JamesG, I want you to answer me. Are you pejorative with me ? I don't fell myself welcome here since few months .... am I paranoid ?  

you are paranoid. But then again the French have this thing for 'mericans ever since we ... never mind. Your country didn't exactly do themselves any PR favors with the American populace. But I'm sure it was an accidental slip. nothing intended personal like.

Oliver- This is a can of worms you really don't want to open...  
I've tried to avoid political comments on here because they are off topic for one thing, and another we have the common interest in GS500s which overrides them.
So no I don't have anything against you in particular. But against France in general, yeah, they aren't my favorite people right now.

back to topic...

http://www.lerepairedesmotards.com/img/motos/suzuki/gs500f/suzuki_gs500f_.jpg

Sure, black frame and wheels, traditional suzi blue/white, baby-busa fairing. I must have one...I suppose the fairing/headlight might be available sometime? I'll have to research...

I think it looks great. I hope they're planning on selling in US again, against the Kwak 250/500-it's only competition in that under 600cc market. Maybe they realize with the success of the sv650 that there is a market for bikes smaller than 1000cc and without gsxr in front of it.

Its on Suzuki USA's web site so I'm prett sure we are getting it.  

I've pretty much convinced the wife to trade up her GS for a new one, and I will definatly be making a copy of it.  Down side is that you have to use that OEM windscreen and for a street bike, that Hayabusa-ish stacked headlight (Thought a Duc 999 style with halogen lamps might be cool too).

Oh the possibilities...

What do you suppose the odds are they did anything with the suspension? Seems to me that's always been the GS's biggest weakness, be nice if they addressed it.

The web site isn't helpful and looking at the pics they look the same. So we are probably looking at the same 37mm damper tubes and the same wheels.

But there are these odd looking things about 3/4 the way down the lower tubes. Can't identify what they are.

Again like the motor, better the devil you know...  There are folks here who have had 10 years experiance modifiying and tinkering with GSs.
When we get the new bike, I may just swap the springs and emulators over to the new bike whole (and shock, and pipe, and carbs and filter...)

:mrgreen:

any word on a naked version?

doubt it,  but there are probably quite a few late model new bikes still around.

Never know....depending on how they have it attached, it may be pretty easy to put that fairing on an older model. If that's the case, and you like the naked look better, you might be able to sell the fairing to somebody ( which would probably offset the price increase) and you'd have your nice new 2004 naked GS.

Like others have said, whether you like it or not it's still a good thing....could be hope for an aftermarket now. Here's hoping!  

John

Oh, you'd have to get a headlight and signals obviously, but I'm assuming it's unchanged under the plastic, so that wouldn't be so hard to do if that's the case

From some of the pics looks like there brackets mounted to the frame. So that would look bad on a naked bike,  plus the black doesn't look that great without the fairing IMHO.

Quote from: JamesG
I've tried to avoid political comments on here because they are off topic

 I never talked politic here because I think too it is not the right place.

Quote from: JamesG
So no I don't have anything against you in particular. But against France in general, yeah, they aren't my favorite people right now.

 It is bad to hear that.

Now boys...
(Always wanted to say that!)
You are right in that here is not the place.  The US does great things and some unpleasant things.  We live in a democracy but the individuals did not decide to go or not go to war with Iraq.  As it is the same with the folks of France.  I am sure Olivieeeer was not asked what France's response should have been.

Now if Olivieeeer or any of the other French forum member are French Diplomats it may be a different story.  But here is not the place to discuss it.  
Say it with me:      MOTORCYCLES!

Ah- that feels better.

:mrgreen:

I would only like a partial fairing.....I hope they make a semi naked one!

QuoteI would only like a partial fairing.....I hope they make a semi naked one!

But, it's the lowers that are actually functional.  Keeps your legs warmer.  The screen is too far forward to do much good.

The fairing adds 25 pounds, give or take, so there should be no doubt that there will be a suspension upgrade to go along.

It is a stylish fairing.  As for the high bars, certainly not everybody desires to "assume the position" on a street ride.  I don't.  I quickly weary of seeing out the top of my eye socket.

Quote from: JamesGYeah and notice the TPS hanging off the carb?  

I am quite new to the GS500 and not that mechanically inclined but does TPS means Throttle Position Sensor/Switch?

I think I know what's going on, but please point out the nifty new parts for the uninformed (like big arrow pointing to part in picture)  I guess the addition of the fairing may have necessitated use of the oil cooler?

I have a question... why is Suzuki using the same 3.5" rear wheel when they should know we can't get properly sized good tires?    Well, we could put on 140's but they should think of such things too!

Yep Throttle Position Sensor. Its that black plastic thingy with a wire coming out of it in front of the carb behind the engine cylinder.
Its a potentiometer on the carb that tells the bike's computer how much throttle the rider is giving the bike and then the it calculates what kind of ignition timing to send to the cylinders.
Probably at partial or half throttle it retards the timing for a complete fuel burn/low emisssions but at wide open it probably advances it to make more power.

This made me think of something. For a digital variable ignition to work, it also has to have a engine speed sensor too. So that means it needs something other than the old mechanical cable tach.  I looked at that engine close up, and guess what?  Suzuki finally did away with that gawd damned leaky tach cable!

It also looks to me like there are many more wires below the gas tank. Im pretty sure my GS doesnt have those under there.