GS500F - Setup Fees, Delivery Fee? Dealers? Price?

Hi Folks!

I have finally settled on buying either a GS500F or a Ninja 500. Thanks to
all the help that I have received in this group I am on my way to finally
buying a bike.

Someone at a dealer up here in San Francisco recommended that I buy my bike
in LA Cyclesports in Inglewood (lacyclesports.com). I went online and got a
quote from them. Their "Out-the-door" price on a GS500F is $4,999.00. They
say that their margin is low and that they offer the best prices in
California.

What do you think about their pricing on this bike?
Has anyone had any experience with LA Cyclesports?
Are there any other dealers people would recommend to me?

Also, I don't really want to haggle with dealers so I want to send out a fax
bid to dealers and have them just fax me back there best quote. Is this a
good idea? This will be my first bike purchase so I am not sure how to
proceed. Is there a source where you can find out how much a dealer gets a
bike for like cars?

I plan to go down to LA (or another place if better deal) and pick this bike
up. I don't think I want to ride it back just yet. I was thinking about
renting a U-haul or something. Any comments or suggestions.

Lastly, what is a good web site I can research about gear?

Thanks a million Folks!

- Lawrence

 

got a pickup? or can you borrow one? a bike fits quite easily into the
bed of most any pickup, and its far easier than dealing with a trailer.
you'll just need a motorcycle ramp, and a couple of tiedown straps, which
you'd need for a trailer anyways.

canyon-dancers or similar soft-straps for the handlebars are highly
recommended, this way the hooks of your tiedown straps don't mar the bars
or whatever.

the guys at the dealer where you're buying it should be willing to help
you load and secure it, defer to their better judgement unless someone
gives you a full rundown on appropriate bike tiedown techniques (which are
all over the place). I hauled a bigass BMW on a rickety old 1965 F100
from Redwood City to Santa Cruz, no problem, just tied down the bars with
standard ratchet straps. others say you should block the wheels, and
tiedown the forks, etc etc.

 

Doesn't strike me as a horrible price. I'd rather have the
Ninja, though.

I almost used them for a recent bike purchase. However,
I wound up asking a local bay area dealer for a quote -
to my surprise they were very close in price. I bought
locally. It's probably not a bad idea to survey several
local dealerships. You never know, somebody might be in
a hurry to move stock.

Check out AllAmerican in Santa Cruz. I have no experience with
them, but when I was pricing SV1000s they were offering
really good deals. Probably worth a phone call.

http://www.allamericanhonda.com/

Also search the Cycle Trader. Some dealerships offer quotes
by email.

http://www.cycletrader.com/adsearch.html

Try it, and find out!

http://www.cyclecost.com/
http://www.cyclecost.com/sample_mc.htm

-- Michael

 

they are a pretty good dealer from various reports. I've had some minor
service on my BMW done there, and new tires mounted and such, and they
treated me fine (one of their lead wrenches was a former beemer shop guy).
They carry Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki, but not Yamaha (the Santa Cruz BMW
dealer runs the local Yamaha franchise). They also let me test ride a
used Kawi ZRX1200R when I was considering offing my beemer.

 

Thanks for all the information! Do you know where I can start getting
information about gear for starters? Any websites for info and also vendors
that you recommend?

Lastly, why would you rather have the Ninja?

 

Thanks for all the information! Do you know where I can start getting
information about gear for starters? Any websites for info and also vendors
that you recommend?

Lastly, why would you rather have the Ninja?

 

For online vendors try

www.tonker.com
www.newenough.com

 

wild guess, its more of a sportbike, while the GS500F is more of a
'standard', which would be *my* suggestion for a first bike.

ah, gear, there you'll get as many opinions as there are posters. the
'touring' crowd I hang with believes in ATGATT (All The Gear All The
Time), and their favorite is the one piece Aerostich Roadcrafter, a good
pair of boots (Sidi, Alpinestar, Daytona), gloves and a full face helmet
(Arai, Shoei, HJC). You're looking at over $1000 for all that.

me, I have two outfits at present, one is a Gericke leather jacket, and
leather pants, and the other is a Joe Rocket nylon jacket (JUNK, AVOID!!)
and some nylon overpants (can't recall the brand). Wish I'd gotten
another firstgear nylon jacket, I undoubtably will before long. Arai
Signet GT helmet, Daytona Boots (although I just wear some heavy hiking
boots on my daily commute to work), and a few different pairs of gloves
complete my rig.

