switch unless you honestly need the extra: power, speed, handling..etc....most of which we don't need in the real world.

That love burning in our hearts is typically materialism wanting new, more, better.

At least for me...the gs is everything i could want in a bike for its price range, style, and handling.

Hey, thanks for replying to my rambling thoughts.  Appreciate the perspective of others.  Helps me understanding if this thought is just me or an "us" thing.

I have a few questions/comments for ya though:

Quote from: Onlypastrana199I think my ZZR is on its way out the door come spring time...jus not what I want...

What caused you to get the ZZR over the other bikes you had?

Quote from: 500rider... The rush of the inline 4 at peak horsepower is amazing but it's going to take a while to get used to the extra weight of this bike. The GS is light and agile by comparison. ...

Having ridden a friends Ninja 600 was a treat -- the smoothness of that engine was quite a contrast to the GS500's buzz at 4900+ RPM.  

Quote from: AlphaFire X5The YZF-600R has the most useless speedometer in the world. ...

:lol: You noticed that too?  A bit too much ego on Yamaha's part.  Strange as it may seem, that Speedo is the single most annoying item I have with the YZF600R -- why put something on a bike that never gets more than one-third use?  Annyingly stupid in my books.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5]... Anyways, it might not be a logical thing to want to get another bike, but is motorcycling in general logical? Sometimes not.

I think Mr. Spock of Star Trek once said, "The wanting is sometimes better than the having..."
____________________

Gotta be getting to work -- by car.  Raining and barely 40F outside.  Answer more of your notes later...  

I moved up to a 2001 YZF-R6, which was an awesome bike.  Very nimble, and I can't complain about the tranny or the handling (though many have).  Ultimately, it came down to two things for me.  First, it was used and I wanted a new bike so that I would know the complete history of the machine.  Second, I commute in town mostly and felt that I was paying a premium price for power and handling that i wasn't using.

so..... I picked up an SV650.  For those short, across town scoots it is unbeatable  

QuoteI'm half inclined to drive 3 hrs down to Toledo and visit Honda East.

if you have to drive this far south lemme know, i've been over to that dealer a few times, pretty nice and they do let you test ride.

as for me? mmmm Bandit 1200.
i've always wanted somehitng big, japanese, and oldschool (by modern standards). when i was 18 i decided i wanted a gs500 becasue a local dealer had one and said it would be a great bike to get started on, and it's good, it's old school and japanese, but not really big.

test rode a bandit, loved it, i'm a big guy, and like cornering, but not so much that you will find me in race leathers knee down in the twisties.