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So this week was my Spring Break (sigh, it's over..back to school tomorrow and classes on Monday)

Last Monday I had 3 interviews for a job and got offered 3 jobs, I accepted one naturally. So now I have a job lined up for summer which means $$ which means motorcycle, eventually.


So I've decided on a EX500, or a GS500 (in that order unless the GS is naked). But would Sev's 599 be a good starter bike? It looked sexy in the pictures he posted but then the whole '599' thing. It didn't look like it had the bulk of a cruiser to even out the 600cc thing so I don't know.

Also on some models the HP will differ from year to year. I don't guess I'll even notice the difference between a 40 HP and a 43 HP bike?

the 599 would make a great second bike, but the power would be a bit much for a new rider, even one coming from dirt. if you fell you need more power than a 500, checkout the 650 twins.

As for a 40 vs 43 hp bike, it's slight, but the differance is there. Ride one for a few seasons and hop on the other, you'll probably notice it. but the EX/GS500 would be good. As for the GS E vs F, the ergos on the two are a little bit differant i noticed. Not much, but a little. I for one am fond of the F over the E in terms of comfort.

See I can't even find a naked GS to sit on, so I can't really compare the two.

Finding the faired one wasn't too easy either. The Ninja was easy, see them everywhere Kawisaki's are sold.



And at this stage in the game, I'm not really concerned with power, nor looks for that matter. But if I can get a good looking bike, that's won't kill me, and for about the same price as another bike, then why not?

so is the ex500 considered naked?

1will wrote:so is the ex500 considered naked?

the ex500 is the ninja 500 so nope, it's a not a naked bike.

the GS500E and 599 are boht naked bikes.

First of all congrats on the job, I hope it's one that you like, and that you make some fat stacks of cash doing it.


I'd have some reservations suggesting the 599 as a starter bike. But I didn't start on it, so I cannot be completely positive. Below 6000rpm it's relatively well mannered and almost docile, though once you get it about 7k or so it has some definitive snap to it.

The other thing is that it has a really short wheelbase and agressive rake so the steering is really quick. There isn't any real wobble or waver at highway speeds as a result, the bike is well balanced and all, but it still responds very rapidly to small changes in the handlebars. Rolling my shoulders while keeping my hands still (something I did all the time on the savage) resulted in me changing lines during what should have been a straight run.

If you can find one used and cheap I'd say go for it, but there are better bikes out there to learn on, and cheaper bikes to buy new. I could have gotten an SV650 for a thousand less, but chose the 599 for a bigger gas tank, and far more comfortable ergos (to me). I would have had to change the bars, and the pegs to fit me on the SV, so I figure it would have cost about the same either way.

The GS500F is available at any suzuki dealer, you can get them new.

Yah, I've found the F, but I can't find the E.

Shiv wrote:Yah, I've found the F, but I can't find the E.

i don't think suzuki sells the "E" anymore this year in US.

i think you'll have to look for used one.

I just bought my first bike last weekend, an SV650. In my opinion its a great starter bike. Its a twin so the power is predictable and the throttle isn't twitchy, which gives you confidence on a bumpy road or in the corners. I haven't got it up over 6k rpms (still in the break in period) but i've been able to go on the highway (70-80mph). I think the torque curve peaks at around 9k rpm so...I've yet to really feel its power, but I'm not afraid to ride it at all, and I can still accelerate quickly when I want to. I'd definitely consider it if I were you. Oh, low maintence too....the GS500 has very short valve tune up intervals (can be expensive). The SV can go 100,000 miles before it needs a valve adjustment, and its fuel injected, so no carbs to get gunked up or that need timing. Something to think about...