Nice forum here. My first post too!
Anyhow. . .
I don't even own a GS500, or any motorcycle for that matter.
(So technically, if I don't own a bike, it's impossible for me to be a squid, right?
And as a proper noobie I did look around for a section that says "Noobs Post Here" but this board seems a bit too laid back for such topics.

So here we go. . .
I was thinking about getting a bike since I got that second childhood thing going (yeah, I'm in my 50's). A little over a year ago I took a MSF course, got my "M" endorsement, picked up a 155cc scooter to fart around town on, and now I want more. The next logical step up would of course be a GS500F, right?

So I do some research and discover a controversial GS500 phenomena. It's the most unique thing I have ever come across. Half the people I talk to say the GS500 is the most wonderful sub-600cc bike ever created, and the other half say Please, Please, don't waste your money on a GS500 because in two weeks you'll be selling it to trade up to a "real" bike.

One impressive GS feature: I can pick up a 2 year old GS with 2K miles on it for about $3000. That is so cheap it feels criminal. Heck, I got $4500 tied up in my stinky 65 MPH scooter. Seems I can't go wrong with a GS500F, even if do happen to trade it at a loss in 6 months.

Oh yeah, my second choice was a DL650. I got a chance to ride an older one around the block this summer at a picnic. Geez, what a top heavy behemoth! But then again, I'm used to a 300 pound scooter so who am I to judge a Wee-Strom.

Glad I found you GStwin guys/gals.
Lots of good info on this "contraversal" bike.
Regards,
-Electrojake-

I was where you are a year ago.  At 55 I took the MSF course.  Instructor recommended something in the 450 to 650 cc range.  I found a 2007 GS500F with only 400 miles on it and could not be happier.  I routinely ride a 56 mile round trip commute and do 250+ mile rides on weekend.  The GS500 will anything you can do on a bike, legally.  To only thing I can say for a down side is the lack of aftermarket goodies to make the bike more touring friendly.  But this site is the place to be to overcome that.

If you like the GS500F and it fits you, buy and others be hanged,

Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down,

Chuck

Welcome to the board.

You should be a pretty good judge of how long you could last on a GS. How many miles have you put on your scooter? If you were tired of the power in a week you may do better to move to a 600. If you feel like you'd be fine on something less than a 600, you probably would. The fact that you're in your 50s is a good sign too, because you don't have to deal with the peer pressure to look cool anymore than us 20some year olds do, which is half the reason so many fast bikes sell in this country.

Aside from the addition of the fairing on the F model, the bike hasn't changed much in the past 20 years. $3000 is on the top end of what you should ever pay for a used GS, you can definitely find them in good shape under $2000 if you get one that's at least 5 years old. You could get a clean one for $3000, but you can also find a pretty decent CBR 600F4i/F4/F3 or a 98-2002 zx6r for that kinda money as well. Even a Yamaha yzf600r, which used to be their sportbike, has now been demoted to a light sport tourer, and might be up your alley for less than $3000. SV650s also are a good option, but they have a pretty high resale, so you're probably looking at no less than $3000 on one of those, no clue why.

Not trying to talk you into a bigger bike, because the GS is a great bike, and plenty of people here have been find putting 40k+ miles on them, but when I hear about people spending thousands on one, I wonder what's going on. I paid $1500 for mine. It's old, but it's still the same GS they've been making. Oh, forgot to mention, any of the previously mentioned bikes have much lower handlebars than the GS, except for the SV which can come with the same style.

Welcome.
I came "back to bikes" at about 53, ten yrs ago. I got a GS500 and rode it across Europe and had a a great time on it, yes I did eventually trade up to the 650 Bandit I ride now but it was a great deal.
The GS is a very very good "all rounder" and has the advantages of being the type of bike you can work on yourself if you want and this forum for good information and tech backup.
Enjoy.

welcome to the site!

I bought my GS500 3 months after my MSF course as a 'learner' bike, and then fell in love with it.

Quote from: Chuck500 on October 31, 2009, 08:39:16 PM
If you like the GS500F and it fits you, buy and others be hanged,
Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down,
Chuck

Melding into the GS500 pedigree of enthusiasts may be exactly what the doctor ordered. The right bike and the right forum crew to support it. Thanks for your replies to my first post.
It seems that a couple of the things I was looking to evade are automatically avoided with the GS500 crowd. . .

