GS500, what are they like, what to look for

[jimspeed]

Guys, I've been offered 2 GS500's for mucho cheapness
both run ok, one is a 1990 and has just out of mot and the other is a 2001 I think, I was thinking of getting both and sorting thru em using the old one as a hack and probly selling the other to my uncle who is looking to do his DAS soon.
what to look for with these? are they fairly robust bikes or do they suffer with common problems?
cheers
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Hyosung cruise 125(passed test on, sold) Kawasaki el 252 (better than expected but sold on) Kawasaki GPZ500S first "big"bike.(sold) ZZR600 E5..Z750 2007,ER5, currently on a 2008 Enfield bullet electra x and loving it..
,"Alpha-9: Is there any correlation between dyno rod and dyno kits?"

[Blau Zedong]

The design is sound (if biblically dated - the engine dates from 1978, hence the ship's gearbox). However there is no build quality, whatsoever. It's like someone has set out to build a bike from the worst quality steel available. Even by Suzuki standards the level of rot is shocking.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[TheDonUK]

I see you have had a GPZ500, So basically a cheaper version of that.

Look out for shit brake calipers, blowing exhausts....
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[jimspeed]

cheers guys, i'll take a look at em tomorrow and go from there then.
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Hyosung cruise 125(passed test on, sold) Kawasaki el 252 (better than expected but sold on) Kawasaki GPZ500S first "big"bike.(sold) ZZR600 E5..Z750 2007,ER5, currently on a 2008 Enfield bullet electra x and loving it..
,"Alpha-9: Is there any correlation between dyno rod and dyno kits?"

[Nipedley]

I've got a 1989 with 50,000 miles on and it's a pretty solid bike, it hadn't had much love before I got it either.

Main issues I have had were both brake calipers (everything being seized/rusted after however many years of not being maintained), and oil pissing out of a presumably 24 year old cam chain tensioner gasket which did not look happy when I took it off.

Bike lives outside in the rain, snow etc. and frame has less rust than a 2014 CBF125 and is my daily commuter

One perennial problem I have had is fuel starvation which I intend to sort once and for all with a full clean of the tank, fuel tap, carbs, new fuel filter etc., I have heard that is a common thing, I guess it's probably common when a bike hits 24 years old anyway

[...]

Rust. Look for rust.

You won't have to look hard mind you.

[P.]

I wouldn't buy one.

I'd buy an ER5 before a GS500... and an ER5 is utterly fucking tripe at best.

Of the 4 GS500s I've seen, 4 have stopped working. That is 100% fail rate. That is more fail the Jivebunny and mikesaa making sweet love.

[davebike]

The GS500 is basicly the GS400 I trained to work on at Suzuki GB in 1970's
Tough as old boots very forgiving as long as the oil is there and not to dirty there just go and go

Rear brakes callipers renounced fro sizing up front only slightly better

If you go for it once sorted there will run and run

Dave
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[ws4936]

[mysterious_rider]

My gs500 had lots of problems. I paid £320 for it so not bad at all, great learner bike really...

Clutch plates went, regulator shat itself.... the magneto died...
The electrics were faulty. Whenever I put the indicators on and the revs went about 3k the indies cut out... Exhaust was turning rotten...inside of the tank was seriously rusty...

All these problems and it had only hit 34k miles.

but I sold it on for £550 once I cafe racered her up. And then it got sold on to another guy who appaz racked up over 65k on it now.

My friend also got one, he had blown fork seals, slipping clutch, leaking cases.... It's all an easy fix really, but the difference is he paid £750! If it has any sorts of problems like these, make sure you only spend a few hundred.


Just keep an eye on oil level. Once they are running they are pretty nice bikes though, mine was a lot of fun.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[_Iain_]

Dont do it.

I had one as a first bike, the calipers siezed up and required re-building, the disc warped out, the thing spat me off into a bus stop, the engine shat a load of bearings, starter clutch failed.

J.M had one that was from memory an '08 model and that went wrong just as often as mine did. Paddy had a few, they all crashed or fell apart.

Oil level is the big one. They absolutely drink the stuff, and once you see the pressure warning light flag up the engines got a few weeks/hours/minuites to live.

Utter shite. Wouldn't even consider one as a hack - the ER-5's a better bike and cheaper. Even those are pretty poor although the handlings quite nice!
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Blau Zedong]

Go on, I'll bite.

[stevo as b4]

It's 15 years since I rode an ER5, but I have to say I enjoyed it at the time, as for a commuter or cheap to run middleweight would probably have another one, condition dependant.

I have a theory that something like an ER5 or CB500 is easier to look after than the 4cylinder middleweights like the XJ600 and Blandit 600, and probably more fun too!

[_Iain_]

Okay,

[jimspeed]

cheers guys, i got em both in the end for less than £400, having now ridden one give me a gpz any day feels like riding a 125 compared to the zzr lol.
one has 90K on it and appears to be absolutly fine while to other has 15K and is a bit of a shed, uncle has had a go and it's not the bike for him so I'll ebay em off tomorrow eve or something..
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Hyosung cruise 125(passed test on, sold) Kawasaki el 252 (better than expected but sold on) Kawasaki GPZ500S first "big"bike.(sold) ZZR600 E5..Z750 2007,ER5, currently on a 2008 Enfield bullet electra x and loving it..
,"Alpha-9: Is there any correlation between dyno rod and dyno kits?"

[chickenstrip]

[_Iain_]

I'll bet the 90k one has been totally rebuilt and that the engine isn't original!

As for the MZ racing - I recall Clarkson making a comment "Its like saying; I've got chlyamidia - the best of the sexually transmitted diseases" with reference to a group of cars.

500cc commuter twins appear to be all about trying to pick the best of a bad bunch - however if they're a first big bike they're cheap and feel like a missile after getting off a YBR, might as well make the most of a shit slow bike feeling awesome
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Blau Zedong]

[Moxey]

Reliability wise based on my experiences with a 97 plate GS 500 E they aren't bad. Mine sipped oil when thrashed and developed a fuelling issue as time wore on, it became a shit to start, struggled to rev cleanly and sometimes wouldn't idle. Never diagnosed this before I got rid and there seemed to be little evidence to explain why the fuelling suddenly went from fine to crap in the space of 1k miles in the same weather conditions with no tampering to the fuel or electrics. Mechanically never had any faults in 3k miles of ownership (owned from 33k to 36k miles, so relatively low miles to me).

Biggest criticism stemmed from the overall ride quality, power delivery and fuel consumption, it barely handled and felt gutless all the while only achieving 40-45 mpg which I get from my VFR which has a fair bit more go. The brakes were acceptable IMO, even two up and or carrying camping equipment and other consumables were relatively cheap.

Build quality was a gripe too when replacing the rear sprocket, the OEM sprocket retaining nuts had to be grinded off and rust was starting to show through at some points despite quite regular cleaning.
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Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 91 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[J.M.]