Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 11:18:19 AM
I never said the GS500 was a pile of crap, just that it has lots of areas where it can be improved (otherwise known as 'weaknesses' LOL). Which is why so many people on this board have discussed jetting, air filters, spark plugs, exhaust, front sprockets, rear sprockets, windscreens, SV650 throttle tubes, R6 throttle tubes, luggage, Katana wheels, Bandit 400 wheels, Katana forks, GSXR forks, Progressive fork springs, Sonic fork springs, HyperPro fork springs, SV650 rear shocks, Katana 600 rear shocks, Katana 750 rear shocks, R6 rear shocks, gold valves, fork braces, GSXR footpegs, GSXR rearsets, CBR rearsets, Corbin seats, OEM clipons, aftermarket clipons, Suburban Machinery handlebars, flushmount signal lights, mirrors with integrated signal lights, led lights, integrated tail lights, etc etc

"Improved" is not necessarily the term I would use for most of the modifications that people make on the GS.  The only thing a GS really "needs" changed is typically stiffer front springs and maybe jetting....maybe.  I think you can run stock jetting and be fine, just a little lean.  I put 40 pilots in my carbs because people here said to, and I didn't notice any difference in cold starts or warm up time to be honest.  Same thing with 125 mains and washers, no noticeable difference really, so I just went back to stock (except pilots).

All the other stuff (filters, bars, mirrors, signals,etc) are really matters of preference more than anything and not necessity or improvements on a bike that is considered a standard.  You buy a GS500 looking for a race bike and you've got the wrong machine.  You may make it sportier with mods, but it's still not a race bike.  Same with touring, or whatever else people want to use it for.  Hell, I wouldn't have even changed the bars if mine hadn't been bent (which gave me an excuse more than anything else).

Nothing against modding, I just don't think it "needs" as many mods as much as people "want" to mod it for their specific purpose, be it looks, performance, or whatever.

Y'all seen this 250 yet. I wouldn't mind if they based a new GS off of it.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/GW250/2013/GW250.aspx#Specs

Looks like a baby B-King to me.

Well, the person who only has $1500 or only wants to spend $1500 on a motorcycle is not the same person that would consider the CBR500.

But if we were talking a $4500 2009 GS500 (new) versus a $5999 2013 CBR500 (new) there's something to think about ~ your $1500 extra gets a bike that's 4 yrs. newer with everything you could want from the GS500 plus all the things it doesn't have, including ABS. Which makes it a lot more valuable in my books. 

Quote from: DrtRydr23 on November 14, 2012, 06:19:38 PM"Improved" is not necessarily the term I would use for most of the modifications that people make on the GS. 

Point taken. Some things are modifications which improve the bike, addressing certain weaknesses or perceived weaknesses. Others are merely alterations.

Quote from: bombsquad83 on November 14, 2012, 11:51:23 AM
Kawasaki EX500 was pretty much direct competition with the GS500, and was killed after 2009 just like the GS.

If I recall, sales of that bike were stellar as well 

Quote from: GI_JO_NATHAN on November 14, 2012, 06:46:14 PM
Y'all seen this 250 yet. I wouldn't mind if they based a new GS off of it.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/GW250/2013/GW250.aspx#Specs

Looks like a baby B-King to me.

I wish they'd redesign the Gladius (SFV650) to look a bit more like the B-King.  I'd be more apt to consider it as my next bike if the looks weren't so......iffy.  Maybe a slightly bigger tank too, but I'm a bit off topic here.  An FI GS that looks like the GW250 would be cool, but I'm not really in the market for another 500 twin anyways.  I'm still considering a SFV650 though.  I've seen good reviews about it's fun factor and motor, which is all I'd want it for anyways except for some commuting.

Edit to remove the image from the quote.

Right on AdidasGuy.

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 08:03:06 PM
Well, the person who only has $1500 or only wants to spend $1500 on a motorcycle is not the same person that would consider the CBR500.

But if we were talking a $4500 2009 GS500 (new) versus a $5999 2013 CBR500 (new) there's something to think about ~ your $1500 extra gets a bike that's 4 yrs. newer with everything you could want from the GS500 plus all the things it doesn't have, including ABS. Which makes it a lot more valuable in my books.

4 years newer? Almost 24 years newer if we are brutally honest. I agree with the pros regarding the simplicity of the GS though.

