Question...Suz GS500 F

[JodieWodie]

Hi all.

Contemplating buying the above bike.
New in shop, 3,600..hoping to get just over 1K for my nearly new CG, and throw in the 2 and a half K cash.

It looks really nice, low low seat which I wanted... I LOVE the colour scheme of it, the headlights, the fairing ... I basically liked it the minute I saw it.
I like Suzukis anyway.

What are peoples opinions on this bike ??

I have been looking around for a while and this really caught my eye today.
I want this bike to last about 5 years or so, so do NOT want to make a mistake.

(OH !!,,,and an after note: they want to charge my 300 notes for fitting a res kit !! Is this acceptable, or a rip off ??

Cheers,
Thanks in advance.


J xxx
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

[bish777]

They are pretty good bikes, but seeing as you want it for 5 years, i'll warn you the finish on them isnt great and youll need to keep it clean regualarly. Mechanically they are good with no great vices bar the usual suzuki electrics.
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GSXR1100J

[JonB]

Thye ceraintly look good. Just remember it is a 500 twin and apparantly they can get boring very quickly.

£300 is a rip off for a fitted restriction. I'd expect you to pay Suzuki £170 tops.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[DanceLikeAMon...]

I have had my '94 GS500 for a couple of months now and am quite happy with it. But I am probably going to sell it before winter and get something newer (and faster) next spring.

I only really use it for commuting - which it's ideal for - but I think if you were going to use it a lot, you might want something with a bit more power.

Mine came with restrictor already fitted, but Ken's Motorcycles up here in Newcastle quoted £150 (ish) to fit one.

I haven't got anything to compare it to since it was my first big bike, but as the next step from a 125 I think it's ideal. Just don't expect it to be a long term bike.

re: Bish777 and the finish, yeah there are one or two rust patches, and bits of missing paint on the bike where the previous owner hadn't removed the fairing when cleaning the bike, so make sure you wash it thorougly if you want the finsh to last.

[allweatherbik...]

Just looked at the suzuki web site. List price of the GS500F is £3649 and includes restriction. 14 months ago I paid £3195 for a GS500 which included restriction. They gave me £1200 for my 14 month old low milage CG125.


Ian

[stevo as b4]

Not a bad bike, as long as its not the strange faired version, that looks like a badly crashed Busa!
As said already it would be a good everyday bike, and its a decent enough step up from a CG. Being a Suzi it needs to be kept clean to keep its finish, more so than its rival makes. if your going to use it all year round, expect to wash it down after every wet winter ride and it should stay looking ok.
I think the CB500 and ER5 are slightly better bikes, but there's not a massive performance difference between them. I would Try to get an even better deal if you can, £3200 sounds better to me, when you could buy a Bandit650 or naked Fazer for £4000, which the latter is a great bike for that price!
Overall if you get the right deal on a GS500 then it would be sweet, but id not want to pay much over £3000 for one really.

[R4nger]

[stevo as b4]

True point mate, but TBH if you had 175bhp of ballistic power under your arse, would you really be that bothered if she aint no high school beauty queen?

[Sparks!]

Suzukis suck. I hate them and would never own another. But a brand new one you might have more luck with.

However, I wouldn't pay for restriction. Tell them you want it restricted for free with the bike else you won't buy it. They will do it, trust me and if they don't just find another GS at another shop.

Restrictions only cost them about £60 + labour so they are always willing to throw it in with bikes. Oh and don't sound too keen else they will know you're already set on the bike and will think you'll just pay up.

So, get it included in the £3.6 or go elsewhere. Might take a bit longer to find a bike but you'll probably get a better offer eventually.
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[JonB]

Off Topic. I saw a SV with exactly the same paint scheme as yours at Beaulieu bike show today.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Sparks!]

[JodieWodie]

Thanks for all that help

I WILL ask for restriction in the price then if I go for that bike.

