when did you decide to save the money on upgrades for a new bike ?

i'm at that point now. things are working well, and i'm itching for a sv650 or SM type of ride.

ideas/opinions ?

the GS is a turd.... buy a new bike

OK I'll clue you guys in on a little secret ... I ahve bigger bikes, I have had them before the GS and continue to have them through and after the GS.

If you buy a GS as a beginner, you can outgrow it. If you buy the GS as an experienced rider you wont outgrow it.

Ask the werase, so much experienced rider I am, I am so fast on the GS and so smooth too ... "lightning buddha" they call me.

Yea he may say I am slow, but my bike had 48K miles and I weigh 700 lbs. 

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: ohgood on February 12, 2009, 05:35:18 AMi'm at that point now. things are working well, and i'm itching for a sv650 or SM type of ride.

If you're cross-shopping an SV650 and an SM, sit down a bit and think about what you want out of a bike.   

Unless you mean one of the SM-marketed big naked bikes, in which case it sounds like you want a streetbike with the utility and comfort of the GS with a better suspension and more power?

Quote from: Roadstergal on February 12, 2009, 09:38:43 AM

Quote from: ohgood on February 12, 2009, 05:35:18 AMi'm at that point now. things are working well, and i'm itching for a sv650 or SM type of ride.

If you're cross-shopping an SV650 and an SM, sit down a bit and think about what you want out of a bike.   

Shhh!  Don't tell my SV that...   

Hey Buddha:

You put your finger on why I love the GS 500 so much.  I've ridden smaller and bigger bikes for 30 years, and the GS is the right size physically, has enough power, yet is economical.  It has the right level of technology in my mind, yet it's still relatively simple.  It has all the modern features I consider essential; box-section frame, monoshock, electronic ignition, 6 gears, and DOHC engine.  I like DOHC parallel twins for the same reasons you do and I also prefer them to V-twins. (ancient concept that should have died after the Korean War)  I love the sound, it's smooth enough, and it has the same nice, wide power band of an inline 4.  There is no way in hell I would buy any bike that didn't have DOHC.  To me, that is a must.  The only thing that would make me love it more is if it had belt drive.  The fact it's still in production after 21 years is evidence of what a satisfying motorcycle it is.  It is a joy to ride and own. (as long as one is mature enough to ignore his HP-addicted or Harley worshiping friends)  I have two friends in particular who are always nagging me to get a Harley and are always putting my bike down. (while they complain about vibration on longer rides and noise when they ride side-by-side)  I know why.  We don't share the same priorities and they can't stand the fact I have a better bike for 10% of the money!  Heck, if I had 15 grand to throw around I'd put it toward my daughter's college education!

I don't know what your budget is, but the SV 650 is still tough to beat, although I don't care for V-twins, but you're not me.  If you buy a standard don't overlook the Triumph Street Triple 675.  It's not as pricey as you might think and that thing is BAD!!

Quote from: bill14224 on February 12, 2009, 04:10:25 PMThe fact it's still in production after 21 years is evidence of what a satisfying motorcycle it is.

Well... the Nighthawk 250 remains in production after decades, so I can't agree that this criterion alone makes a great bike.  Or even a decent one.    From the manufacturer's standpoint, once you make one, the cost of making another is a lot less than R&D on a new bike; so as long as the manufacturers can keep interest in Bike X alive, they will.   Even better if Bike X shares parts with Bikes Y and Z.  (We were working on our bikes the other night, and were checking the parts that were the same between a '98 XR650L, an '02 CRF250X, and an '07 CRF150R - Japanese manufacturers know how to conserve...)

I think the plus of the GS is that it skirts the line between simplicity, inexpensiveness, and utility while still staying on the positive side of the last.  It's a bike that you ride, and it doesn't ride you.  Because of the simplicity and inexpensiveness, it's also a great bike for backyard engineers who want to make it into the bike they want.

That being said, my streetbike is now an FZ6*.  But my beat-upon I-won't-care-if-I-toss-it-down-the-road track bike is a GS...


(*The current gen is a better streetbike than the SV650 from everything but the mod-it-to-death standpoint, IMO.)

Quote from: Roadstergal on February 12, 2009, 06:10:11 PM

(*The current gen is a better streetbike than the SV650 from everything but the mod-it-to-death standpoint, IMO.)

Bah!

