End of the line for the GS500? - UPDATED Info June 25, 2013

[mister]

Speaking with my mechanic yesterday, he said, Suzuki Australia has no 2011 model GS500s but Heaps of 2010 models in their main warehouse in Melbourne. And also, that he thinks Suzuki's Leaner Bike will end up just being a Learner Version of the Gladius or GSX650. I have spoken with two other Suzuki Dealers and they cannot tell me anything about 2011 model GS500s. One even has a new F for sale that's Nov 09 

I've just done a quick search and can only find 2010 GS500s advertised by dealers and they are all an additional $500 off - nakeds are now $7,390 and F are $7,890 Ride Away (in my state)

Still waiting for official word from Suzuki, but it's looking more and more like 2010 will be the last year for the humble GS500 - which wasn't sold in the EU in 2009 nor any 2010 models in the USA. I'll make a call to Suzuki Australia on Monday to verify.

On the one had it would seem silly for Suzuki Aust to not sell the bike cause it sells well. On the other, Suzuki Japan is not going to make bikes just for the tiny Australian market.

Michael

[tt_four]

Pretty sure the GS500 is outta here

[burning1]

Suzuki didn't produce a 2010 model of the GSX-R. They may just be skipping a year of producion. The GS500F still seems like a pretty popular bike, and the GS is dead cheap to produce. I bet they resume production once the warehouses clear out a little.

[franke3c]

or slowing production due to the march earthquake / tsunami / nuclear meltdown

[Fausty0]

Wow, pretty sad.!

[jlog65]

Yamaha isn't producing anymore 2011 bikes either. Most dealerships around here cant get any new models of just about anything right now. Everybody has new 2009's and no 2011's. And they want to charge the same since its still a "new" bike. "We still have to pay for it" was the answer the salesman told me yesterday.

[Pelikan]

Isn't it commonplace for motorcycle models to skip years?  Either way, we might be reaching a point where the market is saturated with GS500s.  There're always a ton of them available used, which I'd wager is how most people buy them.

[mister]

Isn't it commonplace for motorcycle models to skip years?  Either way, we might be reaching a point where the market is saturated with GS500s.  There're always a ton of them available used, which I'd wager is how most people buy them.

The GS500 has not skipped any years since its inception.

It can no longer meet the EU Emissions Standards and cannot be sold there. This leaves the USA, Canada, Aust and NZ as the main buyers. We now have 2011 and the USA is selling 2009 models as 2011 models because no 2010 were brought in (made for?) the USA - which is, dare I say, the largest motorcycle market in the world - and it looks like no 2011 models either. We are almost half way though 2011 and no 2011 bikes appear to be available in Aust - last was 2010. Global Suzuki is showing old models, Aust Suzuki is showing 2010 models, Suzuki USA is showing 2009 models. Emissions standards are increasing, GS500 Tech is not keeping up, market is dwindling, previously produced units from 2009 have not sold - and it's 2011.

All manufacturers have a break even point. A sales number which makes production viable. Don't reach that number and it Costs $ to make the bike. The manufacture of the GS500 cannot be supported by Australian sales of less than 1000 units.

I don't think Suzuki can publicly say it will not make any more cause then people won't wanna buy a new bike if they think it's not made any more.

As I said, I'll call on Monday to get their take. So far, all dealers are clueless. One even told me the US market took such a hit, back in Jan or Feb, for the first time ever, Australia sold more bikes than the USA, for that month. We only have like 22 million people, 15 times fewer people than the USA.

Michael

[BaltimoreGS]

Everytime there is a new model, a discontinuation, or a recall by Toyota I hear about it in the news way before the dealership gets any official notification from Toyota.  If motorcycle manufacturers operate the same way you already know just as much as the dealer does   

-Jessie

[fraze11]

Here's hoping its the end.  re-tooling this bike and "modernizing it" could be a smart move for Suzuki I think, theres little offered in this class and if they would do some minor engineering it could be a sweet ride. 

[lucifer_mr2]

GSX650F. Small increase in capacity, more modern head, two more cylinders for smoother operation, catalitic converter for emissions, etc. Still have a LAMS version too. They just forgot to stop selling the old model.

