Suzuki GS 500 F

[SuzukiGal]

Has anyone or does anyone have one of these bikes? I found a really really really good deal on a 2005. Only 4k miles on it. Just wondering what the concensus is on them.

[jwm2k3]

MUCH better than a Ninja 500, in my humble opinion.....

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by jwm2k3
MUCH better than a Ninja 500, in my humble opinion.....

lookswise? sure, it definitely looks better than the EX500... performance wise? no. The GS does NOT perform as well as the EX...

To clarify, i haven't ridden one, i don't have one, but do race an EX and have raced against Chad on his "super" GS and I can tell you now, every time he gets off that thing he bitches about it's lack of balls. I think he's the only one here that has one though... but there's a girl over on ODFU that has one & loves it.

The EX and the GS are both great bikes to learn how to ride on, and from what i've heard (not in my experience) the GS is a piece of cake to work on, which is helped by the fact that it's air cooled as opposed to water cooled.

If you choose to get it i'm sure you'll be happy with it... just don't expect it to be a rocketship.

[slaps76]

A person's first bike shouldn't be a rocketship, nor should they expect it to be. I'm sure the 500 will feel plenty fast enough for a new rider though.

They're great bikes that have been around for a long time(the GS, not the F trim). Can't go wrong, good luck with it.

[SuzukiGal]

I'm a new rider and definitely NOT looking for a rocket!!! Thanks for the info!

[MissTwisties]

Hmm....so far....I LOVE my 500....it puts a huge smile on my face every time I hop on that thing. I ride the backroads (read --> twisties on country roads) and the 500 is plenty fast to do that just that. I no longer get left behind at red lights, THAT is awsome. It has way more power than my 250 had, and I can now go as fast as I want and keep up with the fast riders and it doesn't shake like a leaf.

I think the GS500 looks good tho....have no clue about performance...

[SVRACER01]

gs 500 is NOT liquid cooled

[bump909]

who said it was?

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by bump909
who said it was?

i was just pointing out that its not... and that sucks. when its hot out and your bike is overheating in traffic and making you even hotter. liquid cooled is better. i would find something with that. ive had bad experiences with the GS... due to air cool..ed...ness

[KB]

I'm pretty sure that a recently crashed EX will probably maybe be for sale on here soon enough????

[MissTwisties]

ummm....I DON'T THINK SO.

[FazerChic]

Originally posted by rmbbikes
I'm pretty sure that a recently crashed EX will probably maybe be for sale on here soon enough????

The bike would make for a perfect first bike Vixen. My vote...go for it.

[Honclfibr]

The GS500F is like putting playing cards in the spokes of your huffy: it's the same bike but now it's

Aside from the fairings, it's the same GS500 as it ever was. Seem like nice solid bikes. There are better performers of course, but motorcycles are fun even when they're not race rep rockets. I've never ridden a well-running motorcycle and not enjoyed the experience. If you like it, go for it.

[Ri_De_bike]

^ actually very much like the 450 that preceded it. early 80 gs450's had a nice rear section. the gear is very similar except for a dual shock rear replaced by the mono shock.

point is or maybe should be condition of the motorbike, not the size or brand. there are so many suitable .:dare i say entry:. cycles. what might look like a good deal really might be a money pit if you replace tires, steering head bearings, chains, pads...... on and on.

wouldn't hurt having something you won't outgrow that meets the riding environs you'll do. just because it goes 140mph doesn't mean you HAVE to ride it that way.

any two wheels will get you most of the motorcycle experience your looking for.

[Tabby]

A couple of points on the GS. The base motor started in about 76 as the 400. It was part of Suzuki's across the board switch to four strokes, so it has indeed been around. The valve train uses shim on TOP of bucket adjustment, so if you are inclined to adjust your own valves, all you have to do is buy or borrow the little lever tool that pushes the bucket away from the cam shaft. Piece of cake!! One thing that puzzles me though. In 1980 when Suzuki started to switch to the 4-valve head, in this country, the 400 got left out. The Canadian 400s' got the new head. Don't mind my rambling. Enjoy the bike if you get it. It is truly hard to buy a bad bike these days, IF, it has seen anything resembling normal use and care.

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by l3uddha
I've never had a problem with mine, nor have I heard of anyone over at gstwins.com having a problem with their GS overheating.

I bought my bike in Albuquerque, NM and would sit in traffic at 110 degrees.

the GS500 is a great bike.

both my roomates had brand new GS's when i lived in phoenix and both their bikes took a shit and blew the motor

[SuzukiGal]

Originally posted by SVRACER01
both my roomates had brand new GS's when i lived in phoenix and both their bikes took a shit and blew the motor

Has anyone else have a problem like this with the motors?

[SVRACER01]

look..... im just a functionallity kind of guy. you have (basically) 2 choices of motorcycle. both have their own pros and cons. what you have to do is weigh those pros and cons against each other (go on fact not opinion) if you want a bike based on the fact of looks alone then nothing else about the bike really matters... right?

i think the *new* GS is hideous. a poor attempt by Suzuki to polish a turd and veer you away from the fact that its the same bike its always been. the older naked ones were a little cooler but still the same bike

im not a huge fan of the EX either. it too is ugly and unchanged since the beginning of time. better looking than the "new" GS. but ugly. it IS liquid cooled though and based on that alone i would choose it. it also makes a little more power and there are more aftermarket parts for it than the GS (as far as i know) you dont see many GS race bikes

insurance should be pretty cheap for either but you should check on that and resale value. i KNOW you can buy a EX for say $1800 and ride it for a season or 2 or 3 and still get $1600- $1800 for it when you want to move up. the GS... i dont know. if its too good of a deal to pass up but you dont really want it... buy it... sell it for more.. get what you want.

just my 2cents

both bikes are great learner bikes, dont get me wrong. all im saying is......... just buy an SV650

[Doc]

Originally posted by SVvixen815
Has anyone or does anyone have one of these bikes? I found a really really really good deal on a 2005. Only 4k miles on it. Just wondering what the concensus is on them.

What is the "deal"? How much?

[Paul_E_D]

Air cooling is not a problem despite svracers stories. His distaste for the GS and EX fly in the face of phenomenal success over the last 15+ years, both on the street and track.

I've never had a water-cooled streetbike, and never had a problem. I have 50,000 miles on my current ride. They are simpler to work on due to a lot less "packaging" around the motor.

[bigred875]

good solid bike...go for it...

[Doc]

Whats the difference between a 500 f and a 500 e?

[SuzukiGal]

Originally posted by Doc
What is the "deal"? How much?

2004, 500 miles for $3500, but he said we can talk price...hoping to talk him down since he is not a rider. I'm definitely bringing reinforcements that knows bikes to help me out. Oh. It's yellow in color. Most likely going tomorrow to see it.

[Doc]

Originally posted by SVvixen815
2004, 500 miles for $3500, but he said we can talk price...hoping to talk him down since he is not a rider. I'm definitely bringing reinforcements that knows bikes to help me out. Oh. It's yellow in color. Most likely going tomorrow to see it.

This is the one with the fairing?

The kbb.com retail is $3505 and trade in is $2390.

I would offer somewhere in the middle, like $2900 and go up to $3200 MAX I think $3000 would be good if it is in good shape.

Goodluck!

FYI, I found a 1991 GS 500 e for $500! Needs work but...

[FazerChic]

Since he's not a rider, talk his ass DOWN and take the damn thing for a steal! Sounds like the guy just wants it off his hands. And holy low mileage batman!