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Motorcycle questions

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(Good_guy) Not to bash your bike, but the GS500 is based on the old GS450, and those things were dogs. (I had 2) They also spun big end brearings like no tomorrow. I had 3 people give me their old 450's, and I only got 2 to work well. After 2 bottom end jobs I called it quits for the GS series.

I know the 500 is a new bike, with a whole new frame and everything, but that old bottom end is still sittting in there. I haven't heard of any major problems with the 500, but if I were you I would keep an eye on it and run a really good oil in it, like a Spectro Gold, or high grade Motul just to make sure you don't have any problems.

Just my $0.02......
 
(Silverpig) If you are into sportbikes, check out the Kawi ZX6 or the Suzuki RF600. Both were pretty big for 600's and very comfortable, even for big guys. Plus you can get them for a song compared to the new ASX-RRRRRRR models.
 
When I started driving, I started with my mom's '93 Corsica... I could have easily handled a Corvette if she had one, and could have been perfectly safe driving around the city with it. A 'vette and a corsica aren't that much different when going 30 km/h in a school zone, but are much different when at the track. Hence, I'd never try taking a 'vette out to the track and ripping it up at 250+ km/h until I'd had a lot more experience.
 
I agree with you that the GS500 is a dog.. on top suzuki is pretty idiotic to keep components from teh old GS450 on the GS500. You see the GS450 used 18" rims.. the 500 uses 17" .. we got a 10% speedometer accuracy difference on the bike .. (I dont know if my 2001 has it but the 1999 has it for sure).

The bike has already given me trouble from day one. SUzuki made changes to the bike in 2001 and I had one of teh first few bikes. Well the carbs werent set right and it kept stalling, and stalling and finally I had a crash. After I got it back it ran better, but I had to increase the idling to get it to run good. Later when i finally gave it for its first service the dealersihp fixed the problem with teh engine and now it runs great.

True its a dog, got only about 40HP.. but I am going to make some mods and boost it to the 55HP range..

As for Oil I am running Castrol GTX Motorcycle Oil after the first service, and I plan to run it with that afterwards too. As for the oil filter I will use fram or K&N on my second service.
 
Boberfett: a 500CC is puny? :eyeroll: And he is a beginner ya know??? hello??


You never read the dirtrider, and motorsport articles on the klr 250 going up against a YZF on a closed course and other than the straights, the YZ could not get more than about 10 ft away.




**EDIT notice not a pure dirt bike**
 
I've heard (and have some limited experience) that the Honda CBR is the most comfortable 600 out there, but where I am, they're a bit more expensive than the Yamaha/Triumph/Suzuki/Kawasaki counterparts. I found a used 2000 r6 that's been customized a bit for $9000 cdn, whereas anything comparable and newer would set me back more than $12000 cdn.
 
(Good guy) Next oil change either a Suzuki or Fram filter are fine (K&N don't make OIL filters that I know of). But once you are over you are over your break in milage, switch to Spectro Gold or Motul. I liked Spectro the best, since the oil is in your tranny you will notice shifting gears becomes easier also.

(Silverpig) If you can control that right fist of yours, then you can get as big a bike as you can hold up (or pick up). You just have to have the proper mindset about it. BUT since you are in Canada, you can get the really fun toys, two strokes! try and find an old RG500.. that will be as quick as you ever really want to go! (They are really tiny though) CBR's are good, comfortable bikes, but since you said you were pretty tall I thought the ZX or RF would be a better choice. Especially as you can get the old ones really cheap.
 
I second the feelings about just being careful and getting whatever bike you want. A STUPID FOOL is going to get in trouble on ANY bike. A good, responsible driver will be fine on any bike The size/weight/displacement/HP/whatever is such a minor factor. Starting on a small bike to save you from yourself? No. A large bike is no harder to handle really than a small one. --Actually, it's the other way around, in most cases. ANY bike of any size is going to take some adjustment period...getting used to the way it feels, handles, shifts, etc. During this period, you should be careful. VERRRRRY careful on ANY bike. --But adjusting to a larger, more powerful bike is no more dangerous than with a small one, unless you ARE being reckless and stupid. My advice: Get the bike you want. DO NOT get a bike too small for you, because you WILL regret it later. Be careful. Be careful.

