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Why is the 2003 missing?

Started by keith, September 18, 2023, 07:39:49 PM

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keith

When I look up parts for my 2003 on most websites where they have you fill out the make, model and year, when I put in 2003 Suzuki there is no gs500 to choose (e or f).
Put in 2002 or 2004 there is the gs500 as an option.

What gives?

cbrfxr67

Dangit I just came here to see what Buddha's answer was and nothing,... So disappointed.
"Its something you take apart in 2-3 days and takes 10 years to go back together."
-buddha

Bluesmudge

I don't know the true reason...only Suzuki would know. But I imagine its because Suzuki was moving the production line to Spain for the 2004 model year and also knew they were going to change a bunch of things for the 2004 model year and didn't want to be bothered running the assembly line for 2003s while changing parts and moving the assembly line

Suzuki also often skips model years. It will make a bunch one year, and then take a model year off while it waits for the dealers to work through the backlog. I imagine its cheaper that way for lower volume bikes; take advantage of quantities of scale by building a bunch all at once and then waiting for them to sell before making more.

I think moving the bike's final assembly from Japan to Spain was the main reason though.

keith

So if she says MFD in: 02/03 on it (my vin comes up as a 2003) and it says made in Spain) am I looking for parts that match 02 or 04?

Thanks!

Bluesmudge

#4
If you have a version made in Spain I would look at '04+ parts. Remember than model years often start being sold in the prior calendar year. So to sell a 2004 in late 2003 it makes sense it was made in 2003.

More specifically, where are you located? And was your bike originally an E or F model?

If its a US bike, having an oil cooler or the little black logo on the forks, or the carbs with the metal tops and white vacuum caps on top, or an electronic tach, is a sure sign its a Spanish made F model. If you have a European E model, there was very little difference between '02 and '04 because the carbs stayed the same and Europe got an E model without an oil cooler. Only difference would maybe be an electronic tach and the newer style forks.

More than 90% of the bike it doesn't matter....'89 or '09 its all the same.

keith

She is an e model and I'm in "Canuckistan", so I'll have to poke my nose around the bike when I get home and see what's what. Thanks! Greatly appreciated.

Bluesmudge

Since its made in Spain, we can be pretty sure you should be looking at '04+ parts but just to be sure and learn some of the specifics of the Canada E models:

-Does your tach have a cable that routes to the top front of the engine, or does it have a group of wires?
-Do you have black plastic/composite tops on your carbs or do your carbs have metal tops with white vacuum caps and the whole PAIR system with hoses coming out of the front of the cylinder block?
-Do your forks have the little black snake logo on the legs?

Of course, it will also depend on what parts were on the '04+ bikes in Canada. Since you have a weird phantom '03 bike you will need to learn what's what on the few parts that changed.

herennow

Hi Keith, Ive got a 2003 Canadian model. You are right parts can be a bit confusing, I normally go with 2002 parts as 2004 had all the evap stuff that confused everything. Hit me up for specific questions. I completely rebuilt my bike from the crank up in about 20010 so have lots of leads.

These guys seem to be the only place I know that have a proper 2003 catalogue of parts.

https://www.christensensmotorcycles.com.au/partFinder/fiche/suzuki/2003/gs500#content

Unfortunately I had a SMIDSY experience last month (sorry mate, i did not see you) when an idiot turned RIGHT in front of me. Luckily I got away really lightly but the bike has bent forks broken pedal and levers and a broken rear plastic cowl.  Just got news from the police that the idiot is 'officially" to blame so his insurance will pay for everything (including my gear). I'm wondering whether to take the money and fix her up or possibly to upgrade.... She is just such a fun bike to ride her in the twisties....

Bluesmudge

#8
Quote from: herennow on September 22, 2023, 12:38:50 PMHi Keith, Ive got a 2003 Canadian model. You are right parts can be a bit confusing, I normally go with 2002 parts as 2004 had all the evap stuff that confused everything. Hit me up for specific questions. I completely rebuilt my bike from the crank up in about 20010 so have lots of leads.

These guys seem to be the only place I know that have a proper 2003 catalogue of parts.

https://www.christensensmotorcycles.com.au/partFinder/fiche/suzuki/2003/gs500#content

Unfortunately I had a SMIDSY experience last month (sorry mate, i did not see you) when an idiot turned RIGHT in front of me. Luckily I got away really lightly but the bike has bent forks broken pedal and levers and a broken rear plastic cowl.  Just got news from the police that the idiot is 'officially" to blame so his insurance will pay for everything (including my gear). I'm wondering whether to take the money and fix her up or possibly to upgrade.... She is just such a fun bike to ride her in the twisties....

That's interesting to learn that Canada had a 2003 model. So they were  made in Spain but with 2002 parts? That's extra weird. Maybe Canada was the world's guinea pig for the Spanish assembly line.

I would do what I did with the insurance money after they totaled my bike. Buy it back, fix what you need to, and use the remaining money for whatever makes the most sense in your life. I was able to buy the "totaled" bike from insurance for around $500. I used the remaining payout to do a top end rebuild rather than fix the cosmetics that were damaged when a lady in a Jeep wrangler backed into my bike. Yes, I'm now driving around a near valueless GS500 with a salvage title, but it already had basically no value and its worth a lot to me and I got a fresh engine rebuild out of it.  I just hope nobody ever hits the bike again.

The Buddha

Quote from: cbrfxr67 on September 20, 2023, 10:11:33 AMDangit I just came here to see what Buddha's answer was and nothing,... So disappointed.

My ears were burning.
I have been busy getting divorced and working 48-64 hrs a week to pay for divorce etc.
Cool.
Buddha.
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I run a business based on other people's junk.
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herennow

Sorry to hear that buddha, thinking of you and wishing you strength.

chris900f

In the service manual, 2003 is the year they introduced the updated ignition system with the electronic tach. It's probably closest to a 2004 in terms of ECU, harness and carbs. They were jetted a little leaner with a 127.5 main instead of the 130.

keith

Okay, I'm back in Canada and I just fired her up and went for a rip. I'll have a look at all the mentioned suggestions to id it in the morning.

I think a shim inspection is due, so I'll have the tank off and I can get a good look at things.

Thanks.

keith

Okay, So Tach is electronic
The Carbs have plastic tops
No Pair system
No snake logo on the forks


Bluesmudge

Sounds like Canada's '03 is the same as the '01 and '02 bikes.

keith

Quote from: Bluesmudge on September 10, 2024, 11:26:20 AMSounds like Canada's '03 is the same as the '01 and '02 bikes.
Partly yes and partly no. On my bike I have the single pickup you find on the 04 and up model. It's a wacky world here in Canada!

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