Why are GSR500's so cheap???!!!

[Tubs]

Hey All,

My first post:)

I'm a learner, am a few months in and really enjoying it. I was bequethed a TW200 which is asthmatic but alot of fun.

So I am looking for a second set of wheels with a little more oomph.

I am surprised that some of the GSR500's are so cheap/such good value?!! What am I missing here?  Why are they so unloved? A bike dealer is trying to sell me a new Husky but their quality control sounds like dog poo.

I dont think transitioning to a bike that weighs an extra 50kg is going to be a problem, at least it will go faster than 80kh/hr! 

[newbie2021]

They're a commuter bike, old in design (engine technology is like 1979?) but reliable. They're your grandma's old toyota camry of the bike world. Old, cheap, reliable, easy to maintain. These days everyone wants bikes with modern amenities like fuel injection, ABS/traction control, cruise control. GS500 are cheap, fun to ride but not the most comfortable but if you upgrade the front forks and rear shock it makes the bike feel and ride much better.

[chris900f]

Congrats on the T-dub! those things are super-cool in a hilarious sort of way. Fortnine did a great video review, one of their best.
If someone gave me one I'd fix-it up mint and keep it ready for the apocalypse--

You can find nice low-mile GS' everywhere. The faired version makes a pretty good highway bike, (160 stock and still a bit left over )
decent wind protection, and quiet enough in stock trim that the drone doesn't start to kill you an hour into the ride.

You need to learn a few basic maintenance procedures, but it's all pretty easy and definitely DIY stuff. It's just slightly more complex than the T-dub, but not much,
so you can basically avoid paying a mechanic 99% of the time.

All the new engines are "shim-under-bucket" type cams, which have a much more complicated maintenance procedure, (that most people should leave to the pros.)
Also the Husky/KTM' 390cc stuff has a bit of a reputation for blowing up. I like the Honda CB500X, but the real price out the door is over $10,000 (Canada) from
the stealership and you still only get the same 47hp.

Avoid the 2004/2005's (cam-noise issues, 2006 and up had better cams) and you should be pretty happy.

[ajensen]

The price of every motorcycle has really shot up in my area (Atlanta-Chattanooga-Knoxville-Nashville). I am really happy that I got my 2007 gs500f a few years ago. I really enjoy the bike--ride it back and forth to work and go up in the mountains to have a lot of fun outrunning my friends on their cruisers.

[Bluesmudge]

GS500 were kind of a black sheep even when they were new. An old school technology multi-cylinder bike that everyone assumed was a "girls bike" or a "beginner bike." On paper the Ninja 500 looked better so it was hard to see the reason to own a GS500 unless you owned one.

They have always been a good deal relative to other bikes, even when sitting brand new on the show room floor. Its why many of us ended up with a GS500 before we realized what a great bike it is. It does whatever you ask of it, eventually. I've had many bikes come and go but I'll likely never sell my GS500.

[chris900f]

Of course the real answer to his question was "Carbs" 

[mr72]

IDK about GSR500s. But GS500s are cheap because they are old and entry-level motorcycles to boot.

If you think a *new* Husqvarna is going to be less reliable than a 15-30 year old carbureted rattletrap entry level bike that's probably been abused by beginner owners for the better part of two decades, then you are nuts.

If you want to learn to tinker with old motorcycles then a GS500 is a cheap way to get into that. You won't get as upset when you drop it or ruin something by doing a repair wrong as you would with an actual classic motorcycle of the same age but different pedigree. And parts are abundant and cheap, so you won't have it sitting in pieces for months while you're waiting on that Triumph or Ducati part that costs 10x as much as the same part on a GS500.

[The Buddha]

Most GS500's earlier/PO issues are a 1 time fix though.
Cool.
Buddha.