Why a gs500???

[Mightymax0319]

Let me start by saying I have been visitng this site on a regular basis since the purchase of my bike and for whatever reason the gs500 seems to have a great following. I know i probably should refrain from asking this question, but here it goes anyway. Let me start by saying i am not an inexperienced rider, i've ridden dirt bikes and others' bikes atleast five years prior to my first street bike. In April 2006 i found a really good deal on a excellent condition gs500.I didn't want a 250; however i wasn't planning on getting a 600 either; i wanted to play it safe.  It was a 2001 Suzuki gs500e with 2,347 miles on the bike. . Thinking this would be a nice step up from my friends' 2002 Ninja 250 i purchased the bike for $1200(nice deal eh?) . I've been riding the bike around and replaced the tires and it works just fine. My question is...The bike is slow, there's no nicer way of putting it! It's a VERY SLOW bike to be exact, making me wonder why seasoned riders would choose a gs500 over other bikes.(I won't even  get into suspension problems.) The only reason i can come up with is that it's an extremely cheap bike.

I find myself counting the months to next spring. At which point i will surely be upgrading to atleast a water-cooled 600.

[ajgs500]

Welcome and I dont find the GS slow at all.

[Mightymax0319]

Your picture is a girl...

[hmmmnz]

because its cheap, and a super reliable bike, it'll still be humming along when all the others have died, just about any 250 or 400 is faster than the gs.
if its proformance you wanted then you picked the wrong bike
you should have got something that was designed this century and not in the 80s

[ajgs500]

so what's your point?

[TragicImage]

pssst... its probably because she has a naughty place.

[busterkat]

I guess that makes me a TURKEY

[Altephor]

Well I got mine BECAUSE it was slow.  First street bike and all and I couldn't stand the squarish looks of the ninja 250.  Thus, I decided on a fairedly (haha get it?  ) nice GS500F.

[RVertigo]

What's Slow?  Is it slower than the EX250?  If so, you have some big problems... 

Change Spark Plugs?
Clean/Change air filter?
Change fuel filter?
Clean carbs?
Adjust Carbs?
Adjust Valves?


And... What RPM range are you riding in?  Less than 5K is useless...  The GS comes alive around 7K...  And you can ride it all the way to 11K.

It's only 35 HP or so, but a stock GS can do a wheelie (with lots of clutch)...  It will do 110+ MPH...

Unless you're 400 LBS or you think fast is FAAAAAAAAAAAST, there's something wrong.

[Mightymax0319]

How much does a gs500f cost? If im not mistaking they're slightly pricey. is the front fairing worth another $2000?

[Altephor]

I got mine.. a little scratched.. for 2900.

[busterkat]

Dealer by me has a  new  05 for $4495 with a free jacket and helmet

[RVertigo]

How much does a gs500f cost? If im not mistaking they're slightly pricey. is the front fairing worth another $2000?

The fairing isn't $2000...  The "New" is $2000.

I got my '01 GS500 for a song...  But, I have to agree that the EX500 and EX250 are uuuuuuugly.  



So...  Get some real springs on your '01 and figure out what's wrong with it...  Then we can make fun of all the "F" riders.  

[TragicImage]

hey hey hey, I'm an F'ing rider.


I love my F model.  I also love cheese, my puppy, and long walks on the beach.

[RVertigo]

I also love cheese, my puppy, and long walks on the beach.

Please refer to ajgs500 for comments on this post.

[ajgs500]

I also love cheese, my puppy, and long walks on the beach.

Please refer to ajgs500 for comments on this post.

[RVertigo]

 

[stangbaby67]

I got my GS because I'm a n00b and needed a low bike without a lot of power, but can't stand the Ninja.  Oh, and it had to be yellow. 

[pandy]

I love my F model.  I also love cheese, my puppy, and long walks on the beach.

Welcome to the board, Mightymax! I got my GS originally because it was the right price (cheap), it looked solid (I was able to beat the h3ll out of it), and....well....I just fell in love with him....   

[werase643]

slow.... my GS will go 70 no problem
so will my SV
' my GSXR
" my RS125
" my DR350
" my RZ

my RS-50 will only go about 62-65
what do you expect for 8 HP