Quote from: GI_JO_NATHAN on November 14, 2012, 06:46:14 PM
Y'all seen this 250 yet. I wouldn't mind if they based a new GS off of it.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/GW250/2013/GW250.aspx#Specs

Looks like a baby B-King to me.

That headlght is ... disgusting. Looks like a boob job gone horribly horribly bad.
Round and simple. I'd want a modern GS with everything else the same as the 89. Heck I'd even take that old ridged tank ...
OK fine the 01 and later tank is fine too. But no fairing ... naked and FI'ed baby.
Cool.
Buddha.

I've been interested in the CBR250R since it came out a couple years ago but really prefer a naked old style standard bike.  Suzuki to the rescue, I have it on my desktop already so I won't forget it.   



I don't call it an entry level bike, I prefer to call it exit level. 

do you think honda would just sell me the engine? Thats pretty much all I want.

Quote from: Funderb on November 15, 2012, 10:20:51 AM
do you think honda would just sell me the engine? Thats pretty much all I want.

Dude the motor you want already exists ... a smaller lighter more modern and powerfuller GS right, and with no problems by design ? FI maybe ?

Yes yank a motor out of a raptor 700 atv ...  ... My mz if it dont get up and run this week, I am going to be so hunting for raptors ... the 700 is 4 valve and past 05 they were FI. The 660 is 5 valve and carbed ... and that's what mine is ...
The MZ660 skorpion - look it up, bloody thing even looks like a GS. I also believe it can be made cheaper than a GS ... I think.

BTW of late, I suspect its cheaper to do FI on a bike than carb. Have you see the multitude of machined junk on a carb ... and worst of all, no one buys carb parts from the factory any more. A FI is just 1 part with some whiz bang electronics ... and you cant get one from anywhere except the factory.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: Gemini on November 14, 2012, 08:51:43 PM
Right on AdidasGuy.

What did I say? 

Quote from: adidasguy on November 15, 2012, 10:59:15 AM

Quote from: Gemini on November 14, 2012, 08:51:43 PM
Right on AdidasGuy.

What did I say? 

Shhhh dont ask ... just say thanks thanks and move on. You guys did legalise pot after all, so that maybe what he was talking about. Pity ... in the south it grows a lot better than it would up there ...
Cool.
Buddha.

I don't mind that GW250.  Depends on whether next year I replace the Bandit with another Bandit or similar tourer and the GS500 with a GW250 (for commuting only) or move the Bandit to commuting and trade the GS500 for a new tourer?

The more I look at that GW250, the more I don't like how it looks.  I don't like the chromed headers.  I also don't like the exhaust.  Something about it looks cheap.  I think it's the screws holding the heat shield on.  Too many shiny things on a bike with that kind of face.  Even then engine is halfway polished.

I didnt even know honda came out with that bike.  Man is it sweet.  I dont think i will ever get rid of my GS, however there is room in my garage for that honda.
I have been looking at a bike like that for a while and the closest thing I came across was the ninja 500 and the GS.  If that was around when I was looking I might not own the bike that I have today.

Quote from: The Buddha on November 15, 2012, 11:01:55 AM

Quote from: adidasguy on November 15, 2012, 10:59:15 AM

Quote from: Gemini on November 14, 2012, 08:51:43 PM
Right on AdidasGuy.

What did I say? 

Shhhh dont ask ... just say thanks thanks and move on. You guys did legalise pot after all, so that maybe what he was talking about. Pity ... in the south it grows a lot better than it would up there ...
Cool.
Buddha.

I've heard good things about BC Bud  and northern Washington is right up there.....

Quote from: bombsquad83 on November 15, 2012, 12:24:24 PM
The more I look at that GW250, the more I don't like how it looks.  I don't like the chromed headers.  I also don't like the exhaust.  Something about it looks cheap.  I think it's the screws holding the heat shield on.  Too many shiny things on a bike with that kind of face.  Even then engine is halfway polished.

Too many bikes today are designed by a 5 year old with their play-school CAD toy which is incapable of drawing smooth curves and clean lines. Things are all jagged, chopped up, disjointed. Bling stuck on because you can - not because you should.

Too many have the butt way up in the air and look like someone squished a wasp.

Gone are the clean lines of the early 80-s when plastic came into use and designers really went for good style. Like this:

Quote from: The Buddha on November 15, 2012, 10:50:10 AM
The MZ660 skorpion - look it up, bloody thing even looks like a GS.

Cool.
Buddha.

Interesting..