New rider, old bike?

citystar777 · 12-23-2007, 06:40 AM

My friend has an old 1985 gs 550 suzuki sportsbike that he wants to get out of his garage? He said it ran find when he had it running but when the clutch cable broke he never fix and let it sit for a year? Does anybody know of this bike or has any opinions of it? Is it an ok bike for a beginnner?

itch808 · 12-23-2007, 07:31 AM

Don't know much about it but in general nothing's wrong with older bikes, just most people today aren't willing to spend a little time fixing things. Chances are it needs a good carb cleaning as well and check the tank for rust. Since you have what seems like a restored '69 bug, I'm sure you're no stranger to a wrench.

UberGoober · 12-23-2007, 07:35 AM

I rode GS Suzukis for years, it would make a great starter bike. If it has sat for a long time it might need some tlc. It would probably pay to drain the gas tank and the carbs and add fresh gas before you try to start it. I'd run some carb cleaner through it once you get it running, too.

It might need a battery etc and it would pay to take a good look at the brakes and stuff before you jump on it and head for the streets. You'll probably want to get a Haynes manual but an average guy should be able to do basic work on this bike without too much trouble.

I'll tell you straight up that this bike is not be the sportiest machine ever built. It was already behind the curve when it was produced and is pretty hopelessly out of date today. What it is is a great starter bike that you could learn a lot of skills on. It is also the kind of bike that a lot of us old timers learned on so you will get a lot of points for style.

MINI NSX · 12-23-2007, 12:11 PM

I had a '78 GS550 that I bought new and that thing was a little screamer! I think it would be a good starter bike, plus you wouldn't get tired of it too quickly or want more power 'cause it's got plenty.

Goin Ape Nutz · 12-23-2007, 12:21 PM

another vote for the gs550... cool bikes, fun rides.... just not when the previous owner decides the 30 year old bike needs a chameleon paint job.

citystar777 · 12-24-2007, 02:28 AM

thanks for the replies

Xtremjeepn · 12-24-2007, 03:44 AM

Newer bikes are not always cooler.

citystar777 · 12-24-2007, 02:37 PM

Are newer bikes considered more safer?

Goin Ape Nutz · 12-24-2007, 03:31 PM

^^ with technology advancement, bikes are basically made up of the same parts doing the same job just built better.

I'm sure someone can elaborate better, but I personally don't think the older bikes I've ridden (VERY limitedly of course) were any thing but a little less 'quick' or 'responsive' with their controls. Perhaps due to age of equipment or whatever... just my observation.

UberGoober · 12-25-2007, 02:36 AM

It depends on how old the bike is. Bikes from the 60s and early 70s can suffer from a lot of different problems but were most noted for bad frames/suspensions and bad brakes. By the mid 1980s most of those problems were gone.

Today's bikes are superior to older bikes in just about every way but does that make them safer? I don't know...

itch808 · 12-25-2007, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citystar777

Are newer bikes considered more safer?

I've ridden old and new bikes and don't see how newer bikes are any safer. I'd imagine a mid 80's bike would be fine granted everything is checked over. But then again I would hope anyone check over any bike bought that isn't brand spanking new. Even the newest bikes could have tweaked forks or worn brake pads. I suppose an argument could be made for those bikes with ABS, but those are far and few between.

Xtremjeepn · 12-25-2007, 09:51 PM

There are actually some models that are 15+ years old in design. (ninja 250 for example).

Much of the basic technology has not really changed. Sure we can produce bikes now with more power and lighter parts. But most of the actual technology and hadling was there by the mid 80s.

I am actually doing a resto-mod on an 86' FZ600. Basicly just putting a bit more modern suspension and wheels on it. That is about it.