I'm sure there's a lot of members here who have had a handful of bikes in the past and are potentially on the prowl for something new.  I know I've been considering an SV650 or Bandit 600 for awhile now.  My question is, what makes you say "I think I'd like to get something else"?  Is it wanting more power?  More comfort? Maybe a different style of bike?  Reaching what you feel is the limit of your current bike?

I know this is helpful to me and I think it can be helpful to others as well.  Everyone gets a wandering eye now and then and I'm curious as to what makes people choose what they choose and when they choose.

i just crashed mine...time for a new bike, lol

Quote from: jfoley on June 29, 2011, 08:18:09 PM
i just crashed mine...time for a new bike, lol

I'd say that is a pretty legitimate reason.

For me the decision would be based on comfort.  I've been thinking about buying a larger, heavier bike for touring.  But I'll keep the GS as my daily ride because it's a great commuter bike, it's fun in the twisties and riding a large/heavy bike around town sucks.

I had the wandering eye and money burning a hole in my pocket. I still kept the GS when I upgraded. It is good having two similar yet different bikes in the garage to choose to ride.

My main driver for a different bike is just for something different, I love the GS, its a great commuter bike, good fun in the twisties and easy to work on.... But, I like new things, or atleast new to me things lol

Well my Guzzi is 35 years old. I figured it would be nice to have something new to ride while I work on the old one. Bought the 2009 GS500F with 1 mile on it and am enjoying it

I have an old CB350 I've been riding... but is always laid up in repair lately. Me too... I needed something to ride while the other one was in pieces... the GS500 is my new one.

I have a GS500 & a Honda 919.

With the GS I can: ride to work, hit the twisties and go on 300 mile rides without problem. Which is all the riding I do. So why get another bike?

With commuting and weekend riding I was Really stacking up the miles on the GS. In short order the bike would be close to 100,000 clicks and I'd be in need of a replacement bike. At that point the bike would be next to worthless as a trade in. And the subsequent bike would equally have a short life. So...

To enable me to keep the GS for longer I needed to spread the miles out between two bikes. One for commuting and one for the weekend. Enter the Honda 919.

So why a 919 and not another GS like Adidas? For a touch of variety. So I now have an air cooled twin and a water cooled fuel injected 4.

With over 40,000 clicks on my 09 GS (I put them all on), I still have not touched all the limits of the bike. So the idea of the bike's limits being reached is NOT a factor. It (the GS500) is just a darn fun bike to ride. There is something unassuming about it. And I like that other riders scoff at it. It's my (our) little secret. Their desire to prove something means they miss out on the underwhelming 500 from Suzuki.

Michael

For me it will be for highway comfort. I want a wind screen, so a SV650s will probably be my next bike bike when I find a good deal. Also, I hate carbs, so FI is a MUST!! Otherwise the GS is perfect. I will probably sell it because I dont really have room for two and could use the cash for a new bike. Im not really looking though so I will be on the GS a while longer I think.

 

For me, it'll be when I wear my '07 out. I'm not as productive as Mister: I've only done 40,000 in the last three years (my goodness!). But point is, I'll be through the useful life of my bike within the next 3 to 4 years. And I do want something that would be more comfortable for some light touring and be very durable.

Certainly, it will not be for the reason of "outgrowing" the bike, as I'm quite sure that the GS can be ridden harder than I do. It can be one hell of a fun ride! If I do get a different bike, I'll probably keep a GS for commuting, or for my wife (I would love for her to learn to ride).

Mike

For my street bikes, it's when the following 2 criteria are met...

1. I haven't had any incidents on my existing bike in a very long time.
2. I've realized that my existing bike is not really suitable for the type of riding I want to do.

#1 is kind of important - if you find yourself overshooting corners or dropping your GS500, a faster heavier bike is just going to make those issues worse. Nothing like spending big bucks on a shiny new piece of hardware only to put some shiny new scratches in it.

#2 is what tells me it might be time to replace... For instance, I used to do a 120 mile round trip commute daily on a GSX-R 600. Buying my first beemer made sense. Then, I started touring and doing lots of 2-up riding on that beemer. Since I was paying out the butt to finance it, I went ahead and bought a bigger nicer bike.

For track use... That's a harder decision. I'm getting towards the point where I could probably learn a lot on a bigger faster bike. But, I feel like I can take the GS500 further than I am right now, so I'd like to hang onto it for a while longer.

For me it is whenever I get the itch for something else.  Since my latest purchase (VTX1800) I haven't had the itch even a little bit.

Well maybe a little but nothing that is going to make me go out and drop thousands.

1. Financial - I don't have money to replace what I am driving now.

2. Logistic - The bike I have does everything I need it to do.  When I feel I need it to do more, I will upgrade.  I don't need a bike that can do 160mph, because there's nowhere around me that I could possibly be able to do it (at least without some legal rammifications.).

