[Andreuha]

Hopefully this can still help you.

I took the MSF class and got my first bike, an ’07 GS500F, during the first week of July (having done extensive research and shopping around in the preceding weeks). I live in Brooklyn and commute to midtown Manhattan every day (about 35 miles total both ways). My daily commute includes the Gowanus, BQE, and FDR (and for what it’s worth, as of this post I’m at 1,300 miles with the bike).

With respect to bike ergonomics I’m 6’1″ and weigh 180lbs. The bike came with handlebars which replicated the hand positioning of clip-on’s which is lower, closer together, and further forward; which is more appropriate given my height and reach (I have the OEM handlebars and don’t find them as comfortable for me when leaning over the tank at highway speeds). The heat height is effectively the same as a Ninja 250.

On the matter of purpose: the bike’s performance and handling are just right in my opinion for learning the fundamentals and building up early riding experience, while at the same time commuting in the relatively hectic traffic conditions of NYC, and still being able to have some fun with the bike in the process. One common complaint is the soft front end, but I can’t comment on that because the previous owner’s modifications included stiffer springs springs up front and a stiffer rear shock; the front feels just right, and I reinstalled and adjusted the OEM rear shock, which is more appropriate for my own body weight (this became very apparent when going over bumps, potholes, and cobblestone). I pass bumps and potholes just about the entire way to work and back, and I find the suspension to be as comfortable as one can expect on a road-oriented PTW. The bike’s weight has been sufficient for handling the roughest NYC road surfaces without difficulty (since the weight is roughly the same as that of super-sports).

I find it to be very forgiving when executing quick maneuvers, hard braking (the stiffer front suspension pays off here) and acceleration. Also, the stock tires are cheap making them good for practice, though mine don’t show any significant wear or flat spots after repeatedly locking up either wheel while practicing hard braking scenarios. The bike has enough power for accelerating quickly and sufficient gearing that riding daily on highways doesn’t strain the engine (it does top out above 110, after all).

All-in-all, I’m very happy with the bike and am glad that I didn’t get a 250 which I would have without any doubt outgrown by now. Although I was at first planning to upgrade within a few months, my plan now is to keep it until next spring as the bike really is just right for building up experience while still having enough bike to commute or take long highway rides on. Also, the power-train design has basically gone unchanged for at least two decades and is comparatively simple in terms of maintenance and tinkering with – if you want to learn to maintain your own bike this is a good place to start.

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