How would the gs500 with a windshield\bags compare to a Vstar 650\windshield\bags on the highway for comfort and wind.

Not worried about speed as I know both will easily do my highway speed. 

I have only ever considered myself on a cruiser, until many forum choice topics have always added the GS500 to my list.

Now my curiosity is tweaked and have googled for months now.

Just trying to break the stereotype thought that sport look bikes are uncomfortable.

Test ride seems to be tough to get.....

NOT a new rider...just want a utility daily highway work commuter....only 30min highway each way at 100km/h and 120km/h for passing spurts.  Even the 120 will offer a huge speed ticket.

Replacing a 1982 GN125 that I proudly rode for 9 years every single non-winter day as an in-city commuter.  Loved it.  But last year moved out of city.....obviously the 125 wont do highway. And anything will be less cramped than that bike.

Will still probably end up with a cruiser.....wife likes them better and wants to learn so she can use bike on my dayoffs.  That and my construction boots and grubby work wear may look silly on a sport look bike. Seems easier to toss any saddle baggage on and go....gs500 seems limited without extensive searching

Waiting till summer bike prices are over

At 110 kph the GS500 would probably be fine.  My 2004 GS500F is almost exclusively an in-town commuter.  I love it up to about 60-65 mph, but for me at 70 it starts getting a bit "buzzy."  Down here in FL interstate driving is often closer to 80 mph or 130kph and to me the vibration starts to get obtrusive at that point.  If I were doing daily highway runs for 30 minutes or more I'd probably opt for something a bit bigger.

I commute daily with my GS (09 F model) of which ~30% is 100kmh + hwy.  It's not the *greatest* on the highway, specifically at 120kmh + speeds.  Don't get me wrong, its more that do-able, Ive been doing it for 2 years.  I do get some arm and hand vibration after a while, specifically in my throttle hand since I can take my left hand off and rest it on the tank.  But dont get on one expecting cruiser comfort ... or even SV type comfort for that matter.  Its the "cheap seat" commuter in my opinion. 

Speeds here are obviously higher than where you are...120kph doesn't even get you looked at (limit is 110kph on major hiways...100kph on most other hiways)...the GS is excellent up to those speeds...as for the comfort issue, if you are comfortable riding a mountain bike, you will be comfortable on the GS...it is much lighter and easier to ride than the cruiser and will be more "peppy"...I really enjoyed mine, and miss the little guy...but at the higher speeds (above 120kph) you need to gear down and rev it to get acceleration...but up to 120kph, it goes quite well...

Since most of my riding is on hiway at higher speeds, I went for a bigger bike...if I was doing lots of commuting and riding in the city (I live in a small community outside of a city) I would have kept the GS, it was much better for bombing around town...the GS500 is higher performance than the V Star 650, so performance shouldn't be an issue for you...just getting over the sporty look is the biggest hurdle for you...if you go with the naked version, it looks more like a "standard" than a "sport" bike...

Good Luck!!

Later.

What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.

Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.

If the above was for me - its not an excessive vibration but after a solid 30min at 120+kmh my hand is sometimes a tad numb for a spell.  Since my bike is dealer new, and had regular service I'll *assume* that engine tuning, balanced wheel etc etc is all where it should be as per Suzuki dealer spec.  THe seat is sh1t and perhaps some new gel grips would remedy the problem...again, Ive put just over 10k on the bike since new in 09 and thats daily commuting and about a dozen road trips.  The above is my only real beef as far as the GS being a commuiting/touring rig.

I run my GS without windshield or bags, but I do occasionally use a Nelson-Riggs tailbag (of the smallest size).  Even for all day rides at 65mph average, I don't find any fatigue than I would with a windshield that directs the windblast at my head; even during the winter.  As for luggage, it depends on what you need to lug around.

For my 750 Virago, again I prefer to ride without a shield.  It used to have a Plexifairing III on it, but it made the steering heavy, and I just plain did not like it.  I have a Givi trunk and some JC Whitney catalog hardbags, that were installed by the previous owner, and I love 'em!

I've been riding for over 24 years, so crosswinds are no longer an issue, but if you're going to get a windshield, I would suggest the smallest you're willing to go for.  My favorite, that I can transfer between motorcycles, is the National Cycle N2490, and it's more adjustable than Rifle's Spitfire.

Quote from: fraze11 on June 17, 2011, 10:29:56 AM

Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.

If the above was for me - its not an excessive vibration but after a solid 30min at 120+kmh my hand is sometimes a tad numb for a spell.  Since my bike is dealer new, and had regular service I'll *assume* that engine tuning, balanced wheel etc etc is all where it should be as per Suzuki dealer spec.  THe seat is sh1t and perhaps some new gel grips would remedy the problem...again, Ive put just over 10k on the bike since new in 09 and thats daily commuting and about a dozen road trips.  The above is my only real beef as far as the GS being a commuiting/touring rig.

I'd say it's improper riding posture by putting too much pressure on the bars.  Question: do you have problems steering going downhill?  If you do, it's due to improper riding posture.

Quote from: scratch on June 17, 2011, 10:37:46 AM

Quote from: fraze11 on June 17, 2011, 10:29:56 AM

Quote from: tb0lt on June 17, 2011, 10:14:42 AM
What vibration? Wheels or motor? I've done multiple nonstop 90mph+ 30 min runs and I've never noticed anything uncomfortable except for the seat itself. Gel grips, gel gloves, good bar end weights, proper engine tuning (to smooth out the engine) and properly balanced wheel and tire sets in the front and rear make the bike very comfortable to ride.

If the above was for me - its not an excessive vibration but after a solid 30min at 120+kmh my hand is sometimes a tad numb for a spell.  Since my bike is dealer new, and had regular service I'll *assume* that engine tuning, balanced wheel etc etc is all where it should be as per Suzuki dealer spec.  THe seat is sh1t and perhaps some new gel grips would remedy the problem...again, Ive put just over 10k on the bike since new in 09 and thats daily commuting and about a dozen road trips.  The above is my only real beef as far as the GS being a commuiting/touring rig.

I'd say it's improper riding posture by putting too much pressure on the bars.  Question: do you have problems steering going downhill?  If you do, it's due to improper riding posture.

No, no steering problems anywhere.  Again, not to cite wrong or right, but I actually maintain a fairly relaxed and comfortable grip while riding. everyone has a slighly different position. Yes sometimes in excessive windy situations I might have a more firmer grip but to my knowledge my riding posture is good. 

In windy situations it is best to have less grip.  When the wind buffets your upper body it can inflect unwanted steering inputs through your arms.  Grip the tank with your knees, tighten your abs and use them to support your upper body, thus detaching your arms from the handlebars.  A good way to test if you're too tight on the bars, or if you're putting too much weight on the bars, is to do the funky chicken.  If you can't flap your elbows like a chicken, you're too tight (or leaning too much on them).

They're handlebars, not hold-on-for-dear-life bars.

Hope this helps.

Quote from: z driver 88t on June 17, 2011, 10:02:53 AM
At 110 kph the GS500 would probably be fine.  My 2004 GS500F is almost exclusively an in-town commuter.  I love it up to about 60-65 mph, but for me at 70 it starts getting a bit "buzzy."  Down here in FL interstate driving is often closer to 80 mph or 130kph and to me the vibration starts to get obtrusive at that point.  If I were doing daily highway runs for 30 minutes or more I'd probably opt for something a bit bigger.

I have a heavily modified 89 GS and three stock GS.I have no issues riding them 500 miles without stopping.If you are having vibrations through your bars,something isn't right.All most all of my riding is between 65 and 75 MPH and on interstates that are grooved and getting prepared for new black top.

I don't have a vibration problem with any of my bikes. However, I do have heavy R&G bar ends on all of them. Some people take off the bar end weights or put on pretty ones of aluminum that have no mass at all. Heavy bar ends dampen the vibrations. The full fairing on Suzi does make a difference in highway comfort. Riding Trey (no fairing) or Junior (belly pan and headlight cowling) there is a lot more wind. Another thing the full fairing does is help keep water off of your legs (Seattle, you know).

All my bikes now have the older factory clip ons. Those bars are thick steel and very heavy. I'm sure that helps keep down vibrations. If you put on aluminum bars, you'll be missing all that massive steel that helps dampen vibrations.

