I am buying a 04 suzuki GS500f and I was just wondering if theres anything I should know about the bike befor I jump on and start ridding? I have had a 125 dirt bike and also a 250 but didn't ride it much. Also I was wondering if there are aftermarket handle bars for this bike because I don't really like the look of them?

The only thing you need to know is its a good bike that dosn't intimidate you when you ride, good low down power for putting about and enough power to embarass other big bikes providing youre good and there hopeless as the case has been often enough (for me any way :lol: )
Once you have mastered the bike youll find you will be as quick on tight roads as the bigger bikes because half of them never learnt to ride there big bikes properly.
Dont worry about the bars to much you'll get use to them but yes there are others you can buy.
In the future once you are use to it you may want to think about progressive Fork springs as the standard are a little soft but the best thing you can do is change the standard tyres unless the 04 came with BT45 tyres which I think it did, so no problems.
You really can't go wrong buying one plus the Website gives you a warm fuzzy family feeling as everyone is so helpful when you need it, not that you really should because the bike is bulletproof but lotsa helpful hints.
So go buy one and we will all see you back here.
Enjoy  

Welcome to the site! Yes, there are many handlebars you can replace them with. I prefer the ones I had on my 01 gs500, made by suburban-machinery.com (the sv650 type II bars). They mimick the clip on position and change the handling of the bike for the better in a huge way...
Your bike should come with BT45 tires which are what most here upgrade their older bikes to. Good grip and life.

DEFINITELY get the progressive springs the day you get the bike. The stock fork springs are crap (remember, this is a budget bike). Check my site for useful info on how to install the springs (which cost about $60) really easily and for photos on the suburban-machinery bars...among other things...

good luck. You taking the MSF course? YOu should. You reading Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist II" and/or Nick Iensatches"Sport Riding Techniques"? You should.

YEAH, I really like those bars but why dosen't it tell you how much they are? it says they basicly the SV650 handle bars so can you just buy the SV650 handle bars and put them on the bike or do you have to buy those? Also the ones on the website do they just side on or do you have to do something to them to get them to fit?

caveat : everything I say must be taken with a grain of salt, since I've never owned a bike before.  That being said...

I have absolutely no complaints about the gs500f.  *However*, if I were to do this all over again, I'd probably buy a used gs500 instead, save the difference in cash, and install a fairing if I really wanted one later on.  Truth be told, I wasn't a huge fan of the naked look, but wasn't quite courageous (or perhaps dumb) enough to buy a '"true" sport bike as my first.  The gs500F fit the bill for me.   I'm actually liking the look of the naked bikes a lot more, and if I had to do it all over again, would forego any fairings until I became much more proficient with my bike and decided that they were actually necessary rather than purely cosmetic.

Regardless of what anyone tells you, there is absolutely no way you will reach the limits of this bike in your first few riding years.  That being said, if you decide you want to change up to something bigger, you won't take the huge depreciation hit on selling a brand new bike if you pick up a slightly used gs500 instead.

Good luck.

Quote from: sys49152caveat : Regardless of what anyone tells you, there is absolutely no way you will reach the limits of this bike in your first few riding years.  


Your not trying hard enough :lol:

Quote from: Lukewarm Wilson

Quote from: sys49152caveat : Regardless of what anyone tells you, there is absolutely no way you will reach the limits of this bike in your first few riding years.  

Your not trying hard enough :lol:

 Yes, true.  I should have added another caveat : if your riding season is as short as it is here in Toronto, it will take you while.  If however, you've got gorgeous weather year round, and no kids, you could very well be on the accelerated learning plan  

Quote from: sys49152Regardless of what anyone tells you, there is absolutely no way you will reach the limits of this bike in your first few riding years.  

Just how do you know that you've reached the limits of a bike? Maybe when you crash? :dunno:

D.

If you attend a couple track days, it shouldn't be long before you're dragging hard parts on the ground and thats about as far as you'll want to go.

Then you can fit stickier tires and rearsets and get even more clearance and higher cornering speeds.

While trying to max out the bike's limits is fun, it's not something best left to the public road.

Of ocurse, crashing is also part of the process, but better to crash in controiled circumstances then either 1) in the middle of nowhere or 2)into a SUV.

Quote from: danci1973

Quote from: sys49152Regardless of what anyone tells you, there is absolutely no way you will reach the limits of this bike in your first few riding years.  

Just how do you know that you've reached the limits of a bike? Maybe when you crash? :dunno:

D.

Only when you honestly know your own limits FIRST can you cast some blame on the machine.

Quote from: MountainDewYEAH, I really like those bars but why dosen't it tell you how much they are? it says they basicly the SV650 handle bars so can you just buy the SV650 handle bars and put them on the bike or do you have to buy those? Also the ones on the website do they just side on or do you have to do something to them to get them to fit?

The SV stock bars are just like the GS stock bars... I think... or very very close. The SM's (Psst Psst look at the bars in my avatar) are a different profile and completely different position by virtue of having no rise. They drop your heavy parts (upper body) a good 3-4 inches lower and that makes for a more centralised weight distribution... making the bike turn in quicker and with less effort. Mine are steel, powder coated black. But for an 04 my experiment is still on going... so no bars yet. Anyway SM's are stainless steel and they will run you $160 or so. Mine are $45 but an 04 type is a few weeks away at the earliest.
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: sys49152caveat :  If however, you've got gorgeous weather year round, and no kids, you could very well be on the accelerated learning plan  

Yes thats Australia but the no kids part is my choice :mrgreen:  :lol: