How's this for a heavier bike - Kawasaki Concours (600 pounds, dry)

I traded bikes with a co-worker for a weekend to get a feel for it and see if I wanted to buy one.  The biggest change is when you're pushing it around with the engine off.  It is heavy!

Riding is another story.  I was going down twisty roads faster in that tank than I normally did on the GS.  It has a relatively low center of gravity and wide tires.  It's a lot more stable in the turns.  It does take a little more effort to get it to lean, but will do it without any complaints.

What you learn on the GS absolutely transfer over to a larger bike.  As others have mentioned it's a great bike to learn on cause you can take it to the limit without doing triple the speed limit.

If your friend was talking about sport bikes, the only real difference you be a snappier throttle that might take a little while to get used to, but that's not a huge deal.

QuoteHow's this for a heavier bike - Kawasaki Concours (600 pounds, dry)

Ha! my dads bike that I ride occasionally is an 02 GoldWing 1800. 900 pounds without rider or stuff in the saddle bags. 110bhp 1800cc v6. Its hard as hell to turn compared to my gs but it turns no harder than my brothers zx6r 636. the goldwing is happy to grind the exhaust and pegs all day, that thing handles like no 900 pound bike should! i have actually raced the gold wing against my heavily modded gs with me on the gs and the gold wing cant keep up untill 50 where its a dead heat till 65. then he passes me slowly, when im topped out at 125ish hes still got some steam left and will power on to 140. in turns I know the gold wing could keep up for a while if stuff didnt grind so soon, but as it is i can easily put 30mph over the gold wings speed in every turn. some big bikes will blow your mind with there handling, I love my gs and would never trade it for any supersport bike but i am considering an sv650sf

if you haven't ye seen it, watch this vid of two Goldwings on Deals Gap - dragon's tail. The noise you hear on the vid is the camera bike scraping around the corners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo (2.39min) 

Michael

This is a great set of posts because I have to admit that I am thinking about trading my GS500F for a 'bigger' sportbike.  I really like the gs500, it's comfortable, easy to ride, and has enough power for anything that I would want to do with it.  Perhaps it has to do with doing burnouts and wheelies and just being 'bad'.  You can't really be 'bad' on a gs500.  I should have my head examined for even thinking about getting a bigger bike... 

Quote from: redhenracing2 on September 30, 2009, 11:18:05 AM
I traded a '98 CBR 600 for my GS and do not regret it one bit

Got any more CBRs you want to get rid of? I've got a GS I'd be happy to trade.

Lamahug: I know exactly how you feel. The GS is a fun bike, and perfectly acceptable for what it is, but there's nothing quite like 100hp and a nice suspension.

Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 05:11:33 PM
you guys are right. If you leave it on the street then you dont worry about it getting stolen etc. Personally i like gs500 as well but this is my first bike so i wouldnt know any better.


But my only question is that if i spend a few months/years on this bike.. will my experience transfer to bigger bikes? or i will have to learn all over again....

Everything you learn on your GS 500 will transfer to any bike you own in the future.  Then after a while you may start thinking (like I did) "Geez, I had more fun on a lighter bike than on a big heavy monster" and you may wish you still had it.  That's why I'll never sell a bike again unless I'm SURE I don't want it anymore.  I've ridden bikes from 125cc to 1600 cc and I like mid-size bikes best, but that's just me.  I'm weird.  Ignore everything I type.  I have to wring-out any bike I own from time to time.  It's a genetic defect.  That's why I don't want a CBR.  I want to stay in one piece.

Tell your CBR riding friend that his bike doesn't weigh any more than yours.  All it has is more power and bling factor.  It doesn't handle any better.  Middleweight sportbikes these days are all in the 400 lb range with gas, just like yours, and your bike handles about as well as anything.

Oh, by the way, take a look at this.  If you ever learn to ride your GS like this I guarantee your friends will never utter a peep about what you're riding ever again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj-KrlE7LKc&feature=channel_page

Quote from: bill14224 on October 01, 2009, 05:48:32 PM

Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 05:11:33 PM
you guys are right. If you leave it on the street then you dont worry about it getting stolen etc. Personally i like gs500 as well but this is my first bike so i wouldnt know any better.


But my only question is that if i spend a few months/years on this bike.. will my experience transfer to bigger bikes? or i will have to learn all over again....

