GS500

[ocatoro]

ok so, there's a chap coming to collect my zzr tomorrow.

my eyes are still pretty set on a GS500 as it'll allow me to put some money in my pocket, and also overall cheapness day to day and at service/tyre times....

aside from being boring/slow/yawn/agricultural....

is there anything wrong with them that i should look for?

i think i read before that valve shims can be a twat on them, and clearances need more monitoring than average. which surprised me as i thought it was one of those rock solid can't kill it if you try engines.
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[P.addy]

DO NOT BUY

In fact, buy something like a 125, its less boring.

[nowhere.elysium]

Yeah, they're pretty pony. The engine's an overbored 450, which was in turn made from an overbored 400 that was originally made back in the 70s. There's not been a massive amount updated in the engine itself, either, so what started life as a fairly robust design is now a somewhat overtaxed design, that's a bit lacking.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[wr6133]

Any going cheap are fucked somehow even if not immediately apparent. I went to look at 4 different ones 2 weeks ago with asking prices from 500 - 850 notes and they were all dogs ended up buying a zzr!

Look out for badly painted frames hiding well eaten in rust, bent frames , rattling engines, ancient wiring looms held together via tape and prayers, gearboxes that don't change crisply, badly chopped frames that have been then put back to original with what looks like meccano. Basically they are bikes people buy to abuse and not give a shit about so expect everything to be bodged..... badly.

If you have the budget I'd look at CB500 instead.

[ocatoro]

i know it's not the excitement award winner... but there's something about the little 500s that does it for me.

i had an er5, which i was more than satisfied with to be honest. in the end it had some problems which i fixed but i already wanted to kick it off it's stand by then for the cheek so i sold it.

they are similar to an mx5 in a way. not fast, not many things, but you can hammer them about and not be too far over the speed limit, and likewise you can just pootle happily along.

i only rode the gs when preparing for my tests, and it felt lovely. i think i settled for the er5 in the end as i got a good deal, but preferred the ride of the gs.

i'm just after a cheap budget commuter with once/twice a year touring. when money situation is better, i'll get something newer/better... but just a cheap, do everything bike is what i need for right now
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Eddie Hitler]

What was wrong with your ZZR? They're great bikes, which don't cost a bomb to maintain.

[_Troy_]

Mine was awesome*.




*not awesome
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[Eddie Hitler]

I saw a GS500 yesterday, with one of those fairings on. I did sick a little in my mouth.

Why? For the same money you could get something so much better.

[P.addy]

[fatjames]

Are we talking about these?

https://classic-motorbikes.net/images/gallery/suzuki_gs500e.jpg

How the fuck is that better than a zzr?

[Eddie Hitler]

https://i.imgur.com/nL9FdVPl.jpg

[P.addy]

[ocatoro]

nothing wrong with my zzr at all like, just fancied a change, also was riding to work at silly triple figure speeds so obviously my control yourself reflex has become defective, and consumables are more expensive due to larger sizes.

i'm genuinely not into the faster/bigger is better thing... that's not where i get my enjoyment from bikes.


considering i've seen some alright looking ones for £500/600ish with sub 20k on in some cases... what can i get that's better for the same money? as i am open to suggestion or i'd be a moron. like i said, brief is day to day cheaps running/servicing/tyres/chains/etc just for commuting mainly, with chuck a couple of touring holidays in.
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[nowhere.elysium]

[Eddie Hitler]

[wr6133]

[P.addy]

[ocatoro]

[sidewinder]

[Moxey]

GS 500............Just No.

Some relatively cheap, reliable and *enjoyable* alternatives to consider

CB 500 -> Faster(marginally) better built and just better thought out.

CB 600 Hornet -> Potentially more fun at slight cost of running.

XJ 600 -> Better built than GS and surprisingly I found easier to work on though may just be me.

*If you've never ridden a EXC 200, 675 or RD 350 that is*
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Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 91 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[MarJay]

Personally I'd rather go for a CB-1 400 or CB400 Superfour or something like that. GS500's are awful, and going from a ZZR600 to one of those you'll end up dying of boredom.

What you want is a small bike you can have fun on for not much cash. I'd definitely be looking for CB-1s and so on. At a push I might have a GPZ500S but they are still a bit pony.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[ocatoro]

what's high miles on a divvy 6?
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[fatjames]

[Knacker]

I know they're Cack but there's something about the Look of a GS500 I like.

Would happily have a Yellow 1 with white wheels. I know I'm sick I can't help it.
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[CieL]

Well as in everything it depends what you want the bike for. I ride a GS500 to work every day (YES I ADMIT IT) and does the job great, I used a CB500 before and it's the same s**t different package.

Now the bike that I use to have fun with (CBR600FS) is another story. Like I said, depends what you want to do with it.