GS500 is a great around town bike.. I'm afraid when I move up north It wont make it all the way up in one trip, cause I'd want to push it an extra MPH and it will just be screaming... lol Once I get my bike cleaned up and pretty. I might be selling it.. OFC after stacking on some miles over the summer. but I'm one of those power hungry newbs you can say. it doesn't have that "Special" pull. Now I drove a 95 camaro before I got my GS500. so I'm looking for the same pull. the 95 topped out around the same as the GS500. but it had WAY more pull at low end, thats all I care about.

Ofc I want something that tops out around 150mph. Not because I wanna travel at that, but because I want to sit in 4th gear doing 75 without the bike even trying. Aka saving gas too. GS500 is also a great gas bike, its like a smart car in the bike world

Quote from: mister on January 28, 2012, 12:14:41 PM
On the GS I really cannot be stuffed riding the highway faster than 75. If cars want to go faster than that, then I let them. Sometimes I'll even plod along at 65 in the slow lane and let Everything go past me. Riding is so less stressful when you don't need to think how to weave through the melee of cars in front. The time saving is negligible as well.

+1. The GS500 does not have sufficient "authority" on the local interstates / parkways to travel in the far left lane or stay above local automotive commuting speeds. I commute on them anyway, but I'm ride at speed limit to +10 over and getting passed. I'm fine with that.

I could buy a bigger bike just for this reason, but, meh, I don't care.

Never had a Bandit 600 but I've had a few Katanas that I loved.  Great all around bikes.  The Bandit 600 is the same engine so it should be just as solid.  I still have an '06 SV650 in my stable and it is a decent bike too, just not a bike I've ever been "thrilled" with.  I wouldn't mind owning a Bandit 400 at some point but that is a bike you have to tach out.  I've had a couple CBR 600's and since the Hornet is derived from them I have to imagine they are nice bikes too.  Mister has already sung the praises of the 919 so I don't have anything to add there.  Sometimes you can stumble on a Suzuki VX800 cheap if you like the standard bike feel of the GS.

I regularly commute on small bikes (Nighthawk 250, XT225, DR200 and the GS) so I know the pains of not having a lot of power.  I will say it does improve your defensive riding skills.  In fact, I like to start each riding season on the Nighthawk so I get back into my defensive riding groove quickly.  My fast bikes are more for pleasure riding.  I have improved with age but I still find I have a tendency to ride like an ass when I have a powerful bike in rush hour traffic   

-Jessie

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on January 28, 2012, 05:44:21 PM
Never had a Bandit 600 but I've had a few Katanas that I loved.  Great all around bikes.  The Bandit 600 is the same engine so it should be just as solid.  I still have an '06 SV650 in my stable and it is a decent bike too, just not a bike I've ever been "thrilled" with.  I wouldn't mind owning a Bandit 400 at some point but that is a bike you have to tach out.  I've had a couple CBR 600's and since the Hornet is derived from them I have to imagine they are nice bikes too.  Mister has already sung the praises of the 919 so I don't have anything to add there.  Sometimes you can stumble on a Suzuki VX800 cheap if you like the standard bike feel of the GS.

I regularly commute on small bikes (Nighthawk 250, XT225, DR200 and the GS) so I know the pains of not having a lot of power.  I will say it does improve your defensive riding skills.  In fact, I like to start each riding season on the Nighthawk so I get back into my defensive riding groove quickly.  My fast bikes are more for pleasure riding.  I have improved with age but I still find I have a tendency to ride like an ass when I have a powerful bike in rush hour traffic   

-Jessie

I think of it like this "it isn't me riding like an ass, its them driving like a cager" if you don't like Motorcycles going past you in traffic, instead of trying to turn into them, trying to kill them. Get a motorcycle and join the "I'm getting home first club"

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 05:12:28 PM
GS500 is a great around town bike.. I'm afraid when I move up north It wont make it all the way up in one trip, cause I'd want to push it an extra MPH and it will just be screaming...

