Hello,
Any help available with this would be greatly appreciated!  We are leaving for Ireland next week and, as a surprise for my husband, I'm having a cousin who lives there switch out his old Yamaha (125cc) for a new bike before we get arrive.  (We're over there for about 5 or 6 weeks a year).

Here is the problem- the bike shop in Ireland has given me two bikes to choose from.  Another Yamaha XV535 or the Suzuki GS500 (both new 2002).  I know my husband loves the Suzuki GS500 but there's one thing- the handlebar style is a lot lower than the Yamaha and since he uses the bike solely for distance (6-8 hour a day rides over very windy and bumpy Irish country roads and hills) and can't sit on it personally, I'm worried that it will not be comfortable for the long haul.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.  My primary concern is whether or not the bike is comfortable for long distances and rougher roads.  

Thank you so much!
Fiona

one way to make the ride comfy is to upgrade suspension.. the GS500 isnt a trail bike so it can be uncomfortable on rough roads.. but changing the frotn and rear suspension will do wonders.. (progressive's up front, katana 600 shock on the rear).

As for handling you can always replace the handle bars to something more upright.

Well how tall is he?,  If he is taller than 6foot ~2m it will be kinda tight.  I am 6'2" and I can ride an hour but much more and my back will start killing me.  He can buy some new handlebars pretty cheap ~$20 USD which can help him sit up straighter.  but I think it would be pretty rough for long long rides for a tall person.

Thanks for the quick replies.  That's more information than I could find after cruising the Internet for four hours yesterday.  You guys are fantastic!

As for my husband, his physical stats are 6'2" even (or just a touch under) with most of his height being in the upper body/torso (i.e. legs are not long... but pretty big,wide thighs).  About 210 lbs., broad shoulders.

He was fine for long rides in Ireland on his current Yamaha SR125 but shifted position from sitting on the driver's seat to the passenger seat every once in awhile to be more comfortable.  Is it possible to shift position like that on the GS500?

Thanks again,
Fiona

if you modified the seat a little bit you can sit on the passenger seat.  The only problem with that is the fact that he will be laying down almost flat on the bike.   Well I dunno for sure but is there a way you could coax him down to sittin on one somewhere and see if he likes it?  I am sure there is one somewhere by you.   Good luck.

you can sit on the passanger seat no problem.  you can even use the passanger pegs if you want to.

If I had to ride 6 hours on my GS Id go nuts, I think it is almost imposible to do with the stock setup. I love the GS for shorter hour long rides but anything longer my back and legs start hurting.

I'm guessing that you won't be able to modify the bike much: you'll just pick it up and start riding.  The stock GS500 has mushy front suspension, which would be poor on off-road conditions; you might ask the rental agency if the front suspension has been "upgraded" using aftermarket springs.  If so, that's a good sign.

Another thing is that the stock seat is firm but not shaped-well, especially for the model years before 2001.  A well-contoured firm seat is good; a very soft gel seat is OK; but a firm poorly-shaped seat can be hard for long rides.  If the rental agency says the bike is older than 2000, you might consider taking a gel pad which he can add to the seat after he starts to feel sore:  http://www.thepropad.com/shop/detail.asp?product_id=6102-Small_Fabric_Top_Pad

Also, good ("5-panel") bicycling shorts with fake-chamois lining make a world of difference.

I don't know anything about the XV535, but it looks like it is also very smooth-road-oriented (not really designed for off-road/countryside or rough roads).  You might ask if the rental agency has any "dual-sport" or "on-road/off-road" bikes, like the BMW F650, the Kawasaki KL250 "Super Sherpa", or Honda XR650 (if he has a really long inseam).  These on-road/off-road bikes are very popular in the U.K., and are well-suited to rolling across the occaisional pasture.

Then again, for safety, it might be good to stick to the familiar, and go with a GS500 just for safety.  Or, if you want to take the opportunity to try new stuff...

Again, thanks for the replies-very helpful.

But my one question remains, is the upright position on a Virago 535 any more comfortable over the long haul? Our cousin is a "Harley" fan and is convinced the upright position is much more comfortable. Many sites on the internet also seem to expound on this "virtue".  My husband does a lot of bicycling and I can't imagine that the position on a GS500 would be any more uncomfortable, but I'm not sure. The "reclined" position on  "Harleys" and their wanna-bees seems comfortable.

The GS riding position is more upright than *relatively* to a crotch rocket..

I think the difference with the cruisers is that your weight is on your butt and your holding on to the handlebars, on this your weight is on your arms like a sports bike (but not as racy as a sports bike).
Well taht's what i feel, since i put my weight on my arms.

Well, the "ideal" position for long-distance comfort is upright w/ the back nearly vertical and legs at about 90 degree angles (..like the touring bikes!).  The "reclined" position of many Harleys may be comfortable in the short term, but they're not so good for the back over distance.  Kinda like slouching in a chair... it's nice when you first sit down, but causes strain after a while.

GS500's aren't quite upright, but are much closer to it than sportbikes.  If he's an avid cyclist, he's probably learned not to put his weight on his wrists and likely has strong lower back muscles.  That may make it easier on him.

But if it's all about comfort, I would think the Virago position would be better.  (although, windy country roads would be a blast on the little GS)  I think Rema's dual sport idea is good, especially considering his size.

The standard suspension will do very good on rough roads. Adjust the preload on the front forks (you can do that with GS's from '93 and up) to maximum (still soft but it will never bottom out).  I regularly ride on such roads without any problem. You can ride it pretty fast over bumps and such. I don't think it would be a good idea to put stiffer springs in the suspension. It could start behaving like a pogo stick over bumps. It already does when you turn the pre-load on the rearshock on max.