How fast will one do restricted ??
As long as it can do 80/90 I will be a happy bunny as I want it for commuting and the occasional jaunt.
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

[JonB]

About 100 MPH.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[JodieWodie]

[bish777]

The painted steel bits will rust and the exhaust too and then the ally will fur up after a while. Its a suzuki after all.
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GSXR1100J

[R4nger]

The GS500E will go around 80-90mph then it just "cuts-out" as in it does not have the power anymore to go any faster. Acceleration is about the same. I am tempted to give you my restrictors for free but there is always that moment when you could be rushed for your restrictors

[instigator]

Get a NEW ER5 for less than £2600....yes...£2600. Very similar bikes but I have to say, I think the er5's are more reliable and have a better engine.

And I'm sure I could get you some OFFICIAL restrictors if I rummage about (had 2 pairs)

https://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/bikes_search.asp?page=1&modelexact=1&make=KAWASAKI&model=ER-5&ccappr=&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=g20+6jt&miles=1500&max_records=50&source=0&keywords=&photo=1&sort=5&search=SEARCH

Honestly....a grand cheaper, brand new and a better bike overall. And I'll sort some washers out for you....?

[stevo as b4]

If you can get a new ER5 for that, its a flippin bargin! Its definately the better bike, and the finish is better, but the GS500 is still alright, but not at over £3500!
Ive ridden a CB500 and the ER5, and while the CB is fun and suprisingly quick at the top of the rev range, the ER5 is smoother, has more bottom end, and sounds much nicer too!

[instigator]

At the end of the day, if you use a bike everyday and clean it say once a fortnight, over winter, no matter what bike, they'll begin to deteriorate - some faster than others. My older er5 was great, had no problems with it (except for fiddly chain tension thing) and there really wasn't that much rust on it.

Just how you look after it. Nothing against the gs500 myself, but honestly think the er-5 is, for the money they're going for, MUCH BETTER VALUE.

New 2005 one cures the horrible rotting exhaust problem with a new stainless steel system.

Total bargain those bikes. At that price, I'm amazed. Not sure if it's an import one though, but you REALLY shouldn't pay more then £2999 for a new uk er5.

[Stu_666]

Think I had one of them when I did my DAS. Build quality seemed pretty good on it (don't think there was a scratch on it after I crashed/dropped it ). Comfort was also reasonable as I spent a fair amount of time on it each day and the buttcheeks felt ok at the end.

Thing what I did find is that the engine felt a bit unrefined at higher speeds (e.g 60+) and I think its something I might have got bored with after a while as the acceleration was'nt fantastic on it. Still, seems a good buy as a first 'big' bike and I guess you'd have no problems selling it on.

[dodsi]

Buy my ER-5 off me, I want something bigger as I have a stupid male ego.

Oh and It can be restricted, I have an official kit and certificate.

and only 14K miles.

[TheShaggyDA]

My ex had on from new, around 92/93ish and although the bike was ok, the finish was crap - you could see it rotting before your eyes if you sat still long enough. Within 6 months it had gone back 3 times, to have the wheels, frame and tank refinished. It's not as though the bike had gotten to see a winter. It's put me off Suzukis for good.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[nick.h]

There is some info about the GS 500 in this weeks MCN.

If you didnt see it:

Link here

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=18153

Link here

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=18152

Use the links if you cant see the pics properly (auto resize)

Nick
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[Italjet MM5A] ll [Rieju RS1 Evolution] ll [Suzuki GS500e] ll [Suzuki GSX600F] ll [Honda CG125] ll [Pug Elyseo 125] ll [Yamaha YZF750R] ll [Yamaha Thunderace] ll [Yamaha R6] ll [Triumph 955i] ll [Hayabusa RZK3] ll [Suzuki RGV250] ll

[Robby]

They drop the value pretty fast, so I'd buy a year old low miler. You still have a warranty on one of them.

They do rust, but in a more cosmetic than structural way.

You get a suzuki gearbox, which is good. Smooth.

All round good bikes. Be careful about listening to yams, he's destroyed every bike he's ever owned.

[Dave-O]

I bought my GS500F for £2000 last year and it had 1500 on the clock and was only 3 months old. Also had a datatool 3 alarm and immobiliser fitted. It didnt do so well over the winter with some bits corroding (nuts and bolts etc).

Not a bad bike, but you will want more after a year I reckon.
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War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
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