Picked up this bike about two weeks ago, it wasn't running: '99 jetted carbs yadda yadda with 1800 miles, never dropped adult owned, 24-7 garaged for its life, it looks new basically. = ) But was sitting in a garage about 2 years (guy had a baby and stopped riding).
Anyhoo got it back from the mechanic and took it for a ride. Much tamer than the R6 that I had for about 8 months.
For the two and a half some odd months I rode the GS500 I have to say that the GS to compare the two rides in many respects IS the superior city/commuter bike hands down. GS is more nimble and easier to zip around in traffic, especially slow traffic and at low speeds, easier to whip around a street corner, less worry about theft compared to the rice burner.
What I don't miss is the vibration coming up through my wrists from the katana clip ons I had on the GS and that nasty stock suspension especially its front suspension.
New GS owners with stock suspensions on them: read this!
A word of advice for new GS owners, spend the $200 bucks rougly to mod your suspension if you can afford to or save up: katana rear single shock and the progressive mod to the front. While I never had those mods done to my GS which was running great otherwise...I can only imagine the improvement, the stock suspension is about the only thing that is questionable on a GS 500. Otherwise I have to say that it is a superb and fun bike for what it is espcecially in and around an urban sprawl. The suspension mods for a GS500 brings it to a level where you will enjoy your riding time that much more. Personally I don't miss my stock GS suspension especially the nose diving on bumps or just about anything it also affected the overall handling and feel on an otherwise excellent design.
Take it easy folks...and wear protective gear, and I don't mean that two pack of trojans you got in your wallets!!!