But if I had to ride such a distance on such roads I would look for another type of bike. Allroads would be better suited I think. They also have more legroom and you sit up straight. Maybe it's an idea to look for something like a Honda Transalp, Suzuki DR650 or a Kawasaki KLE500.

I'm limited by price from upgrading to a bigger bike, I'm afraid, since I can't see putting even more $$ into a bike that is going to sit inside a cottage hallway in Ireland for nine months of the year while we're on the other side of the ocean in Wisconsin.  There are also very few bikes that the bike store sells over there- and they are quite a bit more expensive
than here.  My choices were the Yamaha Xv250 for $6400 or Xv535cc for $7400, the Suzuki 600cc for $8600, 250cc for $5200, GS500 for $6700 or Honda CB 250 cc for $6200 (that's approx. what they come to when you convert to dollars from Euros.)  And I'll get about $1800 off of that for our two year old Yamaha 125.  Right off the bat, I have to eliminate the Suzuki 600 cc because of price.  Maybe I should buy one here and check-it at baggage claim!

All of these comments are really helping, by the way.  Thank you so much- this forum has been a great find and I'm sure that if we get the Suzuki (which I'm still leaning toward- I told my husband that a cousin of mine over there was choosing between these bikes and he has the most faith in the reliability of the Suzuki.. so now I at least know I won't totally screw it up by surprising him with the wrong bike if I get it) my husband will be here all the time.  I have to give the bike shop a decision this weekend so they can get it in time for George on the 17th.

Thanks again everyone!
All comments appreciated!  
Fiona

A quick update... just spoke to the bike shop and the Yamaha 535 is out of the running.  No more are available for the rest of the year. They just got the word yesterday.  I think they've stopped making them here as well.

That was the one I was debating between with the Suzuki.  There aren't
any 2nd hand bikes in the shop over there at the moment but the owner thinks one of his regulars is looking to sell an extremely well-cared for 2001 Bandit. So then I suppose our two choices are that or the new GS500.  Doesn't exactly resolve the comfortable-to-ride issue clearly because he said the style of both is very similar.

Back to the drawing board with the clock ticking.

Are there any bikes forsale that are privately owned over there? Checked online for like a cycletrader.com for ireland? Maybe post on the UK version of the GS board to see about other bikes. It sounds to me like he really needs a dual sport.

http://www.gs500e.co.uk/

Given your choices, I'd say the Bandit is more confortable for a tall person, but the GS is lighter and more fun. It depends on what your husband is after.
I am btw 6'2" and 6'3", 32 inseam. My back gets sore after one hr on the GS, however I wouldn't trade it for a Bandit 600 (maybe I would for the 1200  :lol: )
I have driven extensively in Ireland. I would choose the GS just for the fun factor on the narrow roads, but then, again, I am not sure I could ride for 8 hrs on it.
If your husband rides aggressively, he's likely to bottom out the front suspension of the GS on the bumpy Irish roads, but I wouldn't see that as a big problem. (Edit: reading Lars's post it seems that EU models have ajustable front suspensions, that'll be a big help. US models don't have that.)

In any case, either bike is a HUGE improvement over his current ride, in every aspect. I am sure he'll be very grateful to you, whatever your choice is.

As many others suggested, a DS bike may be a better choice. They offer more leg room, an upright position, and longer suspension travel.
I am personally a big fan of the Transalp. I get to ride my brother's when I go to Europe and I love it. Unfortunately that's more $$$ than the GS for a new one. The KLE500 is also a good choice, but I've heard that the seat can get unconfortable on long trips. I would add also the Kawasaki KLR650 to the list, you can find used ones for affordable prices.

Let us know how your husband liked your choice!

Yet again, more great advice from this board.  Thank you.  I am going to
surf around the Irish online classifieds in just a few minutes.  Good idea.  My only hesitation is that it is such a big unknown how people have taken care of their bikes.  My husband changes the oil on his 125 every 100 miles and just about tucks it into bed every night.  The dealer for the region is a great guy and very trustworthy- buying used from him comes with the understanding that the previous owner is well-known to him, the care of the bike is not in question, etc.  Parts are so hard to find there and the rust problem so prevalent that it could be a real pain to have a problem.  When you only have three weeks at a time there, it's depressing to think of spending the whole time trying to fix the bike instead of being able to ride it.  But I'm definitely going to have a look at the classifieds now.  Can't hurt.

I'll also cast an eye around for the DS bikes and mention it to the dealer over there.  I would never have known what direction to point myself in with that one so thanks for the voice of experience.  Great advice.

Will keep you posted.  If any of you are ever in Ireland when we are, hope to see you!

If you can find one in the area, the Kawasaki KLR 650 would be a very good choice.  It's a  DP motorcycle that takes all roads well.  It's also a very reliable bike.  Any other decent DP bikes you may be able to find would still, IMHO, be better choices for your purposes than the GS.

I am 5'8" and  it is close to impossible for me to ride for more than 2 hrs straight on my GS500E. A cruiser or a DP bike may be a better choice.

Met a guy at Milan Dragway today who was riding a KLR dual Purpose Bike. He said he loved the thing for riding around on rougher roads and it has a 6gallon tank that make it much nicer than other bikes for distance. He also has a Honda VTX1800 cruiser and says he hates bumpy roads with that cause you cant get up off the seat with the forward pegs. I wouldnt look at a cruiser for bumpy roads for that reason otherwise he will be tossed up with every bump and cant use your legs to cushion you like on a upirght bike.