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G_Seattle wrote:I have read that the Suzuki GS500F is a good beginner bike as well, are there any other recommendations? Brand is not important, I want something that is safe for a beginner, and can also handle some highway cruising on the week-ends! Thanks all for your help!

The GS500 is considered a good beginners bike unless you are particularly short and would fit a cruiser style better to start. I consider it a good all around do anything bike much like the Bonnie 650's of years past in size and performance.

Put my last 130k miles on a couple GS500's and enjoyed every mile of it. Did some 400-500 mile days on them a few years ago travelling south to the Smoky Mtns to play. Found them comfortable enough for me for all day rides, I did my last long trip the summer of 04 just before my 72nd birthday.

My son put a used engine in my first GS with 88k miles on the bike and now uses it as a commuter for a long cross town commute by freeway or by backroads depending on time and mood. I put 80k trouble free miles on that one.

Also consider the Ninja 500 which is very similar to the GS500 but has a little more HP if you like the standard or sporty standard style of bikes. There are also a number of suitable cruiser style bikes that make good beginner bikes.

gsJack wrote: My son put a used engine in my first GS with 88k miles on the bike and now uses it as a commuter for a long cross town commute by freeway or by backroads depending on time and mood. I put 80k trouble free miles on that one.

Wow that's impressive!

If anyone can say they know the 5 buck GS, you are da man!

Thanks guys that's very helpful!

slimcolo wrote: http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/com ... &x=68&y=14

I've seen this before and do not understand it. Different sites giving different specifications for the same bike. I saw GM list different HPs on different cars that had exact same motors. (in the 70s and 80s)

You can have the same engine with different HP outputs, depending on what components are used. Different cams, carbs or compression ratios.

In the BMW site you referenced, there appears to be some difference in the engines (my guess is cams). The X model makes its 44 ft/lbs of torque at 5250 rpm, while the GS does it at 5000 rpm. The horsepower peak for the X (53hp@7000) is obtained at a higher rpm than the GS (50@6500).

Most manufacturers list the HP obtained at the crank. It makes a better number for their advertising, but of course it leaves out all of the losses caused by the rest of the drivetrain. Real rear wheel HP figures, derived from actual dyno runs, are usually available from third parties such as motorcycle magazines or owners club websites.