Brand new 2009 GS500F for $3K - deal or no deal?

[MichiganMan]

There is a dealer up in the hinterlands of Michigan's thumb region that is advertising a brand new 2009 GS500F for $3K out the door.  I had been looking used for my first bike, but that seems to be a pretty attractive price on a never-titled ride.  They are also touting 1.9% financing.  Thoughts?

[County Tar]

Great beginner bike.    At that price you can keep it for a spare if you get another one.

[buls4evr]

 A great bike but find your own financing. That 1.9 is one of those fly -by-night lone shark deals. My son was really burned on one of those loans!

[DNA]

As said - good deal - buy it.
Use cash and plan to spend $500-$750 more on good gear and MSF class.

[elader]

Guy local to here had the same deal. Expect to pay $500 assembly' and then tax. Still a good deal at $400 out the door. Drive the snot out of it for a year and sell it for $3000

[nater]

Price is good.

[jsanford]

Ditto, but really go over the bike.  I've heard some horror stories on the out-the-factory prep on these and the Ninja 250s lately.

Quote insurance and make sure there isn't a "shiny new" penalty, particularly as a first bike.  My insurance has always halved when my bikes turned two.

[MichiganMan]

I think I'm going to pass - gave myself enough time to get past the "impulse purchase" urge.  I have my MSF course scheduled for mid-May, that is time enough to shop for a bike.  Heck, it could turn out that I hate riding!  Unlikely, of course, but *possible*

[dietDrThunder]

It's a perfect starter bike, and in a vacuum it's a perfectly good deal. The thing is though, they've really never changed those bikes on all the years they'vef made them. So, you could get one that's 5 or 6 years old for half of that (or maybe even less) and you'd still have the same bike.

[Chuck 500]

Waiting to take the MSF Basic course sounds like a good idea.  If you decide to keep riding, like I did, hit Craig's List and look for a good used GS500F.  They are excellent first bikes with enough performance to keep up with traffic and simple maintenance.  They are also reasonable cheap to fix when you drop them (ask me how i know).

keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

[still kickin]

Some good advice in this thread. I agree with buying used with a few scratches for your first bike. It may touch the ground Don't let those 1.9 deals suck you in. Ask them what happens to the interest rate if you are 2 days late on a payment Take your class and make sure its for you. Enjoy

[MichiganMan]

Thanks for the replies, as noted I'm passing on the Suzook.  Pretty sure I'm going to snag a '94 FZR1000 that is for sale near me, should make a good beginner bike because it is so old.



I kid, I kid - while I do love me some Fizzer, I'm smart enough to know better

[falconati]

I'm surprised you're passing!  That's a very reasonable price for that bike.  The ergos are great for a wide variety of riders, and the engine is friendly to beginners.

[Marcster]

I'm surprised you're passing!  That's a very reasonable price for that bike.  The ergos are great for a wide variety of riders, and the engine is friendly to beginners.

Just to echo falconati -- I sat on a GS500f in the showroom before I bought my Yamaha and the GS500f is still one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever sat on (I realize that riding it would be different than just sitting on it, but it "fit me" in a way my Yamaha never did).

I'm 6' with a 32" inseam -- I was just too plain tall to be comfortable on my Yamaha.

[vulcanbill]

Just be sure to factor in "totally gutless" as the translation for beginner friendly engine.  

[cbsnbiker]

Just be sure to factor in "totally gutless" as the translation for beginner friendly engine.  

Meh. It'll still be zippy, especially when compared to most cars.

[Giaka]

Meh. It'll still be zippy, especially when compared to most cars.

Its ok but a pretty weak performer. I think a Ninja 250 pulls harder and thats scary.  

[cbsnbiker]

Its ok but a pretty weak performer. I think a Ninja 250 pulls harder and thats scary.  

IIRC, the Ninja 250 is much peakier in its HP delivery, but has much less HP.

I learned to drive in a car that had 52 HP. The thought that a bike with 50 HP is "gutless" is risible. It sure won't be as fast as a Hayabusa, but that's not its raison d'être.

[cksheppard]

Just wanted to comment... I was looking for a 1st bike as well over the winter. Had my heart set on a KLR650, but was a little too short for that bike as a newbie and found no killer deals.  Up popped a leftover '09 GS500F a few hours from me and got a similar quote back in Feb: $2800 OTD. Didn't think too long on it. Paid cash, was a legit deal, $2806 total.  (Had to pay $6 to post my license plate).  

Basically heard what everyone said here elsewhere, about the bike being slow, could get a better deal used, etc.  I had looked for about 3 months over the winter and never saw a better deal used.  Late models were going for more than that, so it just seemed too good to pass up.

As a first bike, I couldn't really ask more from it. Granted it's breaking me in while I'm breaking it in.  The only downside I've found is that there isn't a whole lot of aftermarket support, but I'm not too broken up about that.  Just have to get a little more creative, and it stops me from wasting money on accessories I probably don't need.  My whole goal was to get into motorcycling cheaply.

I've been riding it just about 2 months now, and love it. I have commuted on it (20 mile RT) every day I could the last month. Last tank got 67 mpg driving like grandma.  My wife even says I'm happier at home after work the days I ride my bike to work. That makes me think I got a great deal even if I paid more.  No regrets.  I would've paid $3000 probably.

[cbsnbiker]