i ordered a 2005 gs500f factory service manual from the dealership i bought my bike from about 2 months ago. I finally got a call yesterday saying that it was in (about damn time). i went down to go pick it up and was ready to walk out the door when i noticed that they had given me the factory manual for a 2005 GS500E. I was pretty pist and demanded a refund. They reluctantly issued me one.

someone help. i can't find a 2005 gs500f factory service manual anywhere. can someone provide me a link or a number. Does the manual even exist because according to the guys at the dealership it doesn't and the gs500e manual is the exact same. thanks a bunch!

I am pretty sure it is the same bike, only difference is the fairing and oil cooler.

Quote from: Aragoni ordered a 2005 gs500f factory service manual... Does the manual even exist because according to the guys at the dealership it doesn't and the gs500e manual is the exact same.

Me thinks you over reacted. Blazinjr has the obvious items. We have listed the differences on other posts, but that is not the subject of your post.

Often manufacturing and marketing in a company are not in phase. The engineering and documentation groups are often out of sync. How thick was the manual? Was it only the supplement for the series? It is possible that your dealer obtained a manual from another global market? I do not know if the "F" is available all over the world. If the book was in English and had the information you needed, it would be better than the Haynes or Clymer for the differences because they only go to 2002.

they sell the E over seas, i wouldnt think you would have a problem unless you couldnt operate the plastic rivets on the fairing without a manual.

It doesn't matter how similar the "E" and the "F" are. The differences have been beat to death. The fact is, he ordered one for an "F" and he should have gotten an "F".    I wouldn't have demanded a monetary refund, I would have demanded the right manual.

i just order the same thing about 4 months ago. i just got it a couple of days. stealership fault order an en500 instead. the manual you got should be fine. the ones for the 04-05 should have a section in the manual for them. you need to look in the index. at the bottom of it should say something about those years. they cover all gs 500.

I'll sell you my french one for $1.50

Yeah, the 'E' and 'F' models are similar, and sure the fairing is a simple thing, but what about the wiring harness to the light? I don't think it's a direct swap (although I really hope it is).

If you're gonna cough up the cash for a factory service manual, then for darn sure get the exact one.  Even though the GS500E's and F's are very similar, there are differences.  The reason you're buying the thing is because you're not 100% sure how to do something.

I bought the Clymer manual and the first time I tried to apply it to my GS500F, the instructions didn't match what I was seeing.  Doh!

Dude....cowboy up!
I would not have blown my lid...it's just a piece of paper with staples holding it together. I would have talked to the manager and got the right manual and I'm sure the manager would have done the right thing and got it right out to you in little to no time at all......The difference between the E and F is so small....it has been beat to death.

I am not going to scan my OEM manual to prove that even though the cover of the thing says GS500E, it indeed does have the GS500F (actually referred to as GS500K4/FK4) material in it. The back of my manual lists the models covered. Do not confuse a Service manual with a Parts manual. The only part number information in the Service Manual is for special tools as described in the procedures in the manual.

Suzuki does not write a new manual every year. They add/change the original manual as needed. Dealers do not buy a new book every year. They only buy/subscribe to the change supplements. The OEM book I have covers all global markets and models up to August 2004. If I order the same manual again today, it will probably say GS500E on the cover and include the additional information for the 2005 models.

Do not expect the same kind of hand-holding instructions that you get in the Haynes or Clymer manuals. Suzuki gives specifications and instructions only as required if different from the previously described procedure. The OEM manual assumes the reader is a professional mechanic and has probably received factory authorized training. For example, in the 2004+ section, they do not tell you how to remove the rotor assembly. That was covered in the engine section and is the same for all model years. The sections for 98/99/00 and 01/02 only have specfication changes - no pictures at all.

You just gotta know how the manual is set up. 'Nuff said!