touring with a 500

EX SSG on 900RR · 11-07-2005, 01:31 AM

My wife is getting a bike(500cc) this winter or spring and we want to take a look at short trips over the summer. I'm not looking to start a 'can this bike go fast, blah blah blah thread'. From a maintenance stand point I imagine the bike would be fine. I don't imagine more than a couple hundred each day with probably a tail bag of some type. What could be the pros and cons of this?

gsJack · 11-07-2005, 08:27 AM

I skipped the trip this year, but did a Smoky Mtn trip from NE OH four years in a row from 01 thru 04. We went about 400 miles first day each time to Wytheville, VA. Also did a 540 mile day to Americade at Lake George, NY in 02. All on a GS500, my sport touring rig. :-)

If your wife is younger than 73, should be a piece of cake. Which 500 is she running?

EX SSG on 900RR · 11-07-2005, 07:38 PM

we were looking at a gs500. Ultimately it's her choice. She likes a lot of the 600's but she knows my opinion on that. She doesn't know how to use a clutch in a car yet. I'm not going to be the one to teach her. I'd get her a 250, if someone was able to point out the pros and cons of taking a bike like that on short trips.

FordCrusherGT · 11-08-2005, 01:25 PM

I think a lot of the same rules for cars on trips apply to bikes. A bigger, heavier bike will be more stable as a rule and less affected by wind blasts. My main concern with a 500 would be the lack of power which would probably make passing and the like annoying at highway speeds.

The main thing I would suggest is that you find her something that has appropriate shielding from the wind. This serves two purposes. 1) It makes the ride a lot more comfortable and 2) It probably will improve your aerodynamics (and thusly your mileage). On my Bandit, I've been getting abysmal mileage period. 30-33 mpg, including on the highway! This weekend I went on a ride to Indy and back with some friends, one on a GoldWing 1800 and one on a Victory, don't know the model. My friend on the GoldWing was leading and he said he had set his cruise control at 65 (my speedo read 75), and upon filling up the numbers were just around 33 mpg, and the wind was enough that I was comfortable, but I can't say that I would want to do that all day. A windshield would help greatly, and somehow I suspect it would improve my aerodynamics vs the brick that is my body. If I just duck down so that I'm covered by the slip stream of the windshield while keeping throttle constant, my bike gains about 10 mph in speed. I certainly could take this on longer trips (and I've put 25-300 miles on my bike in a day), but to be perfectly honest, I don't want to.

Call me an old man, but the more I ride, the more I think that, while the Bandit is certainly fun enough for local use, on a trip of any substantial nature I would far prefer a proper sport touring or touring rig. While the Bandit is technically a sport-tourer, it leans too far towards "sport" to be any good for touring, IMO. The real problem is that the Bandit gets rather blustery at speeds above 65-70 indicated on the speedometer (whatever that may be in real life), and is really happiest cruising at around 60. This is fine if you're just riding on the 55 mph back roads, but not on the highway. The riding position doesn't bother me.

Long story short: Get a windshield, if possible find a bike with fairings. However if your wife doesn't even know how to operate a clutch and you aren't confident of her skills on a motorcycle, 1) start her off with the MSF course and 2) Then get her a 250 or 500 to just use around town. Once she's gotten that down, perhaps you can upgrade her to something a little larger that would make a more proper touring machine, if that's what you intend on doing.

EX SSG on 900RR · 11-08-2005, 06:17 PM

Thank you Ford... You kind of reaffirmed what I was thinking. MSF is a given, I want someone to teach her who won't be a pushover (unlike me). I'll see how she does after that (250 or 500). I wouldn't even think of taking her on a long trip. I'm thinking 200 mile radius tops from Chicago after she gets comfortable locally and I can she is ready for a longer jaunt.

cherrypicker · 11-09-2005, 12:19 AM

There's lots of great destinations within 200 miles or the SW suburbs.

One disadvantage of small bikes as mentioned for long trips is wind protection, lack of passing power (more of a problem on 2 lane roads), and suprisingly fuel economy is usually lower than expected, especially at freeway speeds. Bikes like the VFR or liter bikes usually get 40-50mpg. I averaged about 45 on a long trip to Colorado crusing around 75-85mph. I never fall under 40mpg even with the altitude, hills, headwinds, high speeds bursts and have reached 55mpg for a high. A passenger sucks up about 3-5 mpg.

gsJack · 11-09-2005, 10:15 AM

<<< I'd get her a 250, if someone was able to point out the pros and cons of taking a bike like that on short trips. >>>

You made no mention of your wife's size EX, but I don't suggest a 250cc bike to start with except for very short persons. It's important to have your feet planted on the ground when beginning to feel secure on a bike.

A GS500 or EX500 is an ideal first bike for an average size person who is interested in a sport type bike rather than a cruiser type. I started on a CB400 in 1984 and traded it on a CB750 six months and 6k miles later. After 200k+ miles on four 400-750cc Honda's, I traded a CB650SC in on a GS500 and have put over 100k miles on two GSs and had a ball doing it.

Everyone points out the dangers of a 600cc or larger sportbike for a new rider, but I like to stress the point that they will be a much better rider much sooner if they stick with the 500cc for a couple years or longer. Learn to ride the 500 to it's limit before moving on.

