GS500F: any good?

[Oakie]

Still, a fuel gauge is better than none...

Your tripmeter is a way better fuel guage than a fuel guage ... on a motorbike anyway.

[Tigadee]

Unfortunately the tripmeter on the Venox is broken... It does have a 'fuel low' warning light though - is that reliable?

Speedo still works at least. Is it worth replacing it just to get the tripmeter working (as a 'fuel gauge')?

Perhaps you should get yourself a nice little Mazda.

Mazda makes fuel gauges? Cool, thanks!

[Ender EnZed]

Unfortunately the tripmeter on the Venox is broken... It does have a 'fuel low' warning light though - is that reliable?

Speedo still works at least. Is it worth replacing it just to get the tripmeter working (as a 'fuel gauge')?

Does the odometer(total distance the vehicle has travelled) still work? Becuase if it does then if you can remember what it's reading when you fill up then you'll still know how far you've been.

[Tigadee]

Yes, the odometer still works, but I'm worried I'll forget and then I'm screwed!

"Wait, was it 6,690km when I last filled or 6,960?"

Not to mention the embarassment of pushing one's bike into the petrol station...

[javawocky]

Mrs Me is looking at getting off the back of my bike and being in command of her own destiny when we go for a ride....

She likes the look of the GS500F with the fairing which, I agree is a good bike to start with and a step above her CB125 she took to Uni a few years ago ...

She's about 5'5 so the low seat help is a good start - on paper ...any opinions ?

I think for the Mrs it could be a good option if performance is not a requirement.

I have had a couple as loaners when my bikes have been in for repair and the are really boring.

The suspension is soft, so when you try push it a little through the twistiest it feels like you are on a boat. Its not unsafe, just average.

On the motorway it will be happy to at 104.9kph but isn't happy being pushed over that. (I'm sure the 205kph video was photoshoped )

For a non-biker it would make a good commuter and that's about it.

[Captain_Salty]

my one's only half way to the red line at 110kph

[Edbear]

I think for the Mrs it could be a good option if performance is not a requirement.

I have had a couple as loaners when my bikes have been in for repair and the are really boring.

The suspension is soft, so when you try push it a little through the twistiest it feels like you are on a boat. Its not unsafe, just average.

On the motorway it will be happy to at 104.9kph but isn't happy being pushed over that. (I'm sure the 205kph video was photoshoped )

For a non-biker it would make a good commuter and that's about it.

my one's only half way to the red line at 110kph

Back in the day, 500cc was a big bike! My old '73 T500 would cruise happily at the old ton and top out at 112mph, (177km/h)! Surely a modern 500 wouldn't be slower?

[MSTRS:Me]

Back in the day, 500cc was a big bike! My old '73 T500 would cruise happily at the old ton and top out at 112mph, (177km/h)! Surely a modern 500 wouldn't be slower?

You'll remember the T500 having a too-tall 5th gear. Ie - 110-ish mph in 4th and drop back to 105-ish mph in top (5th).
They had between 45-47hp.
The GS500 appears to have about 52hp and 6 gears. So, realistically, they have a higher top speed.
YTs old EX500 (Kawasaki's equivalent of the GS) has about 53hp and does around 190kph tapped out. But then it's got a few miles under it's belt now...

[whowhatwhere]

What you really want is a CB500. Pity they were never sold here.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I have had a couple as loaners when my bikes have been in for repair and the are really boring.

For a non-biker it would make a good commuter and that's about it.

I know a fair few people that find 600SS bikes boring. Horses for courses and all that.

For a non biker? So no REAL biker would ride a GS500?

I would.

[Edbear]

You'll remember the T500 having a too-tall 5th gear. Ie - 110-ish mph in 4th and drop back to 105-ish mph in top (5th).
They had between 45-47hp.
The GS500 appears to have about 52hp and 6 gears. So, realistically, they have a higher top speed.
YTs old EX500 (Kawasaki's equivalent of the GS) has about 53hp and does around 190kph tapped out. But then it's got a few miles under it's belt now...

Yup! The usual mod was to drop the countershaft sprocket a tooth and bring fifth gear into play when you'd get about 115mph in fifth.

[newhere]

Mrs Me is looking at getting off the back of my bike and being in command of her own destiny when we go for a ride....

She likes the look of the GS500F with the fairing which, I agree is a good bike to start with and a step above her CB125 she took to Uni a few years ago ...

She's about 5'5 so the low seat help is a good start - on paper ...any opinions ?

What about a gladius? Im bias obviously but its a neat bike and has a low enough seat for your lady. Just a thought

[Ender EnZed]

YTs old EX500 (Kawasaki's equivalent of the GS) has about 53hp and does around 190kph tapped out. But then it's got a few miles under it's belt now...

I had one of those, they were 61hp in their older GPZ form. It certainly wasn't intimidating but the reality is that on many roads 3 times the power will only get you there any faster if you're not worried about having your licence intact when you arrive.

[Usarka]

I have had a couple as loaners when my bikes have been in for repair and the are really boring.

The suspension is soft, so when you try push it a little through the twistiest it feels like you are on a boat. Its not unsafe, just average.

These bikes aren't designed to be "pushed throught the twisties". That's like saying a GSXR sucks because you can't lean back put your feet up and cruise around at 50kph.

[nzspokes]

For a non-biker it would make a good commuter and that's about it.

Hmmmmmmmmmm