I started with a honda express scooter. Moved up to a 125 dual sport. When I wet to college, my dad bought a GL1200 (Goldwing.) I rode it more than him. Shortly after, I bought a Suzuki GS550L. Too weak, that bike. FAR too weak. I was never satisfied, though I loved the bike dearly. I was lusting after my friend's Yamaha XS1100 Special. THen my dad traded for a brand new Goldwing GL1500. Good Lord. Rode it more than him (until he drove it to the FL keys.) THEN.... I finally talked my friend into selling me the 11 Special. No looking back. I tell you... If I had started with this bike, I would have been a happy man. --And still alive, yes. --Because, NEVER, on ANY of the great bikes I have had the privelege to ride regularly, have I acted like a fool on one. (Well, there was that one time, in a wide open parking lot, but....ANYWAY.) Get what you want. You don't want to be stuck with a too small, underpowered bike.

Now, when I say underpowered, I don't mean "a bike that can't get you to 100 MPH quick enough" or "a bike that doesn't have the kind of top speed you can be proud of." No, no. I mean this: When I am on my XS1100, fully loaded, with my wife on the back, also fully loaded, and I start moving....the bike goes. Happily. There is no over-revving trying to get up enough HP to move us. When I want to pass, I can do so without changing gears. When I want to turn onto a new road, I can do that in 3rd gear without lugging my bike. When I DO want a little exciting kick int he pants, the bike is perfectly willing to do so at all times. A little torque and HP goes a LOOOONG way in just making your everyday ride feel nice and smooth. You don't want to have to push your bike just to do the mundane things like starting at a stoplight or turning. And, sure, any bike HAS the power to start and turn. But if you get an underpowered bike, and then you ride one that has a little to spare, you WILL see what I mean, and you will look at your bike in a wholly different way. You'll never be satisfied again.

Just my 2 cents.

Ricky
DesignDawg
 
It is all about responsibility as you have alluded to Damage. I'm a fairly big guy, am very fit, was a serious rower for a while, and won't have a problem physically with handling even the ZX12 when I'm ready for it.

I used to read car magazines all the time, and a test driver for the McLaren F1 even said that any responsible person with a driver's licence could easily handle that car every day to and from work, but in that same magazine there was an article about a professional driver who crashed an F1 at over 200 mph in the desert in Saudi Arabia (I think). (funny thing too, he flipped it over and over, half buried it in the sand, and walked away without a scratch)

Granted, an r6 has the potential to really bite you, but if you respect it, and are sensible, it's no more dangerous than a 250.
 
It seems we have been discussing bikes that are just not powerful enough.. If you REALLY want your jollies than hop on board the Y2K Superbike.. Jet powered and more than enough to increase the pucker factor of your rectum to make sure you stay planted on your seat.😉
 


<< I second the feelings about just being careful and getting whatever bike you want. A STUPID FOOL is going to get in trouble on ANY bike. A good, responsible driver will be fine on any bike The size/weight/displacement/HP/whatever is such a minor factor. Starting on a small bike to save you from yourself? No. A large bike is no harder to handle really than a small one. --Actually, it's the other way around, in most cases. ANY bike of any size is going to take some adjustment period...getting used to the way it feels, handles, shifts, etc. During this period, you should be careful. VERRRRRY careful on ANY bike. --But adjusting to a larger, more powerful bike is no more dangerous than with a small one, unless you ARE being reckless and stupid. My advice: Get the bike you want. DO NOT get a bike too small for you, because you WILL regret it later. Be careful. Be careful.

I started with a honda express scooter. Moved up to a 125 dual sport. When I wet to college, my dad bought a GL1200 (Goldwing.) I rode it more than him. Shortly after, I bought a Suzuki GS550L. Too weak, that bike. FAR too weak. I was never satisfied, though I loved the bike dearly. I was lusting after my friend's Yamaha XS1100 Special. THen my dad traded for a brand new Goldwing GL1500. Good Lord. Rode it more than him (until he drove it to the FL keys.) THEN.... I finally talked my friend into selling me the 11 Special. No looking back. I tell you... If I had started with this bike, I would have been a happy man. --And still alive, yes. --Because, NEVER, on ANY of the great bikes I have had the privelege to ride regularly, have I acted like a fool on one. (Well, there was that one time, in a wide open parking lot, but....ANYWAY.) Get what you want. You don't want to be stuck with a too small, underpowered bike.

