help me decide which motorcycle...

[zixxer]

1989 gs500, 13k miles, has modified sprockets. (either he was wanting to do wheelies; or he just wanted some more acceleration... hard to tell.) for $750.

OR

2000 gs500, 13k miles, unmodified. Needs a clutch ($150-200 worth of parts..) Here's the kicker... it's $1700.




So.. both are *relatively* unmodified... one is much MUCH older... we're talking 11 years here. Supposedly both are in excellent/great condition.

 

[mjquilly]

how long do you plan on keeping it? if not for very long, maybe the 89, but i'd still say 2000 just for resale value

 

[Rallispec]

is shop around more an option?

personally, i'd take the cheaper one -- if it sucks, you're not out that much cash and you can always sell it and probably come out close to even.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: mjquilly
how long do you plan on keeping it? if not for very long, maybe the 89, but i'd still say 2000 just for resale value

i would think it would be quite the opposite. you could probably resell the 89 for 500, only loosing 250 bucks.

depends what you want to do. if you plan to possibly upgrade (within a year or two) get the older bike.

then again, maybe the newer one looks alot better.

 

[JetsFanatic]

Neither

buy a HOG

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: mjquilly
how long do you plan on keeping it? if not for very long, maybe the 89, but i'd still say 2000 just for resale value

probably a year. Maybe longer I dunno... it's my first street bike so it's something to learn on.


what makes the 89 fishy to me, is that the guy bought it from "a friend, the service manager at the yamaha dealership he works at"

so.. I dunno... it looks like he changed the sprockets; did some wheelies and thrashed the engine and is now selling it

 

[mjquilly]

well, i just looked up the kbb values, and it only has them $600 apart...didn't see the part about the bad clutch on the 2000, get a test drive on them and if the 89 seems fine go w/ it

 

[Kelemvor]

Since it's your first bike and just something to learn on, I'd go for the cheaper one and just remind yourself that in a year or so you can go get a newer one onec you are more familar with riding and such. No sense spending the extra money and then having the clutch fixed and then to turn around and sell it later for another one.

 

[zixxer]

I just decided to go for the 89. It doesn't make much sense to drive a 2000 that I will probably be selling.


In all reality I'll end up giving it to my roommate.. so might as well only pay $750 to start with anyway..

 

[Kntx]

If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

 

[whoiswes]

Originally posted by: JetsFanatic
Neither

buy a HOG

hi, I'm a yuppie who can't think for himself, probably drives a hummer (or wants to) and is generally unsatisfying to his wife while in bed.

buying a harley because it's a harley is worse than dumb.

nothing personal, but the harley name has little to no meaning anymore because every FWWR yuppie moron who has a little cash has one in his garage (which, by the way, is where it sits 95% of the time, unless he's taking it to the dealership to have the oil changed, which is pathetic in and of itself...).

...

that said, get the older bike - it sounds like you're a new rider, so you'll most likely lay the bike down at some point (we all do - it's not IF it's WHEN). spend the money you save on GOOD gear and the MSF.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

Yeah that and I'll go ahead and pay for my gravesite...


this is by first bike.

 

[whoiswes]

Originally posted by: armatron
Yeah that and I'll go ahead and pay for my gravesite...
this is by first bike.

you have the right attitude about this - good for you

/i sound like my friggin father.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

let me guess,
you never rode anything with a motor in it and honda f4i is the only sportbike you can name ... right?

Good thinking with the gs500, they're pretty neat looking (especially with the thick frame rail and everything 🙂 ). I'd go for the 2000 on, just because you can fix it up and make money on it. Plus the newer ones have purtier tail fairings imo


<-rides an f3

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

let me guess,
you never rode anything with a motor in it and honda f4i is the only sportbike you can name ... right?

Good thinking with the gs500, they're pretty neat looking (especially with the thick frame rail and everything 🙂 ). I'd go for the 2000 on, just because you can fix it up and make money on it. Plus the newer ones have purtier tail fairings imo


<-rides an f3

eh I went ahead and told the guy I'll go with the 89 for $750.. cheaper insurance, and I really would just rather not spend too much money on a nice bike I'll end up scratching up when I drop it

 

[deerslayer]

Pics?

