I'm looking to purchase my first bike. I've heard good things about GS500s being great starter bikes. I'm not limited to just the GS500 body style. I would take any great starter bike under 600cc and under $2000 bucks as long as it is running or would need only slight work to be in good running order. If you've heard of anything in this range let me know...Thanks!

-Rafe-

Get either a gs500 or a ninja 500ex (aka 500r for later bikes).

Both bikes are excellent starter, commuter, and all around fun machines. They're cheap as snot, and run like it too !

"new" bike: $$$$$$ and you WILL drop it within a month of buying it

"new to you" gs500/ninja500: very little $$ and when you do drop it, it really doesn't matter.

Looks like you're going for the smart ride. Take a peek about what other people have to say online about the gs500, 500ex / 500r (ninja) and maybe even the ninja 250. There was a blog a while back where a hayabusa rider took out a 250 to tour on, and was amazed how much fun it was. See if I can find it.

Enjoy, there's a wealth of knowledge here.  

i would recommend the gsf but then again i am biased

I like the bandits...I was actually going to buy one awhile back but the friend of mine that was putting it back together wasn't done with it and he had to live or school so now I have to either wait til Christmas break or find something else...so I'm currently trying to find something else. Keep me posted if you know of anything in the midwest area.

Hey Prafeston,
Where are you located? Where are you looking to find a bike?
This would be helpful info.
Yours,
Todd

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-Suzuki-GSF-400-Baby-Bandit-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ230173281539QQihZ013QQcategoryZ50026QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Tell me what you guys think of this thing. Would it be worth the 366 mile drive?

My location is listed by my name. In with all that info. Springfield, Missouri.

LOoks and sounds ok to me, but whatta I know ?

Don't forget about http://www.craigslist.com. If you don't mind a 400 mile drive to pick it up, http://www.craigslist.com can save you alot of ebay headaches. The folks selling on ebay are usually going for the money ,and the folks on craigslist are usually just selling odds and ends to clean up.

Good luck

More than me that's for sure...haha. I've never owned a bike. Unless you count my mountain bike, road bike, and unicycle...haha. I've only ever driven one once too. I had a very trusting friend let me drive his Ninja 250. I think I hit like 70 on some winding country road...haha. Probably not smart. I'm used to driving my stick shift car and I down shifted on the motorcycle a bit to soon and the tire kinda barked on me...scared the crap out of me so I turned around and dropped the bike back off. It was a good enough experience to make me want to get one though.

wow, u live less then an hour from me, thats crazy, haha.  i live in mountain grove.  i might be intrested in selling.

That would be a nice easy drive...what's the details on the bike and give me an offer I'll see if I think it's worth that. Some pics would be good too.  You could send pics to my gmail. It's prafeston@gmail.com.

its a 90, with a rebuilt engine from a 99.  i bought it off a user on here from tennesee, acording to him it had less then 1,000 miles on a fresh rebuild, ive put about 2500 on it this year.  new rear tire put on last season.  has the buell turn signals all the way around.  new rear brakes 2 months ago, new fork seals two months ago.  had carbs gone thru last year.  bike runs great, it does have the cam tick, you can search on here an find its not a major issue.  i had planned on puttin in the washer this winter.  bike could use a paint job, i have a painter lined up that will paint for $50 labor, plus paint, could have done for you for whatever cost was.  i ride this bike to work everyday with no problems.  im lookin for 1500.  will also throw in a joe rocket rio mesh jacket with padding.  its an xl.  you can call me at 417-926-0202 if your intrested in takin a look at it.  with cash in hand id even allow a test ride. 

that pic was before the new engine, an buell turns.  the engine i have now is silver, with black outside cases, nice contrast.  reason for selling is i think im ready to step up, ive been on this bike for 3 years now

Looks nice, I'm interested. I'll contact my motorcyle friend and having him take a look at this and maybe we can come check it out this weekend? Sunday? Is the cam tick an easy fix or am I gonna need to suck in some money? Also, how does the new engine install look...was it put together professionally or does it look jerry rigged and crap? Thanks for the help. Also, you mentioned in the first reply that you "might" be interested in selling. Are you serious about getting rid of this cause I was talking to a guy in Tulsa last weekend and me and my friend were all set to go down there on Sunday and he stopped returning my calls. So just want to make sure I'm not going to get screwed again, cause my friend had come all the way from Rolla with his Subaru and moto-trailer to pick this thing up. Anyways just let me know.

Gonna check out this bike close to me on Sunday, but I'm still looking around, any leads?