Everything you learn on your GS 500 will transfer to any bike you own in the future.  Then after a while you may start thinking (like I did) "Geez, I had more fun on a lighter bike than on a big heavy monster" and you may wish you still had it.  That's why I'll never sell a bike again unless I'm SURE I don't want it anymore.  I've ridden bikes from 125cc to 1600 cc and I like mid-size bikes best, but that's just me.  I'm weird.  Ignore everything I type.  I have to wring-out any bike I own from time to time.  It's a genetic defect.  That's why I don't want a CBR.  I want to stay in one piece.

Tell your CBR riding friend that his bike doesn't weigh any more than yours.  All it has is more power and bling factor.  It doesn't handle any better.  Middleweight sportbikes these days are all in the 400 lb range with gas, just like yours, and your bike handles about as well as anything.

Yeah but i am having second thoughts about this 1998 gs500e. I think it is costing me more. I might have to change the battery, fix the turn signals, odometer light, change the chain, change both tires etc etc and i just spent around 120 on oil change and filter. So combine everything and u got more then 500-1000 expense, add this to the price i bought the bike for and i could have had cbr for the same price? or am i wrong....

Don't think that you wouldn't have to do the same maintenance to any bike you buy, and Supersports are abused mightily by many of the idiots that ride them - so you would likely wind up sinking even more money in.  I was talking with a guy who had a GSX-R 600 who either took of his fairing for a street fighter look (not likely) or low sided at some point (likely).  Guy told me about a friend of his who bought a used GSX-R 1000... rode it down the block and the engine blew up.  How much do you think a new GSX-R motor is?  $300 like a GS motor?

Oil change you should be doing yourself - $5 filter, $10 oil, $10 oil pan, $10 tools the first time, afterward $15.  Tires - many on here get them ~$100 a pair, sticky tires for a SS are at least $100 a tire.  I think you can start to see the picture... the GS is one of the cheapest bikes around when it comes to maintenance, plus when you do move up, you'll be able to fix nearly any problem you encounter.

Quote from: NF11624 on October 01, 2009, 06:59:12 PM
Don't think that you wouldn't have to do the same maintenance to any bike you buy, and Supersports are abused mightily by many of the idiots that ride them - so you would likely wind up sinking even more money in.  I was talking with a guy who had a GSX-R 600 who either took of his fairing for a street fighter look (not likely) or low sided at some point (likely).  Guy told me about a friend of his who bought a used GSX-R 1000... rode it down the block and the engine blew up.  How much do you think a new GSX-R motor is?  $300 like a GS motor?

Oil change you should be doing yourself - $5 filter, $10 oil, $10 oil pan, $10 tools the first time, afterward $15.  Tires - many on here get them ~$100 a pair, sticky tires for a SS are at least $100 a tire.  I think you can start to see the picture... the GS is one of the cheapest bikes around when it comes to maintenance, plus when you do move up, you'll be able to fix nearly any problem you encounter.

hmmm. Wow. Thanks for that man. Yeah i am doing oil change myself the next time. I only did it in the store this time because i do not have a garage so i cant open it up on the street?

If Gs is cheaper to maintain then i guess i will stick with this lol

Oil change takes 20-30 minutes so maybe you could pull it off in the street

Seriously though, NY seems like a tough place to be a biker of any kind.  There are a few other NYC folk on the board, try and get in touch with them and they might be able to help you out a ton.

Best of luck.

Not trying to bust your balls but $120 sounds outrageous for an oil change, was there other work done at the same time?  NF11624 is right, unless you know the previous owner buying a used sport bike is a real crap shoot; especially a 600cc sport bike.  I was talking to the owner of a local speed shop about this one day. His clientel is a lot of newbs/wannabes on crotch rockets and stunters.  He is the only shop around here with a dyno (BTY: my 01' GS puts out a whopping 38 HP at the rear wheel  ).  600's are the "cheapest" sport bikes so a lot of newbs choose them.  Those that don't tear them up stunting them end up ruining them by neglecting simple things like oil changes.  He said it is not uncommon to get in a bike with 10,000 miles on the original oil.  And the really bad part is the ones that aren't stunted still look good appearance wise so some unsuspectng buyer thinks he's getting a great deal on what turns out to be a good looking used bike with an abused engine.  Buyer beware I guess...

