GS500k>>What's the deal??!?!?!?

[Earndd]

I just bought a 2002 GS500k but I can't find anything about this bike on this site. Is there that big of a differce between the K and E?? Someone let me know what the deal is?? :dunno:

[Turkina]

There's no difference.  K stands for the model year.  My bike is a 96, and listed as a 'T' model (and 97 is a 'U'...) When the year 2001 came along, they changed their model designations to K1, K2, K3 and this year is K4. 2000 was 'Y' using the old system.  So you have a 2002 GS500E K2 Nothing to worry about!

[Earndd]

Sweet!! Thanks for the fast reply.

[Kerry]

Not to be too picky Turkina, but the '97 model year is designated by the suffix letter 'V'.  In case it will be helpful, here is a complete list.  Notice how they skipped vowels and the letter 'Q':

Code Select Expand

Year    Suffix
1989       K
1990       L
1991       M
1992       N
1993       P
1994       R
1995       S
1996       T
1997       V
1998       W
1999       X
2000       Y
2001       K1
2002       K2
2003       K3
2004       K4
While confirming this info using the lookup on BikeBandit, I noticed that ALL Suzuki bikes for a given year use the same suffix letter.  Huh - who'da thunk?

[Edit: Undid the change from my FIRST edit.  (Sigh!)]

[SVSlurker]

Your also missing the original GS500-T (not the GS500E-T), in 1980 the GS500 was a I4 and had "T" as it's designation.

Sorry, just on a bit of a UBI stent.

[Turkina]

ohhh... you are right!  I  just looked in my Haynes manual.  I guess I should have used the 1995 bike instead of the 1997    I was wondering how the 2000 model was a 'Y'!

[Kerry]

For those with pre-'01 bikes, this picture should help you find the model year suffix letter.

* The VIN plate is attached to the frame up near the steering head.

* Find the second stamped letter in the VIN number.  Go up to my previous post in this thread and compare that letter to the trailing letters in the "Suffix" column.



EXAMPLE: On my bike the stamped portion of the VIN starts with "6X".  Take the letter "X" and look it up in my previous post.  It appears in the entry

1999 EX[/list:u]Sure enough, my bike is a '99 - even though the VIN plate says it was Manufactured in

4/98.[/i][/b]

I'm curious what the trick is on an '01+ model.  Anyone?  Is it a similar deal?

EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net.

[perfdrug]

congrats on your new bike