first bike purchase - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Jason M. · 05-12-2005, 04:30 AM

I am going to be purchasing my first street bike, I have looked at the suzuki SV650 and GS500F, along with the kawasaki ninja 500. I think I am most inclined to get the Ninja or GS and from what I can tell they look like very similar bikes. I know this is a suzuki board but I figure people have general experience, is it all pretty much looks or does one have advantages over the other. after taking the MSF class and having done some dirt bike riding I have a idea of what I am looking for out of this bike and the Ninja and GS seem to both fit that bill well. the SV650 looks like a great bike, but I don't really like the looks and the 650S is too expensive for me.

thanks.

Superbird · 05-12-2005, 05:48 AM

wow first person i seen that doesnt want a gsxr 600 or 1000 to start out with. the 650s is preety fast.... i rode my buddys before i left and its really nimble like my 600 gsxr.

**Trapper** · 05-12-2005, 07:43 AM

Where are you from, Jason?

SuzukiGirl1 · 05-12-2005, 11:32 AM

Welcome to the forum! The bikes you mentioned are all good choices!!!

Of course, I'll disagree with you about the SVS...it looks hot !!

Jason M. · 05-12-2005, 01:11 PM

I'm from Oregon (portland area). my beef with the standard SV650 is the front end, I don't like how it just has a single large headlamp. SV650S with the front fairing is awesome but that would be a little much for me to afford right now. the reason I am not looking to get one of the 600's is: I rode my friends R6 around the block and had a rough go of it, I'm looking for something that is a little more relaxed to ride, I think something like that would be too much bike for me right now.

themeatmanlandry · 05-12-2005, 01:29 PM

The R6 is a throttle pig. They may have well just put a "Throttle On/Off" toggle switch there from what I hear and read.

Either of those 500's'll get you killed, but they are pretty good starter bikes, relatively speaking.

**87gsxrnut** · 05-12-2005, 01:34 PM

Ninja 500 is a great bike.

- Nut

**Freakinout** · 05-12-2005, 02:25 PM

get a 94+ ninja 500 and you'll be in great shape (94+ have better front suspension- barely, and 17" rims among a little better styling).

The gs500 is just kinda sluggish compared to the ninja. (12 or 14 HP I believe)

LayinLo · 05-12-2005, 10:19 PM

The gs has a few less horses but looks newer. You'll like either one.

Jammer · 05-13-2005, 07:55 AM

I like the Ninja...but I would go with the SV..it does look kewl.

Buzter · 05-18-2005, 11:45 PM

1) SV
2) NINJA 500r
3) GS(better than walking)

In that order, no question.
I had a 95' ninja 500 and I really liked it. With a few mods it's pretty quick and nimble. It feel very light. I wish I still had it for a town driver. Full muzzy exhaust. VVVRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!

mikesvsix50 · 05-19-2005, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

Welcome to the forum! The bikes you mentioned are all good choices!!!

Of course, I'll disagree with you about the SVS...it looks hot !!

Indeed, it's given me a lot of thumbs up's.

Welcome, and heed the advise your given on this forum, they know there stuff.

05-12-2005, 04:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jason M. Newbie Joined: May 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2	first bike purchase I am going to be purchasing my first street bike, I have looked at the suzuki SV650 and GS500F, along with the kawasaki ninja 500. I think I am most inclined to get the Ninja or GS and from what I can tell they look like very similar bikes. I know this is a suzuki board but I figure people have general experience, is it all pretty much looks or does one have advantages over the other. after taking the MSF class and having done some dirt bike riding I have a idea of what I am looking for out of this bike and the Ninja and GS seem to both fit that bill well. the SV650 looks like a great bike, but I don't really like the looks and the 650S is too expensive for me. thanks.

05-12-2005, 07:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trapper Dogs Best Friend(admin) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: SOLD Location: Moncton NB Canada Posts: 9,190	Where are you from, Jason? __________________ PointFlushRetrieve.com - Bird Dog Blog Motorcycle-Journal.com Blog

05-12-2005, 11:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
SuzukiGirl1 Moderatrix Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: 2004 SV650S Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,700	Welcome to the forum! The bikes you mentioned are all good choices!!! Of course, I'll disagree with you about the SVS...it looks hot !! __________________ SuzukiGirl '04 SV650S, Yellow...lovely!!

05-12-2005, 01:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
themeatmanlandry Happy-ass Lunatic Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 2002 Bandit 600S (Black); 2006 GSXR750 (Black) Location: Memphis Posts: 11,423	The R6 is a throttle pig. They may have well just put a "Throttle On/Off" toggle switch there from what I hear and read. Either of those 500's'll get you killed, but they are pretty good starter bikes, relatively speaking. __________________ Go to hell

05-12-2005, 01:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
87gsxrnut Ho Dog Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 867-5309 Location: Terror Lake Posts: 4,224	Ninja 500 is a great bike. - Nut __________________ Person or person's unknown.

05-12-2005, 05:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Superbird Banned Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: 2003 blk/silv GSXR 600 Location: Barksdale Air Force Base Posts: 455	wow first person i seen that doesnt want a gsxr 600 or 1000 to start out with. the 650s is preety fast.... i rode my buddys before i left and its really nimble like my 600 gsxr.

05-12-2005, 01:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jason M. Newbie Joined: May 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2	I'm from Oregon (portland area). my beef with the standard SV650 is the front end, I don't like how it just has a single large headlamp. SV650S with the front fairing is awesome but that would be a little much for me to afford right now. the reason I am not looking to get one of the 600's is: I rode my friends R6 around the block and had a rough go of it, I'm looking for something that is a little more relaxed to ride, I think something like that would be too much bike for me right now.

05-12-2005, 02:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
Freakinout Tire Eating Moderator Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2001 Suzuki TL1000S Location: Texas Posts: 2,617	get a 94+ ninja 500 and you'll be in great shape (94+ have better front suspension- barely, and 17" rims among a little better styling). The gs500 is just kinda sluggish compared to the ninja. (12 or 14 HP I believe) __________________ Freakinout

05-12-2005, 10:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
LayinLo Flipper ( Don't Ask ) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Crunchy 02 GSX-R 750 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,936	The gs has a few less horses but looks newer. You'll like either one.

05-13-2005, 07:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jammer Sprocket Pilot Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2004 GSXR 750, 2003 Kawasaki Mean Streak, 2007 Susuzki DRZ400s Location: York, Pennsylvania Posts: 868	I like the Ninja...but I would go with the SV..it does look kewl. __________________ 2004 Gixxer 750 2003 Mean Streak 1500 2007 DRZ400S Location: York, Pennsylvania

05-18-2005, 11:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
Buzter Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4	1) SV 2) NINJA 500r 3) GS(better than walking) In that order, no question. I had a 95' ninja 500 and I really liked it. With a few mods it's pretty quick and nimble. It feel very light. I wish I still had it for a town driver. Full muzzy exhaust. VVVRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!

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