Old question - New answer ...

[The Buddha]

OK anyone remember every few months someone would ask "GS500E - are there any GS500's that werent GS500E's" ... That was back in 99-2001 with the old board ... and the answer is ... yes there are ... evidently GS500E was 89-00, GS500F is 2004+, and 2001-2003 are GS500's ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Kerry]

I thought they were asking about models like this 1981 GS500L:



From the "All Suzuki Motorcycles Ever Built" pages at http://www.suzukicycles.org

[The Buddha]

8 valve - derivative of that GS400 in europe/canada.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Gisser]

I thought they were asking about models like this 1981 GS500L:

Misprint.  That should be "GS550L" (inline 4).

[Kerry]

[Gisser]

Maybe Sweden got a smaller engine?

Good catch!  You are correct, the Swedish market must've created a niche for 500cc restricted engines.  The pic you posted is a sleeved-down GS550L.   Overweight pig to begin with...this one must've been a real dog.  The GS550 became the GS650, and that was a good 'un.

[crash]

i thought we settled this question a long time ago... :dunno:

~crash, proud owner of a 2001 GS500K1