Start off, HI THERE! 

My name is Mike and I live in Norcross, Georgia.
I'm a HUGE fan of the GS500E and hope to be riding one again soon.
Little background and a story of how a GS500E saved my life.

An Engineer I worked with in 2000 put the "riding" bug in my ear. To be honest, I was scared to death of motorcycles. I just KNEW that I wouldn't be able to shift, stop, or turn and would end up road paste in a matter or seconds. He and his wife were avid riders and they came up with a scheme. They had 3 KTM 400s and decided to take me riding up in Helen on some dirt trails. I figured that I could at least give it a shot as I try everything I can to understand and learn so we loaded up some bike on a trailer and made our way.

We reached our destination and I was given the "basic" rundown. Where everything was, how it operated, how to find neutral, how to start it, etc. (It was a kickstart.) We were in a big open field with a lot of very non-technical fire trails. To make me not nervous of having people watch, they pointed to the trail they were going to ride up and back and left me to putz around in the field at my own pace. At first, I was really frightened. It sat high and just felt weird. I played with the clutch engagement for about 5 min before I actually let out to ride. I did a few circles and practiced stopping. What do you know. It wasn't too hard and was pretty fun. Next thing I knew, I decided to head up the trail to find them. I gained confidence at an alarming rate and by the time I reached them, I passed them and flew over a 1' drop catching a little air in the process. When we reached the "stop" they could tell I was hooked. It had to be the Joker Smile I was sporting.

Fast forward about 1 month later, I had my permit and I had found a little 93 Suzuki GS500E on a ma n pa shop lot. Another Engineer I worked with that rode a Honda Shadow came with me to take a look at it and give his opinion. He said the bike would be a GREAT starter and it was in good shape. I struck the deal, paid the money and rode home on it. I was elated! It was unlike anything I thought riding could be. It was responsive and fun. Rolling on the throttle didn't scare me but gave this reassuring feeling of "Ok boss! I'll get you there!" Every turn was another smile and I was impressed by the mobility of the bike. It wasn't long before I was joing experienced riders in the mountains on twisties and reduced radius turns. Giggling at every stop. I was beyond hooked, I was in love.

My normal riding "group" consisted of my friend on a Shadow 750, another on a GSXR750, a guy on a R1, another on a Triumph TT and my "little ugly." (I named it that because their bikes were so pretty.) It was amusing because when we hit the twisties, they would always flag me through. They couldn't believe how nimble the bike was. I eventually had to relent and let each of them take turns on it while I fought their big bikes to do my bidding. They were all nice bikes but I always felt I fought them. Never felt that way with the GS. We had a "partnership." Two friends that knew each others thoughts. Two friends that loved to laugh and have a good time.

Eventually, I made a STUPID mistake. I found a REALLY good deal on a Katana 600 and bought it. I sold my GS because I didn't need two bikes. I regretted that decision within a week. Riding was never the same and I lost interest and sold the Katana and have been "bikeless" ever since. Now, I want to change that. Many friends want me to get something bigger but I always turn back to the GS and remember how much fun I had. I'll eventually own TWO bikes but I'll always keep a GS500, I'm sure of it.

Oh yeah. How the GS saved my life. True story.
I was riding to work one morning, heading up Jimmy Carter Blvd. As I was crossing over I-85, some idiot woman in an Excursion came barreling off the offramp and crossed all the lanes to get to this stop light to turn left. Unfortunately, she didn't look or obey the law and came right in front of me.  I saw her coming and only had two options, nail her or slam the brakes and pray that when I dumped, the two cars behind me didn't hit me and I didn't roll underneath the behemoth vehicle. I locked the front AND rear tire up and slid sideways. I literally saw her eyes and the cellphone she was talking on. (Blond, on a motorola with green eyes.) I could have touched her and I'm not exagerating. The vehicle passed and I continued the slide through the path and then let off the brakes. The bike never dumped and it straightened it self out I SWEAR on its own. I got to the light and IMMEDIATELY pulled over as my heart was RACING and I thought I was gonna pass out form the endorphin rush. Both cars pulled over to see if I was ok. One even offered to chase the idiot down for me. All I could do was sit there shaking. I was sure I was a goner but that little bike saved my life. I could have never done that on another bike and yet like an idiot, I got rid of it. Hopefully I learned from my mistake because here I am.

