Time to upgrade from a beginer bike?

[jraice]

East Bay Bear Creek?

Haha we were just (in my "hows my form" thread) getting confused over the two Bear Creeks.

I guess Ill stay away from that one, definetly riding the one right here in LG!

 

[Mellon Baller]

alright, you guys talked me into keeping the GS. i spent a year on a vino125 before the GS, and i sometimes miss how much fun that was. thanks for having the patience to set a noob straight -- i really do appreciate the experience of everyone on the forum.

maybe i'll see you guys on my turbo busa next season

 

[Starshooter10]

I've been on the GS500f for over a year and I've put 2k+ miles on it. I've ridden up and down the coast with her, put in some time in the twisties around the Berkeley/Oakland hills and it's been hoot. But the little 500cc v-twin isn't as exciting as it used to be. Fellow BARFers, i've got a few questions:

1. When is it time to upgrade from your learner bike to something more substantial?

2. What would you recommend as a suitable upgrade for a someone looking for a "jack of all trades" bike that could serve as both a sole means of transportation as well as a bike that could hold its own at a track day?

few things:

first learn what your riding.. GS's are twins... but not V's
it's time to upgrade when you have the required skills and maturity to controll an upgrade.

stick with the GS it's a great bike and should do all you ever need of it..

it CAN do wheelies and stoppies

it CAN go 2 up with ease

it CAN keep you more then entertained for years to come.

if your already board then your not doing it right!

i've been riding for almost 10 years now and STILL get a hoot every time i get on the the GS...

but hey what do i know! i've only put 40+ K miles on GS500's =-P

stick with it for a while the GS F looks nice and to be honest the girlies (well 95% of em) cant tell the differance between a busa and a GSF... they both looks shiny =-P

 

[Audacious Nick]

few things:

stick with it for a while the GS F looks nice and to be honest the girlies (well 95% of em) cant tell the differance between a busa and a GSF... they both looks shiny =-P

Trust me, 98% of girls don't know any other brand than Ducati.
To them it's either a motorcycle or a Ducati.

 

[isacivic]

Went from a gs500 to a VFR to an FZR. Honestly? It doesn't really matter. Monetarily, I should have kept the GS. I liked the VFR the most, though. You don't ride much, though - 2k is about a month for most people.

 

[davester]

After 3k miles on my 1st bike (Ninja 650R) I traded up to a 1000rr *gasp* To many peoples' surprise, 5k miles later Im not dead and the bike isnt totalled...yet. Do I regret making the jump? Sometimes. Am I the slowest rider on a literbike in Norcal? Probably. Am I happy? Yup. Everyone is different. I dont know your riding style or skill level. I'd say give it some more time, then think about it hard, be careful, and do what makes you happy dude.

If I had it to do over, I would have kept, modded, and tracked the 650r... then gotten a 600RR

 

[Starshooter10]

yeah i agree... i do 2k a month easy...

last year i did something like 6k a month in the sunny months... maygbe down to 2k in the rainy months

 

[Karbon]

the last digit is 1/10ths of mile dude.

 

[iamrob]

2k miles is a long weekend for many riders.

 

[mosquito]

OP, I don't want to beat on you or talk you into anything, but you're askin' and I've got stuff on my mind, so I'm gonna tell ya:

2000 miles in a year on a 500 and it's not as exciting anymore? I got my 400 as a first bike in August and I'm putting 2000 miles per month on it and it keeps on getting more exciting, more fun. This motorcycle thing *still* kinda blows my mind 'cause it seems like -- and from listening to everyone else it still sounds like -- it's a never ending learning process. As things go along I keep getting better and that allows me to keep exploring and learning new things about riding.

What next bike? I'm not going to make suggestions 'cause I think everyone's already done a better job of that than I can. But I do have this: for both your next bike and your current one, will it do what you want it to do? Can you afford it? Do you like it? Yes, yes and yes means get it and ride the hell out of it.

Right now it sounds like you're not sure what you want your bike to do. The GS500 is a fine all-rounder and certainly can be taken to the track, so that leaves the excitement you want. Why was the scooter more exciting? It prolly wasn't as fast. Was it light and easier to control? Thought about just adding a scooter again?

Really, what excitement do you want to put between your legs?

 

[Melissa]

I started on a 450 and after 3 months I went and got myself a 650.
We are all a little bit different.

 

[thesnaf]

i'm still on my first bike and have no desire to get any other bike. Of course, I have the best bike out there so its a no brainer for me.

that being said, i have not ridden any where NEAR the full potential of my bike.

 

[Ant]

Everyone is different so if you feel comfortable getting a different bike and IT MAKES YOU HAPPY then it's a no brainer

Btw don't look at it as upgrading, you want something different which is fun so why the hell not?

 

[DatboyPosse]

GO for it!!!
...I can tell you this: There's a big difference when you like what you're riding. I rode a 250 for 2 years (It was my first bike and I'm a big dude...6'2 210)...and when I upgraded, cause trust....it was an upgrade, to my 600rr, it was like I had a new girlfriend who was prettier in the face, had a nicer set of twins, and bigger hind parts....IT'S JUST MORE FUN!!!

If the stars are aligned....go for it!
In the words of Gene Hackman in 'Crimson Tide', "We don't have time to phuck around!".

 

[Yakoo752]

I didn't want to read all of this but.... my

What deems a gs500 to be a beginner bike?

Why do you want to upgrade?

What is your 500 lacking?

 

[some_random_guy]

I didn't want to read all of this but.... my

What deems a gs500 to be a beginner bike?

Why do you want to upgrade?

What is your 500 lacking?

to answer those in order...

gs500 is not a liter bike

he wants a turbo busa


its lacking 800cc more and a giant turbo

 

[funkycharms]

Trust me, 98% of girls don't know any other brand than Ducati.
To them it's either a motorcycle or a Ducati.

Unless its anything that resembles a japanese sport bike... then its a ninja


OP: If you want a new bike, go ahead, its your money.

Granted I dont know you and I dont know how you ride but judging by the fact that youre asking on barf if you should upgrade and your milage to ownership time ratio, I doubt you can ride the gs to the max. But who says you have to ride a bike to the max before you move on? Im on my first bike, about 6k miles in 8 months and I still have a long way to go... but if I had the money and could afford to buy and pay for insurance on a daytona 675 would I have one now? Hell yeh

You say the gs doesnt have the excitement it had before.... chances are you will prob get used to the new bike and one day that isnt going to be exciting anymore.

Could the gs hold its on at the track? Sure if you know how to ride it.

Whats a sutible upgrade IMO? The SV650.... because its the best bike in the world
Granted it prolly cant do freeway wheelies and it is pretty slow after 105 or so.. but its enough bike to put a smile on your face id say...