3. Mechanical - When I get tired of fiddling wth carburetors, and/or the motorcycle is costing me more to run it/maintain than I feel it should, I will upgrade.  Also, when I can't get the parts i need for it anymore, I will upgrade to something else.

4. Mental - do I have the skills and self-control to handle something more powerful than what I currently have?  I've only had my license for 2 years, so I still have a lot to learn.

That said, a fuel injected SV650 is in my future probably not immediate future.)

Quote from: Twism86 on June 30, 2011, 06:02:04 AM
For me it will be for highway comfort. I want a wind screen, so a SV650s will probably be my next bike bike when I find a good deal. Also, I hate carbs, so FI is a MUST!! Otherwise the GS is perfect. I will probably sell it because I dont really have room for two and could use the cash for a new bike. Im not really looking though so I will be on the GS a while longer I think.

I haven't been riding that long, but I am considering another bike for the same two reasons, windshield and fuel injection. Also, my bike is already 20 years old, it's got some rust, and generally speaking old things are not as reliable as new things. This matters to my wife more than me, but when she says you can have something shiny and new cause it's safer, TAKE IT! Next year when I get rid of my car payment, I was thinking about upgrading. After a lot of research I was between 2 bikes: SV650 or ER-6N/F.

I am leaning towards the Kawi. It's supposed to be more comfortable with a more upright riding position and softer suspension. Also, everyone without a 4 cylinder seems to have an SV650. My only choice is do I want the naked ER-6N or the fairing ER-6F. I much prefer the naked look, but then I don't have the windshield. Still looks great with fairings, but then it looks too much like your run of the mill sport bike.

Anyway, I don't know too much about bikes yet, but being a teacher I'm great at research. My research and personal preferences point to the ER-6N/F

When both your connecting rods and 3 quarts of oil drop out onto the road, causing you to lose control and wind up in a sludge filled roadside ditch with a broke leg and road rash.

Quote from: ojstinson on June 30, 2011, 03:47:11 PM
When both your connecting rods and 3 quarts of oil drop out onto the road, causing you to lose control and wind up in a sludge filled roadside ditch with a broke leg and road rash.

maybe its just time to not ride for a while...... 

Quote from: MistahT on June 30, 2011, 03:41:45 PM

Quote from: Twism86 on June 30, 2011, 06:02:04 AM
For me it will be for highway comfort. I want a wind screen, so a SV650s will probably be my next bike bike when I find a good deal. Also, I hate carbs, so FI is a MUST!! Otherwise the GS is perfect. I will probably sell it because I dont really have room for two and could use the cash for a new bike. Im not really looking though so I will be on the GS a while longer I think.

I haven't been riding that long, but I am considering another bike for the same two reasons, windshield and fuel injection. Also, my bike is already 20 years old, it's got some rust, and generally speaking old things are not as reliable as new things. This matters to my wife more than me, but when she says you can have something shiny and new cause it's safer, TAKE IT! Next year when I get rid of my car payment, I was thinking about upgrading. After a lot of research I was between 2 bikes: SV650 or ER-6N/F.

I am leaning towards the Kawi. It's supposed to be more comfortable with a more upright riding position and softer suspension. Also, everyone without a 4 cylinder seems to have an SV650. My only choice is do I want the naked ER-6N or the fairing ER-6F. I much prefer the naked look, but then I don't have the windshield. Still looks great with fairings, but then it looks too much like your run of the mill sport bike.

Anyway, I don't know too much about bikes yet, but being a teacher I'm great at research. My research and personal preferences point to the ER-6N/F

For me its between the SV650s and the Ninja 650R. Same as your ER basically. I like them both so when im in the market it will come down to which one I find a better deal on first.

I think you find you will be disappointed with the ER6. I know I was. Stick with the SV650.

Quote from: tialloydragon on June 30, 2011, 02:37:27 PM
1. Financial - I don't have money to replace what I am driving now.

2. Logistic - The bike I have does everything I need it to do.  When I feel I need it to do more, I will upgrade.  I don't need a bike that can do 160mph, because there's nowhere around me that I could possibly be able to do it (at least without some legal rammifications.).

3. Mechanical - When I get tired of fiddling wth carburetors, and/or the motorcycle is costing me more to run it/maintain than I feel it should, I will upgrade.  Also, when I can't get the parts i need for it anymore, I will upgrade to something else.

4. Mental - do I have the skills and self-control to handle something more powerful than what I currently have?  I've only had my license for 2 years, so I still have a lot to learn.

That said, a fuel injected SV650 is in my future probably not immediate future.)

Well said.  I'm almost exactly the same way.  I have the money to be able to get an sv but is it really worth it at this juncture?  Maybe one day...