Hyosung GT650R - Worth buying one new?

[Shadows]

Took one of these for a ride on Saturday. Thanks Fergus and the big guy who's name I never got, at TSS Motorcycles in Alicetown. They seem like a pretty good bunch down there. Unlike what I've read in reports about a couple of other outfits in the area.

Anyway it went really well, I felt like I'd been riding it for years, it handled well, sounded great with an aftermarket can, and contrary to what I have read in reviews it stopped well too. LCD display was hard to read though. Well I need some excuse for speeding don't I?

All in all it felt pretty good and it put a smile on my face, and is definately on the short list for the next purchase. (I just need to decide for myself if a 650 is big enough... maybe a little small for a 6' 14½ odd stone bloke. I hear a supercharged 1000 is on the cards soon so maybe I should wait.)

The major thing I'm concerned with and asking for opinion about regards the name.

New kids on the block insofar as road bikes go, yes I know a little about their history and that a lot of their engineers are ex Suzuki and the motor design is primarily Suzuki as a result and they reckon Jap bikes were unknown 25 years ago and now look at the big four and look at Hyundai and blah blah blah you could wnak on for days hypothesising about what will happen in the next five years as long as those fcuking muslims don't get the bomb in which case we're all fcuked....

What I'm really interested in is hearing about the actual bikes, from actual owners, and not magazine writers. Specifically the GT650 and / or the -R and -S.

So, do any of you guys own one?
How long for?
Any problems, breakages, or regrets?
Are parts inexplicably rusting or is finish degrading?
Overall build quality?
What are parts and servicing like cost and availability wise?
Would you hold on to it for several years or are you looking elsewhere already?
What is the resale / trade value like?
Any horror stories?

I know it's hard to bag a bike you've spent the best part of $10k on but if you're feeling upset, let it all out!

And if not, then here's the opportunity to sing the bike's praises and tell the world how great it is.

Cheers

[SwanTiger]

Not that I have a GT650 but have a GT250R, what you mentioned about the feel and handle of the bike resembles what I have experienced with the 250. Despite the name, it gets peoples attention.

[Highlander]

Here are a couple of other threads about them, reading through these you'll find others commenting that they either have or are thinking seriously about getting one. You could PM them and ask their thoughts if they don't post here (if they do post here we can all read it).

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=15877

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=14914

[skelstar]

Again - I cant speak personally about the bike, other than it looking quite stunning for $10K. The one big problem I have with it is that (I think) the warranty is only 1 year, 10000kms. I am currently doing 40000kms a year so this doesnt make it good enough value for me.

[El Dopa]

$10K.

$7.2 all in inc. on-road costs from Mt Eden, to be pedantic.

[Mental Trousers]

For $7.2k I'd say 1 year warranty is a good deal for a brand new 650cc bike. Shame it's only 10k kms, but as long as you're not Skelstar that should last more than 3 months

[skelstar]

$7.2 all in inc. on-road costs from Mt Eden, to be pedantic.

For an 'R'?!?!?
Thats quite a bit more cheaper than down here. The 650GT (nekid) is $8K+ORC I think.

[VasalineWarrior]

Fuck it man go four cylinder. A GSXR is the ducks nuts, but then so are all the 600's-trust me man just try one!

[Shadows]

Fuck it man go four cylinder. A GSXR is the ducks nuts, but then so are all the 600's-trust me man just try one!

Yeah I used to have a 900 four. Yeah they go well but I'm not into the howl they make like I used to be, it gets too much like a drone after a while. I'm really in the market for a twin.

[Shadows]

$7.2 all in inc. on-road costs from Mt Eden, to be pedantic.

The naked one is $8 down here, the faired one is $9 (or was it $10... fcuk it I can't remember now... naked definately $8 though).

[GT250R]

I Was in Red Baron today and the GT650 faired is $9995

[VasalineWarrior]

I guess if you are unsure of build quality/the brand/whatever an sv 650 would be a safe bet that you would be getting a good bike-other than that i can only regurgitate info ive read from bike magazines about em'. They seem to be ok though from what ive read if your really keen (and it sounds like you are) then just go for it and buy one bro! When it comes down to it, you can always put stiffer fork oil in/change the brake lines etc if the bike falls short in any of these areas. And for about 10k new thats a pretty sweet deal for a new bike

[skelstar]

THeres a guy in Levin that is planning to race one. Hes getting race fairings for it, changing the brake calipers at the front (mods), OHLINS on the back, oil on the front forks.
Apparently (2nd hand info) the 650R's are cleaning up F3 in the Sth Isl. FROSTY might be able to say otherwise.

[Shadows]

Thanks guys, I might stick with the tried and true.
Unless somebody with one of these things can convince me otherwise!

[Mattyc]

my mate has a non faired gt650, for sale - custom twin stainless pipes,ford falcon blue paint, ohlins rear shock, its just in at Motohaus getting a new rectifier, its a nice bike and custom, not from being dropped, but the previous owner being a custom nut