shredder

would 500cc (Suzuki GS500F) still have enough 'pep' to make the bike fun to ride along the backroads (many hills)?

Respect the Cock

if your a 800 pound fat body probably not.

Schadenfreude

A lot of "point and shoot" riders will disagree with me but the real fun on a motorcycle is maintaining momentum in the corners. Anybody can pull the trigger in a straight line and go fast with 160hp. Ok, maybe not "anyone" based on the 17 crashed bikes in the police impound near my job. Such a shame

MonkeyLover

And yes, there are way too many straight-line heroes that can twist a throttle and then take the turn like a grandma in station wagon.

MonkeyLover

...or maybe a 2nd, in any case I commend your intelligence on a pursuing a reasonable bike (i.e. NOT a 120hp 600cc repliracer). The GS500F has 47.9bhp, which is plenty for a beginner. Like Schaden said below, it will take more skill to keep it cooking through the corners, but honestly that's what you want. Any kid can go out and buy a 600 and go fast, but if you're proficient on a less powerful machine you can easily out-perform a noobie.

That said, if you love the sport and are interested in pursuing it in the long run, I'd recommend a SV650 instead. Good power and torque, decent suspension, and just an all-around fantastic bike. Also, when you've run it to it's cornering limit, the suspension is EASILY upgradeable with a fork-kit (springs and valves) or even new forks. There are bolt-on kits using GSX-R600 forks. The aftermarket is huge for the SV so mods and accessories are everywhere. You sound like someone who love and appreciate the SV.

MonkeyLover

The GS is a decent bike, but IMO the SV is worlds better. Like I said, it's also got a TON of aftermarket support whereas the GS literally has almost none. The impression I get of you tells me you would enjoy the SV a lot more.

stickyS4

Re: I would highly recommend it over the GS. <--- 2nd...the SV will be a better bike to grow with

Schadenfreude

Everyone should know how to corner properlyAny 125 GP rider can tell you that you don't need a lot of power to go fast.

Schadenfreude

The GS is also a fairly old design whereas the SV, while not "new" is a far more modern design.

MonkeyLover

Oh, okay...cool.