Quote from: redhawkdancing on September 28, 2011, 06:47:44 PM
I know a guy that is "bored" with his 600 after 3 months. It's his first bike too. I caught a glimpse of him riding one day. Poor motorcycle. A 3 year old girl with training wheels would have made it happier. The GS5 can be plenty fun and go plenty fast, you just have to learn how to ride the thing. I'm still figuring that part out.    

Poor 600 has no more worries in this world!  The kid is okay though!   

Quote from: redhawkdancing on October 11, 2011, 05:58:28 AM

Quote from: redhawkdancing on September 28, 2011, 06:47:44 PM
I know a guy that is "bored" with his 600 after 3 months. It's his first bike too. I caught a glimpse of him riding one day. Poor motorcycle. A 3 year old girl with training wheels would have made it happier. The GS5 can be plenty fun and go plenty fast, you just have to learn how to ride the thing. I'm still figuring that part out.

Poor 600 has no more worries in this world!  The kid is okay though!

Hate to stray off topic but. . .
Yeah, I too have been baffled by some riders that get bored (or even depressed) over their current motorcycle.
I have a couple of 1970's mopeds that are a blast at only 50cc.
So Geez, I wonder what's not to like about a 600cc anything? 

Quote from: Electrojake on October 11, 2011, 02:27:57 PM

Quote from: redhawkdancing on October 11, 2011, 05:58:28 AM

Quote from: redhawkdancing on September 28, 2011, 06:47:44 PM
I know a guy that is "bored" with his 600 after 3 months. It's his first bike too. I caught a glimpse of him riding one day. Poor motorcycle. A 3 year old girl with training wheels would have made it happier. The GS5 can be plenty fun and go plenty fast, you just have to learn how to ride the thing. I'm still figuring that part out.

Poor 600 has no more worries in this world!  The kid is okay though!

Hate to stray off topic but. . .
Yeah, I too have been baffled by some riders that get bored (or even depressed) over their current motorcycle.
I have a couple of 1970's mopeds that are a blast at only 50cc.
So Geez, I wonder what's not to like about a 600cc anything? 

IMHO: He's not actually bored with it. All his Mates have liter bikes and such. So he has to come up with some Sounds Good reason to want what his mate's have. So, in this case, it's boring. But could have equally been any number of Reasons.

Michael

Thread jack again.
Saw this picture of a bike in Costa Rica. Why can't I get one of these here? Be a great child for Suzi.
I love my GS500's. I don't see a need for a bigger bike. But a little puffer like this would be fun for tooling around the neighborhood. Little bikes like this are popular in other countries for commuting. I guess we have different ideas here and always want something bigger - rather than something cheap and practical. I don't see any reason to get rid of my GS500's. However, if I could get one of these it would be a fun 4th bike.

Down here in Brisbane (And the rest of Australia too) we had these Yamaha Scorpios...





They are 225cc single cylinder. The side stand comes up automatically once the bike is uprighted - has caught out quite a few people who go to put the bike back down only to discover the stand  is up.

Anyway. They don't sell them down here any more cause we really need larger bikes for longer commutes and for shorter commutes the scooters take over. So it was a bike in the middle of a category/market that looked like it belonged in the Philippines or some country like that were such bikes are the norm. Sales sucked big time. The bike was canned.

Michael

Quote from: Electrojake on October 11, 2011, 02:27:57 PM
Hate to stray off topic but. . .
Yeah, I too have been baffled by some riders that get bored (or even depressed) over their current motorcycle.
I have a couple of 1970's mopeds that are a blast at only 50cc.
So Geez, I wonder what's not to like about a 600cc anything? 

So true!  I guy at work bought in a '79 DT100 dirt bike he didn't want anymore.  Me and the other guys there that ride have been having a blast with that thing!!  We are all vying for the "wheelie king" title   

-Jessie

Quote from: mister on October 11, 2011, 04:33:03 PM
In Australia we had Yamaha Scorpios...a 225cc single cylinder. They don't sell them down here any more cause we really need larger bikes for longer commutes and for shorter commutes the scooters take over.