 

How'd the GS500 get up to 5 grand is what I'd want to know. It's a
design that hasn't changed in a long time, used to sell for a lot less.
What's the out the door price for a Bandit or SV?

 

Nope. I don't know of any good gear review sites. Sorry.

My personal gear is from a wide array of manufacturers. My only
brand preference is Shoei, for helmets. YMMV, as there are many

Objectively: it's a better bike. Liquid cooled, more horsepower,
better gas mileage, etc. Also valve check intervals are 10K+
miles, instead of 3500 miles on the Suzuki. Frequent valve checks
are a PITA and incur higher ownership costs.

However, the Suzuki is better looking.

MCN did a comparison of these two bikes in their July 04 issue.
It's pretty detailed, and I'd recommend reading it before making
a purchase. You can get this back issue from Ian Smith Reports:

http://www.mcreports.com/

They also offer a service where they will scan and email you
a pdf of an article for $5.

Subjectively: my first bike was a '94 EX500, and I loved the
darn thing. I commuted, played hooligan, and toured on it.
I had a great time. So I have a pretty strong bias. If I were
in your shoes, I would look around for a lightly used Ninja
for around $3K. Mind you, I am a CheapBastard(tm).

Ultimately, you need to buy the bike *you* want. Read the reviews,
and by all means do some logical analysis, but when it comes
right down to it you should buy the bike that speaks to you.
If you really want the Suzuki, then that is the bike you should
get.

Have fun!

-- Michael

 

That's true. The GS is around 40hp, while the experts-only
Ninja 500 puts out a pavement wrinkling 50hp!

;-)

-- Michael

 

Don't forget to figure in the cost of transportation to and from LA,
your time, etc. You might not wind up saving any money at all.

I find it to be worth buying from a local dealership, since you
establish a relationship with them. When the bike has problems two
days after you pick it up, going back to the dealership where you
got it will invariably get you excellent service.

-Patti

 

["Followup-To:" header set to ba.motorcycles.]

For info, check out <http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com> and
<http://www.webbikeworld.com>. The first is reviews submitted by regular
riders, whereas the second is more like a traditional magazine. They both
have good info, though.


-Josh

 

["Followup-To:" header set to alt.motorcycle.sportbike.]

Actually, L.A. Cycle Sports will deliver to your door for (the last time I
checked) $100. No need to go down there.

Unless you buy from Golden Gate Cycles...


-Josh

 

That has worked well for me, emphasizing OTD price quotes but over the
phone.

However, one of the cheapest dealers in the area (Jim & Jim's
Yamaha Suzuki of Santa Rosa) may require you to talk to someone they
know to establish a trust relationship (the owner has horror stories
about other dealers calling up, getting price quotes, then cussin her
out over the phone).

Call them up and get a price quote from them before you deal with
going down to LA.

Their prices are low enough that its worth the hastle, and they do a
wonderful bit of "make the break-in service 'free'" as a way of
getting people to actually preform it (a very nice idea).

I assume you are paying 100% out of your bank account. Don't finance
a motorcycle, especially a "cheap" one.

Uhaul is expensive, actually, and you don't want to road-trip a new
engine. LA Cycle Sports may ship.

My suggestion would be to buy/ship to a local area dealer and have a
friend ride it home (the golden gate bridge is pretty terrifying for a
new rider, it may be only 35 mph, but the crosswinds are a B@#)$*).

Both bikes are great beginner bikes.

Newenough.com is a very good place to buy gear, I know of MANY
satisified customers on this forum (me included) and no unsatisfied
ones.

 

Actually, the Ninja 500 is very standard on the seating position.
Basically, the ninja has a little better handling, and 10 more HP when
you need it (higher redline), but 0 more HP when you don't (same
displacement and torque curve on the low part of the redline.

Also, the GS500F actually LOOKS like more of a sportbike. The new
bodywork is a cute GSXR look.

 

New body work: It now looks like a baby-GSXR.

 

if they have what you're looking for m/c closeouts has great prices.

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/default.asp


I've never bought anything from them but from Wilson's it looks like they'll send you an OTD price
quote (and Fresno is a little closer than LA):

http://www.wilsonsmotorcycles.com/2004.htm

 

I appreciate all the info. that I am getting. It is definitely setting me
in the right direction.

Again, thanks!

- Lawrence

 

I can understand that when you are buying a used bike, but with a new
one you are essentially relying on the manufacturer's warranty. There's
plenty of time to develop a rapport with your local dealer's service
department that will ensure the level of support you're willing to pay for.

Rich, Urban Biker