Now, when I say underpowered, I don't mean "a bike that can't get you to 100 MPH quick enough" or "a bike that doesn't have the kind of top speed you can be proud of." No, no. I mean this: When I am on my XS1100, fully loaded, with my wife on the back, also fully loaded, and I start moving....the bike goes. Happily. There is no over-revving trying to get up enough HP to move us. When I want to pass, I can do so without changing gears. When I want to turn onto a new road, I can do that in 3rd gear without lugging my bike. When I DO want a little exciting kick int he pants, the bike is perfectly willing to do so at all times. A little torque and HP goes a LOOOONG way in just making your everyday ride feel nice and smooth. You don't want to have to push your bike just to do the mundane things like starting at a stoplight or turning. And, sure, any bike HAS the power to start and turn. But if you get an underpowered bike, and then you ride one that has a little to spare, you WILL see what I mean, and you will look at your bike in a wholly different way. You'll never be satisfied again.

Just my 2 cents.

Ricky
DesignDawg >>




Do any motorcycles come with an AT?
 


<< Do any motorcycles come with an AT? >>



there used to be a bike which had an auto tranny.. not sure who made it though. However most scooters are auto tranny bikes... check out the 250cc reflex from honda and the 600cc Silver Wing from Honda. Also the new 500cc sports scooter from Aprilia.

I will end up buying a sports scooter soon.. only thing I got to make sure that the wheels arent smaller than 13".. I prefer atleast 15"..
 


<< However most scooters are auto tranny bikes... >>

Hehehe.. Yep. That's right. TO my knowledge, there are no good adult bikes out that have them. Just thinking about it.. Hehehe. My little Honda Express had an auto tranny. Lots of funnythings with that bike. To start it up, you had to wind it up (seriously) with a little krank. OK, OK, it was a spring loaded crank that you operated like a kickstarted, but you had to crank it about 10 times, IIRC, and then hit the release and POP! The spring you just wound up would kick the engine over, and off you go! 🙂 No clutch, no nothing. I think it had 2 or 3 gears. You could faintly feel and hear it when it shifted, but stupid young me, I never noticed it until I had been riding it for months! 🙂 Fun little bike.

Shifting is half the fun, though, man. Who wants a bike with a slushbox tranny?

Ricky
DesignDawg
 
Something to consider, from what I've read, you really have no idea what you are looking for. The only thing you know is you want something in a certain price range and that is a good learning bike. From this I would recomend you look at bikes that hold there resale value. More than likely what will happen is you will ride the bike for 6 months to a year then realize you want another bike (maybe a little bigger or something a little better looking or what have you.) As far as getting a total beater, not a good option. If you are going to be learning on the bike then mechanical condition is of utmost importance. Your learning to ride experience should be as safe and as enjoyable as possible. If you view your first bike as just that, your FIRST bike, it takes some of the concern away from getting exactly what you want the first time.
 
I like an auto box.. dont ask me.. but when crusising .. you wants to worry about "shifting".. I rather watch the scenery run by than be shifting gears.
 
I just got my first motorcycle a few months ago. It is a used 93 Katana 600. I have NEVER drove a motorcycle before in my life until I got this bike. I also rode it, and never had any problems. I am not confident on it yet, because I only took it out a few times...though I am not afraid to ride it either. I never felt like it had "too much" power, or that I could not handle it. I wouldn't go with a 250 cc bike...once you gain confidence on a bike, that'll be really underpowered. THe minimum I'd go is probably 600...which is what I did.

-= SsZERO =-
 
Yeah, t_g_g, but why would you be shifting while cruising? That doesn't make sense. If you're in a situation of "watching the scenery go by", you have no business shifting. --And, come on. You've ridden long enough that it doesn't take any concentration to shift gears! Just a matter of taste, I guess, but seriously. crusing != shifting.

Ricky
DesignDawg
 
though crusing != shifting..
in a case of canyon carving .. I would rather use brakes and acclerator than to downshift anytime I want to make a certain move.. I dont know guess I am so lazy.. and plus I came from teh scooter route.
 


<< Boberfett: a 500CC is puny? :eyeroll: And he is a beginner ya know??? hello??


You never read the dirtrider, and motorsport articles on a 250 going up against a YZF on a closed course and other than the straights, the YZ could not get more than about 10 ft away. >>



That's a dirtbike tho! 🙂 Dirtbikes kick ass!!!!!!
 
Some modified dirt bikes actually do pretty well on the track. (Ever heard of Super-Motard?) Out at willow springs a guy put better rims and tires on a KX250, did some suspension work, changed the gearing, and went pretty quick. I don't remember if he changed the brakes. The 250 2-stroke single is a great powerplant and you can't beat a 2-stroke for acceleration out of a corner.
 
2-stroke engines make about twice as much power as their 4-stroke counterparts...so a 250cc 2-stroke would be pretty close to the performance of a 500cc 4-stroke.

-= SsZERO =-
 
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