[Twisted]

They need a naked version of the GSX650 if they want to use it to replace the GS500.

[lucifer_mr2]

If they made a naked version they would change the letters, make it GSR650. But no point really, there is already the GSR600 (not in Aus anymore) and soon the GSR750. There is also the Gladius SVF650.

[burning1]

GSX650F. Small increase in capacity, more modern head, two more cylinders for smoother operation, catalitic converter for emissions, etc. Still have a LAMS version too. They just forgot to stop selling the old model.

The GSX 650 F is a 4 cylinder liquid cooled bike that weighs 100lbs more and costs $3000 more than the GS500F. It's closer to being a GSX-R than it is a GS500, and is at best a replacement for the Katana. I have absolutely no stinking idea how anyone could conclude that it would replace the GS500.

[Twism86]

The GSX650 is the Katana replacement. At least thats the common consensus.

[mister]

Just got off the phone with Suzuki Australia. A few points came out...

- 2010 models Were made for the USA -  BUT - they had the same color scheme as the 2009 models (which would mean Suzuki doubled up color schemes for consecutive years for the first time. Either that, or, as it is with M'cycle years, a bike is Considered a year if it is made after August of the preceding year - eg. Oct 2009 manufacture is Considered 2010 model bike - or - they simply restamped 2009 bikes with 2010 manufacture plates). So those in the USA looking at New bikes with 2009 colors might actually find they were made in 2010.

- Australia does not make pre-arranged bulk orders for the bikes it gets them in As Needed. Together with our silly govt tarrifs and Standards Testing could be why we pay more for a motorcycle than the same one in the USA. The fellow I spoke with, and I, figured this was the case as no other reason can be had; he doesn't know why Suzuki charges what they do and isn't privy to that info.

- Checking all his sources, he can find NO reference of any 2011 GS500s coming into Australia. He cannot find any reference saying they will not be either. But there are none here now and he can find none on the Incoming List, he assumes we will Not be getting any. He will be letting me know via email when he finds out for sure if the GS500 is going to cease manufacture. I did mention it's more than likely a bike maker would simply stop making a bike without announcement and this may be the case.

- He did find some vague references to a 2011 GS500F being made at some point this year. But again, nothing definitive, nor who for, and he will let me know as he discovers more.

- Regarding the LAMS version of the GSX650, Gladius and SV650, it appears the restriction is Hardwired into the computer chip to prevent easy backyard derestrictions. He mentioned there are some other differences too, which we didn't get in to, but I could see physical throttle restrictions and air flow restrictions as well.

So as it looks at the moment, there are no 2011 models currently being made but some May or may not be made later in the year, but only F models.

In Aust only news, Suzuki mention Free Onroads for the GS500 on their website. Coupled with the extra low prices I am seeing for the new GS500s, it looks like they are trying to get ride of too much stock with older date stamps before the end of the financial year.

Michael

[madjak30]

I have a feeling that you hit it a couple of posts back...emissions...same reason Kawasaki ended the Ninja 500, but in Canada they came out with the Ninja 400R which has similar Hp & torque ratings to the GS500...but it is fuel injected and meets the emissions regs...

2009 was the last year for the naked GS500 in Canada and I think 2010 is marking the end of the GS500...they will probably have to come up with a liquid cooled and fuel injected version to meet the emissions, or re-tune and existing bike to be the new entry level bike...

Suzuki has left it without updates for too long, and now it is crunch time... 

Later.

[noworries]

Never been entirely clear in my mind as to where the GS500 motor pack is actually manufactured?  Is the motor made at the Gijon, Spain plant or does it come out of Japan?
Certainly some unusually good prices available on the bike in Aus and US right now.

[ben2go]

Government standards plus the economy is killing bike sells right now.I wouldn't expect much from Japanese manufactures for a couple years.A lot of them were devastated by the earth quake and subsequent tsunami.I hope those that are still living in Japan make a quick recovery.

[madjak30]

The GSX650 is the Katana replacement. At least thats the common consensus.

Since the Katana's were GSX600F & GSX750F...yup, the GSX650F is the replacement...it's the Bandit's that need a replacement...

Later.