Suzuki GS 500.....who likes it who does not.....

[mxaexm]

 yesterday at the dealership I took a close look at the GS 500 an I have to admit that although I have always been a cruiser type of guy...I really like the GS 500.....

any opinion on the GS 500...maybe some pictures?

[Rustydust]

Reliable as an anvil. Basic engine design been around for 30 years. Fun, but not fast ride.

There is a reason that Suzuki has kept them in the line up for so many years. The Toyota Corolla of motorcycles.

[RickC1957]

Great starter bike Jammin's 91 GS500 lived in my garage for about 2 years, it's a fun ride. Diane did a couple of 400 mile days on it.

[et]

Back in the mid 90's I bought a friends '89 GS500 that was his race bike.
I too used it for racing; and some street riding.

Before that GS500 I had been racing my '86 GSXR-750RG.
I enjoyed that GS500 way more than my 750. That GS500 was way underpowered when compared to my GSXR-750.
BUT it handled like it was on rails. It taught me a thing or two about carrying your momentum through the turns.
AND that little GS500 could out-brake anything else on the track. (Except another GS500 with a better rider.  )
It was not uncommon for me to blast past several other riders in each corner.
Of course they would then pass me on the long straights.
But that's what made it fun.

I raced that bike until 2004. And I was still passing just about everything else in the corners; even brand new SV650's and many 750's.
But the speed differential on the long straights was getting too great.
And I neglected to drain the carbs that winter and ruined them.

On the street it was the same sort of thing; I could go through some turns effortlessly that would have me braking and/or questioning traction on my larger bikes.
(ie. 55mph road with a turn that has a suggested limit of  25mph. No problem; if you can see through the whole turn and it's clear. Don't even need to roll off the throttle.)

I will honestly say I didn't know how to ride until I got that GS500.
In my opinion it's a perfect beginner's bike AND a fun bike for any experienced rider.

[UHOH]

yrs ago I test rode a GS500, when helping my son look for a bike,
and found it lacking in torque

your companion thread, asking about an SV650 std,
talks about a much more modern and superior bike.

[KokomoSam]

The GS500 was my re-entry bike and the bike I learned to REALLY ride on. I liked it.   It is in the garage waiting some work, but I am not completely sure I want to get rid of it.  I am debating on whether I should turn it into a track bike.  It is a great bike to learn on .  It is a great first bike and has a fairly large users support group.  http://gstwin.com/

Here are some pics of the bike...

[Kool shades]

I've got one, and love it! It's a lot of fun, very flickable. The engine could survive a nuclear blast! Absolutely bulletproof!
Looks great, runs great, cheap on insurance... What's not to like...?

[VIVID1]

I used to ride a '98 back in '99  

[JamesG]

 You make that little GS look like a huge bike.  

GS500s are awesome bikes. Probably one of the last true UJMs, before Suzuki went and put plastic all over it.  

[Wockman]

The GS500 is a great bike.  As others said, they are solid, dependable, and best of all cheap...

I kind of like the classic style of the older ones but the F model isn't too shabby.
Found this pict on wiki, looks like a capable sport tourer... 

[doodah man]

If you're going to go that route, the GS500 is good but the Kawasaki EX500 is better IMHO.  Both bikes have been around forever, but the EX is liquid-cooled, has four valves per cylinder, and makes about 8 more horsepower at the rear wheel which is a big deal at these smaller displacements.

[Blunder]

If you're going to go that route, the GS500 is good but the Kawasaki EX500 is better IMHO.  Both bikes have been around forever, but the EX is liquid-cooled, has four valves per cylinder, and makes about 8 more horsepower at the rear wheel which is a big deal at these smaller displacements.

True, but if someone is brand spanking new to biking, why not have them experience the simplicity of an air-cooled motor?

BTW, as some have posted, I used a GS450 (the basis of the GS500) as my first race bike and that nail lasted well over 75K miles of track and very hard street riding. Just make sure it has oil, change the plugs as needed, and do regular maintenance and you're good to go.

[TheGoose]

I started on a GS500E. Loved it, wish I still had it. Lots of firsts on that bike. First time over the ton, first time wheelying, first time racing, first time crashing, first time taking a passenger.... I've ridden both the GS and the EX and I prefer the GS. It's smoother somehow. It's a wonderful, simple, machine. And a blast to ride.