1.) Woefully un-trained middle aged Harley riders that regard the rear brake pedal as the answer to every situation, using the absolute minimum of protective gear, and (my favorite), their bike goes into winter storage as soon as temperatures dip below 58 degrees F. (Come-on, you know the type)

2.) The youthful squid that frequently run their liter bikes on one wheel, (be it front or rear) on public roads, at incredible rates of speed.
I will admit one thing here: Those young fellows have some incredible skill and reflexes. They have better control of a 500 pound liter bike than I can muster on my kids RM-85.

So. . .
As the frigid weather approaches the North East, used bike prices are sure to drop.
I have a feeling that soon I'll have a late model GS sitting in the garage. Since I like to wrench; a re-jet and an air-box mod will probably happen the first week.

Thanks again for the warm welcome!
-Ej-

P.S. If my statements in paragraph 1.) above resemble either of my two brother-in-laws, its purely coincidental. No, really!
 
Regards,
-Ej-

Quote from: Electrojake on October 31, 2009, 07:52:25 PM
and the other half say Please, Please, don't waste your money on a GS500 because in two weeks you'll be selling it to trade up to a "real" bike.[/b]

These people are idiots.

Idiots?, Yes sir, I'm beginning to learn that.
With less than two years in the saddle I have also learned that street motorcycling has got to be one of the most misunderstood activities on the planet.

It's completely "different" than it looks to the average bystander. I soon found out that handling the bike is the easy part, its handling street traffic that is incredibly demanding. To say it's different than driving a cage is an understatement. I never realized the tremendous difference until I began to (street) ride myself. What a wake-up call! Practice, MSF, and studying authors like David Hough, Ken Condon and the like, have kept me from killing myself out there during a point in my career when I was simply too green to even realize I was in danger.

By now I thought I'd have this street riding gig mastered.
Not even close.
There is a lot more to this sport (art) than I had ever imagined.
Perhaps I'll hold off on the Busa and go with the GS for now.

Fascinating sport you have here.
Glad to be getting a look at it from the inside.
-Ej-

I don't know what happened to *my* reply that I typed in last night.   Must not have hit "Post".

Anyway, I came to motorcycling at 38, and had nothing more than scooter experience before then.  I did all kinds of research before settling on a '97 GS500 E.   After 6 months and 5000 miles, it was showing signs of long-term neglect and I traded up to an '05 F, which I had for nearly 2 years and 10,000 problem-free miles.    Well, OK, the fork seals were shiat at 4,200 miles, but were replaced under warranty.

The GS is a great bike, not just a "first" bike.   Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, usually cheap to fix, especially if you DIY.  And you'll find this forum to be unusually helpful, and there seems to be an unofficial "specialist" for any possible mechanical problem you have.  If you have to, say, swap handlebars, someone will have done it in the past and will be happy to provide 37 photographs in high-def, with sound and animated diagrams.  It's like that in here.   

About 2.5 years ago, I traded to a DL650 Wee-Strom.   Yes, it does have a higher center of gravity, but you quickly adjust to that.   In fact, last week I took an 80 mile ride for my first time with someone riding biatch, with no problems.   It is also a highly capable bike that is faster than the GS AND it gets 58 mpg.  I've got 10,000 miles on that now.

So...welcome to the insane asyllum!  You'll get used  to the smell in here.   No, we've tried to air the place out, it's mostly a personal hygiene thing. 

Quote from: Electrojake on October 31, 2009, 07:52:25 PM
Nice forum here. My first post too!
....words....


-Electrojake-

gonna be interesting to read your posts if/when you buy a bike. check out the ninja 500 also. it's very similar in riding style, power, handling. the gs's engine seems to be more bullet proof, and there isn't liquid to worry about keeping it cool. the guys over at ex-500.com have a very similar and awesome forum, just figured i'd point you there.

you're completely right about the general riders attitude here. sure, we all have our mischeivious days, but for the most part it's about the ride, and not about showing off a chrome bit or a dyno-chart.

about the one 1/2 vs the other- got me... i don't like sitting on 10000 miles of concrete goldwingesque, or tearing about with 1/10th of my wits operating the machine either. as far as protection, the more the merrier. best protection ? that thar tater you got between your shoulders. all that dirt riding should keep you alive.

enjoy the ride, post some pics (this is mandatory for all the new guys ) and be safe.

