Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 04:02:16 PM
Your picture is a girl...

actuallt that would be 2 girls.....

Quote from: werase643 on July 06, 2006, 08:16:54 PM

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 04:02:16 PM
Your picture is a girl...

actuallt that would be 2 girls.....

Good call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Quote from: werase643 on July 06, 2006, 08:16:54 PM

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 04:02:16 PM
Your picture is a girl...

actuallt that would be 2 girls.....

And they're sisters, right?

Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on July 06, 2006, 08:27:39 PM

Quote from: werase643 on July 06, 2006, 08:16:54 PM

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 04:02:16 PM
Your picture is a girl...

actuallt that would be 2 girls.....

And they're sisters, right?

No one still has answered my question. Let me restate it: Why would an experienced rider remain on a gs500? Not why would a beginner choose a gs500 for their first bike. PS...if you decided to shell out anything near $4000 on a gs500f you seriously got robbed.

BECAUSE THEY ARE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 08:37:01 PM
No one still has answered my question. Let me restate it: Why would an experienced rider remain on a gs500? Not why would a beginner choose a gs500 for their first bike. PS...if you decided to shell out anything near $4000 on a gs500f you seriously got robbed.

Quite honestly, I don't much care for your tone. First, you implied that because AJ's avatar was of a girl, that she wasn't fit to answer your question. Second, you seem to have a real chip on your shoulder about the GS.

But I'll answer your question: Because not everyone is all about speed, HP, torque, sound, or image. Some people keep the GS as a second bike because it gets better gas mileage than the 600cc supersports. Some people keep the GS because it's all the bike they'll ever need. Light and nimble in the twisties, stable enough for highway commutes, and definitely quick enough for in city driving. I don't care who says the GS is slow.. 0-60 in under 6 seconds is PLENTY quick for me. Don't get to do much over 60 in the city anyway. Some people just like the naked standard bike.. I know I do, that's one of the reasons I chose the GS. Truly experienced riders, like Pantablo (even though he no longer owns a GS) can outride all the squids on their CBR ARR ARRs (inside joke) in the twisties all day long. Going fast on a slow bike is a helluva lot more fun than going slow on a fast bike. No matter how good of a rider you are, or think you are, there's always something the GS can teach you about how to be a better rider.

There, my $.02, take it or leave it.

well,
I can easily lead a ride on a turd GS in front of GSXR/R-1/Mille riders.....until i get to a straight section of road

on the street a GS is a good tool for carving the twisties(with some susp mods)

GS cost....used   1500 ish
R-1/GSXR1K/..../....     5-10k
GS ins   200/yr
R-1/...     1000-2000 for full cov

if you are young....MORE for the INS

this has been posted to death
it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow

I've been riding 20 years, and I find the GS more than enough for my pleasures of going fast, leading group rides of Triumph 955i's, R1's, R6's, 636's, BMW R1100's, CBR600's.  When I started riding motocycles I swore that I would not buy the same bike twice, because I wanted to experience something different each time.  I had one in Hawaii, and was so impressed that I had to buy one when I got back home.   It's a bike that I can fool around on.  I've had bigger bikes, 650 Maxim, 550 Vision, '78 Triumph 750 Bonnieville, FZR400, but I tell you what, out of all of those, I'd still rather have my GS.

I was leading group 1, the FAST group, with those guys behind me, not one said to speed up or slow down (except the Triumph rider, he couldn't keep up with me going downhill).  Once in the RAIN, and once without (that was when the Triumph rider spoke up).

Here's why I have the GS.

I liked it. 

No it's not a gsxr thou. Get over it. If I wanted a GSXR I would have bought one.

Speaking of that why buy a 600? With proper throttle control a Thousand is much faster. Why not a Jet engine? Why not a f%$king warp drive?

Oh yeah and when I pass you through the twisties (on the inside) and you see the numbers on the side of my bike "500". That's another reason.

Digging on the inside of someone dragging a knee is fun.

Oh yeah and Mightymax, in before lock/ban AHAHAHAHAH.

But seriously, wonder how many people will look at your 600 with disgust and go, "Wow it's so slow." (i.e. Hayabusa/zx-14 riders)

My 2 cents, and please do with them as some comics have suggested. 

Scratch,
FZR400
.....
i might go for one of them....they are sweet
big bikes are boring

I have a set of PM wheels waiting for a chassis.....

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 08:37:01 PM
No one still has answered my question. Let me restate it: Why would an experienced rider remain on a gs500? Not why would a beginner choose a gs500 for their first bike. PS...if you decided to shell out anything near $4000 on a gs500f you seriously got robbed.

