Edit...I've bought a Zephyr 550, see last post...Cheers guys

[Handsome]

Edit...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[arry]

I've just bought one, for a fair bit less than £1100 though - check exhaust thoroughly, they tend to rot through underneath the bellypan. Also, obvious but make sure everything works as in electrics, as mine had a couple of minor glitches and I'm led to believe that's common. Front brake has a habit of sticking and then being rubbish, so check the front brake is smooth in operation and offers good stopping power.

Overall though I like mine, it's nice and light - quick enough for me, and comfy enough to ride long distance.

Engine's a little lumpy sounding until it climbs through the revs - but it's not terrible to ride or anything

[Purplepill]

*warning long post*

Yes, I fecking love mine and dont think il ever sell it, brilliant all rounder, I find it hard to explain why I like it so much though

Good points: cheap to buy/insure, I get around 55mpg ragging it, its very good at low speed bumbling about but comes alive at 8-11k rpm, the engine noise has really grown on me I love it. Goes round corners pretty well if its in good nick, easily flicable aswell.

Its not too slow either really, will hit 110mph fairly quickly, and if you really do try hard you'll manage to squeeze 120mph from it. The looks have also grown on me although iv changed those quite a bit from standard, they can look really nice, although iv seen quite a few rank ones aswell. Nice and comfy too, can do some serious miles on them there very practical. Has a center stand aswell.

The maintenance side of things are great too, has tappets so valves are piss easy to adjust, tyres/pads last quite a while, the fairing comes off quick, It just invites you too take it apart unlike my CBR which was quite the opposit. there reliable aswell I havnt had any major problems, just a few little niggles.


Bad points: chain driven primary drive combined with fairly noisy valvetrain means its a bit 'bag of spanners' at tickover/ very low revs, but sounds much nicer once you start revving it. Front brake could do with slightly more stopping power. the exhausts tend too rot quite easily so make sure you check that, iv replaced mine with a motad 2-1 stainless steel which does wonders.

I paid 750 for a good condition D1 97' with 19k on the clock, Iv done almost 6000 miles on mine and plan to do many more

In my opinion definatly the best 500 if thats the route your going down, I liked my GS500 but its not in the same league as this.

Heres mine just in case your interested...
https://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i92/shaunpearmain/08-08-08_2014.jpg
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''He had the confidence of a baby-goat dared to tickle a t-rex's nutsack''

[cicatrez]

Wasn't there an issue with belt driven gpz's being expensive to replace? and best to make it chain driven? I wana learn to. I like the look of the gpz, and sometimes they sell for peanuts. Saw one go on ebay for £200 with just some minor TLC needed on it
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'02 Honda City Fly

[Kickstart]

Hi

None of the GPZ500s were belt drive (the 450 custom thing using basically the same engine was though).

We have had a couple of the older shape ones.

Handling is fine (just don't expect race rep handling). Brakes are adequate, and no better. The are noisy at idle as mentioned above. Expect to have a hell of a lot of play in the rear suspension linkage (even with brand new bushes). Seat is pretty low. If you adjust the valves then there are a pair of metal water pipes you need to remove which each have an O ring sealing them. Worth keeping a few spare (they are cheap).

Good on petrol and with a large fuel tank.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Purplepill]

As far as I know, and I could be wrong, all GPZ 500's are chain drive.... EX500A '87-'93 and EX500D '94-'99 definatly are according too haynes.

Edit: keith beat me
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''He had the confidence of a baby-goat dared to tickle a t-rex's nutsack''

[Handsome]

Guys, that's just what I was after, Cheers...

It's at a dealers so the 1100 I'll be knocking him down on and see if he'll take the NSR as a part ex ( needs work so... )...


Any thing else you can think of ?...

Edit...Any one took it two up with a load of gear on, basically it'll be a rally tool while I save up for something else, the Missus is a bit concerned with it only being a 500 and us two with camping gear on it ?...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Purplepill]

Iv been two-up, although only with a tank bag/backpack. obviously its not quite as nippy but still gets up to speed fine, will sit at 70-80 all day long we were around 23stone combined.
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''He had the confidence of a baby-goat dared to tickle a t-rex's nutsack''

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not really ridden one 2 up with full luggage. Have done a fair few miles years ago with 2 of us on it. Went fine (still managed about 120 ). Power wise it did the job. Brakes with a pillion were even more marginal. You might find it a bit small with 2 of you on it and luggage.

