In my brief time riding mine I'd say if someone can't ride a GS500, they have no business on two wheels. It seems to weigh next to nothing, probably due to it's low seat height and low center of gravity. It will pull away nicely around 2000rpm, remaining quite calm until you wind it up. It then gets fairly wild in the upper rpms. It pulls like my old RM125 motocrosser, except you can putt around on the GS500. Even the close ratio six speed is similar. On my ride tonight through some nearby hill country the torque of a bigger engine would have been nice, but I still managed 30 over the speed limit while climbing. This thing could cost me big bucks in tickets. On my way home with it I passed two DPS(State Trooper) cars stopped to talk. I was doing 30 over then too, but down hill and very quiet. Their radar must not have been on. Right now I have no plans to change that quiet muffler. Stealth mode is good.  

If a new rider outgrows (and survives) the capabilities of a GS500 they probably would be ready to handle a bigger more powerful bike. This isn't my first bike. It won't be my last, unless I crash REALLY BAD. But it's alot of fun!

Glad you like it!

Do you have a 15 tooth front sprocket? Or, did you do your break-in around 2000rpm? 2000rpm seems really, really low. Mine chugs below 3000, and I have to keep the rpm's above 4000 for the bike to be really smooth, even with a 40 tooth rear (16 front). Unless, you just mean in first gear.

Actually, I just finished my first weekend with the bike. It's a 2000 model and had 3,300 miles when I bought it. It was so totally stock that I had to shim the needles to richen the midrange. So I missed out on break-in  which is fine with me. But yeah, first is good from 2,000 up with the shims in the carbs. For 2nd, 3rd, Etc. I'll keep it above 3,500. Any gear should be OK above 4,500. The wild stuff is above 6,000. As yet I haven't taken it much above 9,500, which I understand is horsepower peak. It likes to go fast, but it's very docile at low Rpms. There isn't alot of horsepower down low, but it should run smoothly. Mine will lurch under 2,000 also though.

well, thats why i bought one. i love it. I was at first thinking about getting a ninja 250, but the fairings on it look over a decade old (i think the design is) it's about due for a revamp, if it weren't for the nice new colors i don't think it would survive as a contender. im glad i got the gs! hands down better than the 250 in every aspect except the 14k redline that the ninja's got, but hey, i got twice the bike for the same price.

This is my first bike, and it's great so far... I think the GS is definitely a perfect starter motorcycle. Although I probably won't sell the GS for a long time, I more than likely will upgrade to something a little more powerful as I learn some skill and get comfortable with riding motorcycles. But for now, I'm very content  

Scott

hey you oughta snag that turbo off of that old subaru and mount it on the 2.5 rs, that Buddha Loves You would scream

Not a half bad idea, although the turbo is a little on the small side. What I'll actually do (or would have done had I not gotten the two-wheel bug) is build a 2.2 Turbo from the Subaru Legacy and put that in there and re-sell the 2.5. The stock 2.5 motor can only take a few pounds of boost without serious motor work done, whereas the 2.2 was built for big power.

i think 5 or 6 psi would be sufficient

 

nice! those new one's are sweet.
I'm building a DC2 (98 acura integra)

-B18c1 of course (DOHC VTEC)
-GReddy Full bolt on 25G turbo kit along with..
- cast-iron manifold, 4x 310cc injectors, e-manage, Airinx AY-MB, piping and necessary hardware
-GReddy Front mount intercooler
-GReddy Evo 2 Exhaust
-16" rota slipstream black wheels (spoon style)
-195/45/ZR16 falken azenis tires
-Spoon Carbon fiber hood
-JDM type R front end conversion
-Tein springs w camber kit
and a few other things

I'm looking for about 250 whp @ 8psi (car will be 100% emmissions legal)
it's fun to be a tuner

-ace

Not sure how this got to cars but...

Stime, how does your 2.5 run?  The 2.5 in my Legacy is leaking some oil at 120k mi and I was almost thinking it would be cheaper to get a slightly used motor rather than fixing the leaker :dunno:

I actually got a speeding ticket prior to my mishap...I was a little late for work, 61 in a 35....but I might fight it, since the cop was wrong, it was a 61 in a 30......but I am not sure exactly how the law works around here.

My RS runs like a champ... given it only has 39k miles on it though   But you can usually find a used 2.5 for about $800 complete with low mileage, but I would guess the seals are what's leaking and if you can do them yourself, it'd be a lot cheaper to just fix those.

Anyways, PM me if you need help finding stuff, I've got some pretty good Subaru connections...

Scott