Hmmm. Sorry was so longwinded. Anyhoo. I'm looking for a GS500 to call my own. I'll get something soon. If not a GS500, probably a SV650 but I think we all know what I'd prefer.

Peace!

Mike

Heyas and welcome to the forums . What you call "long-winded" , i call a good read 

In addition to what you laready know of the GS , there's these forums for when you have questions , rants , if you're bored , etc etc ...

The main reason i own my computer is gaming ... all of EA's Battlefield series , a couple of other FPS's  . If i was on my computer , i was either playing BF or on the forums of the group i played with . That was a while ago . NOW , if i'm on my computer chances are i'm here 

-Eric

Hi Mike welcome to the nuthouse 

Jimmy Carter and 85 thats one very dangerous intersection and it's always busy, except at 3 or 4 in the morning.

GL on your search for a GS.

I had a 98 GSXR750 I bought new late in 97.I sold it a month later and went back to riding my friends Harley's and LTD's.Finally,after 11 years I bought another bike,a 1989 GS500.I wouldn't trade it for another bike,even if I didn't have to make payments.I bought my GS 2 months ago and I am currently building a custom 90GS.

Thanks for the welcomes all.
I see at least one local here. (blue05twin)
Yeah, I own a condo close to that intersection.
I've lived there 6+ years. I avoid Jimmy Carter like the PLAGUE. (AWFUL street)

Usually if I'm on my computer, I'm poking around a forum, searching for a bike(hint hint), typing to my LJ or playing City of Heroes. (I'm a busybody)

Hey blue, if you get bored in early July, I'll be in a Mazda show/meet at D&B off 85.  =)

Cheers!

P.S. While I'm here, might as well get the stupid question out of the way.   

Can you still buy the "chin spoilers" for this bike? *ducks incoming rotten vegetables*   

Quote from: genEricStL on June 24, 2007, 05:56:13 PM
Heyas and welcome to the forums . What you call "long-winded" , i call a good read 

+1!  And welcome!! 

Now....where are my rotten tomatoes..... 

anoder newb!  ya'll hold 'em down, I'll get the lawn darts...

Quote from: makenzie71 on June 24, 2007, 09:46:42 PM
anoder newb!  ya'll hold 'em down, I'll get the lawn darts...

Man , i'd love to still have a set of those things . It seems you aren't supposed to throw them at each other ... who knew  I impaled my buddy's thigh with one of them after he hit me in the back with one about 14-15yrs ago .. his mom pitched them , even though we told her they were accidents 

Tsk, tsk...such violence... 

Wonder if I still have those handcuffs.....

Eh , she deserved the irritation if nothing else . When she'd get mad she'd throw lightbulbs at him , and once at me for riding my GT (bicycle) down the stairs from their 2nd level . We didn't know she was home 

Umm , yeah , anyway , welcome to the forums , everyone here has your best interests at heart . Like when they tell SpcTerry to clip that pesky brake line hanging off his right handlebar ... touching , heartfelt kindness 

 

Yeah everything was going great without that stupid line too........until I hit that wall

watch out for pandy she likes to molest newbs

and btw OP i still miss my original gs, i had to sell it, to help with my mothers med bills, ive had otehr bikes since then, but the gs hols a special place in my heart

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on June 24, 2007, 11:34:07 PM
watch out for pandy she likes to molest newbs

Or make them pandy their bike

I miss my GS too Yama.........  Hell I miss riding

Well make sure you let your thumb heal up before you get back on 

Step 1: report to surgery tuesday for removal of last pin  ( I'll be semi back to normal then....no pins or braces or casts I just have to baby it)
Step 2: Pick up this fuckin bike I want
Step 3:  Strip bike down completely
Step 4: Repaint frame and swingarm black
Step 5: re-assemble
Step 6: clean carbs

Doc said 1 month from surgery i can more than likely ride so I'm gonna take my time with the bike....get it looking mean as hell

i couldn't do that.  i do more damage to my body working on my bike/car than i do abusing my bike/car.