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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 21:39:55 GMT
A humble beast.....anyone owned or own one? If so, what are your experiences?
Dare I use the word 'classic'.......but when you consider that this motorcycle first appeared on the market 26 years ago now and has provided good service to countless commuters and learner bikers, maybe it is indeed a classic.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 22:00:24 GMT
For some strange reason I had always quite liked the look of the GS500 , bought one last year and can say I am over them now ! Mine was a 2004 Spanish built one and the rust was quite impressive for the age of the bike , the frame paint would just come off in sheets  Went along/handled/braked ok and you'd expect it to be getting to Classic staus now but not sure they hold any great affection for previous owners ? Personally I did not "bond" with my GS500 although there was nothing wrong with it per se , think maybe I tried to make it go faster than it wanted to (previous bike was a 1000 Multistrada) and it then felt "uncomfortable" . With my SD I am happy to just trundle ....... Summary - prefer a SD  |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 22:16:01 GMT
Without a doubt - the cheap cosmetical finish found on this bike is well known to be completely shite....but.......do you reckon it took the SD's crown in many ways? Not in terms of prettiness as a GS500E could not match any Superdream in terms of cosmetical quality - especially after 'doing a winter'.....
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Post by Harold on May 23, 2015 22:46:20 GMT
I would prefer the CB500 of the nineties myself as well as commuting duties it had its own race series.
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Post by wazzbo on May 24, 2015 6:13:56 GMT
I have both a 2003 gs500 and a 1996 cb500 and I must say I like them both.
I've done around 13000 miles on the GS in the last couple of years or so without any real problems.
The finish on the GS is rubbish, and as I ride it all year round as my work bike, in winter the brake calipers have to be stripped and freed off every two or three weeks with the salt, and I,m always touching the rust up on the frame but otherwise it been a cracking bike, for what I use it for, the engine is spot on , uses no oil between changes which I do every 2000 miles using castrol power 1 10/40.
For a short arse like me its brilliant, I can plant both feet on the ground no problem,
The headlight isn't brilliant on mucky winter nights but not many older bike are I've found.
It does around 64mpg whatever the weather and however I ride it, and I thrash it around most times I use it.
Tyres last for ages
Dave....
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Post by wazzbo on May 24, 2015 6:43:53 GMT
The cb 500 is a cracking little bike as well,plenty of go for me nowadays, more power than the GS.
The Honda finish is a lot better than the Suzi. It handles well and the missus doesn't mind riding pillion on it,she isn't a bike fanatic and didn't like going on the gsx1100 but she quite enjoys the cb.
I think both bikes are good all rounders, easy to ride and maintain, cheap to run.
Dave....
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 8:15:13 GMT
I think I do agree FB that the GS is "sort of" the SD's spiritual successor in a lot of ways and with its extra cc and newer suspension/brakes a bit more capable than certianly the 250  . But although it filled a similar position as a sensible bike I don't think it has the nostalgic pull to start appreciating in price any time soon - but then I am usually wrong on these predictions  . Suspect most people would have said the same about the SD 30 years ago - and to an extent its true as compared with the prices of RDs, X7s etc the SDs are largely modestly priced ? I should have bought a better/Japanese built GS but as it was it got the GS500 ownership out of my system which has to be good ! |
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Post by marktrower on May 24, 2015 9:50:18 GMT
The cup goes to the kawasaki gpz500 out of the 90,s twins ,sold in there 1000s. very well made Finnis poor was the 90s lc frashed everyware the engine are bullet proof and still have a big following and are liked by the ladies. Still loads about but clean ones are hard to find
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Post by Cheggy on May 24, 2015 9:56:25 GMT
It's a fine line between a classic and just an old bike. For me the gs500 falls into the wrong side of that line.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 10:24:34 GMT
I only know the GS500 vaguely- for a minute I thought we were talking about the GS550 from the GS750/GS1000 lineage. Now that IS a classic.
I think you have to view whether a bike is a classic in what it did to biking- radical changes, new innovations, etc.....
For the Hawk/Dream/Superdream series of bikes for instance, we saw 3 valves, CDI ignition, Comstar Wheels, balancer shafts/360 crank, the change to Euro-styling, dropping of kickstarters.... But maybe these were just the times......
Did the GS500 make any innovations?
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terryc
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Post by terryc on May 24, 2015 11:06:43 GMT
I stopped biking in 89 so was out of touch when these came out but I did see them on the road now and then and remember thinking that frame looks terrible as you could'nt see the engine .Were these frames an innovation ,I've never ridden one so I've no idea if they were an improvement on yer standard cradle type frame or not
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 21:55:22 GMT
I stopped biking in 89 so was out of touch when these came out but I did see them on the road now and then and remember thinking that frame looks terrible as you could'nt see the engine .Were these frames an innovation ,I've never ridden one so I've no idea if they were an improvement on yer standard cradle type frame or not I think that the frame wasn't so much an innovation by '89........it was just the way the style of bikes were going. To me it was always a 'faired' bike minus the fairing if that makes sense? Not saying I liked the look of them at the time but they started to grow on me some time back - for some reason I always love the under dog. I have just been offered a 1994 model with just 1300 on the clock for a decent price.....that said, it needs some cosmetics. As a commuter / work bike it could make extreme sense to me if I get that job I went for the other day. I don't fancy leaving an SD or my Bandit around for eight hours a day unattended. |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 21:56:25 GMT
Bojer........1994.....would that make it a Jap made example?
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 22:37:27 GMT
Yep I believe it would FB , if it's got a silver frame its Japanese , think it was about 2002 they stopped being made in Japan . Sounds like a good bike to buy , as said I had no real objection to it as a bike , works fine but didn't make me love it !  |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2015 22:42:02 GMT
Yes silver frame with the obligatory corrosion.
One father and son owner from new apparently. Need to take a closer look I think.
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.
. Suspect most people would have said the same about the SD 30 years ago - and to an extent its true as compared with the prices of RDs, X7s etc the SDs are largely modestly priced ?
