Question on specific GS500 model names

[Traveller]

I'm planning to order a Ventura rack system, and their "L-brackets" seem to be pretty model specific.  My bike is a 1999, but my manual just says GS500E.  There's no second letter, so I'm not entirely sure what option to choose on the Ventura site.  It's not the first one in the list for sure, since they specify 2001 - 2004, but as far as the other three go, who knows.

GS 500 E K1 - K4 (2001 - 2004)
GS 500 EK
GS 500 EL, EM
GS 500 EP-V

I had a suspicion that the K might mean "thousand" since K1 - K4 is 2001 - 2004, so I might be able to rule out the second option if EK means the 2000 model.

Any ideas?

[qjt18]

1999 gs500EX that's what my Haynes manual says

[tt_four]

I have a 91, which I believe is an EM. You're right about the K, it's just for 2000, so any K4, K6, or K9, would be a 2004, 2006, and 2009,

[Worm]

Look at the label on the frame of the bike, it may tell you or you may be able to figure it out from the VIN.

[007brendan]

The letters after the GS500E represent the model year. 

89 - GS500EK
90 - GS500EL
91 - GS500EM
...

They skipped a couple letters along the way.  Once they started making the GS500F, they stopped using the extra letters.

Bikebandit will give the correct model number for each year.
http://www.bikebandit.com/1989-suzuki-motorcycle-parts/oem-parts

[Traveller]

Thanks.  It looks like I might have to go for the EK (2000) rack and hope for the best, since it's the closest year to my '99 that they seem to supply.

[007brendan]

Thanks.  It looks like I might have to go for the EK (2000) rack and hope for the best, since it's the closest year to my '99 that they seem to supply.

GS500EK would be 1989, I believe.

The 2000 model number is GS500EY - http://www.bikebandit.com/2000-suzuki-motorcycle-parts/oem-parts

I believe the '99 is more like the '90+ models.  The GS500 changed around 2000-2002 before they started doing GS500F's.

[007brendan]

Actually, I just looked at their site, and I'm not really sure what model numbers they're using (what is GS500E-V?)

[gsJack]

The 10th digit of your VIN is the year, it's all explained here:

http://www.suzukicycles.org/_misc/identification.shtml

X = 99 model