[JamesG]

If you're going to go that route, the GS500 is good but the Kawasaki EX500 is better IMHO.  Both bikes have been around forever, but the EX is liquid-cooled, has four valves per cylinder, and makes about 8 more horsepower at the rear wheel which is a big deal at these smaller displacements.

GS has a better chassis and (relatively) better suspension. Up until recently, the GS also had a better tire selection.  Yeah the EX is a higher performance bike, but the GS was a much better learner/beginner/commuter bike.

[doodah man]

GS has a better chassis and (relatively) better suspension. Up until recently, the GS also had a better tire selection.  Yeah the EX is a higher performance bike, but the GS was a much better learner/beginner/commuter bike.

Geez, you're talking about the GS500 like it was your first lay.    I guess your definition of "recently" is 1994 because since that model year the EX500 has had identical tire sizes to the GS500.  If you define "recently" as 14 years, I wonder what your definition of "better" is.

[Zerosum]

The GS500 is a great bike.  I really wanted to start on one, but they were hard to come by at a decent price when I was shopping back in 2003.

If this is a used bike, I wouldn't buy it at a dealer, though.  Dealers are a supreme rip-off when it comes to used bikes.  They're about 50% high compared to a private seller.  Cut out the middleman.  All they do is wash the thing, change the oil, get it to pass inspection and that's it.  You can do that yourself, and use the money you save to buy better safety gear.

Just the other day, I saw a '94 VFR750 w/ 13K miles at a local dealer... for $4500!    Please.  

Brand-new leftover or used private party are the ways to go, IMO.  Shop around on cycletrader.com, craigslist, or powersportsnetwork.com.

edit:
I'm assuming this is a used bike, since you said GS500, and not GS500F...

[JamesG]

Geez, you're talking about the GS500 like it was your first lay.    I guess your definition of "recently" is 1994 because since that model year the EX500 has had identical tire sizes to the GS500.  If you define "recently" as 14 years, I wonder what your definition of "better" is.

Since they both have been around since the 1980's, yes, "recently" is a relative term.

I used to race GS500s in WERA's clubman class which is (was) primarily filled with GS and EX500s (as well as other odd stuff), so I know what I am talking about, not just spewing spec sheet facts.

[doodah man]

Since they both have been around since the 1980's, yes, "recently" is a relative term.

I used to race GS500s in WERA's clubman class which is (was) primarily filled with GS and EX500s (as well as other odd stuff), so I know what I am talking about, not just spewing spec sheet facts.

Well apparently you didn't know about the tires.  EX came out in 87, the GS in 89, tires the same size since 94.  So for the majority of the existence of these bikes, they have had the same tire sizes.  Yeah, "recently" is such a "relative" term when you use it to try to spin the facts.  It's such a bitch when those pesky spec sheet facts get in the way.

I did 65,000 km on an EX500 on the street, not on the track, which is far more relevant to the OP.  You weren't racing on stock suspension anyway, so it is facetious to claim the GS has "relatively better" suspension than the EX.  What, the oil holes in the fork damping rod are bigger on the GS than the EX so the GS dives more on braking, or are smaller so the GS locks up more easily over bumps?  You can't have it both ways.  Which is "better"?  You and I both know the cure for both bikes is Gold Valves, stiffer fork springs, and a Works Performance shock.

You like the GS, I like the EX.  All of the magazine comparisons I've read agree with my opinion.  Just giving the original poster another option.

[jsanford]

The GS500 is a great bike.  I really wanted to start on one, but they were hard to come by at a decent price when I was shopping back in 2003.

+1; I wanted to learn on a GS500E. Loved that it looked like the archtypical motorcycle.

I think the first bike always occupies a special place in our memories (so long as it wasn't a mechanical headache). Since the forced snow parking, the bike I've been dreaming about riding is my first bike--gusty headwinds and all.  

[whitewolf]

I have a 04 gs500f. I have made several long distance trips 1 and 2 up on it.
It is a great beginners bike, my wife and daughter learned on mine.
I have over 30K miles on it and it runs great.


My bike


My wife stealing it for the day.


My daughter getting ready at run.