First Bike: EX500, GS500, etc...

[gsJack]

I've gotta put in my .02 here. Even if the GS has 20K miles I'd still go for it over a brand new Blast. Mainly because it's got a better power delivery and isn't as full of vibrations as the Blast. (It's full of them because they took a Sportster engine and took off a cylinder to make a single cylinder motor for it.)
Plus I know the GS will easily do over 100K with regular maintenance. If you PM GSJack he'll tell you for sure.

Oh and as for a tach. I never had a tach in my first manual car or on my first motorcycle. Didn't make much difference, and I didn't worry about paying too much attention to the tach vs. the road.

Just my .02!

I put 80k miles on a 97 GS500 that was totaled in 03 and replaced by my current 02 GS500 which has about 85k miles on it now and counting, I expect it to go 100k miles and if it does I think I'll buy myself a lighter 250 sportbike for my 80th birthday present. I'm starting to like that new CBR250R sportbike. <G>

I've put quite a few 400-500 mile interstate days on my GS's to get to the mountains to play. The big old 81 CB750K I had was a better highway traveler but the GS is more fun when you get there. Only good point the Blast has is it's really low seat option for someone that needs it. The blast has 16" wheels and very little tire clearance so you don't have the good selection of sporty type tires that the GS's 17" wheels will take.

[JVRR]

Hopefully going to be able to talk him down a little more on the 2005. But I do feel better about the miles. Hopefully get a chance to stop by the dealer and take a look at the new one today as well. I think for anything under $1,000 it would be hard to justify the used one, maybe. If something goes wrong, it needs new tires... it can make up that price difference pretty quick, and still have 20,000 more miles.

[JVRR]

1984 Kawasaki GPZ550 for $1000.

Though I have to say, I had my meeting with (now) my new recruiter today, he thinks I will be employed in two to four weeks! (Granted not with as high of an income as I wanted, but faster than I expected). That brand new 2009 sounds better and better .

[JC Viper]

It's original I give ya that... just that it's a bit overpriced for something that old. It's a comfy bike that makes decent power and gas mileage but the 500 wasn't known to wow anyone, even back then (yes I know I own a GPZ 900 and dealt with a GPz750).

Did you get to look at the GS?

[JVRR]

It's original I give ya that... just that it's a bit overpriced for something that old. It's a comfy bike that makes decent power and gas mileage but the 500 wasn't known to wow anyone, even back then (yes I know I own a GPZ 900 and dealt with a GPz750).

Did you get to look at the GS?

Going tomorrow! Will see how far I can talk them down, take that to the guy with the used GS and see if I can get him lower, and see where it takes me! I think if they are less than $1000 apart it makes sense to go new. But we will see.

Buddy is trying to get me to wait for an SV650 though.

[totalmotorcycle]

Best of luck with the GS! Let us know how it goes. As gsJack says (and he knows his GS's) it's a great bike.

A little background on the GPZ series, it was a sportbike series of it's day. Of course, this is just before sportbikes were all covered in plastic. The 550 wasn't a bad bike. I actually looked at a GPZ305 as my first bike way back in 91. I reallly liked the looks of the 305 but I went with the Magna 500 in the end.



If I had a spot in my garage... ok... IF I had a garage (stupid no garage house)... I'd have a GPZ1100 in it or a GPZ750 Turbo if I could find a working one.

[Johnj]

I had a GPz550 once. It was a nice little bike.

[JVRR]

2004 Suzuki GS500 Low Miles @ $2500. I e-mailed him to ask if its running or not, and point out its hardly worth that being KBB value is $2460 for one in excellent condition. We will see what he says. Hopefully heading out soon to take a look at that 2009 brand new one.

[gsJack]

The list price of the 09 GS500F was dropped from the previous $5900-6000 last fall to $4399 dollars for all left over brand new 09 and 08 models. The $1000 off sale right now reduces it to $3399 and that all represents discounts offered by Suzuki Corp. Ask the dealer how much additional he is willing to discount one for if he has some in stock. One poster at gstwins forum claims to have bought a brand new 09 for $2900 recently.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20L ... =sportbike

[JVRR]

The list price of the 09 GS500F was dropped from the previous $5900-6000 last fall to $4399 dollars for all left over brand new 09 and 08 models. The $1000 off sale right now reduces it to $3399 and that all represents discounts offered by Suzuki Corp. Ask the dealer how much additional he is willing to discount one for if he has some in stock. One poster at gstwins forum claims to have bought a brand new 09 for $2900 recently.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20L ... =sportbike

Awesome I will bring that with me . Sort of my operating idea is if I can get it for $3399 out the door (tax and fees) it makes sense. The guy with the latest used one I posted (2004) is crazy, says its in demand he will lower to $2,400 and it sure sounds like it does not run. I don't know what a battery and carb cleaning cost/entail but holy cow. He wants KBB for a bike that doesn't run? NUTS!