On the first one we had it was noticeable that the fuel consumption increased quite a bit if you cruised over 85mph. The 2nd was generally not as good on fuel (but also 10 years older).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Handsome]

Us two and a bit of gear would come in at around 25 stone so shouldn't be too bad then, cheers guys, very much appreciated and I'll go and have a look tomorrow...

Many thanks, Karma given...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Pernig]

They're amazing bikes. Buy it and don't look back .
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H100 Breaking for spares

[cicatrez]

Top Gun is going to be on in 5minutes on itv2. You could check out the gpz900r that Marverick rides. its what makes me like them!
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'02 Honda City Fly

[Handsome]

Actually, is it possible to up-rate the brakes from a bigger cc bike like a Ninja, and if so how hard are we looking at ?...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[T0MMY]

I had the grey import 400cc version which obviously had a little less hp and I used to shuttle my well built mates up and down the country on it with no problems, they are surprisingly powerful Great all rounder but for £1100 I'd want a minter Probably had more fun on my GPZ than any bike since but then it was my first proper bike....
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[virus]

A mate of mine has a 500s, ive been pillion on it and it still had plenty of oomph (neither of us are exeptionally small).

He took pillion, fully loaded to blackpool and still managed to crack the ton, so dont worry about load carrying.

Stinkwheel is the man to talk to about them though.


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Handsome]

Cheers guys...

Although I'm going nowhere at the minute untill some of the roads clear up as it belted it down with snow here last night and I don't fancy taking the NSR out on it...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[lllN30lll]

[Handsome]

[tsmith]

[Handsome]

*You cannot rate anymore posts today*...

Cheers Tom... , up-rating the brakes would be enough I wouldn't try getting anymore out of the engine as that's defeat the point of having it, like I say it'd only be a rally tool so so long as it'll carry some decent weight it'll do...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[moog]

I loved mine for the two years I owned it and I'm currently torn between turning my cb250rs into a cafe racer or selling it and all the bits I have for it and buying another gpz500s.

NSR-AD...upgrading the brakes is a good move. I fitted sintered pads and braided hoses which improved the feel and ability of the brakes no end. Well worth doing it for the money imo. Mine had a Nexxus 2-1 exhaust fitted which ironed out the flat spot between 4500 and 6000 rpm...and when you hit 7000 rpm the thing just flew!

Also, if you are gonna be carrying extra weight, then it's a given that you should also upgrade the suspension. I did the same thing that tomsmith did...Hagon progressive springs and a Hagon rear shock really sharpened things up. Also...fit a set of Bridgestone BT45 Battlaxs. When I bought my gpz it had an Exedra front tyre and a Cougar rear...both with plenty of life left in them. After changing to the Battlaxs I found I could go faster in the rain than I could in the dry on the old tyres!

My ultimate recommendation though, and the best single thing you can do for the bike, is to clean it regularly. They aren't the best built bike and if left uncleaned they willstart to rust.
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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[slightlytasty]

I had a 98 GPZ500s last year. It had had a hard life - bought for £600 with 45k on it and 7 previous owners. It proved to be a pretty cheap and reliable hack. Put 6k on it and sold it for £500 with very little mot left. Spent very little on it - just consumables. Now that is pretty cheap motoring.

Performance was adequate as was handling. 50mpg commuting. Raced a modded Nissan skyline and beat it up to about 90 when it's vastly superior power reeled me in. Overall a good budget hack but I wouldn't pay over £750 for 1. For over £1k you could get an sv650 which I upgraded to and it is better in every respect (apart from starting in winter as it needs more amps). Better performance, handing, economy, looks etc.

Thought about a cb500? I may get one next winter as a cheap commuter second bike. Reportedly more reliable and a better bike and can also easily be picked up for way under £1k
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Own Aprilia RSV and 955i Speed Triple and 2002 FZS600, had Bandit 650, SV650S, GPZ500S, DR650

[Handsome]

Cheers guys...

Funny you should mention a CB500 Tasty as I've seen a few good examples around for 800 or there abouts, seem a pretty good bike as I took my test on one so I know pretty much what they are capable of, definatly a consideration...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Handsome]

Anyone know anything about the Suzuki GSX600F, I've just come across one that looks like it's just rolled out of the factory, 34.000 miles, tax mot all singing all dancing just under 900 pounds...

Oh it's only an H reg though...

???...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[bazza]