I have always prefered a naked or standard type bike without all the bodywork because I could put on the size windshield or fairing I prefer. I wouldn't consider a long trip without a shield as others have mentioned and have had a NC Plexi 2 type fairing on my bikes for years. I prefer the smaller Spitfire type now which gives as much wind in the face as no shield but still takes the load off the chest.

As far as passing power with a 500cc, it has more passing power than the average sedan does so it's only a problem if the rider lacks a bit of self control. These bikes have 6 speed boxes for a purpose and well used they will surprise many riders with larger cc bikes. A larger bike might be a bit more comfortable getting to the mountains, but the smaller bike is a lot more fun when you get there. I lived in the Chicago area for 20 years before I started riding and don't see where passing power uphill would be a problem there. You gotta ride more than 200 miles to find a hill.

We travel interstates at 75-80 mph indicated, probably about 10% less actual mph, and do it confortably; rain or shine. High winds can be a problem, but you shouldn't be tackling interstates in high wind and rain with your wife for a while. Get about 60 mpg overall when travelling but can drop to 50-55 mpg in the mountain twisties.

Get her the GS500 or EX500 to start and when she can keep up with a 900RR she will be ready to move up.

EX SSG on 900RR · 11-09-2005, 10:53 AM

Thank you very much everybody. My wife just read the posts and appreciates the input as well. Next step is to get her on the boards and learn a little from everybodies experiences, then springtime take the MSF course.

Thanks Again to all.

ASCI_Blue · 11-09-2005, 11:53 AM

I'd go with a tankbag over a tailbag. I'm not familiar with the GS series and only been on a Ninja 500 once but I gotta say that my tankbag was a life saver for a 290 mile one way trip over the summer. It takes a lot to ride a bike long distances on straight roades nevermind twisties. Having something to plant your body against helps to reduce the fatigue of leaning and the like.

I speak from experience on this. As I also took a trip to Salem (130 miles one way) using a backpack. Sure the situation is different but I still had to support all my own weight reguardless. It took me days to recouperate from the Salem trip (260 miles in 48 hrs) vs being alert and ready to do more when I got back from Idaho.

Moon · 11-10-2005, 11:41 AM

1st MSF Basic course

2nd appropriate bike, chosen after the course depending on her skill/ comfort / confidence level after thee course. (If necessary take it twice for the practice).
Don't forget to chose some versatile riding apparel! A quiet well fitting helmet, Gloves , jacket etc. Earplugs for trips can also reduce fatigue and protect hearing.

Saddle time under varying conditions, starting w/ low traffic areas, then hiway, city etc... Do some long day rides

Take the MSF ERC for more practice on her own bike this time. (to hone the skills)

Gear: Rainsuit, tankbag, seatbag and or saddlebags depending on anount of gear needed and length of trips.

A windshield or fairing that can deflect wind of the chest can greatly reduce fatigue at hiway speeds on a trip.

Ride the bike at anticipated traveling speeds. Gearing might be adjusted by a tooth up or down if the bike is "buzzy " at that speed/rpm. Working the gearbox can make up for any percieved lack of HP.

DiverDown · 11-14-2005, 06:19 PM

I've done a lot of 200+ trips. I have also done a 650 & 900-mile trip on my Ninja 500. Have had no problems what so ever. I ride with 2 750 Shadows and a GoldWing. Freeway and back roads. Have never had any problems with lack of speed from the bike or punch to get out of the way or around any car.

I consider it a great all around bike, commuting around town, fun on the back roads but good enough ergos to do long trip without killing myself. I can do 75 mph all day on it and she never falters. I did put a Corbin seat on it, heavy bar-ends and gel grips, made a world of difference.

People can raze me for riding a 500, but it does everything I want it to do and more. I love my Ninja 500.

I started riding at 13, I’m 46 now and have had more bikes then I can remember, so I’m not new to this and have nothing to compare it to. This is my first SportBike and I can say it is one of the most fun bikes I have ever owned. I might go bigger one day, but see no since in it right now.

Here she is heading out on one of my longer trips.

Joe

halliwood · 11-15-2005, 03:36 PM

I've taken my ex500 on plenty of short trips and have pulled aroudn 400-500 miles per day, with no problems, love my ex and has more then enough power even on the interstate

EX SSG on 900RR · 11-15-2005, 08:20 PM

I appreciate everyones input. As far as size goes, my wife is on her tip toes on my 900 (I'm not sure of the seat height). She sits fine on a 500GS and the 250. I'd like to pick up a bike this winter for her, but I may just wait till after MSF in the spring so that we can see how comfortable she is and then decide on size. Thanks..

fotocycle · 11-18-2005, 12:14 AM

The EX500 is a much better tourer than people will give it credit for:

3200+ mile road trip on the EX

FordCrusherGT · 12-04-2005, 11:10 PM

Buy a bike in the winter. They are cheaper and if you get one that needs any work you can iron it out over the winter and spend your nice weather time riding. I got a great deal on my KZ700 (which was a great first bike, IMO) because I bought it in December and it had a few issues to iron out. Cost me $410 for the bike. I sold it 6 months later for $600. That profit ended up paying for the parts I put into it (about $100 worth) and most of the gas I put into it (I didn't ride it a whole lot of miles). I bought my Bandit in August for a good deal and I am planning on selling it in Spring as soon as the prices start going up again.

Get her into an MSF course ASAP! They fill up absurdly quickly. When I called I believe it was in Feb or March and they were already booked through until August. They don't have nearly enough courses or instructors.