My Plan to Test the GPZ 500
Heard so much chatter online about the GPZ 500 and how fast it really goes. Spec sheets say one thing, but rider butt feels tell another story, right? Decided to settle it myself. My goal? Grab some real speed numbers and see what it felt like pushing this older sport-tourer. Needed more than just my own run, though – wanted actual rider experiences too.
Gearing Up & Finding the Spot
First things first: Checked the bike over. Oil level good, tires pumped up right, chain not too loose. Safety ain’t fancy, it’s checking boxes. Found a decently long, flat, empty stretch of road outside town – the kind with good visibility and not too many farm driveways popping out. Used my phone with a GPS speedo app I trust. Not lab equipment, but gets the job done close enough.
My Own Speed Run
Hopped on the GPZ, felt that familiar buzz. Worked my way up through the gears. Acceleration felt… solid but not thrilling. Honestly, it kinda runs out of steam past 80. You gotta really coax it to get higher. That last 10 mph took forever! Wind was pushing me around good too. Leaned forward, tucked in tight as I could. Saw the speedo needle crawl past the big numbers – 95… 98… finally steadied right around 103 mph on my app. Felt it vibrate hard, like the whole bike was shaking a bit loose. Did NOT feel super stable at all. Honestly puckered up a bit. Quickly backed off. That felt like its absolute ceiling.
Collecting Rider Stories & Data
Figured maybe my old bike or tired legs were the problem. Jumped online into the forums and groups where GPZ 500 owners hang out. Asked flat out: “What’s the fastest you’ve actually gone on yours?” Started getting replies:
- “101 mph” – on a slight downhill, nearly redlining.
- “Claimed 105, but GPS showed 99” – guy said wind nearly blew him off.
- “Hit an indicated 110 once” – but added it was terrifying and he never tried again.
- “Lucky to see 95 fully loaded” – touring with panniers.
- “Mine tops out around 100 on the clocks” – consistently.
Lots of folks mentioned the same things: big windscreen catching air makes you feel like a sail, front end gets light, whole bike wobbles when pushed. Almost everyone agreed – getting past an indicated 100 (and actual GPS speeds usually 95-103) felt like you were asking a lot from an older 500.
The Reality Check
So, yeah. After my shaky run and reading dozens of replies? The GPZ 500 ain’t no modern supersport rocket. 103 mph flat out was the best I could manage, scared the heck outta me doing it. The rider data backs it up: Genuine top speed is firmly in the 100-105 mph indicated zone. Actual GPS speeds usually land a few mph under that. It’ll do a ton, sure, but pushing it there is work and requires nerve. Fun cruiser? Yes. Comfortable commuter? Absolutely. Dedicated speed machine? Nah. It’ll get you there, but it ain’t smooth or relaxed about it. Respect the limits, folks. It’s a classic that prefers cruising, not racing. And at max speed? It’s a scary son of a gun.
