You know, the 500r does looked dated as ALL hell. But when I see people riding on them, they don’t look half bad. I think they only look really dated when they’re sitting still. Keep your eyes peeled for someone riding one. I guarantee it’ll look alot better than the stills you’ve been subjecting yourself to. Also check out the GS500F. It has more of that “sport” look, if that is a major factor in your deciding.
I was going to get an sv650s as my first bike. Unfortunately it wasn’t comfortable when I sat on it (too far of a reach for me at stops for the handlebars). So I went back to drooling over the 500r and re-embracing my ethos – form follows function. The 500r meets all the function I’ll need, and after a year or two then I’ll open myself back up to looking at the 650r/sv650 (when I’m more comfortable with that extra reach) or my new dream a 599 Hornet.
I read something somewhere and I think it makes alot of sense. Don’t make your first bike your dream bike.