It's fun to ride.
It's easy to work on.
It looks good.
It's light.
It's inexpensive to insure.
It's inexpensive to register (older models).
It gets good mileage (~60mpg)
It has a centerstand.
It makes decent power (with proper jetting).
It's comfortable.
It has
  no radiator
  no coolant
  no thermostat
  no fan
  no water pump
  a bulletproof reputation
 
And the support and dedication of the members of GStwin.

Been riding 24 years.

Quote from: werase643 on July 06, 2006, 09:05:52 PM
Scratch,
FZR400
.....
i might go for one of them....they are sweet
big bikes are boring

I have a set of PM wheels waiting for a chassis.....

If you find a frame, shoehorn either a 550 Vision or an SRX600 motor into it.  Or, a GS motor, but the SRX motor will be the easiest.

The suspension was great on the track (for my 125lbs ass), but way too stiff for streetwork (shaZam!, me on my SRX250 could ride circles around an FZR1000).

I already have a DR650SET sitting in a RG-V250SP chassis waiting for me to fab mount plates and a welder to weld in the engine mount plates

I also want to do a XS650 into a FZ600 some day

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 08:37:01 PM
No one still has answered my question. Let me restate it: Why would an experienced rider remain on a gs500?

because its not the bike thats slow...

Thank you Pablo!!  +1

Quote from: pantablo on July 06, 2006, 11:31:56 PM

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 08:37:01 PM
No one still has answered my question. Let me restate it: Why would an experienced rider remain on a gs500?

because its not the bike thats slow...

It's like us Mustang ppl:  Straight lines are for fast cars.  Corners are for fast drivers.

I don't have the experience and skill yet to experience that on the bike yet, but I'm guessing it holds true for our little bikes as well?

Quote from: stangbaby67 on July 06, 2006, 11:39:05 PM
... but I'm guessing it holds true for our little bikes as well?

yes. witness below a gs500 on the racetrack:


(edited: http://www.gstwins.com/photogallery/displayimage.php?album=lastcomby&cat=0&pos=3&uid=21)

  Somethings got to be wrong with your GS, it can pull a wheelie, and there pretty quick up to 70-80mph if you have it set up right, which is about as fast as anyone should be driving on public roads any way. And if you really don't think its fast enough your probably going to be disappointed with a 600cc as well, you should just go all out for the 1000cc that will give you that crap your pants feeling.( P.S don't forget your life insurance )

Quote from: Mightymax0319 on July 06, 2006, 03:59:18 PM
Let me start by saying I have been visitng this site on a regular basis since the purchase of my bike and for whatever reason the gs500 seems to have a great following. I know i probably should refrain from asking this question, but here it goes anyway. Let me start by saying i am not an inexperienced rider, i've ridden dirt bikes and others' bikes atleast five years prior to my first street bike. In April 2006 i found a really good deal on a excellent condition gs500.I didn't want a 250; however i wasn't planning on getting a 600 either; i wanted to play it safe.  It was a 2001 Suzuki gs500e with 2,347 miles on the bike. . Thinking this would be a nice step up from my friends' 2002 Ninja 250 i purchased the bike for $1200(nice deal eh?) . I've been riding the bike around and replaced the tires and it works just fine. My question is...The bike is slow, there's no nicer way of putting it! It's a VERY SLOW bike to be exact, making me wonder why seasoned riders would choose a gs500 over other bikes.(I won't even  get into suspension problems.) The only reason i can come up with is that it's an extremely cheap bike.

I find myself counting the months to next spring. At which point i will surely be upgrading to atleast a water-cooled 600.

• Welcome to the forum.  Glad to hear you believe you got a great deal -- I think $1200 is cheap for a lightly-used 2001.
  
  
• It sounds to me you are disappointed with your GS500's performance.  You have misinterpreted the GS500's performance -- if stock then it's NOT QUICK.  Acceleration is polite, better than the Ninja 250 you tried.  I've gone 95 MPH with my 2001 -- seemed PLENTY FAST to me at the time.
  
  
• For under $30 you can get a replacement front sprocket -- a 14-Tooth should change your mind on how quickly your bike accelerates.  Read the Hahahahahahahahahahahaha - aka Impressions of a 14T sprocket thread for the happy details.
  
  
• Lumpoffire hit most of the very good reasons to own a GS500 -- forgot to mention "Inexpensive to fix", "Lots of aftermarket parts" and several others that I also forget.
  
  
• Shift higher on the Tach -- Sounds to many that you're missing the power band.  The GS500 is not powered or geared like a dirt bike.
  
  
• A word of Advice: Never prejudge anyone -- especially a Woman who owns a GS500.