GS500 vs GS500E

[proudlom]

I was just wondering if anyone can tell me what the difference between the different GS500 models is... I know the F is for ferring, but what's the E? :dunno:

[goat]

I think F is just the next letter in the alphabet.  Don't quote me on these years, but this will give you an approximate answer

89-00 GS500E
01-02 GS500
04-    GS500F

There were some changes to the braking system in 96, some changes to the tank in 00 or 01 but otherwise the gs500 and 500e are pretty much the same

There weren't many changes to the 500 when they went to the 500f besides the ferring. They added an oil cooler in the front, and I think the front end and the handlebars might have changed a bit.

Short answer: there is very little difference.

[The Antibody]

Actually, the 01-02 models are GS500K. Cool huh. perhaps the F stands for faired. Who knows. What I think is pretty funny is the fact that some added plastic switches the bike from STREET status, to the SPORT catagory. It's these little things that only The Antibody notices. Thats the price of being the "coolest" GS'er.

 -Anti  

[dmp221]

Actually, the 01-02 models are GS500K.   -Anti  

OK I have an '01 and nowhere on any literature, registration, insurance papers, owner's manual, the bike, or anywhere else appears the letter "K"
Just plain vanilla "GS-500"
confusing.

[davipu]

Thats the price of being the "coolest" GS'er

hahaha coolest ever and doesen't even have a custom title.....

[AR5ENAL]

hahaha coolest ever and doesen't even have a custom title.....

hehe...maybe he's too cool for a custom title.  he could be telling the truth!

[goat]

I think that the K1 (2001) and K2 (2002) were just associated with of  the model years. Technically, I have a GS500EP (1993) not just a GS500E. Ronayers and bikebandit list the K1 and K2 like they list the P for my bike.

[The Antibody]

dmp221, my sales reciept says 2002 GS500K. My literature doesn't, but thats a bit generic. Davipu... your right, I have no custom title, but...

Thats the price you pay for being the Kuhm Lauda of Coolness.

 -Anti  

[crash]

hrmf

is there a way to find out for sure? i have a 2001, i could've sworn that my title says gs500e

[TR]

I guess all that keys and codes or whatever they were appear here and there depending on the people who handles papers, my Y2K was going to be sold as a 2001, only because I bought it in 2001, but I said the sales girl: "wait, that's a Y2K model", so she wrote down 2000 instead.

[Kerry]

According to suzukicycles.org, the GS500E moniker was used from 1979-1981 for bikes that looked VERY different than ours.  See pictures of both series while you read about the [Suzuki GS500E model history].

While you're at it, check out the [Suzuki GS500F model history] page.

For more cool info on older GS500 and GS500E bikes, see the following pages (in German, unfortunately) on the [Michael's GS Classic] website.  (Choose English, then the Modelle entry on the top-line menu, and scroll down.)

    [GS 500 L]

    [GS 500 M]

    [GS 500 EZ]

    [GS 500 EN - EX]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As far as the "E" vs "F" vs "K" goes for the GS500 models since 1989, let's all join hands and take a quick-and-easy trip through Suzuki's suffix lettering scheme. The whole excursion will be based from Ron Ayers' parts fiche page for Suzuki bikes.

Ready?  Click on the link in the previous paragraph to bring up a second browser and go to the starting point.

Are you there?  Do you see over 3 dozen models listed?  Great!  Now click on the GS500E entry.  You should see 12 model years listed, starting with the letter "K" in 1989 and continuing to the letter "Y" for the 2000 model year.  (Did you notice how vowels and the letter "Q" are skipped?)

Now hit the "Back" button and return to the list of all Suzuki models that Ron Ayers carries parts for.  Click on the GS500 entry.  The only model years shown are the K1 (2001) and K2 (2002), because the GS500 was not sold in the US in 2003, and the 2004 info hasn't been added to the website yet.  Hit the "Back" button again, please.

This time let's peruse the info for a TOTALLY different bike.  Click on the VS1400GLP INTRUDER entry.  Whoa!  This bike has an even more venerable history than our beloved GS500E!  Notice which letters go with which years, and then go "Back" again.

One more: the GSX-R750.

Tired?  We could check the rest of the Suzuki models, but I think you get the point.  Let's go back to home base and sum up:

Code Select Expand


Model      ---- SUFFIX ---- LETTERS ----
Year  GS500E  GS500  GS500F  VS1400GLP    GSX-R750
=========================================
1987                                             H                    
1988                                             J
1989    K                                        K
1990    L                                        L
1991    M                                       M
1992    N                                        N
1993    P                                        P
1994    R                                        R
1995    S                                        S
1996    T                                        T            T
1997    V                                        V            V
1998    W                                       W           W
1999    X                                        X            X
2000    Y                                        Y            Y
2001                K1                          K1           K1
2002                K2                          K2           K2
2003               [K3]                         K3          K3
2004                K4?         K4?           K4?         K4?

HOPE THIS HELPS!!

PS - Could someone that owns a 2004 GS500F confirm (or refute) the "K4" suffix lettering guess?  You're looking for something like the VIN plate on my '99 ...



... where the "X" in the stamped portion of the VIN number represents my bike's model year (X = 1999).

Thanks in advance!

[proudlom]

Thanks a lot Kerry, you really answered my question... and then some.  I Checked the sticker with the VIN on my 2004 GS500F (it's not a fancy metal plate like yours) and there were no "K4"s anywhere on it. It did, however say "GS500FH Model:MC" if that means anything to you.

[R3d]

Kerry is the Link Master  

The VIN on my 2001 just says GS500, no letter attached at the end.  Um... I can't check the owner's manual cause I don't have one, and I gave the title to DMV yesterday...

[PITBULL]

may sales receipt  for my 2004 says  gs500fk4   and I believe my title says it also but being i dont have the title yet i cant rember completly

[Mike Harman]

I think the GS500 goes back all the way to 1976, when the first GS400 came out. It was the same engine, basically, except for smaller cylinder bore and different configuration for the lower half of the crankcase, which used less oil (2.2 liters) and had the oil filter on the bottom of the engine rather than the front (but it is the same relaceable filter!).

The original GS400 engine had the same gear settup, overhead 2-valve cams, counterbalancer, twin Mikuni carbs, etc. The bike's weight was about 380 lbs (same as GS500). This bike and the GS750 in-line 4 were Suzuki's first 4-stroke engines, and they used many interchangible parts, including pistons.

The GS400 frame was tubular, and it had the typical twin rear shocks, but otherwise very closely resembles the GS500. I rode my 1977 gs400 from the time I bought it in 1978 until last fall-26 years without any major problems.

[crash]

hrmf

so i was washing my bike and remembered to check out the ID plate.  my "2001 GS500E" (title)  plate says "gs500" manufactured in "11 00"

so, now i'm really confused.  does this mean that i have a 2000? or is it normal for 2001 stuff to be manufactured at the end of 2000?

[Hi-T]

Anything manufactured after September (I believe) takes on the next year's model number.

[Kerry]

No worries -- my '99 was manufactured in April 1998.

(See photo in my previous post.)

[Stephen072774]

hrmf

so i was washing my bike and remembered to check out the ID plate.  my "2001 GS500E" (title)  plate says "gs500" manufactured in "11 00"

so, now i'm really confused.  does this mean that i have a 2000? or is it normal for 2001 stuff to be manufactured at the end of 2000?

Mine too was manufactured in 11/00.  Mine bike is a 2001 GS500K1 according to my title.

[goat]

it looks like the pic of kerry's plate says 1999 model year and has a manf. date of 4/98. Not sure what it all means, though.