Are the GS500's days numbered??

[BaltimoreGS]

Stopped in a bike shop in Bedford, PA to check out the new Ninja 250.  That update looks great and was long over due.  I asked the salesman if the Ninja 500 was going to receive a similar face lift.  He said '09 is the last year for the Ninja 500 because the engine won't meet 2010 emissions standards.  If Kawasaki's liquid cooled 500 can't meet the 2010 emissions standards, what chance does our beloved air cooled GS stand??

-Jessie

[XealotX]

...what chance does our beloved air cooled GS stand??

None. Next question...
As a side note, many salesmen don't know what the hell they are talking about.

[cafeboy]

...what chance does our beloved air cooled GS stand??

None. Next question...
As a side note, many salesmen don't know what the hell they are talking about.

Oh so true ^^^^^^^^^ 

[sticks]

from what i've seen they're just going to axe the 500R and use the 650R and ER-6N as its replacements, no idea what suzuki is going to do, hopefully they don't think the gladius is the same thing...

[daliumong]

that la times article awhile back addressed that

ca has stricter standards than the rest of the country, thats pretty well known. all 2008 model highway motorcycles from cali already meet the 2010 epa emissions standard. so im guessing the rest of the country is just going to have to adopt the california standard in terms of bikes. no big

[brickerenator]

even though the Gladius is haaawwwwttt

Personally I think if they were going to drop the GS500, their best plan would be to either build a GS350-400 as the replacement for 250cc and 500cc beginner bikes, or resurrect the GSF-400 Bandit

[sticks]

even though the Gladius is haaawwwwttt

don't get me wrong here, i totally agree with that, i just don't think its a good GS500 replacement.  i'd love to see manufacturers coming out with more small-displacement street bikes. the only ones available right now are motards. not a bad thing, though. (see: WR250X, DRZ400SM)

[bobthebiker]

Basically just like the EX500,  the GS's days are numbered, and growing fewer every day.   I'm betting the GSX650 is the direct replacement for it, just like kawi replaced the ninja 500 with a far superior and overall better bike.

[08GSSteve]

The GS will stay it will just have a face lift with EFI to come up to 2010 standards (I hope)  Would be a shame to kill off such a success story.  May be a name change like GS500(I) or with plastic GS500F(I)

All bikes are in the same basket.

Suzuki will not let one of it's flag ship courier motorcycles die due to emmission controls.  The GSXR changed over to EFI back in the 90's so why not do the same to the GS?

The new 2010 bikes are in production as we speak so time will tell what stays and what goes.

On another side though to keep costs down I read that Suzuki is in talks with Royal Einfield to produce in part form 400cc to 600cc bikes in India and then ship them off for assembly.  IF this is true then Suzuki could add EFI to the GS and the cost "could" be cheaper than what they are new today.

[SkiMad]

The end has already arrived in the UK - the GS500e and GS500F models were axed at the end of last year.  Dealers have been discounting heavily to clear any unsold stock.  The current UK on-road model line-up is here http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/bikes/onroad/

As you can see Suzuki now only offers three middle weight engine sizes 599, 645 and 656cc.  As has already been suggested this appears to be driven by the need to meet ever stricter emission rules.  However I am not sure the latest "cleaner" bikes actually work out much cleaner as they seem to use more fuel per mile than my GS500F.

Sadly it looks like a fully faired Bandit will be my next bike even if its badged as the GSX650F for some reason.  I really hope they have a forum half as good as this one.

 

[kml.krk]

mmmm GS500FI   mmmmm    nice 

[BaltimoreGS]

Thanks for the link skimad.  Why can't we get those naked bikes in the USA?  http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/bike/gsr600k8/

[brickerenator]

Thanks for the link skimad.  Why can't we get those naked bikes in the USA?  http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/bike/gsr600k8/

It makes me so mad  they get all the cool bikes in Europe

[08GSSteve]

Sadly it looks like a fully faired Bandit will be my next bike even if its badged as the GSX650F for some reason.  I really hope they have a forum half as good as this one.

Bandit badged as a GSX650F?  Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the GSX650F the re-vamped Katana?

[BaltimoreGS]

GSX650F is the successor to the Katana.  The Katana name was removed for marketing reasons.  Bandits are designated GSF, not GSX.

[RVertigo]

GS500 is mostly 1970's tech.  It's a great, cheap bike, but it's days have been numbered since it came out in 1989.

[natedawg120]

GS500 is mostly 1970's tech.  It's a great, cheap bike, but it's days have been numbered since it came out in 1989.

+1

[qwertydude]

Considering how little it's changed since 1989 I'd say every bike's day is numbered because most other bikes go through generations much quicker than the GS500 has. The question is if suzuki will at least offer a comparable small displacement low cost of ownership bike that's still has enough power to ride the freeways.

[qwertydude]

Been thinking what Suzuki could possibly do to replace the GS500 and the obvious has been staring everyone in the face the whole time. Bring to light the little known 450 super single. Basically convert a dirtbike into a sportbike, maybe in the process make it fuel injected since dirtbikes are going that way anyways. All it entails is lowering the suspension, new wheels and tires, and slapping some fairings on it. Almost no real R&D involved since the production is already in existence for dirt bikes and you could raid the Suzuki parts bin for the suspension and wheels/tires and it didn't take all that much to slap some fairings on the GS500. You'd have the ideal commuter/beginner/track bike. Lightweight, ultra narrow, tough as nails, low maintenance and the best feature would be it wouldn't sell for much more than a dirtbike. Such as the current crop of supermoto, basically take that bike and put a fairing on it.

[Kurlon]

Small problem, 450MX machines sell for more than a GS500 ever did or would.  They also have crazy service intervals measured in a few hours vs 3000+ miles, and also would likely need a new top end before a GS500 needed an oil change.  I'd love a production super single, but it's going to take more than lowering a 450MX bike and wrapping it in plastic to make it a viable product for Suzuki/etc.