Hiya everybody! I've been a member here for a loooong time, I joined a few years ago when I was looking at a gs500 but I ended up getting a KLR650 (aka supertanker) instead I LOVE my KLR in all aspects of the bike, it does great on the highway, it handles great (for a dual sport bike) it has a HUGE fuel tank (6.3 gallon) that lets me go 250+ miles between fillups, and despite its size and weight, is actually pretty capable off road! But, alas, it has its downfalls - the big 651cc thumper gets pretty buzzy at highway speeds, and the brakes flat out SUCK on this bike - the rear rotor is almost as big as the front rotor! ( 280mm front vs 240 rear if I remember right)

Anyways - to make a long story short, I'm again looking at a GS500 I just need to know how the bike does at highway speeds for long distances... I know its by no means a touring bike, but I still would like to take 250+ mile trips occasionally... Mostly the bike will be used for commuting to school/work, a 60 mile round trip every day at 70 mph the whole way. I never got to test drive a GS the last time I was looking so I have no idea how the bike rides, powerwise, etc... From what I have seen the bike must handle like its on rails!! I sat on one and it was LIGHT (and felt rediculously short compared to the KLR!) I'm by no means a beginner rider, I've been riding off road since I was 8 and on the street since I was 15 (22 now) and even though I'm a pretty conservative rider, I still like to carve a few twisties now and then  SO! yall load me up with as much info about the little bike as ya got! 

Ah what the heck - heres some pics of my current ride just for fun









Me and my sister

The GS is fine for that kind of riding. If you're gonna commute a lot, you can go to a 17t front sprocket for lower revs on the freeway and increased fuel economy. My bike's stock, and I do 45 miles round trip every day for work, and no issues at all.

what are normal RPM's for 70~ish mph? I'm guessing the stock sprocket is a 16tooth?

stock is 16... I THINK stock revs at 70 are about 6Kish... I run 8Kish at about 87-90 indicated on my way to work. (How old is your sister? )

The GS is going to handle great compared to your KLR; it'll be foreign at first, but the light-weight, and lower weight will make the GS seem to handle like a rail.  That and the traction you're going to get from the (decent) street tires is going to amaze you.

The GS is also going to feel like it has an overly powerful front brake; it is in comparison to a 'dirtbike's' front brake which is designed not to lock up in loose conditions (thus the smaller diameter).

i think 70 is 5500 or 6000 RPM. I commute 40 miles each way on it and at 70 mph and love it. At 70, the wind over the helmet is louder than the engine. It runs real sweet between 5k an 6k. I rode for like 150 miles today and feel great, its a good commuter. can't argue with 55 mpg either.

The first road test on the GS500 in the May 89 issue of Cycle Magazine specified 4730 rpm @ 60 mph.  The theoretical top speed at redline of 140 mph in top gear from the same test report would indicate 11000x60/140=4714 rpm @ 60 mph, close enough.  Both my 97 GS and my 02 GS indicated between 4700-4800 rpm at an indicated 60 mph with stock gearing.

Stock rpm at 70 mph should be about 4730x70/60=5518 rpm.
Stock rpm at 80 mph should be about 4730x80/60=6306 rpm
Stock rpm at 90 mph should be about 4730x90/60=7095 rpm

NGFL reports about 8k at about 90 mph? Don't know which sprocket, you can figure the spedo and tach errors involved.   

I put a 15T front sprocket on my 97 GS and spent 8 days over 3 years on the Interstates going 400+ miles each day at 75-80 mph indicated.  6306x16/15=6726 at 80 mph with 15T sprocket.  Best as I can remember that sounds about right, don't remember cruising at much more than 6500 rpm on those trips.

Did the trip once more on the 02 GS in 04 with stock gearing, didn't think the 02 GS with the more flexible engine needed a sprocket change.  The 97 did need it to get my 240# butt moving on an upgrade without slipping the clutch all day.   

Anyway, both my GS's seemed to be quite happy running 75-80 mph all day long and I never felt they were straining to do it.   

Reason for these trips was to get to the mountains to play and the GS's loved to play in the mountains.   And I'd love to do it once more before I get too old.   

Quote from: gsJack on March 26, 2007, 08:49:01 PM

NGFL reports about 8k at about 90 mph? Don't know which sprocket, you can figure the spedo and tach errors involved.   

thanks for pointing it out Jack. I was just going by what I remember. I usually don't watch my revs/speed all that closely, I'm on the lookout for these awful Atlanta drivers trying to kill me.

oh cool that doesn't sound too bad at all... I know my 650 churns around 5,000 rpm's at 70, and its pretty buzzy. (not to mention LOUD - supertrapp exhaust on it)

I know the handleing will be a HUGE difference, coming from a enduro bike with 13 inches of ground clearance and knobby tires with all the weight at the very top of the frame to a short, light bike (what IS the weight of a gs anyway? my klr is almost 400 lbs even) with some good tires on it.... whats the biggest rear tire you can fit on one? Normally I like to run at -least- a 130 rear on any bike I'm on... And just for fun... anyone know any HP numbers for the bike? my KLR is pushing 42~ish so I'm pretty sure no matter what the GS is putting out I will be pretty happy! thanks for all the info!

