Suzy's GS500F and 2uping.

Araqiels

Araqiels

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Just a solicitation for an opinion. I might be obtaining the GS500F, and I wanted to know - is it really uncomfortable to 2up on it? (I being the rider?). I know to expect stopping and acc issues, as well as more difficult slower turns, but is it feasible? I'm roughly 190, and she's roughly 160. How degraded will the performance be during a 2up on this motorcycle?
 
I had an EX500 and riding 2up was fine. Despite what people tell you those 500 engines are still pretty big compared to what's in use around the world and will do you just fine.
 
Lynart's weight sum should be ok for sure :). All the manual says is to adjust the rear tire pressure (to 38 I believe). The suspension is adjustable too, but you wouldn't want to try to adjust it when you're going 2-up.

What you really need to watch out for is the front suspension. It's super-soft, so be very careful and brake slowly.
 
Yeah, I've had one passenger before for a bit. Take off 70 pounds total mind you. The front end will dive more braking, and rise more accelerating, making for good practice at being smooth. Once your moving though its just fine, and I had no real issues.
 
I have ridden with 3 people on a 250cc (Honda NX) motorcycle before, me and 2 girls, with the girl riding in the middle having no pegs to rest her feet so she was basically just dangling them over. I think that was about 450 lbs combined and the motorcycle didn't have serious issues.
 
Araqiels said:
as well as more difficult slower turns
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It doesn't affect the turning at all, as long as your rider is leaning with you. Make sure you tell them not to sit up in corners, especially if they get scared, cause that's when you'll likely be needing them the most.

Rule I always set: "Bang my helmet or sit up in a corner and you can walk home." Works sweet :)

-Jamie M.
(p.s. I guess I'll have to add "don't pee on me" and "don't throw up in my spare helmet" to the list of offenses to warrant a walk home :()
 
Araqiels said:
Just a solicitation for an opinion. I might be obtaining the GS500F, and I wanted to know - is it really uncomfortable to 2up on it? (I being the rider?). I know to expect stopping and acc issues, as well as more difficult slower turns, but is it feasible? I'm roughly 190, and she's roughly 160. How degraded will the performance be during a 2up on this motorcycle?
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You'll be fine. I ride gs500, Im 190cm, I rode once with a passenger, she was around 180cm, no issues that I could complain about.
 
I had a GS500F for a while and managed to 2up with my partner with no troubles at all. Our total weight would have been 320 - 350 lbs and it handled absolutely fine on both highway and city streets.
 
Should be fine. When I had mine, my girl and I weighed a combined weight of 300lbs and rode to the forks from downtown toronto without a problem.
 
I've done a lot of 2-upping on my GS, with myself being around 240, and passengers ranging from 100-160. No problems at all. Done some spirited riding with a group with a 2-upper who was around 120, and was doing the same speed as I normally do in the corners (pretty stupid on my behalf, I know). I do, however, have way heavier Sonic Springs in the front and a Katana 600 shock in the back. Just keep everyone's advice here in mind.
 
I would think you would be fine. I used to have a GR650 (aka Temptor) which was not much bigger or more powerful, and it was good. Some advantages to a smaller bike is it is easier to ride smoother, and with two up smoothness can be the key to avoid a) bumping helmets and b) dropping her off the back. You definitely don't want to drop her if you want to keep her :) The biggest issue is having her lean the right way. I've had a passenger lean the wrong way, and it is scarey. Harder than riding with a passenger twice the weight. Best advise I heard was have her look over your shoulder into the turn, that will force her to lean with you.
 
Does the manual actually say to adjust the rear tire pressure?

I just put ti back up to 41 today damnit lol Gonna try some 2upping tmr
 
Just plan ahead. accel/breaking/cornering won't be the same. After a while you'll hate the idea of having a passanger...
 
toysareforboys said:
Rule I always set: "Bang my helmet or sit up in a corner and you can walk home." Works sweet :)
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Helmet banging is not the passenger's fault, it is mainly because the rider is not being smooth enough, it is a motorcycle not a donkey, be smooth.
 
Araqiels said:
Just a solicitation for an opinion. I might be obtaining the GS500F, and I wanted to know - is it really uncomfortable to 2up on it? (I being the rider?). I know to expect stopping and acc issues, as well as more difficult slower turns, but is it feasible? I'm roughly 190, and she's roughly 160. How degraded will the performance be during a 2up on this motorcycle?
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The bike's rear tire capacity is the critical point. Stock tire has a load rating of 584 pounds at 41 psi. Bike weighs around 430 to 435 pounds plus fuel. Most of the rider and passenger combined 350 pound weight is carried by the rear tire, along with about 1/2 of the bike's weight. With that particular occupant load, you will be getting close to the maximum weight capacity of the rear tire, so it will have to be pumped up to minimize tire flex and reduce sidewall heating that can lead to tire failure. It also means riding gently.
 
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