Well...   It does take 6 service manuals and half a flat file drawer of custom parts to maintain my SV...  But still!

Well your sv IIRC is not normal either 

I'm talking stock to stock.    I like that I didn't have to do anything to my FZ once I got it.  I'll muck with track bikes if I have to, but I don't want to wrench on my street bike.

RG youve got soem bad ass bikes. im envious. yours and your husbands bikes. you and him have somehting for every situation it seems

Ohh....

Wait.

What's "stock"?



BTW:  I do like the FZ.  Not so much for the engine, but the ergos are great.

Quote from: bill14224 on February 12, 2009, 04:10:25 PM
Hey Buddha:

You put your finger on why I love the GS 500 so much.  I've ridden smaller and bigger bikes for 30 years, and the GS is the right size physically, has enough power, yet is economical.  It has the right level of technology in my mind, yet it's still relatively simple.  It has all the modern features I consider essential; box-section frame, monoshock, electronic ignition, 6 gears, and DOHC engine.  I like DOHC parallel twins for the same reasons you do and I also prefer them to V-twins. (ancient concept that should have died after the Korean War)  I love the sound, it's smooth enough, and it has the same nice, wide power band of an inline 4.  There is no way in hell I would buy any bike that didn't have DOHC.  To me, that is a must.  The only thing that would make me love it more is if it had belt drive.  The fact it's still in production after 21 years is evidence of what a satisfying motorcycle it is.  It is a joy to ride and own. (as long as one is mature enough to ignore his HP-addicted or Harley worshiping friends)  I have two friends in particular who are always nagging me to get a Harley and are always putting my bike down. (while they complain about vibration on longer rides and noise when they ride side-by-side)  I know why.  We don't share the same priorities and they can't stand the fact I have a better bike for 10% of the money!  Heck, if I had 15 grand to throw around I'd put it toward my daughter's college education!

Yes, well said, glad to hear it form some one else. BTW Belt drive + 15 or 16 inch rear tire will be my wish list. Its got some weirdly costly parts that simply put, dont add to the value or useability. Katana wheels into GS made sense, but, no more 3.5 inch wheeled katana.
At one time I would have asked for hydraulic valves, but these GS valves run 15K or so between adjustments, I'll live with it.
Tight motor that dont use more oil than gas will be a next wish as will a twin disk front end. The 2 disks wear 1/10 or so the speed. Overall better quality of all the metal will be my next wish.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on February 12, 2009, 11:02:30 PMyou and him have somehting for every situation it seems

That's really our Moto Goal.  Bike for street, bike for track, bike for dualsport, bike for dirt/SM.  No compromises necessary.  It's taken time and saving, but it's worth it!  I used to swap bike to bike to bike looking for one that did everything - but there's no bike that does that.

Quote from: GeeP on February 12, 2009, 11:17:31 PMBTW:  I do like the FZ.  Not so much for the engine, but the ergos are great.

Have you tried the second-gen?  They made a lot of improvements to the FI.  It's the smoothest FI of any bike I've had.

I tell you, though, if they make the FZ1 with the Big Bang, I'm so there.

HM1100?  Fast enough for any track, rugged enough for the trail.

Quote from: Roadstergal on February 13, 2009, 09:36:06 AM
<snip> bike for dirt/SM.  No compromises necessary.  It's taken time and saving, but it's worth it! 

Ooooo R'gal. A bike for SM ... and here I thought handcuffs were the schnitz. So ... what you do with the bike for SM ... 
Cool.
Buddha.

Although I've heard SM and S&M compared, I've yet to try to cross-shop.


I wouldn't rec a Hypermotard for anything gnarlier than a fire road.     Actually, since I'd rather ride than wrench, Ducatis are right out.

(Too bad, they finally got the styling on the Monster right.)

Once the my gs is done theres one more bike to build.  Thats an 98 CBR600 F3 Smokin joe replia.  I feel in love with that bike the first time i seen it and after im done with the gs I will be building one.  It will probable just be a regular cbr F3 with the decals and paint. 

Quote from: Roadstergal on February 13, 2009, 09:36:06 AM
Have you tried the second-gen?  They made a lot of improvements to the FI.  It's the smoothest FI of any bike I've had.

I tell you, though, if they make the FZ1 with the Big Bang, I'm so there.

I haven't.

I seem to get Italian bike joy rides far more easily than Japanese bike joy rides.  I try not to accept them regardless.