- This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 10 months ago by zeppelinfromled.
Just A Bit Curious
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May 31, 2009 at 1:50 am #2923max34561Participant
Hey. I’m like super close to getting my license and sooner or later I want to ride a motorcycle. Gas prices look like they’re going to rise for ever, so a bike would be all I need to get through a lot of the stuff I would need to later on.
I’ve done like, quit a bit of research, but I just can’t figure something out.
They say that you should get a standard bike as you’re first bike, and I thought “hey, why don’t I just go with a GS500?” That bike looks a bit ugly, but I can manage.
I saw a picture of the GS500F, that bike was beautiful. That was exactly what I wanted, but the front and side fairings look pretty expensive. If I drop the bike, it would be just
heart-breaking. At least the fairings can be removed, so I thought I’d just practice on it with out fairings, when I get good, I’ll put them back on.(Not sure what to do about the front fairing, looks like a lot of work that I don’t want to do)Now what I want to know from you guys, since everyone seems so darned helpful on this website, is, should I get a simple GS500, and buy a nicer bike later on? or go with my GS500F idea?
Thanks a lot for all you’re help.
-MaxMay 31, 2009 at 4:53 am #19102eternal05ParticipantThat’s largely a question of appearance, which matters to only one person: you. Some may write off a bike’s looks, especially for a beginner bike, as being less important than other things. The fact of the matter is that image plays a huge role in the way you feel for a particular bike. Part of the reason I love my 250R so much is precisely because of the 2008 redesign. As much as a pre-08 Ninja would have yielded a very similar (though not identical) experience on the road, my attachment to the bike would have been far weaker.
That said, if the first thing you’re going to do is strip the fairings on your GS500F if you get it, and ride naked until you’re “good”…well that may be a waste if you were going to upgrade at that point anyway. If you think you’d keep your first 500cc bike around a long time, the GS500F might be the way to go. Otherwise I’d stick with the cheaper, uglier bike and spend the big bucks on your first real* bike.
* Note: in no way do I mean to insult the GS500; I only meant that if you’re getting it because you want a beginner bike, there’s clearly a “real” bike you want to ride but don’t feel up to quite yet.
June 1, 2009 at 2:23 pm #19142Clay DowlingParticipantare your friend. They’ll keep your fairings off the ground for simple drops and low-sides. They serve roughly the same role as the crash bars that a lot of cruiser riders install. And my crash bars have kept my chrome from getting the snot knocked out of it a few times.
June 1, 2009 at 3:18 pm #19146WeaponZeroParticipantAgreed. My low speed highside a few weeks ago caused no damage thanks to my frame sliders.
June 1, 2009 at 9:21 pm #19169max34561ParticipantSo my choices are basically, if I am thinking of buying a better one in the future, buy a gs500. If I want to keep my first bike, buy sliders? Sounds like a plan! What do you guys think about buying a gs500 as a first bike and then buying a ninja 650r when I become much better?
June 2, 2009 at 3:31 am #19180zeppelinfromledParticipantI haven’t ridden a gs500, but I just bought a ninja 650r as my first bike. I can’t imagine that the power difference between the 500 and the 650 is that extreme. It’s obviously up to you, but I would just start on the 650, unless you’re planning a bigger upgrade than that. Others might disagree with me about the difference, and since I haven’t ridden a gs500, I’m certainly not an authority.
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