I was looking for a decent used bike and trying to decide between a GS500, a Ninja 500, or a SV650 as a first bike for the last 2 years. Ended up getting my 2001 GS500 on 1/4/09. Never ridden a motorcycle before. After getting the bike I took the MSF class, got my M1, and have ridden about 1400 miles so far. I commute to work when it doesn’t rain, and ride in the local mountains on the weekend. This bike can do it all – surface streets, freeways (I’ve take it up to about 90 mph so far), 30-65 mph scenic country roads with sweeping turns, very tight 5-20 mph trails with end-less blind corners, fast and twisty 15-60 mph mountain roads, etc. It’s not a torque monster, but the linear and user friendly power is there when you’re in the right gear from about 4-5k rpm and up. By 6k rpm the engine is singing happily and eager to do more. Earlier today I was on Highway 1 going about 60-70 mph. It was super windy – gusting up to 40 mph (per weather forecast) and very unpredictable as the terrain (dunes and hills) changed. My body was being blown around like a kite and I had to struggle to keep my legs held against the tank. The head wind was strong backing off the throttle just a bit felt like putting the brakes on. It was unnerving yet scary fun. But my GS500 was rock steady in the gusty cross wind as long as I kept my hands steady and not let my body motion affect steering input. The only thing the GS doesn’t have is the hugh amount of reserved torque/power that bigger bikes have. Sure, I’ve been day dreaming about getting a SV650, or ZRX1200R or FZ1 (for their “crazy acceleration” and reserve power rather than just “more than enough acceleration”) next now that I’m totally addicted to riding a motorcycle, but my GS is so capable and so much fun I’ll probably keep it for a long time.
San Jose, CA
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