A quite positive March 2020 review of the GS500 as a used bike...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/motorcycles/used-bike-bargain-the-suzuki-gs500/ar-BB11kfja
What this forum has made clear to me is that with the GS500, you're not just getting a low cost and efficient bike. You're getting a system--plenty of new and used parts cheap, and backed up by a strong enthusiast group here at GStwins.
That's also part of what I like about my 93 Jeep Wrangler and 96 Mazda Miata. I just did not originally recognize that the GS500, promoted as a low cost beginner bike, actually fell into that class of enthusiast vehicle when I stumbled on a nice garage queen at a good price.
Quote from: MaxD on May 24, 2020, 03:34:01 PM
and backed up by a strong enthusiast group here at GStwins.
Every time I search and see old threads, I find myself wishing the forum was as active as it used to be. I missed out on all of that :icon_sad: but for people who have facebook, the "Suzuki GS500" group is very active. Any time I can, I refer people to the forum and/or the wiki... and I'm glad they both exist!
It makes me sad when I read comments like, "Forums are dying" and, "The verification questions to join are just too hard to get past" and "Other social media is much better than message boards."
Awesome article! I enjoyed it.
Yes, that is too bad if Facebook is directly taking from this forum. It's also too bad the author was not alert enough to mention GStwins.com in the article. It really adds to the value and practicality of getting a GS500, which was the whole point of his article.
On the other hand, if there are good special interest groups on Facebook for some of my other interests like flying and ham radio and how to make sure grandkids catch fish when taken fishing, I might have to finally join. I love getting expert advice and being dialed into good knowledge.
I'd love to add you to the group if you join FB! It's a wonderful bunch of people... almost 8,000 members.
I'm not into much other social media... and I don't even have a smart phone! There are lots of new technology stuffs that don't interest me... but I do enjoy Facebook. It helps me keep in touch with friends that live out of town and follow some kitty rescues... play games... I'm in a couple other groups that have to do with things I collect... I made a page for my Turtle Van because I have done parties and events with it... and I keep politics and drama out of my news feed.
Don't do soshull meeeeeedya, just ride ma bike, an' I'll be 65 in a fortnight... :D :angeldevil:
OK Showbiz, if it that nice, I'll try it out.
I resisted fb but show would say tidbits here and there and finally I signed up.
It's great to see people's bikes from around the world and unfortunately it is more active but I think people get pointed here as well simply because there is so much info.
When I shop at my local Woolworths, I'm often asked is I 'have a reward card', my answer is that 'not being tracked is its own reward. Similarly the evil that sites like Facefriend do behind the scenes with your data is unsettling at best.
Jack Baruth put that article in Cycle, now it is MSN,,,cool. I am glad he can put his work where he wants it. I first saw him at TTAC where he brought a lot of experience and good stuff at that site, he is a veteran car guy and the other contributors are sometimes more like social media reporters with an interest in cars.
I follow GS500 FB site daily, then look here, they seem to complement each other.
Cheers!
Personally, I don't find the Facebook GS500 groups very useful.
They are not like the GSTwin.com paged USED to be. :)
And that's sad.
Sigh.
No one buys anything here much anymore and no more constant posting by members.
Sigh again.
The problem with the GS500 facebook page is that it is just a stream of consciousness. Same problem as reddit or twitter, etc. High quality content isn't saved for future reference and there is no "wiki" to combine frequently discussed topics so the same things keep coming up and the pace/scale is out of proportion with the topics. Total mess if you asked me. Even if we have low post volume at this point, it is 80% high quality content worth reading.
agree with Bluesmudge re: the facebook group but also I have noticed that on FB groups so many people just treat it like Google... they simply broadcast their question out there even if it's common and the answers are readily available. Plus there's no curation of content or vetting of information. It's such a revolving door of people there is no way to isolate the signal from the noise.
They should rename that page: the "I can't figure out pod filters and please pat me on the back for my goofy cheap cafe racer GS500 page"