Hey all, new to the forum here.
Just joined cause i wanted some info about the GS500F

Am looking at buyin one and just wanted to know how good are they?? Tossin up between a CBR250RR and a GS500F?? So what do you think, are they at all like a "sporty" bike?? How do they go, and will the set up my ridin style so once im on my blacks i can upgrade without any bad habits??
Just curious thanks!!!

BUY THE GS!More powerful and more forgiving if you ride it to hard.Plus there's alot more easy mods and upgrades. 

You're on a forum where a large percentage of the population owns GS's , and the rest are ex-owners or just plain fans of the bike hehe

1 - they're basically bulletproof as far as the powertrain is concerned ... heck , the whole bike is pretty tough
2 - once you get rid of those pesky fairings , they're a good looking bike ... form follows function once the plastics are off (I know i'm pi$$ing some members off hehe ... search "Naked vs. Faired" topics lol ... fun fun !)
3 - they are great on gas
4 - you'd be hard pressed to find another bike anywhere near the price range that offers the handling (many people do suspension mods after a while once they want to start riding more aggressively ... stock suspensions are pretty soft , but EXCELLENT to learn on)
5 - they're actually quite quick when you get on them ... you can outrun the average car , and outrun most of the Harleys (my fave thing to do lol)
6 - this forum ... I've been on here for months and haven't even scratched the surface of the sheer amount of info on here . the people here have helped me personally with pretty much everything I've done to my 96 GS500E


There's a lot more than what i've listed , but #6 is what's kept me interested in my GS long after I thought i'd have moved on to a bigger bike 

- Eric

To be honest, I (and most others here that are from the states) don't know the first thing about the CBR250RR, so I can't compare at all.  My guess is that the GS is lower tech, but that's not a bad thing... it means it's simpler to maintain and work on.  My other guess is that it has more of a standard riding position than the CBR, which is probably more sport oriented. 

The GS is definitely a good bike to cut your teeth on and is pretty forgiving, though not as forgiving as a 50 or 100cc bike.  If you master the GS, you shouldn't have any problem upgrading when you're ready

The CBR and GS make about the same power GS has more torque, CBR handles and brakes better but is now where near as comfy, parts are easier to get for a GS and anybody can fit a GS not so a CBR you will want to be short, GS is easier on the highway the CBR will send you mad by reving its nuts off. You never know the history of a CBR as they are bought out from Japan with no history, CBR deteriates very quickly pull off a side faring and look at the corrision already there. The little CBR's are a great small sportsbike but the GS is a great all round bike if I had the choice again I'd still go with the GS. Although I did get beaten by 2 of them up at my favourite road I could stay with them but if I tried anything more I think I would have gone down but we blew their friend away who was on a 999 Ducati (why spend so much money when you can only do so little).
Go the GS you will not be disappointed hope that helps

Those of us here in the states don't have many of the 250 CBRs over here so we know very little about them.

I bet that if you are getting a bike only to take to the really tight twisties then the CBR would be great, but if you're going to take it on the highway or want to be able to throw some saddlebags on it and take a trip the GS is brobally a much better all arround bike.

A few upgrades will make the bike handle better
Springs for the forks will help dramaticly
Braided brake line and HH+ pads will help braking
Jets and a better filter help the power.

Well thanks for the info  ........ The bike i want to get ( dream bike ) is a GSXR1000 The only prob is here in aus your restricted for the first year of you licence...... So i wanted something that looks good ( cause i got to have it for a while...which is not a bad thing  ) and is gonna go well enough for me to learn so when i eventually get the gixxer i wont wrap it around a tree..... Thats why i like the CBR cause everyone here says there quick and really handle well..... looking at the GS it dosnt look "That" fast..... Appart from the gixxer's front light!!!
I really dont know though thats why im askin   

I wont be touring anywhere just to and from work and a bit of fun here and there. Ive heard there really reliable and economical which is really good but to me i hear slow and boring??

Anyway this is why im asking??

I have one more question....... Will the bike wheelie or has one one done it on a GS?? Im not gona go out there straight away and try but eventually thats what id like to be able to do!!!

As for beating a 999 HOLY SH!T

all bikes wheelie.

the GS500 is simpler. It'll be easier to care for and it's simply cheaper.  Plus the bike's faster.

the cBR250 is plenty quick but cruising at 22,000rpm in second because third bods will get old.  I'd only get one for tight tracks/twisties...and i LOVE the odd-ball 250 and 400 sports.