-Jessie

Quote from: NF11624 on October 01, 2009, 07:32:58 PM
Oil change takes 20-30 minutes so maybe you could pull it off in the street

Seriously though, NY seems like a tough place to be a biker of any kind.  There are a few other NYC folk on the board, try and get in touch with them and they might be able to help you out a ton.

Best of luck.

Thanks man...

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on October 01, 2009, 07:36:48 PM
Not trying to bust your balls but $120 sounds outrageous for an oil change, was there other work done at the same time?  NF11624 is right, unless you know the previous owner buying a used sport bike is a real crap shoot; especially a 600cc sport bike.  I was talking to the owner of a local speed shop about this one day. His clientel is a lot of newbs/wannabes on crotch rockets and stunters.  He is the only shop around here with a dyno (BTY: my 01' GS puts out a whopping 38 HP at the rear wheel  ).  600's are the "cheapest" sport bikes so a lot of newbs choose them.  Those that don't tear them up stunting them end up ruining them by neglecting simple things like oil changes.  He said it is not uncommon to get in a bike with 10,000 miles on the original oil.  And the really bad part is the ones that aren't stunted still look good appearance wise so some unsuspectng buyer thinks he's getting a great deal on what turns out to be a good looking used bike with an abused engine.  Buyer beware I guess...

-Jessie

yeah but one of my biker friend told me that its average price in nyc... maybe i should start doing this thing 2 huh? lmao

Man, and I thought the cost of living in Baltimore was bad...  Definitely invest in the tools and do it yourself next time, it is a simple project to undertake.  Just take your time and make sure you don't pinch the gasket for the oil filter when you re-install it.  And find a place that you can drop off the used oil for recycling.  Good luck to you!

-Jessie

Quote from: inexplicable718 on September 29, 2009, 04:36:38 PM
Yeah so this guy has cbr bike (i think ) and he just did a quick ride on my gs500 and he goes your motorcycle feels like a bicycle. This thing aint going to teach you anything about heavier bikes yadda yadda yadda. Is this true? I mean i thought if you start small then you can work your way up to heavier bike etc. But he goes everything is different on bigger bikes. Is this true or is this is true? 

It's obvious this guy hasn't been riding very long. The GS500 is a great bike to learning on. He only said that because the GS doesn't fit with what he like's in a bike. Most sportbike riders only care about the power / weight of a bike. And it doesn't matter that the bike is far better than they'll ever be able to ride. I've had lots of different bikes and have grown out of my sportbike phase.

yeah but one of my biker friend told me that its average price in nyc... maybe i should start doing this thing 2 huh? lmao
[/quote]

I live on the other side of the state and $120 is outrageous for an oil change, even in Tokyo!  I change my own oil, but garages here charge $50-$65, depending on the cost of the filter and oil, synthetic is extra of course.  If you have stock exhaust pipes changing the oil on our bike is so easy a 10-year-old can do it.  I'm not kidding, it's that easy.  When you're ready to do it just ask and there's a bunch of folks here who will be happy to walk you right through it.  You will need a new filter and 4 qts. of oil.  You will use about 3.2 qts of it and save the rest for topping-off later.  Don't use car oil.  I recommend 15W-40 truck oil from your favorite auto parts store.  Just tell them you want it for a bike and they'll hook you up.  Lotsa guys run truck oil in bikes, and I'm one of them.  Good stuff and way cheaper than Yamalube.

Quote from: inexplicable718 on October 01, 2009, 06:00:32 PM
i just spent around 120 on oil change and filter.

I had an oil/filter change done on my GS at a shop here in San Jose for about $100. Did it more for the convenience, but due to the high cost next time I'll probably do it myself. I thoguht it'd odd that oil change for a bike is way more expensive than an oil change for a car which is about $40 and worth it.  

For you $100+ oil changers is that with a GS 500F?  And do the fairings need to be removed for an oil change?

I can't imagine a 500e costing $100 for an oil change.

Quote from: VSG on October 02, 2009, 04:39:22 PM
For you $100+ oil changers is that with a GS 500F?  And do the fairings need to be removed for an oil change?

I can't imagine a 500e costing $100 for an oil change.

The $100 oil/filter change was for my naked '01. I coudln't imagine it either, but that's what I paid.  

QuoteJust tell them you want it for a bike and they'll hook you up.

You tell them you want to put truck oil in a bike and they'll think you're nuts.  They'll try to talk you out of it.  Tell them you're putting it in a '84 International Truck.