Getting back in the saddle

I've have bikes exclusively from the age of 16-24, then a car and a bike
(got married to a non biking wife) from 24 - 35 years old. Rode on borrowed
bikes from 34 - 44 (present age). Circumstances are now looking up in a
monetary type way, so I'm thinking about buying my own bike again.
I'm thinking of something like a GS500 so I don't kamikazee myself
immediately. I'm a bit out of touch with modern weaponry, but this seems to
be a pussy cat, and cheap. I'll be doing my own maintenance etc. as it looks
good for that too. If I manage not to bend it after a few months I could be
looking for an upgrade. It will be primarily a commuting tool, with the
weekend to practice hooning, albeit at a lower speed than in previous
decades.
Any other bikes come to mind? except the ER-5.

PS - did a small experiment on Bennets online quotes for a GS. £89.00 for
TPF&T. That does make me feel old. Cheaper than the car? FFS !

Stuart.

 

Stuart Gray wrote

I have one, a nice little toy if you are under 5' 8". If you are any
bigger than that I strongly suggest you look at other bikes.

 

You are quite correct Mr. Auvache, hell, even I could get both feet down on
it.

 

Yamaha Diversion 600 or 900? Very similar kind of thing but bigger and
slightly better built IMHO.

When looking at GS500s check the front engine mounts. The 'dowling'
(????) bolt rusts and can crack the crank. THe state of that mount is a
good sign of neglect IMHO.

 

Stuart Gray wrote
Sort your newsreader out to cut this bit automatically please.

As a short arse you are more or less stuck with the diminutive offerings
of Mr Suzuki, bikes from other manufacturers under 500cc or any of the
cruisers.

 

Cheers Steve. ;-)

oops - next time. heheheh.

 

CB500 is the other one in that category.
It's apparently the better bike (at a price of course) but I've never ridden
any of them so my opinion should be deemed suspect at best
--
Alex

Hermes: "We can't afford that! Especially not Zoidberg!"
Zoidberg: "They took away my credit cards!"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk www.ebayfaq.co.uk

 

I did think of that, but much cheapness to start with is my philosophy atm.
How does a GPz 500 compare? Thats a girly bike too if I remember, low
saddle, good commuter. One of me mates had one a long time back and he was
even shorter than me. I had a GPz 305 at the same time and it went round
corners a lot faster than he did. Pity about the straights though.

Stuart

 

Bandit 600. Cheap, fast (enough), handle well (enough) and great fun.

 

In

SV650S, nearly as cheap, better handling and more fun - cheap to insure is a
bonus too.

 

Stuart Gray emerged from their own little world to say

There's a cheap ER5 going soon. It may need a little TLC but nothing too
expensive

 

Do I detect a theme here? Namely Suzuki comes up a lot. Apart from the ER
of course. Oh and the CB500.
Bandit sounds like a candidate. Not sure about SV650. What is the range of
these bikes by the way? I once had a Triumph with a 1.9 gallon tank that
gave me 40 miles. Went to London on it from Edinburgh - scary journey for
many reasons.

 

Do they handle better, as my Bandit handles excellently. And more fun, I'd
be quite surprised as well.

 

In

Yes.

as my Bandit handles excellently.

That doesn't necessarily mean that the SV doesn't handle better!

Try one - you'll be surprised