How many miles have you done?

[CharlieKMQ]

   Hi all, I have seen various posts on other sites about how horrible the GS twins are, and I just want to disagree. I had a GS400 that I bought from my brother, he sold it to me with 90,000 miles on it, We were both Despatch riders at the time. I used it for a few years, went from Sussex, England to Stockholm twice and Oslo once, and got the mileage up to 282,000 miles then sold it. I didn't think I would ever find a bike as reliable ever again, and it wasn't until about 4 years ago that I discovered Suzuki were still making GS's, so I bought a 2007 model with about 17.000 miles on the clock,I have been on the Scottish North Coast 500, a trip to the Outer Hebridies, all around  the Irish Coast, France and Germany a few times, popped over to Poland for a hot dog, and this last week I went over to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, up the coast of Norway and into the Arctic Circle, then back, a ride of 4412 miles in 8 days. it now has 45,000 miles on the clock, and I think it will outlast me! Just curious how many miles otherriders have got out of their bike?
   Charlie.

[Bluesmudge]

I have similar mileage as you on my 2006 GS500F.
Anecdotally, we rarely see GS500's with more than 100,000 miles. If cared for, the bottom ends are bullet proof, but by 100,000 miles you are guaranteed to need a top end rebuild.  At that point, the bike is worth so little, very few people would put the time and/or money into it.
Theoretically, I think you could keep the bike running for 200,000 miles if you budget for a top end rebuild at some point.
The electrical system is also pretty unreliable. Expect to replace the regulator/rectifier or ignition pickup at some point.
Also beware that the starter clutch bolts like to come loose.
At least the parts are cheap and the bike is easy to work on. If you keep up on the maintenance and don't let the bike sit for months at a time it will be good to you.

You have to remember, most GS500s are purchased by inexperienced riders. As the bikes get older (its been 10 years since a new model hit showroom floors in the US) you are also dealing with a group of owners with less financial means.
So people who don't know how to ride, don't know how to wrench, and have little discretionary income are the ones putting a couple miles on GS500s before crashing them or neglecting maintenance until the bike sits outside under a tarp for 3 years. This is the sad fate of most GS500 motorcycles.

For the few GS bikes owned by true "motorcyclists," the bikes have lots of life to give. The "E" model GS500 with round headlight is probably the most pure form of the word "motorcycle." If you like it, ride it until the wheels fall off. Then buy some more wheels off eBay and keep riding.

[IdaSuzi]

I haven't had the chance to put that many miles on my GS, but at 23 years old I think I have time to put more miles on it still. I recently did a 1200 mile round trip home to Washington State from East Idaho and the bike performed amazing. Sat just above 80 mph in Idaho and just over 70 in Oregon and Washington. Didn't use a drop of oil which was surprising to me, but a welcome surprise.

The interesting thing is the average owners of these bikes. There are obviously mechanically savvy owners, and dedicated fans like those on this site, but the majority of people were looking for a cheap beginner bike, or a Gixxer look alike in the GS500F. These people buy and sell for cheap and often don't keep the bike for long. Often they neglect the bike or purchase it neglected. I know I personally got a great deal on mine because of previous neglect. You see this with craigslist super sports, ratty chopped cruisers, and other rattle can projects too. This neglect, and questionable mods on a carbureted bike leads to ideas of unreliability. A true criticism of the GS500 is the soft mild steel bolts use on the bike. Honestly, bikes take more maintenance than cars, with valve clearances, tires more often, oil changes, check and clean and lube chain and so on. However, if you do all these little things on schedule, the GS500 is an insanely reliable bike, cheap to fix and maintain, and for me 56 mpg to boot.

On a side note that sounds like an amazing journey! My dream ride here in the states is up the Pacific Highway through Canada and into Alaska during the warm summer months. And while up there I'll have to go fishing   

[CharlieKMQ]

Thanks for the replies, I know what you mean about the Pacific Highway, that's a ride I would also want to do if I was closer.