Hello! It's a while since I've been here! Today I bought myself a little old GS500 on a bit of an impulse, which will be the first bike I've had in nearly 5 years. I used to have a yamaha XJ600N, but to be honest I never really felt that comfortable on it and sold it on after a few months. I think it was a bit too big for my first bike, but I did my training on a GS500 and liked it, so I'm hoping it will be just the thing to play around on and get a little bit of confidence. It's being delivered on Wednesday!

Look, it's old, but I like it!

Thats all that counts as long as you like it it it doesn't matter a dam what any one else thinks my wife (silverlady) loved heres to bits Teebird has one thinks it is great i hope you both have many happy miles together

Hope you have some great times with your new bike neep! It looks really cool !

Enjoy your new bike when it arrives, take your time and enjoy the roads up there. Hope the weather clears up for you soon

Nice one, good for you.

You couldn't get on with the Divvie N? That's a surprise - mine was great! Even got a new lease of life in the last couple of years by putting BT45s on it. That said, I've never ridden a GS500 - I did my test about the last year where you could ride in on a CG125 and out on a ZZR1100...

Anyway, I hope you really like it. I've learned that it's often fun to have less power - it teaches you to concentrate on your lines and carrying your speed. And a GS500 is much less likely to catch you out than some of the bikes out there.

Guess you'll just be waiting for this damn snow to disappear!

Enjoy your new wheels





It has disappeared down here

But we've got flood warnings now

That looks super, and in good condition have fun practising

Good for you getting back on a bike that suits you. Some riders pass test, get an unsuitable (for them) bike, have a scare/feel not in control, and just give up forever.

I had a GS for a while and was well impressed with it. If I wasn't such a fat git I'd probably have kept it but I physically outgrew it. Must remember to diet!

I think my confidence really disappeared when I dropped it at a junction and couldn't pick it up again on my own . I also couldn't get it on it's centre stand! I think I just felt more in control on a smaller bike.

Ah yes - it's a bit of a sod to pick up after a drop, unless you have help. I've had to do it myself a couple of times (inculding once in traffic on a busy road), but both times I think it was adrenaline that got me there...

As others have said, well done for backing up to a smaller machine rather than just quitting. There are a few folk on the board that have shifted to smaller bikes in the past couple of years, and they've really enjoyed not having to watch the throttle every second - you can give it some beans without getting into trouble.