GS500

I'm at that "hopefully about to pass my test, thinking about my first
big bike" stage and I'm wondering if the Suzuki GS500 can possibly be
as bad as the magazines make it out to be. My main requirement is for

Wot 'e said.
Excellent little bikes which do everything well enough and don't break.

Docile and easy to ride at normal revs. Get it up into the last 4k on
the tacho and it fair flies along. Ride it in the classic style - don't
hang off, get the braking over before the peel in point, slower in
faster out - they handle just fine. Nowt wrong with the brakes either
when properly bled with decent pads.

Bridgestone BT45 tyres BTW.

something that will happily handle a 15 mile each way commute
year-round, and I like to get out for a bimble in the hills at
weekends. I'm thinking about the faired version of the GS500 because
it's only IG7, is relatively cheap and offers a bit of weather
protection.

I've read some bike mag reviews and owner's opinions, and - apart from
the lack of oomph - people seem to comment on the soggy handling most
of all. What I'm wondering - not currently knowing a good middleweight
from a bad one - is, might it still be a good buy for me given that all
I'm asking for is reliability and being able to chug along at 60-70
without any complaints? I've no aspirations to do track days,
impersonate Ghostrider, scream down autobahns or anything like that...
I just want a reliable bike that will be considerably more at ease on a
motorway than my 125.

I'm also considering the Bandit / Hornet / CB500 / CB600 / ER-6 / Fazer
and even the Transalp / Versys / 650 V-strom but I'm just wondering if
I can save a grand or two by going for the GS500, and still get a bike
that's up to the job...

They are pretty slow and have awful handling but I love them. It will do

Thanks Molly. Does the awful handling kick in only when you're driving
like a thing possessed, or is it the case that they misbehave even when
you're just bimbling along? In other words, given what I've said about
my typical ride, am I likely to encounter this awfulness and is it
life-threatening?

TIA
Tarby

what you need with lots to spare.

Excellent fuel exconomy as well.

Wodger reckon?

TIA
Tarby