I'm gonna say that a 600cc supersport  (or beyond) is probably a bad idea - especially coming from a tiny scooter.  There are many things that you don't have to worry about with the GS and you can build your skills and confidence - especially in the northeast.  Extreme power/speed being one issue.  Cold tires being another issue.  More powerful brakes is another thing.  You don't want to lock up the rear brake when you are going 55+ cause you twisted the throttle a little too much and panic - because you don't have the skills yet.  These are just the issues I''ve seen in person - there are probably many more things to worry about.  That said - these bikes are a huge rush... I won't deny that.  And riding them on the street is almost effortless - first and second gear and and will take you up to beyond almost any speed limit in the country.  But don't be fooled - these bikes are better than most of the people riding them (never mind the literbikes) and will not forgive you for your mistakes.  Not trying to sound like a hater - but I don't want anyone with any sense (which you seem to have ) to end up a statistic because they started on something like this. 

I have to say that for my money - the GS500 is the best starter street bike.  Comfortable.  Economical.  Easy to fix.  Easy to ride.  You can build your skills easily - both riding and mechanic - and these will transfer to any bike you want to buy.  And once you do a rejet the only real issue I can find with the GS - that being cold starts - will be gone.  I also am recommending the SV650 these days - more power, similar reliability, better looking (IMO) , more modern (in other respects).

Anyway - I hope you enjoy whatever you pick up, and stay around this forum no matter what

^ what they all said.

The GS is a great bike.  If you intend to ride in late fall to winter in Jersey, be prepared for a 15 minute warm-up time.  I owned a GS500E and, for a short time, a Ninja500 which belonged to my wife at the time though she never rode it, which means I got to 'exercise' her bike for her once in a while.  I prefer the GS, personally.  Both have divey front ends and archaic power plants, but I just liked the throttle response and handling a little better on the GS.  Now that the bike's look has been freed from the 1980's, the GS is an easy choice (though if Kawasaki does to the Ninja500 what they did to the 250, I may change my tune).

After the GS, I rode an SV650 for two years, and have been riding a 600 SS for about two years now.  I am fairly sure that I would be dead today had I decided to start on a "real" bike.  Think about this: An 07 ZZR 600 with a rider my size packs roughly the power to weight ratio of a Corvette LT1; would you put an inexperienced driver in one of those?.  Also, don't let the amount of time you spend from one bike to the next be a factor.  Bike shopping is one of the most enjoyable activities a ride can engage in!

Good luck with your bike shopping 

The DL650 (Wee-Strom) is a GREAT bike.  In fact, the guy who sold me my GS500E now owns a V-Strom 659 which I have ridden a couple of times.  It has about 63HP (compared to 39HP for the GS), is fuel-injected with great mileage, and liquid cooled.  It handles well and is a comfortable bike for me.

I love my GS500E and have put lots of miles on it, including a 2,000 mile trip and a 1,000 mile trip.  It handles great (after Progressive springs) and is easy to maintain.  It was cheap and has cost me very little to keep up.

I'd say that if you have eyes to tour, I'd opt for the V-Strom.   There are easily available hard bags for it and it has plenty of power for touring with luggage into the wind (my GS50 struggles a little at times).  You can't go wrong with either bike!

The DL650 or the SV both would be a dream to own but as Clint Eastwood once said, "A man's got to know his limitations".
I'm coming off a 300 pound scooter. I'd best stay with the GS for now. Plus I'd cry if I dropped $7000.00 worth of Wee-Strom.

As for the "type" of bike I'm interested in, the adventure/tourer genre fascinates me. I would feel the GS suits that more than the sporty Ninja.

Plus I do have a tendency to pack a little heavy: Maps, tools, tire plug kit w/c02, first aid stuff, spare fuel, water, extra visor, plus a selection of cold weather survival items when winter riding. My little 155 is set up like a BMW F800GS, including outlets for electric gloves & vest, on-board GMRS communications equipment, and a Ram mounted GPS system. It's a gadget junkie's dream.
I like to think that I could do a ring job at a stop light if I had to.
(But alas, no on-board air compressor or MIG welder). Yeah, I only have a 170 watt stator. 

