GS500F: any good?

[nzspokes]

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.

Agreed.

I reckon there perfect if you dont want to be in a racer boy position and race everything on the road. I need to keep my licence so have no need to go 200kph. They seem to be a good reliable basic bike. Having owned a bike thats hard to get bits for theres something to be said for a bike thats been sold new for 13 years.

If im lucky enough to own one I would be very happy.

Talk of soft suspension etc seems to be standard on KB no matter what bike it is.

[Grant`]

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.

I thought the same thing with hopping off my predator onto a suzuki gladius to ride but in reality it was just me having a skewed way of looking at things now that I have been riding a bike with 120hp and oodles of torque.

Nothing wrong with it but again not what I am used to riding anymore.

[nzspokes]

I thought the same thing with hopping off my predator onto a suzuki gladius to ride but in reality it was just me having a skewed way of looking at things now that I have been riding a bike with 120hp and oodles of torque.

Nothing wrong with it but again not what I am used to riding anymore.

And I would guess that the cost of the extras on your bike would be worth more than your average GS?

Im coming from a 250, anything is faster.....

[Grant`]

And I would guess that the cost of the extras on your bike would be worth more than your average GS?

Im coming from a 250, anything is faster.....

Yeah if you added them altogether ummmm no comment.

Its just one of those things, I think bang for buck ya couldn't go wrong it, although I think personally the Gladius/ER6/sv650 would give better performance and useable power. The ER6 was best step up I could of ever done in my eyes.

It didn't have the torque of my new bike or the roll on power in top gear but I am no Faster I just don't have to change as many gears and Fuel Economy vs Mileage vs Tyre longevity the ER6 won hands down. However I love my current bike.

[nzspokes]

Yeah if you added them altogether ummmm no comment.

Its just one of those things, I think bang for buck ya couldn't go wrong it, although I think personally the Gladius/ER6/sv650 would give better performance and useable power. The ER6 was best step up I could of ever done in my eyes.

It didn't have the torque of my new bike or the roll on power in top gear but I am no Faster I just don't have to change as many gears and Fuel Economy vs Mileage vs Tyre longevity the ER6 won hands down. However I love my current bike.

But the cost on those bikes is higher. Also I would be happy to repair any system on a GS myself. Apparently GSXR rear shocks bolt in and some preload + 15w oil sorts the forks. Wouldnt mind making a shim stack dampener as well.

Its something MarkW said to me on the Cape trip, a boring bike is most versatile. He said Honda didnt bring his model in due to it being boring but he loves it. And he didnt go slow on it.

Your current bike is beautiful. You obviously have done well for yourself and can afford such things which is great.

Considering 8 months ago I didnt think I could ever have a bike let alone something like a GS im pretty happy at the moment.

[Grant`]

But the cost on those bikes is higher. Also I would be happy to repair any system on a GS myself. Apparently GSXR rear shocks bolt in and some preload + 15w oil sorts the forks. Wouldnt mind making a shim stack dampener as well.

Its something MarkW said to me on the Cape trip, a boring bike is most versatile. He said Honda didnt bring his model in due to it being boring but he loves it. And he didnt go slow on it.

Your current bike is beautiful. You obviously have done well for yourself and can afford such things which is great.

Considering 8 months ago I didnt think I could ever have a bike let alone something like a GS im pretty happy at the moment.

Just lucky enough to have disposable cash, my bike is my baby and I have no other committments - People keep telling me to buy a house but I don't want one at the moment.

I don't think you would be unhappy with the GS - Just my opinion that bang for buck alround the 650's are where its at, I will definitely migrate back to one at somestage.

Speaking of MarkW's bike I saw a red on on the Iron Horse Rally on sunday, didn't expect to ever see another one again.

[nzspokes]

This GS seems to get along ok.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep3YIRs5EDk

[actungbaby]

I always thought theywhere boring ,bikes good reliable but changed my mind when brought old gs 450 twin
It was not in best shape yet got me down to chch only cost 300.00 at the time

know if 20 year old plus bike can manage that with ease was great bike really liked it handled well i was amazed how stable it was and netural steering much better than my cb 400 n i first started on riding in 1981

And the suzuki was 81 model too , so rekon with 500 cc and modern chassis its got be great bike i buy one thats for sure

i went from think they crap to loving mine and my cosins was even better he had baffles out bit and sound like mini duke hehe

well thats what told myself , i buy myself old gs 450 again esp the s model so relaxing to ride i thought dam thing seems drives itself arround corners was on raiils it wasint like sports bike but who cares its not desined for that
But i got into chch i rode port hills for hours anyway was a blast. but 2 n 1 on them sound cool.

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 ?

[actungbaby]

its funny how the people who have graduated past this sort of bike all say its ho hum,but in the position of the OP i cant see a better bike for the purpose.

I tell what when had no job and been of bikes for decade i loved my one thought was great smooth as well
engine got up when had revs over 4 grand reved freely too nothing wrong with them damm better than a 125 thats for sure

[javawocky]

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.

*Sigh* - what I am trying to get at is the difference between someone who uses bike as check transport only, and someone who enjoys riding. A car enthusiast wouldn't choose a 1.6 toyota corolla as his primary car.

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.

A GSXR is not design to be cruising around at 50kph with your feet up. It can do it but its designed to go fast. In the same way the gs500 can navigate twisties, but its primarily designed as a budget commuter.

Hmmmmmmmmmm

You do know their are people that race scooters in this world?

I thought the same thing with hopping off my predator onto a suzuki gladius to ride but in reality it was just me having a skewed way of looking at things now that I have been riding a bike with 120hp and oodles of torque.

Nothing wrong with it but again not what I am used to riding anymore.

My way of looking at things was horribly skewed when my mate said I should hop on his 1200 Bandit and take it for a test ride when I was still on my RG150. I suppose if someone upgraded from their GN125 to a GS500 they would think they had died and gone to bike heaven, but out of the range of bikes I have ridden GS has to be one of the more boring ones.

[Crasherfromwayback]

. In the same way the gs500 can navigate twisties, but its primarily designed as a budget commuter.


.

Which...funnily enough is pretty much what they want it for.

[Tigadee]

Spokes - I think the GS500 will serve you well so long as you know what to expect from it, and what you want out of it.

[nzspokes]

*Sigh* - what I am trying to get at is the difference between someone who uses bike as check transport only, and someone who enjoys riding.

But I enjoy riding and want a GS or another brands version. So what your saying is based on the ability to go fast then, but not everybody wants to.

[nzspokes]

Spokes - I think the GS500 will serve you well so long as you know what to expect from it, and what you want out of it.

I know what I want from a bike, it just finding one that fits that need with my tiny budget.

3 main things I want.

1, Not be tucked down into a race position.

2, Ability to overtake when needed.

3, Simple enough that I can work on it myself.

[Tigadee]

Have you looked at the Kawa ER5?