As long as the GS has oil, it will handle just about any punishment you can give it.

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on January 28, 2012, 05:44:21 PM
  I've had a couple CBR 600's and since the Hornet is derived from them I have to imagine they are nice bikes too.

That could be another option to look at too. A F3 CBR600 would be a good bike for the highway. Not as aggressive as the RR's. The engines in them are near bullet proof too.

Quote from: Twisted on January 28, 2012, 06:55:07 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 05:12:28 PM
GS500 is a great around town bike.. I'm afraid when I move up north It wont make it all the way up in one trip, cause I'd want to push it an extra MPH and it will just be screaming...

As long as the GS has oil, it will handle just about any punishment you can give it.

to that!

Buy a TL1000, its like a GSTwin on crack.. Or LSD, or meth, or herion. Or all of them all in one night.

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 09:09:48 PM
Buy a TL1000, its like a GSTwin on crack.. Or LSD, or meth, or herion. Or all of them all in one night.

SV1000 is almost the same, and more ergonomically friendly. Also, the SV is much cheaper to insure versus the TL and it's also more likely to be found. There aren't many TL's floating around.

SV1000: 420lbs dry, 120HP and ~75lb-ft of torque
TL1000"R": 435lbs dry, 135HP and almost 100lb-ft of torque.

There's also a TL1000"S" which is a cross-over between the TL and SV.

TL1000"S"

TL1000"R"

SV1000


The TL1000"R" is the closest thing to a Honda RC51 that Suzuki has made.

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 06:25:16 PM
I think of it like this "it isn't me riding like an ass, its them driving like a cager" if you don't like Motorcycles going past you in traffic, instead of trying to turn into them, trying to kill them. Get a motorcycle and join the "I'm getting home first club"

But that's the thing, there is no "getting home first" prize.  It's not like I'm heading home to do something important.  Gee, I have to be home in time to catch that 2 and a half men re-run!?!?  There's no reason I should be weaving in traffic or cutting people off.  Just because I have the acceleration and size to do it doesn't make it right.  That gives all of us a bad rep and it shows poor self control on my part.

-Jessie

Quote from: Bluesmudge on January 28, 2012, 03:40:25 PM
Where the hell are people going 90 mph on the freeway?  I've crossed the US and never needed to go above 65 mph, even when the speed limit was 75 mph. You know you don't have to be the fastest vehicle on the road? It will save you the speeding/reckless driving ticket.

Why other cars do? I don't know. Probably to get to their destination faster.

As for me, sometimes I like to go fast. However I also like taking it easy and just cruising on my 500 sometimes.

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 09:19:26 PM



The TL1000"R" is the closest thing to a Honda RC51 that Suzuki has made.

I had a short love affair with a RC51 (technically called a RVT1000R).  If the TL1000 is anything like the RC51, the ergonomics are horrible for day to day riding.

-Jessie

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on January 28, 2012, 09:40:06 PM

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 09:19:26 PM



The TL1000"R" is the closest thing to a Honda RC51 that Suzuki has made.

I had a short love affair with a RC51 (technically called a RVT1000R).  If the TL1000 is anything like the RC51, the ergonomics are horrible for day to day riding.

-Jessie

I've never ridden the TL1000 but I rode a friend's RC51. Extremely cramped and "sporty". My wrists begin to hurt after about 15 minutes. Worse, in my opinion, than a gixxer. The motor felt almost identical to my DL, though it felt like it had a substantial amount of power over the DL. The DL might be a tad more torquey but I had lowered the gearing on my DL. 

Personally, I didn't like the RC...I'd rather have something like an SV. That's just me though. I think I'd rather have a gixxer than an RC, comfort wise.

I think the TL1000"S" is more like the SV1000... if I understand correctly, the TL1000"S" and "R" are worlds apart.

I'm still dying to ride an SV. I'd also like to take a ride on an old 1986 VFR750 and a newer VFR800.