Besides, it's hilarious to watch my fat, balding, skunk-breath brother-in-law on his Road King follow me into a tight right hander at about 45 and see him totally miss the apex by trying to keep up with my super flickable 155cc scoot through the curve. Now mind you, I do get a little uneasy watching him blow right over the double yellows into the oncoming traffic and then glide that big beauty back into his own lane as if "he meant to do that", but the entertainment value of watching this self proclaimed outlaw biker blow it in the twisties is priceless.

Yeah, this GS thing is going to be fun.
Give me the check book honey,
I'm going shopping!
-Ej-

P.S. Thanks for all the input.
I wish I had something to give back to the community here, but I guess it'll be a while before I get to that point.
The crew here has made this a great first thread.
Regards,
-Ej-

don't worry about helping out, that is a side effect of liking the forum.  Just learn [the search feature is nifty for things like tires, exhaust and common mods at least for GSs], ask questions, practice with whatever you choose when you finally acquire two wheels and share the experiences along the way.   

Oh yeah and welcome and what ^ said too


PS:  avoid political treads ... they almost always end badly 

Quote from: Electrojake on November 03, 2009, 03:55:37 PM

Plus I do have a tendency to pack a little heavy: Maps, tools, tire plug kit w/c02, first aid stuff, spare fuel, water, extra visor, plus a selection of cold weather survival items when winter riding. My little 155 is set up like a BMW F800GS, including outlets for electric gloves & vest, on-board GMRS communications equipment, and a Ram mounted GPS system. It's a gadget junkie's dream.

I'm the same way, I'm a commuter by nature, with a tendency to be overly prepared. I like to always have rain pants, a rain jacket, and everything else you can think of under your seat. That's why I'm always going to love these bikes.....



Look at that trunk space!!!

One more bit of advice for you, EJ:  Don't ask about oil.  Trust me.

Read this:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,6707.0.html

I'm a comfy 53 years old. I can buy what ever I want.
But what I can't afford, is to drop a big new bike because I simply don't know what the hell I'm doing yet. Plus, I want to be comfortable out there, not frightened.
How's that old saying go. . .
Its more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than to ride a fast bike slow.

Some other items worth a mention. . .
* Hey tt_four, thanks for posting the pic's of your immaculate bike.
* I won't discuss politics or motor oil until my post count is at least 250.
* Speaking of which; the post count on some of you guys/gals is unbelievable. Well into the thousands! Wow.
* Thanks for the link to Sport-touring.net. I didn't know that community was out there.
* I see David Hough finally made it into the AMA Hall of Fame. Nice!

And finally. . .
It seems my (almost) new GS500F will be getting on the road at about the same time as the salt season. Last winter I (inadvertently) destroyed the finish on my scoot by winter riding. I didn't realize the calcium chloride and rock salt from the roads will corrode the bike almost instantly. I use a marine product called Salt-Away. It works wonders but I couldn't bear the thought of trashing the GS the way I scarred my little Yamaha. I didn't know bikes were so much more sensitive to road grime than a typical automobile.
Man, I learned that the hard way.
-Ej-

That's not my bike, just one of my favorites. Trunk space is one of the things I always check out when I'm looking at a bike, and as much as I love a good undertail exhaust, I don't know if I could ever do it at the sacrifice of my under seat storage. I also doubt I'll ever get one because I'm partial to naked bikes, and those things just look goofy without the front fairing on there to make up for the huge back end. If I wanted a fully faired sportbike though, I'd be all over it.

Winter riding is a mess. I rode my last bike until there was too much ice on the ground to do it safely, and my bike came out alright. Not to stereotype, but I would assume a scooter would have a lot of parts made from cheap metal, covered in cheap paint, as opposed to a nicer motorcycle, so maybe that's why mine held up a little better. I tried to wash it frequently as well. The GS, although fun, does unfortunately have plenty of cheap parts made out of cheap metal. Nothing you can't sand and repaint when spring comes though. I pulled my GS out of storage after a 4-5 year hibernation. I started getting it ready in spring, but I took my time doing it, and didn't get it ready to go until the weather was going down hill. I decided to just hold off until spring because who wants to take a fresh bike out and get that taste in your mouth 2 weeks before you're going to put it away for the winter? I think it would've just made my winter that much longer.

If you look around you can also find forums based around beginner bikes. You're not technically a beginner since you've had the scooter, but they'll still give you good advice about what bikes are easier to learn on, and less lethal if you make a mistake, which seems to be what you're going for. I joined one about a month ago just for the conversation, but I can't remember what the website is anymore!