My first long trip on Suzi was when she still had the 2009 factory bars (they are steel). No vibration problem.

Keep the mass in the bars & bar ends, and like others said - keep things balanced and in tune - and you'll find your half hour highway trips on a GS500 are OK. Thicker gloves and softer grips help as they would with any bike you ride for long distances.

EDIT:  Just re-read your post.  A GS with a zero grav touring windshield and the cortech sport bags with probably serve your needs handily.

I have a  Honda Magna and a GS500. The ergonomics of the 500 are much better for me on the highway. I put just over 1600 K (1000 Miles) on the 500 this week on a trip into the mountains of BC with no ill effects. On the cruiser my lower back is sore after about an hour.

Ken

Zapblam:

Thanks for asking.

For me, the GS500 is More comfortable than the Vstar 650 cruiser. I can ride my GS all day, 500km in a day no probs. two 500km days back to back, no probs. BUT, 10 minutes on the 650 Vstar and my back was aching like a mother. Couldn't wait to get off.

The GS can Easily be set of for touring. Here's a pic of one such set up (I use a tank bacg and the same rear bag as pictured - which can be flipped around the other way if carrying a pillion, or zipped back-to-back with another bag for more capacity.


The 650 I rode, when doing a tight U-turn the handbars hit my knees. No such issue on the GS.

I ride my GS daily. With workboots. No-one thinks it is odd. And if they do, who friggin well cares? The opinions of strangers in cars of me on my bike is irrelevant to me.

As for speed. At 140kph the GS will sit at 9,000 rpm (redline at 11k) in 4th. But you can also just cruise along in 4th doing 60kph. So it's quite a useful gear for getting onto the highway. But once on the highway, kick it to 5th and then 6th and it'll sit all day. 100kph is 5k, 110 is about 5,5k and 120 is 6k. And it has no probs sitting at 120 all day long. Overtaking is a breeze. The 650 Vstar I rode had trouble getting to 120 and I wouldn't want to be trying to overtake anything on one. Here's a video of a GS500 doing plenty of overtaking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pXUfvzSx2k

Hope this helps.

Michael

I haven't noticed any vibration issues on my 09 model.  I added bar risers that raised the stock bars up 1 inch and back 1 3/8 inch, which makes for a more upright riding position.  Much more comfortable for me.  I also added a laminar lip to the stock windscreen, which made a world of difference with wind buffeting. The Zero Gravity touring screen would certainly look better, but not having used one I can't comment on how much it actually helps with wind buffeting.   I use Cortech saddle bags and top bag, and commute on the bike most days.  The GS works great for me, and my only complaint is that wind gusts push me around more than on my last bike, which was a GS650GL.  However, from an ergonomics perspective, the GS500 is much more comfortable than the GS650GL, which was kind of a cruiser style bike.  My arse would hurt after about 30 minutes on that bike, and I can ride the GS500 for hours with no issues.

Awsome info guys.  lol 140kph here would have bike impounded when caught.  Bike will never see 130 kph.  120kph would be passing.

Have been researching seating ergos of cruisers and standards.....really has me second guessing that cruisers are infinately more comfy than any sport bike could ever be.

Mister.....that seems to be the ticket.....side bags for raingear and odd shopping pickups.....bungee my laptop/lunch backpack to seat like I did daily on my last bike.

The windshield do just as good of a job as on any of the small cruisers I have ridden?  Often riding to work at 3am and in spring/fall temps as low as 5 deg celsius (40f)

I rode a 1982 GN125 thumper happily for 9 years.....wanna see buzzy, vibrations and underpower.

Picking a gs500 would be a huge step out of my cruiser shell and am really starting to lean towards something different.

Am going to test ride a 04 gs500 naked with 3500k $3500.   The nakeds sit unsold for long times....the faired bikes sit unsold for 1 hr.

Going to research windshield stuff for a naked gs.

Damnit....NEW 09 GS500f on sale for $4999 ($2200 off).....I didnt want to spend over $3500......but its new and faired.....the tiny stock shield though.

man, a 04 gs500 is not worth near 3500... i picked mine up for 1500...