Quoteall bikes wheelie

I know thats true........ sort of, but ill reask the question...
How EASILY does the gs wheelie???

Been looking around and there arnt that many for sale, would it be better to go new or second hand, or it dont matter?

if you intend to keep the bike it's best to go used.  More bang for the buck.  if all you're is fulfilling your restricted criteria until you can get a bigger bike, buy new...not so much bang for the buck but more return when you sell it...if it's in like-new condition.

If you don't know what you're doing as far as keeping the bike, I suggest go with used.

you can power it up in second if you load the front and fall back.  you can clutch it up in first and second real easy.  A friend of mine picks his up ono the road in third but I'm clueless as to how he does it.  "I just...do it..." is his explanation.

Well ill be keeping it for a good part of 1.5 years at least...... I just wana upgrade to its bigger brother, thats why i like the GS so much!! 

Did my own research, seems they go alright!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/-C0vv3E9au8

And yes he is ridin in a garden Aparently the rider is too young for the road....

Ahh, Command and Conquer PC game music FTW!

Yeah Red Alert i noticed that lol  This is how the GS goes rite, cause im liking it!!! 

gs500 is an easy bike to learn on.  i've had mine for about 2 months and put about 1100 miles on it.  i ride with a couple gsxr600's and a 1000 and a zx6r.  won't keep with them on the straights but i can in the corners.  they hate it.  great first bike. glad i went with it.  gets 50+ mpg no matter how hard i am on it.  will do a wheelie.  did one a week ago completely by accident.  if you get one you won't be sorry

Quote from: makenzie71 on June 13, 2007, 02:36:55 AM
if you intend to keep the bike it's best to go used.  More bang for the buck.  if all you're is fulfilling your restricted criteria until you can get a bigger bike, buy new...not so much bang for the buck but more return when you sell it...if it's in like-new condition.

More return when you resell a bike you bought new? A 2000 GS500 you pay $2,000 for will be worth say $1700 - $1800 a few years later. You lose $200 - $300. A brand new GS500 you pay $5200 for will be worth $2500 - $3000 in a few years. You lose $2,200 - $2,700. Not sure how you're figuring on the return, the GS depricates really quickly. I'd even go further and say they're almost not worth buying new since there are some much nicer bikes available within $1,000 of it. Unfortunately those bikes aren't so newbie friendly so it's a moot point. But I'd have to say if you really want to buy a new bike that's new rider friendly, your best bet is a 250 like the ninja. Even buying them new you won't lose more than $800 or so selling it in a few years.

I bought my 06 GS500F in december 06 for $5300 Canadian.  The dealerships were charging around 6k.  Ive been riding for a couple months now and it's been great to learn on and when I was in for service a little while ago, I asked the dealer what I could get on a trade in.  He would basically give me what I paid for it because he thought I paid them 6000.

Most used bikes seem to hold their value pretty well, maybe the supersports more so than others but up here the price doesnt drop very much.

Quote from: debtman7 on June 13, 2007, 05:59:00 PM
More return when you resell a bike you bought new? A 2000 GS500 you pay $2,000 for will be worth say $1700 - $1800 a few years later. You lose $200 - $300. A brand new GS500 you pay $5200 for will be worth $2500 - $3000 in a few years. You lose $2,200 - $2,700.

yeah like you said it'll lose a couple grand in a few years...but not in a season, like i said.  season old new bikes will sell just under msrp if they're in showroom shape.

Dude, these guys are all just f%$king with you and won't tell you the truth because they feel like idiots for buying a gs in the first place. The gs sucks, it's only for girls and old men and 12 year olds and f%$king illegal immigrants. Don't believe what they say, they all hate the gs and wish they'd never bought one but now its too late but I can save you just listen to me and not to them you can't trust them.

This bike is the best learners bike out there.  I had a Kaw 250 not long ago, but I outgrew it in a few months.  The 500 is enough to kill yourself on if that is what you are wanting to do.  If you are just wanting to learn how to ride, then this is the bike for you.  Do not expect the bike to pop out of the box and go 150mph, however it will break 100+ mph in no time.  And just wondering if your restrictions say anything about mods??? 


BTW....It will pop a wheelie no problem.