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

let me guess,
you never rode anything with a motor in it and honda f4i is the only sportbike you can name ... right?

Good thinking with the gs500, they're pretty neat looking (especially with the thick frame rail and everything 🙂 ). I'd go for the 2000 on, just because you can fix it up and make money on it. Plus the newer ones have purtier tail fairings imo


<-rides an f3

eh I went ahead and told the guy I'll go with the 89 for $750.. cheaper insurance, and I really would just rather not spend too much money on a nice bike I'll end up scratching up when I drop it

isn't it kinda late in the season to start riding though? I put my bike away the other week ... it's chilling in the living room 😀

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

let me guess,
you never rode anything with a motor in it and honda f4i is the only sportbike you can name ... right?

Good thinking with the gs500, they're pretty neat looking (especially with the thick frame rail and everything 🙂 ). I'd go for the 2000 on, just because you can fix it up and make money on it. Plus the newer ones have purtier tail fairings imo


<-rides an f3

eh I went ahead and told the guy I'll go with the 89 for $750.. cheaper insurance, and I really would just rather not spend too much money on a nice bike I'll end up scratching up when I drop it

isn't it kinda late in the season to start riding though? I put my bike away the other week ... it's chilling in the living room 😀

haha.. I live in atlanta.. NEVER too late to ride..

plus it's the best time to buy

 

[joecool]

pictures?!

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

let me guess,
you never rode anything with a motor in it and honda f4i is the only sportbike you can name ... right?

Good thinking with the gs500, they're pretty neat looking (especially with the thick frame rail and everything 🙂 ). I'd go for the 2000 on, just because you can fix it up and make money on it. Plus the newer ones have purtier tail fairings imo


<-rides an f3

eh I went ahead and told the guy I'll go with the 89 for $750.. cheaper insurance, and I really would just rather not spend too much money on a nice bike I'll end up scratching up when I drop it

good idea. because you WILL drop it.

 

[The Stigenator]

If your getting off the board (GStwin) then in either case you got an awesome support group.

The 89 came with clipon's which means that its got a bit more racier position. Somehow after riding mine all this time, riding paul's 89 was kinda weird, but i got into it within 2-3 miles.. Some day i am going to put in suburban machinery bars or equivalent bars that one of the mods makes.

the 2000 and the 89 have the same body, apart from the brake calipers (changed in 96) and the clip on's, there isnt much in difference. As for the clutch, its an easy fix. As someone on the GS board said, take out the friction rings, rotate the order and your good to go.

As a GS500 rider i will say to you, you are starting with one of the best beginner bikes out there. And its not just for beginners, even experineced riders love the 500, nothing like a small bike to commute and flick around and learn to experince life on 2 wheels. I plan to keep my GS forever.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Kntx
If I were you... I'd get a Honda CBR 600F4i.

But that's just me.

let me guess,
you never rode anything with a motor in it and honda f4i is the only sportbike you can name ... right?

Good thinking with the gs500, they're pretty neat looking (especially with the thick frame rail and everything 🙂 ). I'd go for the 2000 on, just because you can fix it up and make money on it. Plus the newer ones have purtier tail fairings imo


<-rides an f3

eh I went ahead and told the guy I'll go with the 89 for $750.. cheaper insurance, and I really would just rather not spend too much money on a nice bike I'll end up scratching up when I drop it

isn't it kinda late in the season to start riding though? I put my bike away the other week ... it's chilling in the living room 😀

haha.. I live in atlanta.. NEVER too late to ride..

plus it's the best time to buy

Same here, and while the weather is usually pretty decent even in the winter, I'll warn you that on the back of a bike things are a LOT colder than they might seem. Heh.

And yeah, if you drive anywhere near Atlanta itself, be VERY careful. People in this city suck at driving to begin with, and they will NOT see you no matter how obvious you make yourself. Ride very defensively and you should be alright. Good luck, be safe, and have fun.