I love my little GS and she loves me.  Why do I feel so inadequate when people ask me what kind of bike I ride?  

First I say ... yeah I ride a bike.  Then they say (beaming)... oh is it a Harley?  Then I say no, it's a GS500.  Then they say ..  oh ... is that like a Ninja?  Happens almost everytime.  Why do they even ask me what I ride when they obviously don't know anything about bikes?

Most people that know about bikes have heard good things about the GS.  A friend of mine has a Duc and thought the GS was a smooth riding bike when we traded for a bit.  In europe, a 500cc bike is a "big bike".  What's going on?!?!  I have nothing against other bikes but really .. does anyone "need" a litre bike with 130+ hp?  It's like a car with 1000hp.  

Rob

litre sportbikes have 180hp. talk about rediculous

yea, for me it's like when older people ask me what music i'm listening to when i have headphones on. if i don't say beatles, they get confused, ya know? (not literally obviously).

the people at my MSF asked what kinda bike i rode, and the instructors were like "wow. great bike" but everyone else was like "is that like those race bikes?"

Do we all need SUVs? Do most people actually need something that big? :dunno:

I haven't run into criticism that much, even with my friends who ride. Some people have told me that I'll be selling it within a year, but that's about it.

A buddy of mine learned how to ride on a ninja zx-6 and said that I was doing it right with my GS; he wishes he hadn't started on a bike that big (now he's getting a TL1000).

Most of the people that I talk to about my bike who don't ride think that it looks fast and look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that its really on the small end of the spectrum as far as sport bikes are concerned.

Another friend of mine is from India, and he learned to ride there. When I was talking with him about learning how to ride, he said that he learned on a small bike (125 i think, maybe 250) and thought it would be wise for me to do the same. Perhaps I should have listened to him but I'm happy with my GS. Fast enough to combine my ass (or face) with the pavement if I'm not careful, but not so fast that it's trying to put me there.

Anyhow, who cares? I like riding my bike, and if they tell me my bike's too small, they can _______________ (use your creative side; fill in the blank) :guns:

Cheer up! Do not let others ignorance of our charmingly quirky Japanese Triumphs bring you down! If they think that they need a Harley to feel adaquate about themselves, that doesn't mean you do! Just smile at them and  answer their questions patiently (like a parent to a child ).

Like a TV show that I can't remember the title to, a father and his son are in a sporting goods store and the father says to the son, "We don't need guns, we have penises".

It's all we need.

They just need the bigger bike to make up for their little Wienies

If you feel you need to make excuses, just outline the benefits of the bike.  Handles easily, good supply of repair parts, good mileage, takes more skill to really make it perform, etc, etc.

Harleys' riding position can make you feel like a crucified hunchback in a wind-tunnel (not my analogy, taken from Motorcycle Online magazine)

Ultimately, you have to get to the point where you don't care what people's opinions are.  I ride fully zipped, pants, boots, jacket, gloves, everything in 90+ degree weather.  Sure, some sport guys think I'm a dork but who cares?  I know I'm safer.

I get the same thing when I say "its a GS500", most people give you a blank stare.  I figure the bike has been around for about 15 yrs, if they don't know what it is by now they must not be into bikes.  And, if thats the case why would I care what they think about it.  I take the opportunity to explain differnet types of bikes and that there are more makes and models than just Harleys and "them Jap bikes".

From another angle, if you were into fine art, and just aquired a amazing painting by a artist people in art circles rave about.  Would you really care if Joe Schmoe walks in and says, "It sucks, you should get a cool velvet Elvis to replace it."  Would you take the advice?

(no offense to velvet art collectors everywhere )

In the Philippines, 500cc is almost top of the line!  Most people are riding either 125 or 250.  If you actually get a Harley or full-fairing sportbike, you're either super-rich or in the mafia. :mrgreen:

It's ok.  
I get that feeling all the time.  
Even after I say, "it's a standard",
the confused look remains firmly plastered to their faces. I have to explain that the bike it like a mut. It's a mix between a plastic covered sports bike and the comfortably styled cruser (not harley monkey position).
After that the usual coment is, "Oh, it's a crotch rocket"
at which point I say, "Yes, yes it is" :guns:
Cheers
-Denis S.

Instead of just saying 'no, it's a GS500' in response to the Hardly question, throw in a big 'PFFFFFFFT!!' first.  

"you sit more like how you would on one of those sport bikes with all the plastic, except there's no plastic. and it's slow."

I just say, SUZUKI with an imposing tone.
Very few people i know ask beyond that.

yeah the "so it's a crotch rocket?" comments always slay me.  it seems that with most people, if it's not a cruiser, then it's a crotch rocket; there's nothing else.  yesterday though, i was getting some piercings done and the guy saw me in my full gear and asked me what i rode in.  told him it was my GS and instantly he said "oh wow, that's a sweet little bike."  it was one of the first times anyone had even known what a GS was, and the real first time that anyone had thought it was awsome that i was riding one.  but hey, i thought it was cool.

My whole world is upside down... when they see me with helmet... OK OK I am riding in plain clothes in summer... they ask oh yea what do you ride, or what bike you have.... and its really hard to say eliminator 1000, eli 900 with 1000 concourse motor, stock eli 900, another eli 1000, a KZ 440 ltd and a gs500, and BTW I am riding the GS... by now they have already lost me... the eli's get them once and for all... so I end up saying I ahve a bunch, and I am on my GS500 today or the eli or whatever... the harley question is easy for me these days... my neighbor has a Dyna convertible, I am helping him fix it after his crash, or I am always helping him work on it... or whenever it breaks he comes to me... and they know no more BS about HD... the game's up.
Cool.
Srinath.

Some dude in the grocery store a couple of weeks ago gave me this treatment with the "Oh, isn't that kinda slow?" finisher.  I said "There's a very good chance that it's faster than your car, so it'll do."  He had no response.

Walking into a restaurant recently I passed someone walking out.  He said "Hey what kind of bike do you ride?"  I pointed to it and said "That blue one."  He says "Oh, hey, cool."

I've also received the "Nice bike, I had one of those back in the day" from a guy on a 2004 R1.

I'm really not concerned with what people think about what I ride.  Apathy is the best thing that ever happened to me.  I just don't give a crap.

Quote from: perfdrug"you sit more like how you would on one of those sport bikes with all the plastic, except there's no plastic. and it's slow."

:lol:

This I gotta remember next time.  

I always discribe it like this:

"You know those classic late 70's early 80's motorcycles?  Like the Honda CB/nighhawks?  The one's with the tear-drop shaped gas tanks?  It's exactly like that, but 20 years newer and 100 lbs lighter."

My favorite is always "Let me see you do a wheelie!" ... "Yeah, no."

QuoteInstead of just saying 'no, it's a GS500' in response to the Hardly question, throw in a big 'PFFFFFFFT!!' first.

I like this one the best!  Makes them feel dumb and me feel betta.  

Rob

QuoteApathy is the best thing that ever happened to me. I just don't give a crap.

I agree completely!