at the end of the day i can't seem to think of a bike that does as well as a gs500 for anywhere near as cheaply.  i have done almost 37k in 3 years starting from new with just over half of that in the last 12 months.  there has been no real problems at all.  nothing to pay for except oil, tires and a chain plus back brake pads so far.  i just put the 3rd front tire on 200 miles ago and the 4th rear at the same time.  when i think of what i could replace this bike with nothing really comes to mind that doesn't make my wallet squirm.  is there a bike that does all this for the price?  tell me.

I had a GS450 back in the early 80s that did all that and got a little better economy than the 500!

I think you are probably right!   But that still doesn't stop me from yearning for heavier, faster iron.   Ever go onto YouTube and check out the Triumph bobbers? My God!   

Mmmm... Triumph, That will be my next bike... Triumph Speedmaster 

The GS 500 is a great value if you buy used and want a simple bike that's easier to work on yourself.  If you're buying new, the EX 500 Ninja or ER-6n are better choices.  The 500 Ninja is about the same price as a new GS and has 33% more power, giving up nothing but simplicity.  Same thing for the ER-6n, but you get even more power for about $800 more.  The SV 650 has been supplanted in my eyes by the ER-6n.  There are other bikes that are fun, versatile, and reliable, but none are as cheap unless you go into the smaller classes, which for a street bike I wouldn't recommend.  To me 400-500 cc is the floor for a street bike.  Smaller bikes than that are fun to ride, but they suck ass on the highway.

If I were buying a new bike now and had an eye on the sticker price, I'd go to my local Kawasaki dealer.

Quote from: bill14224 on March 21, 2009, 09:48:07 AMa simple bike that's easier to work on yourself.

Yes.  There are bikes that are good out-of-the-box and need nothing, like my FZ; there are some that you make into what you want, like the GS.

I don't agree that the Kwak parallel twin is better than the SV650.  The Gladius does look like it'll be worse, tho.

One of the 4-cyl GS family? A Honda CB ?  My guess is you're shopping for a UJM from the late eighties or (like the GS500) newer bike with 80's technology held over.

Roadstergal, I didn't say the EX500 was better than the SV650, but it's $2000 cheaper, and powerful enough.  However, all other things being equal, an in-line (parallel) cylinder arrangement is a superior design to a V-twin.  Why V-twins are still so popular I'll never know.  It's inherently inferior from a design standpoint.  Do you know why they were originally developed?  To shoehorn more power into a bicycle frame!  The ER-6 proves my point.  Parallel is better than V.

"Why V-twins are still so popular I'll never know.  It's inherently inferior from a design standpoint.  Do you know why they were originally developed?  To shoehorn more power into a bicycle frame!  The ER-6 proves my point.  Parallel is better than V."

Exactly, WTF were these manufactures thinking:  The Honda RVT RC-51, Aprilia's RSV 1000 R, Honda VTR 1000 superhawk, Suzuki SV 1000, Ducati 999, Buell 1200, and Suzuki v-strom DL 1000. 

For 10 years as Ducati won 8 World Superbike Championship Titles with its  V Twin engine, the 851, 888, 916 and 996.


In 2000, Honda released their own V Twin weapon, the VTR 1000 SP (RC51 in USA). Incredibly, it won the Championship Title in it's first year (Colin Edwards) of competition. Ducati then won in back 2001 with the 996R (Troy Bayliss) while the VTR SP came in 2nd (Colin Edwards). However, VTR SP won it back again in 2002 (Colin Edwards).

The 2000 Isle of Man TT race where the great Joey Dunlop won on the VTR SP ( a v twin) riding against much younger and fitter riders on higher reving in-line 4 engine bikes with 30 to 40 more horsepower. Joey was using the VTR's torque which was available at much lower RPM than the in-line 4 engine bikes.

The V twin RVT all so won the Suzuki 8 hours endurance race for 4 consecutive years proving that it is a super reliable engine.

In 2002, the VTR SP helped launched young Nicky Hayden's career with his first US Superbike Championship. In that same year, Hayden also won the US Daytona 200 endurance race using the VTR SP.

So, I hope the facts change your opinion at least a little bit.  V-Twins are just a completely different animal, a different sound and different power and torque characteristics.  Sure, v twins have the disadvantages to inline motors, but they also have their advantages as well.  Most of the V twins mentioned here will smoke an inline four off the line, but yes, the inline four will eventually catch up and out run the V.  But still the inlines still have a long way to go before the will handle with the VTR's, the Apprillas and the Dukes. 

EX500 is nice as long as you don't have to service it , then it becomes a PITA

The cooling system design is awful,if you get a leak or need to top up the fluid you have to remove the tank

which is not as simple as on GS ( filling reservoir does nothing )  ,overall design is lacking IMO.

I help my friend with his ER5 which is a naked euro version of EX and I hate working on it 

GS loses 10 horses but has a better chassis , upgrade the suspension and it eats other bikes in corners

I have mine for 8 years and use it mainly to commute in which it excels , the expense is minimal as I do all the service ,parts

are relatively cheap, fuel range and mileage is great and I don't think I could maintain any other as a piss poor student,

so it is a great bike in that sense just not as exhilarating

 

By all measures, the GS500 is just a downright practical bike - a great commuter, easy (and cheap!) to maintain and operate, plenty fast, competent in the twisties, and you can still have loads of fun on it.  It's perfect for my needs.  I've ridden her over 10K miles in the last 9 months.
In comparison, I resurrected my 73 RD 350 over the weekend, which is a f'in HOOT to ride, but at the end of the day, for me, the RD's lack of practicality (poor fuel economy, constant maintenance) is such a huge drawback that I'm gonna have to sell her.  Note that I'm keeping the GS... 10K miles on the RD would probably have killed the RD or my wallet.

That says it all!