[varchild]

HI all,
I just bought a 04 gs500f after takeing 10 years off of riding. I had a yamaha 750 standard bike before. I was happy with my bike untill I got comments like, "thats a girls bike", "nice chicken beak head lights", "you couldnt have bought a slower bike", "what you couldnt afford a real bike?"
"WOW that thing is ugly".
I kinda thought that the love for motorcycles was about the passion for being on 2 wheels and not a fashion show but, maybe thats just me. I do like the bike, after not being on a bike for so long I thought this would be a great bike to refresh on. The comments kinda bummed me out a little not to mention the trade in value for it is $2500 with only 110 miles on it, so its not so easy to upgrade to a katana without takeing a huge hit.

Maybe should have jkust bought the kat in the first place.

 

[Gixxerdale]

Don't be to bummed. Kelley Blue Book list it at $4320.00 retail for a used 2004. But it doesn't give a mileage allowance.

As for the comments, Screw em! I know a few girls on liter bikes and Harleys. So anything can be "a girls bike".

The only real dislike I see with the new gs 500 is the handle bars. I'd change them to Clip ons or something in between.

I think you made a good choice to re enter riding. Besides it's your money and your hide you need to consider. The GS5000 is always in demand and an easy resale to the next newbie or re entry rider. Don't sweat it, enjoy your ride!

 

[007]

Those people are stupid! (were they Harley riders? :lol: ) Since when does one have to listen to stupid people? I like those bikes, and actually wanted to buy one. I went for the Bandit because I had a better deal.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Let me see if I've got this straight . . .

They're saying THIS:

is ugly??

I think it's a great looking bike. You're hearing this from either a group of Harley folks, or from a group of squids. Gotta' be, 'cause that's one good looking machine.

I think you picked out an excellent choice for your first new steed after a 10 year break. Light, flickable, nice and sporty looking, low-cost, good bargain.

Don't worry. You're among friends here, and we know that every bike is different, and you picked it based upon what YOU want, not what the rags say is 'the bike to have.'

You want to see ugly . . . I ride an '02 Bandit 600S . . . with the bugeyes. I LOOOOOVE that bike, but let's face it . . . beauty ain't its strong point.

[EDIT: Welcome to the board! Pull up a chair and participate.]

 

[varchild]

TY all for the kind words, made me feel better. :wink: And btw it was a group of yamaha riders makeing the comments.

 

[Gixxerdale]

Well that says a lot! Bunch o Yamahahaha Squids! :lol:

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Oh, yeah . . . the Aha-mays, should have known.

Show 'em how to wear gear and they'll REALLY lay into ya'.

 

[Louis]

:welcomes: to the site and congrats on the new bike.

Tell me something, why did you choose that bike? I guess it pleased you in some way be that either performance, type or look. Are those still pleasing to you? I'd guess so.

Don't let what other think get you down. Do you own thing and ride

 

[Uncle Bob]

Wannabees mesuring their manhood according to cc's ?

Great bike, great buy. Get out there and learn to master the bike while the others are being mastered by their "compensations".

 

[varchild]

I picked this bike because I wanted a suzuki and I wanted a light bike. If I knew the katana was only 1k more I might have got that. I had 8 surgeries on both arms from a nerve disease and been out of commision for the last 3 years. I wasnt sure if I could ride again and since I couldnt test ride anything I thought spending 5k cash was better then 8k. I love the r6 but right now my arms are weak and painful, that would have been to much bike for me, even though I started on a 750 when I was 18.(31 now) I figured the gs500f was a good choice not to mention love the look, I can always upgrade if things work out. Tell you what, I have rode faster bikes and a few slower but this gs500f is a lot of fun. Wont keep up with the big boyz but then again you cant always ride at 200mph. I would say if you have little to no rideing experience this bike is perfect but if I could do it again I would go with the katana only because iam used to a lil more speed.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

if I could do it again I would go with the katana only because iam used to a lil more speed.

Ehh, speed's over-rated anyway, if you ask me. The true value of a bike (in my humble opinion) is cornering. I'm not a great rider or anything, but I loooove to take the corners. Any throttle monkey with credit can score a 'Busa and go 200 unitl they catch him or he gets killed, but (to me) a person who truly enjoys bikes knows that the curves are where it's at.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

GREAT SCOTT!!

Somehow I double-posted. Sorry, I'm a knucklehead.

 

[varchild]

good point :idea:

 

[TL chris]

What ever you do, take pride in your ride man. Forget them knuckleheads and be happy with what you got. They don't have to ride it. So don't sweat it.

 

[tlwisner]

HI all,
I just bought a 04 gs500f after takeing 10 years off of riding. I had a yamaha 750 standard bike before. I was happy with my bike untill I got comments like, "thats a girls bike", "nice chicken beak head lights", "you couldnt have bought a slower bike", "what you couldnt afford a real bike?"
"WOW that thing is ugly".

It sounds like people are jealous that you're not paying really high payments and insurance like they are, but you still have a very nice looking sporty fun bike to ride. If you're riding in an AMA Superbike race, you may not do so well, but since you're riding on the street - well, the GS500F should do plenty well indeed.

You should not worry about the opinions of dumbasses, just enjoy riding your bike. 8)

 

[varchild]

well after reading alot of posts about the gs500f, I am thinking of getting rid of it. I cant get over the fact that most people consider this bike a chicks bike or wanna buy it for a wife or kid to learn on. I did all my learning along time ago. I think what really made up my mind was today I was coming up to a yellow light and I down shifted 2 gears and this bike couldnt get out of its own way to beat the red light! Dont get me wrong, it is a fun bike, but for 5 grand it should be able to out accelerate a pontiac grand am! Maybe I am just still embarrassed. It is frustrating that no 1 will ride with you because they dont wanna have to stop every block to wait for you to catch up.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

If you REALLY want to get another bike, do it.

May I suggest riding it for a few thousand miles, because you've already incurred the dreaded "brand new mark-up?" If you sell it now, you'll take a loss on what is essentially a brand new bike.

I'm guessing that you ride in traffic a lot, and that that's why you feel the need for more power. That's definitely understandable.

 

[varchild]

ya maybe I'll keep it till next spring. And I dont ride in to much trafic just alot of it to get to the country roads.

 

[saleemas]

Seems to me you made a wise choice and for valid reasons to boot!
Foget the squids they are everywhere. Welcome back to riding. Welcome to the forum.
G-

 

[Guest]

varchild,
I can relate. I'm a well-experienced rider, but got a new job (as a correctional officer) where nobody knew me. Most of the riders are on cruisers, metric or otherwise. You can imagine their shock and disbelief when I showed up to work on a SCOOTER! Most just quit talking to me. Overnight persona non grata. That lasted about a month. They soon realized the old guy on the scoot could dust every one of them in the twisties, and most on the straights. :shock: Ride well. Ride smart. You'll soon have their respect.

Small bikes ROCK!