gsJack

Welcome, nice looking 92. Drop by: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php

Back in 01 thru 04 we did annual trips to the mountains to play for a few days and always did 400-500 mile first and last days on the Interstates to get there and return quickly. Did mine on a GS500 running 75-80 mph indicated on the Interstates. Just saying a 500cc bike is more than enough to travel the Interstates comfortably on. I was 72 yo on my last trip from NE Ohio to the Smoky Mtns. back in 04.

When my first grandson was about 4 years old I took him to the mall alone for new shoes and boots on Black Friday. Finally found a parking place in a far corner and we walked hand in hand in to a shoe store, it was very hard to walk thru the mall crowd with him. After we got the shoes and boots we walked to the door and I then had to carry him back to the car. That was the first and last time I've ever shopped on Black Friday, he is 41 now.

I rode year around starting the first year I rode 30 years ago here in NE Ohio.

I've only had 400-750cc air cooled bikes and would expect a liquid cooled one to have greater life. Put 80k miles on a CB750k and a CB650SC went to about 60k and both were below par when I replaced them. I've done much better with air cooled twins. My CM400A topped 100k miles and my 97 GS500E was at 80k when it was totaled and still ran like new. My current 02 GS500 topped 100k miles late last summer and it's starting to sound a bit loose but still runs as good as ever. I expect at least 80-100k miles from an air cooled twin and would expect more from a liquid cooled four, one with only 38k on the clock should just be nicely broken in if it's been well maintained.

This WebBikeWorld listing of helmet by shape might be helpful in choosing which ones to check out first: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-shapes.htm

Welcome dave, enjoy your GS500. I've had a lot of fun with them for over 180k miles.

Welcome

I've never needed more than 40 hp for the streets or the mountain twisties although I've had more in the past on 650 and 750cc bikes.

I'll throw in my vote for the GS500, I've always considered a 500cc twin a go anywhere do anything bike. Started out 30 years ago at age 52 on a CB400T and traded it in on a CB750K six months and 6k miles later like most newbies do instead of learning how to really ride it. A couple more bikes later I traded a tired CB650SC in on a new 97 GS500E and when it was totaled in 03 with 80k on the clock I picked up the 02 GS500 I'm riding now that just turned 100k miles late last year. I've had more fun on those GSs than anyone ought to have on 2 wheels doing 400-500 mile Interstate days traveling yearly to the mountains to play riding with all kinds of bikes and riders up until about 10 years ago when I began winding down but am still enjoying shorter rides on my 02 GS.

Welcome. We're moving to Madison from Willoughby next month, maybe see you around. Still riding but getting too old to chase CBRs. Can still hang out at Eddies at GOL though,

Been a while now but I've plugged a few tires and then used them up. Just make sure it's not within an inch of the edge and ride it like it's a Ninja 500 and not a C14. Keep it down to legal speeds with the plugged tire.

Took my first trip to the gap back in 01 and went back in 02, 03, and 04 from Cleveland area. We always did 400 mile first and last days on I77 to get there and back quickly to spend more time there. We went there to play and to hook up with friends from another forum. Made all my trips there on a GS500 and the last trip was a couple months before my 72nd birthday, Should be a piece of cake for a kid in his 50's.

Another parallel twin fan here, did my last 180k miles on a 97 and then a 02 GS500. My first bike 30 years ago was a new CB400 twin that I traded in on a new CB750K 6 mo and 6k miles later like most newbies do. lol But that new Honda above is hideous to say the least, give me a good old standard looking naked bike anytime. ^5

Welcome from Willoughby.

Welcome from Willoughby.

Black ice probably, in my 30 years of riding year around here in NE Ohio I've only hit it once on my bike. Was going around a gentle curve in the left tire track and drifted towards the center of the lane and caught black ice. Slid nicely across to the other tire track and caught traction for a no drama finish. :-) Does keep one aware of the invisible dangers of winter riding..

Welcome

Welcome from Willoughby, I've been riding out of Lake county year around for 30 years now.

It's amazing that someone would find that silly piece of crap funny!

Maybe a Grom, the GS is getting kinda heavy.

Great first bike, last bike, or anytime bike. Enough power to go anywhere and do anything when you learn how to ride one. My first bike was a CB400 that I traded in on a CB750 six months and 6k miles later because it just didn't have enough performance for the freeways, that was about 30 years ago. After a couple other bikes I traded a Nighthawk 650 in on my 1st GS500 and it felt like a sportbike compared to the old NH 650. I've done my last 14 years and 180k miles on a couple GS500s doing 400-500 mile Interstate days getting to the mountains to play with friends on all kinds of bikes. Did my last trip to the mountains back in 04 at age 71 on my current 02 GS that just turned over 100k miles last summer. You'll enjoy a GS500 if you stick with it long enough to really ride it.

Only 3-4k miles for me too this year. :-( My annual mileage for the 30 years I've been riding is still above 14k miles but it's falling fast!

Probably won't have a next bike, my current GS and I are having a contest to see which one lives the longest.

I ride down thru the valley, you must ride up thru it. Welcome!