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 09:19:26 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 09:09:48 PM
Buy a TL1000, its like a GSTwin on crack.. Or LSD, or meth, or herion. Or all of them all in one night.

SV1000 is almost the same, and more ergonomically friendly. Also, the SV is much cheaper to insure versus the TL and it's also more likely to be found. There aren't many TL's floating around.

SV1000: 420lbs dry, 120HP and ~75lb-ft of torque
TL1000"R": 435lbs dry, 135HP and almost 100lb-ft of torque.

There's also a TL1000"S" which is a cross-over between the TL and SV.

TL1000"S"

TL1000"R"

SV1000


The TL1000"R" is the closest thing to a Honda RC51 that Suzuki has made.

LOL! RARE? I see them on my local craigslist up all the time, there is 3 up right now for under 5 grand! Send me the money, ill buy you one. All have titles too!

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 10:15:44 PM
LOL! RARE? I see them on my local craigslist up all the time, there is 3 up right now for under 5 grand! Send me the money, ill buy you one. All have titles too!

Show me. I can't find any in FL. You are in Florida, aren't you?

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 10:19:18 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 10:15:44 PM
LOL! RARE? I see them on my local craigslist up all the time, there is 3 up right now for under 5 grand! Send me the money, ill buy you one. All have titles too!

Show me. I can't find any in FL. You are in Florida, aren't you?

http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2799326021.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2773038556.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2772563329.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2768025619.html

The first one is the most legit one I think. I run across these almost daily. I'm kinda addicted to craigslist tho.

Man, this thread is intense. I don't know how long you have been riding, but I have seen other riders jump to a quicker and more powerful bike early on because they were afraid of traffic, and they found that, in retrospect, finding a few buds to convoy with or just practicing more highway driving and calming it down was what they really needed.

oh, and

Quote4-bangers must be "wound up" in order to generate their torque.

hey now, I drive a tiny four banger pretty often, and it generates 230+ftlbs of torque at 1800 rpm.
Well, i guess its a diesel, and that's cheating. 

Quote from: SAFE-T on January 28, 2012, 04:47:01 PM


I rode the CBR900RR that Honda's 919 engine came from. I really liked it, but it was criticized in the motorcycle press as being "too tame" compared to the competition.

That's one of the few 'older' bikes I'd still love to have. It wouldn't be the same aggressive supersport anything like modern bikes, but it would make an awesome street bike. I rode one around a warehouse parking lot once. I wasn't even going crazy, I just held the throttle in 1st gear and the front end just smoothly floated itself up into the air. They're good looking bikes too.

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 10:27:22 PM

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 10:19:18 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 10:15:44 PM
LOL! RARE? I see them on my local craigslist up all the time, there is 3 up right now for under 5 grand! Send me the money, ill buy you one. All have titles too!

Show me. I can't find any in FL. You are in Florida, aren't you?

http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2799326021.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2773038556.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2772563329.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2768025619.html

The first one is the most legit one I think. I run across these almost daily. I'm kinda addicted to craigslist tho.

Ironic that most of them are either painted or wrecked. I can't find a single one in ATL and I've been looking for months.

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 11:04:03 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 10:27:22 PM

Quote from: Kijona on January 28, 2012, 10:19:18 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on January 28, 2012, 10:15:44 PM
LOL! RARE? I see them on my local craigslist up all the time, there is 3 up right now for under 5 grand! Send me the money, ill buy you one. All have titles too!

Show me. I can't find any in FL. You are in Florida, aren't you?

http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2799326021.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2773038556.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2772563329.html
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/2768025619.html

The first one is the most legit one I think. I run across these almost daily. I'm kinda addicted to craigslist tho.

Ironic that most of them are either painted or wrecked. I can't find a single one in ATL and I've been looking for months.

Like I said, first one looks most legit, plus a lot of times dealerships paint the bikes because the fairings have been cracked or something, because around here... People go to MSF courses, and then their ready for 1000cc bikes, buy from dealers ride for 1000 miles, sell back to dealers/private sell.