*edit*
One more - is the gs a 5 or 6 speed? I'm sick of goin into 5th on my KLR and lookin stoopid trying to bump up into 6th and not have it

I know a guy with a new KLR and I've ridden with him a couple of times. In a drag race, the GS was a little bit faster and it stopped much better. I was leaving him in my dust in the twisty roads too, but he wasn't very experienced at street riding (plenty experienced off road though)

On the highway, my bike pulled a little better from 60 to 80 too. I didn't ride the KLR because I'm kind of short and his bike was brand new, so I can't compare comfort or vibration, but the GS is fairly smooth. You don't look like you're too tall so you probally won't find the gs too cramped. But everyone thinks something different is comfortable, so you'll have to figure that part out on your own.

Good luck 

According to Wikipedia, it is a 6-speed (wow, i can't believe I didn't know that from memory, i don't think about the actualy gears much..}.

The dry weight is 372 pounds and the engine makes 51.3 HP and 30.2 ft-lbs of torque. 

The newer Fs are a little heavier at 396.8 lbs. dry. 

It sounds like the GS might fit you very well, enjoy! Let u sknow what you think!

H78

Quote from: linuxman2003 on March 26, 2007, 09:33:42 PM
oh cool that doesn't sound too bad at all... I know my 650 churns around 5,000 rpm's at 70, and its pretty buzzy. (not to mention LOUD - supertrapp exhaust on it)

I know the handleing will be a HUGE difference, coming from a enduro bike with 13 inches of ground clearance and knobby tires with all the weight at the very top of the frame to a short, light bike (what IS the weight of a gs anyway? my klr is almost 400 lbs even) with some good tires on it.... whats the biggest rear tire you can fit on one? Normally I like to run at -least- a 130 rear on any bike I'm on... And just for fun... anyone know any HP numbers for the bike? my KLR is pushing 42~ish so I'm pretty sure no matter what the GS is putting out I will be pretty happy! thanks for all the info!

*edit*
One more - is the gs a 5 or 6 speed? I'm sick of goin into 5th on my KLR and lookin stoopid trying to bump up into 6th and not have it

Stock tires are 110/70/17 and 130/70/17.   I've run 130/90, 140/80, and 150/70 tires on the back.  All the tires I've run in 120k miles on the GS's:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg

Horsepower and torque figures are here from all GS500 tests published over the years, also includes EX500 data from comparos:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests.jpg

I saved a comparo from Cycle World on 10 bikes under $5k and it included both the GS500 and the KLR650 as well as the Ninja 500:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CWDealsOnWheels/

Data from that comparo is here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CW03GuideComparo.jpg

Yeah I'm not all that tall at 5' 6", but I can still get one foot on the ground (barely) with the KLR... If its pushing 50+hp and has a 6 speed then thats all I need to know! I was thinking a 130 rear would be big for the GS, but heck if I can stuff a 150 under there thats awesome... I also didnt expect the little GS to weigh that much! I was thinking 320lbs or so... of course the weight will be nice to smooth things out on the highway, I'm used to being pushed around by the wind a LOT on the klr... I guess it has something to do with it being so darn tall! I'll probably be looking for one sometime this summer depending on finances thanks again for all the info!

Quote from: linuxman2003 on March 27, 2007, 09:08:18 AM
Yeah I'm not all that tall at 5' 6", but I can still get one foot on the ground (barely) with the KLR... If its pushing 50+hp and has a 6 speed then thats all I need to know!

50+ hp is not correct     Every authoritative source puts it at 39-40 hp. 

Still it's plenty fast and can handle highway rides just fine.  It's noisy and windy, so get some earplugs and consider a windscreen. 

jeff

Don't forget GS front suspension is too soft, so it bottomed out every time I did brake hard, or not so hard, perhaps due to my 200#... It was annoying to bottom out all the time, so changed to progressive springs and Voila!

Mine is a 2K, don't know if newer bikes have better suspension...

In town all damned day (15-60) heck ya.
Highway (50-70) yes.
Interstate (70-90) no thank you.

The lack of a screen for interstate makes it a no-thank-you decision. I don't really care for the starvation issues that seem to creep in while cruising next to 18 wheelers.

back roads, city streets and commuting are a BLAST on this bike. I've commuted on it for over a year now, and HATE driving a car to work since the past week.

The only thing I'd change about the gs would be another 100CC and FUEL INJECTION.

Quote from: Jeff P on March 27, 2007, 10:57:50 AMEvery authoritative source puts it at 39-40 hp.

Except for mine...  It's 33HP.   

soft front springs are nothing new to me I only weigh 130# so I might not need the progressive springs... guess I'll have to ride it and see I've seen a few GS's with some small windscreens (enormous compared to the tiny windscreen on my klr) and I think with one of those, some hard luggage, and the right riding position I could go for some pretty good trips on the bike  From what I've read, doing the ignition advancer mod, rejetting the carbs, and getting an aftermarket exhaust should really wake the bike up!

If you're looking to do lots of highway riding, why not just go for an F? The fairings will keep you more shielded when you get up to speed.