How to tell what year is GS500e? suspicious or not??!!

[maki73]

Hi everybody. I`m marko from Serbia, Beograd, and im swaping my honda vtec car for a very decent GS , supposed to be `98, for about 2500 eur  plus a singnificant sum of eur over motorcycle (from gs owner) (don`t post comments on the prices here, everything is upside down heh:).

Anyway, this is crazy country with many stolen vehicles around since 9o - ties. Bike was imported from Italy in 2001, with 35.000 km on clock. Now it has 45.000. Looks ok, never been dropped, owner ok. Runs smoothly.

Let`s get to the point. I can`t tell for sure whether it is really 1998 or maybe 1989??! I cant have this checked at the police  because of the regulations during 2001,. when one could import a cow and register it as a pick up....I was puzzled by the seat lock on the left side right under the plastic below and under seat. It kinda looks a bit oldfashioned for `98 model (sticking out (down)all metal). I know suzuki had minor cosmetic changes over years but still....

Head light is all chrome. At bike pics .com i saw the exact model and colour pattern (black with purple litlle stripes) as 1993? Is it possible that this is the model 1993 or Suzuki have had it painted in that pattern again in 1998. I checked the colors for GS and, yes, 1998 was produced in black color. (i found this color pattern (black bike, purple letters and stripes) on this web site, but no purple patterns for 1998.). Under twins, all is painted black. Also choke is a  knob sticking down from carburettor.

Any good suggestions or ideas?

PS Site is great, and I as a begginer, moving from |Yamaha BW scooter, want this model!

Thanks to all for ideas on this subject. Marko

[scottpA_GS]

Get the VIN number.. It tells all

[scratch]

Welcome!

I'm not sure that the colour patterns are going to be the same as here in the U.S.

The choke knob down on the carburetors is not available on U.S. models (it would be far more relaible and simpler than the bar-mounted cable-operated ones that we have).

The seat lock sounds normal for us.

[maki73]

yes yes...hard to tell....i welcome all new posts though. I`ll try to check anyway through our secret service, they should know... thanx guys. Hope to see ya someday when i visit CA again:)

Now i got offer for a CB500 Honda, very beautifull, but somehow suzuki seems more user friendly...