I just picked up my bike today  

It's a brand new 2003 GS500E, in black, silver and blue.

The pic is here:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/panik/GS500/pics/IMGP0247.JPG :edit: resized pic to 75kb

I've managed to drop it already   , but no damage  

Nice looking bike-congratulations. I have a question though...This is NEW right? The 02 US models came black/silver, the 03 Canadian/Euro models came blue/silver...I dont think any country got black/blue/silver...what's the history of the bike if its had parts replaced?

Thanks  

Yes, it's brand new. I picked it up from the dealer today, it's done a grand total of 37kms, and had one owner, me. nothing has been replaced.

This pic is from this morning, when it had 23kms on it.
http://users.bigpond.net.au/panik/GS500/pics/IMGP0250.JPG :edit: resized pic to 46kb

It's the standard black colours:
http://www.suzuki.com.au/images/new_images/bikes/K2_/K3/GS500_blkdet.jpg

There is also a blue one:
http://www.suzuki.com.au/images/new_images/bikes/K2_/K3/GS500_det.jpg

It's the current, 2003 model GS500E, as available in Australia.

interesting how they're mixing the color schemes.

Congrats either way...nice looking bike. Lots of info here, onteh gstwin home page and on my site...enjoy!

Oh yeah, I've already checked out all the mods on your site (it's very informative btw   )  and on here.

I have to learn to ride before I do anything to my bike though.

MSF course yet? If not, I highly recommend it.

Also read Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist II"...

I've already booked myself in for a training course, we don't have MSF here, but there are quite a few motorcycle training places around. And I'll definately be doing more advanced training later on.

We also have to pass a training course before we can even get a bike license here, which is good, pity the you don't have to do the same for a car...

Hey Panik,

Welcome to the GS downunder.  They're not all that popular here but you'll find it is a great bike that deserves to be better known.  I have a 2001, basically the same as yours but with different colour scheme.  Even before you learn to ride it you should get the fork springs replaced with the Progressive Suspension ones, and put in 15wt fork oil.  This will make the front end much safer.    Once you are a bit more confident, replace the brake hoses with braided steel ones.  At the moment having a slightly spongy brake will stop you locking it up in a paniK stop.   :lol: Replace the stock tyres as soon as you can afford it.  They are barely adequate in the dry and lethal in the wet.   Other than these changes, I'd suggest you get to know your bike before looking at jets, pipes, etc.  Good luck.  

Congrats!  

Anne dropped hers on the first day too  :lol:  No damage either.

Hope the bike is all you expected it to be :mrgreen:

Nice bike, don't worry about the drop, most of us have done that very early on. I have an 03 in Blue and I too have never seen one without the tank in contrasting light-dark colours, the blue-black looks pretty good.

I just laughed when I dropped my bike, right in front of my mate as well  
he totally stacked his bike a few weeks ago though, so he can't give me any shaZam! about it   at least I have all of my skin still.

The bike is great, I've never ridden before, so I still haven't gotten over how quickly it accelerates and stops. The wind blast isn't as bad as I thought it would be, even at 100km/h, but I'm going to get a screen before I do any long highway riding.

A friend and I went out for a ride today, we covered about 55kms, and it just started raining as we came back, but we didn't have any problems. I'm not too worried about the tyres yet, they seem Ok, and it didn't feel slippery in the wet, but there wasn't much rain.

I'm definately looking at doing the progressive springs at the front, and getting a 750 Kat shock on the rear, but at the moment my skill level is so low that I probably couldn't tell the difference. I'll do it when I need it.

The GS500 only just became learner legal in NSW and the ACT, so all my friends are still on 250's (note to U.S. people: learners are normally restricted to 250cc in Oz).

I'm glad I got the 500, the gearing is really close to my car's (it also has more torque than HP, and a relatively low redline) so I already have a good feel for what gear I should be in.

I'm getting pretty comfortable on it now.  

Quote from: panik... and a relatively low redline

You call 11,500 a low redline? You bike is new right? that means you're probably following the recommended break-in and haven't been past 5K rpm or something like that, right?

The bike has a nice kick to it between 7,000-9500 rpm and redlines at (a screaming) 11,500. I've ridden to 11K regularly and it sounds like its really working!

have fun, dont sweat the drop. I dropped mine 2 times in first 3 weeks and again a month ago after a full year of riding...

Enjoy.

Quote from: panikI'm definately looking at doing the progressive springs at the front, and getting a 750 Kat shock on the rear,  

The 750 Kat the US guys talk about is the same as the GSX 750 F over here- that's the black one with the full fairing.  I tried to get hold of a shock off one when I wanted to replace my stock one, and couldn't get one for love nor money.  GSX-R 750 neither.  GS500 neither.  Eventually had to go with a ner aftermarket one - a Hagon from England.  It was tres expensive but has really transformed the handling.

Quote from: MichaelI tried to get hold of a shock off one when I wanted to replace my stock one, and couldn't get one for love nor money.  GSX-R 750 neither.  GS500 neither.  Eventually had to go with a ner aftermarket one - a Hagon from England.  It was tres expensive but has really transformed the handling.

I was going to try //www.ebay.com for the shock, and get something from the US. I think that will be the cheapest way.

Hagon http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/main1st.htm look Ok, but then again, I know bugger all about shocks...
They also have progressive front springs available though, so getting everything from them might be a good idea.