A crappy road system is no place for an R1. Likewise, a 12 hp bike has no place in the high-speed traffic environment of North America.

Even worse, bikes like the Scorpio cost twice what you would pay for a used GS500F.

I rode a 125 one summer while I was between bike #11 and #12. It was pathetic, and although I'm glad I was forced to ride it because now I know what it's like, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for most people. I suppose there are a handful of riders for whom a microbike is perfect, but for most of us the 52hp of the GS500 is about the minimum.

Quote from: SAFE-T on October 29, 2011, 04:22:36 PM

Quote from: mister on October 11, 2011, 04:33:03 PM
In Australia we had Yamaha Scorpios...a 225cc single cylinder. They don't sell them down here any more cause we really need larger bikes for longer commutes and for shorter commutes the scooters take over.

A crappy road system is no place for an R1. Likewise, a 12 hp bike has no place in the high-speed traffic environment of North America.

Even worse, bikes like the Scorpio cost twice what you would pay for a used GS500F.

I rode a 125 one summer while I was between bike #11 and #12. It was pathetic, and although I'm glad I was forced to ride it because now I know what it's like, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for most people. I suppose there are a handful of riders for whom a microbike is perfect, but for most of us the 52hp of the GS500 is about the minimum.

...52 hp? Maybe at the engine, but what is it at a wheel? It's around 30. A 600cc-1000cc bike is the perfect bike for a modern road. Not only do you have plenty of power to get in front, around, and through traffic, you have top of the line braking and suspension systems and larger diameter wheels. Top of the line braking and suspension saves lives and the POS they pass as "braking and suspension" on the gs500 walks the line between dangerously lacking and functional. The wheels on the GS500 are large enough to not get sucked into highway cracks (a problem with 250s I've rode) but small enough to not be very forgiving. The large back wheel on a 600-1000cc bike is perfect for unpredictable road conditions. High traction, high reliability.

That being said a 500cc bike is a great bike to learn on. It teaches you to make do with absolute bottom-of-the-bin bargin parts so when you get on an expensive bike you can appreciate and maximize the use of the high quality parts. I'd be willing to argue with anyone in terms of road safety in a competition between a 500cc bike and 600cc or 1000cc bike driven by a proficient and safe rider the 600cc-1000cc bike will be the safer motorcycle hands down. Responsibility is the only variable here.

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PM
...52 hp? Maybe at the engine, but what is it at a wheel? It's around 30. A 600cc-1000cc bike is the perfect bike for a modern road. Not only do you have plenty of power to get in front, around, and through traffic,

funny, I have no problem doing that on my GS500 as-is

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PM
you have top of the line braking and suspension systems and larger diameter wheels. Top of the line braking and suspension saves lives and the POS they pass as "braking and suspension" on the gs500 walks the line between dangerously lacking and functional.

MORE braking, on a high powered 600, without ABS, is just as likely.. no, make that more likely.. to find the person over the handlebars and run over, if they are inexperienced. that makes them less safe.


The wheels on the GS500 are large enough to not get sucked into highway cracks (a problem with 250s I've rode) but small enough to not be very forgiving. The large back wheel on a 600-1000cc bike is perfect for unpredictable road conditions. High traction, high reliability.

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PMI'd be willing to argue with anyone in terms of road safety in a competition between a 500cc bike and 600cc or 1000cc bike driven by a proficient and safe rider the 600cc-1000cc bike will be the safer motorcycle hands down. Responsibility is the only variable here.

Road safety is not a competition: it's a state of mind. A safe rider, is a safe rider, whether that's on a 600cc, 500cc, or 250cc.

Contrariwise, an unsafe rider, will only get into more trouble, faster, on a faster bike.

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PMA 600cc-1000cc bike is the perfect bike for a modern road.

Too bad the ergonomics on them are so bad short rides are all their good for, and if you say "dude I rock my 600 on 500 mile day rides all the time" all I have to say is "enjoy your youth" 

Picture a 600... with handlebar risers on it

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on October 29, 2011, 09:29:16 PM

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PMA 600cc-1000cc bike is the perfect bike for a modern road.

Too bad the ergonomics on them are so bad short rides are all their good for, and if you say "dude I rock my 600 on 500 mile day rides all the time" all I have to say is "enjoy your youth" 

Don't forget the 599 and 919 Hondas   

-Jessie

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on October 29, 2011, 10:33:43 PM
Don't forget the 599 and 919 Hondas   

-Jessie

Both not sport bikes....agreed
EDIT: or the FZ6 FAZER

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on October 29, 2011, 09:29:16 PM

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PMA 600cc-1000cc bike is the perfect bike for a modern road.

Too bad the ergonomics on them are so bad short rides are all their good for, and if you say "dude I rock my 600 on 500 mile day rides all the time" all I have to say is "enjoy your youth" 

BMW K1200GT
FJR1300
Norge
ZZR600


All based entirely on their sportbike counterparts designed around comfort rather than aerodynamic efficiency. Note I said bike and not only "sportbike". In every case I have ever seen (and wikipedia can confirm this loosely) every bike great than 500cc in displacement has much better handling and higher quality parts. The braking system on most sport touring bikes is akin to their sportbike counter parts (and usually better, in that respect).

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on October 29, 2011, 10:33:43 PM

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on October 29, 2011, 09:29:16 PM

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 06:48:38 PMA 600cc-1000cc bike is the perfect bike for a modern road.

Too bad the ergonomics on them are so bad short rides are all their good for, and if you say "dude I rock my 600 on 500 mile day rides all the time" all I have to say is "enjoy your youth" 

Don't forget the 599 and 919 Hondas   

-Jessie

I love my 919 TOP bike it is 

Michael

Out there in the real world, the GS does the job and will often surprise the big boys.
Just challenge any dickhead on a crotch rocket to a road race if you can set the course........When they agree, specify a route of around 350 km and involving some dirt roads. Most of them won't want to ride that far, won't go near dirt, and anyway they'll have to look for somewhere to refuel and you won't!

Like a guy who was trying to impress me recently with his iphone (yawn). I said "Try this with your iphone!" and pushed my old POS Samsung off the table on to the tile floor. That shut him up. 

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on October 29, 2011, 11:40:48 PM

BMW K1200GT
FJR1300
Norge
ZZR600

the ZZR600 seems to have interesting parallels to our GS500, in that it was still carbed in an era of fuel injection... and it too, stopped having new US releases in 2008
With no fuel-injected direct replacement, seems like.
The ZX6R was sold at the same time from 2003-2008 already, so, seems like that allegedly has a different design purpose.

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on October 29, 2011, 10:48:46 PM

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on October 29, 2011, 10:33:43 PM
Don't forget the 599 and 919 Hondas   

-Jessie

Both not sport bikes....agreed
EDIT: or the FZ6 FAZER

Years ago a fellow motorcycle instructor told us that along with dual-sport motorcycles, some manufacturers also made dull-sport motorcycles, those being of reasonably high-performance, but without the more extreme riding position of supersport motorcycles, nor the added accessories of sport-touring motorcycles.

He was joking, but the idea stuck with me.

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 10, 2011, 09:53:27 AMYears ago a fellow motorcycle instructor told us that along with dual-sport motorcycles, some manufacturers also made dull-sport motorcycles, those being of reasonably high-performance, but without the more extreme riding position of supersport motorcycles, nor the added accessories of sport-touring motorcycles.

He was joking, but the idea stuck with me.

Even the sporty looking GS500F is just a UJM, or a sheep in wolves clothing.