Quote from: burning1 on May 22, 2011, 04:55:23 PM

Quote from: lucifer_mr2 on May 22, 2011, 06:10:27 AM
GSX650F. Small increase in capacity, more modern head, two more cylinders for smoother operation, catalitic converter for emissions, etc. Still have a LAMS version too. They just forgot to stop selling the old model.

The GSX 650 F is a 4 cylinder liquid cooled bike that weighs 100lbs more and costs $3000 more than the GS500F. It's closer to being a GSX-R than it is a GS500, and is at best a replacement for the Katana. I have absolutely no stinking idea how anyone could conclude that it would replace the GS500.

Couldnt agree more.  Its the appeal of this specific class that draws me to this bike.  Again, with some minor "modern" enhancements bringing it into the 21st century, I really think it would be a sweet bike.  I'd be selling my 09 for one if they did it.  I just like this class for multiple reasons...

How does the GSX650 go in the MOST test, specifically the uturn section?

Last time I was at the Suzuki dealership they said the GS500 is no more!

Mary

So how many brand-new unsold 2009 GS500s do you guys think are left by now?

Quote from: tpelle on May 23, 2011, 12:31:04 PM
So how many brand-new unsold 2009 GS500s do you guys think are left by now?

Thousands,maybe tens of thousands.

10,000 + brand new unregistered GS5s sitting in a warehouse somewhere???.......dont make me laugh.

Quote from: tpelle on May 23, 2011, 12:31:04 PM
So how many brand-new unsold 2009 GS500s do you guys think are left by now?

It's not really relevant. What if there were 300? What if there were 3,000? Assuming it's dead in the water, and my conversation with Suzuki pretty well says it is (not a single 2011 model manufactured yet, no solid plans to make it and only a maybe maybe-not some F models made later in the year - but we'll see), the only thing having more unsold new bikes in stock does is, make new bikes available for a little while longer - or just creates a slightly larger OEM parts supply.

If bikes are brought in on Predicted Sales and all diminishing sales figures are ignored, if 1,200 units sold last year and they blindly bring in another 1,200 but sales dropped by 10%, then they have 120 sitting around. If 3,000 were normally sold and the same number blindly brought in and sales dropped 10% then 300 are sitting around. This does Not include stock the bike store may have itself - or - older stock the warehouse finds tucked in a back corner.

But bike makers don't do things so blindly - well, except Yamaha maybe. But they are overstocked for sure and they are hurting. But, they are only hurting compared to Now. Compared to sales figures from say 5 years ago they are still ahead - the Australian bike market increased at roughly 10% a year for the last 11 consecutive years, so a 10% or 20% drop in sales takes the figure back to what it was a few years ago.

Yamaha killed the FZ6 without any announcement I am aware of. I dare say the GS500 is in its final death throws. Any maybe/maybe not 2011 thoughts are "wait and see" thoughts. If we can sell our remaining stock; if the outlook is good for a Minimal Production Run (the break even run point); etc. Almost half way through the year and no 2011 models even on the production drawing board. Things don't look good for the GS500's manufacturing future.

Michael

Suzuki it's self isn't in great shape. I honestly can't see the GS500 going anywhere though, unless they plan to revamp it. And I don't see that happening until things turn around for Suzuki.

I do wish that Suzuki would revamp the GS500.My idea would be another air cooled fuel injected twin between 400 and 500 cc and offered up as a naked or faired like the SV was.

I'd like to see them slap fuel injectors on it, and leave the rest as-is. 

The signs are that its bye-bye GS500. As a non-complying niche model, Euro 3 has had a huge impact. It's reported that the Gijon production plant has an all model annual production capacity of 55,000. How many are GS500s? Have a look at the production line photo at........
http://www.acem.eu/NWSL/newsl12/suzukiplant.htm
.......what do you reckon from that line?? 30 a day? x 230 work days pa= maybe 7000 or so...play with the numbers. And this is a plant that is focussed on the 125cc area and that was forced to close the GS500 line for a while in 2009 following the GFC. Also I think the motor comes from the Takatsuka, Japan, plant which has had tsunami closeures this year.

Meanwhile, the Spanish motorcycle industry in whole ain't too happy See what delightfully named author Tony the Misfit is reporting this week:
Spanish Moto, a not-so-ferocious roar
Economic Newspaper 24/5/11 (I've truncated the story a bit and the syntax is his)
http://economicsnewspaper.com/policy/spain/spanish-moto-a-not-so-ferocious-roar-2650.html
(A Spanish motorcycle employer head) Jose Maria Riaño.... points to a path of hope for the motorcycle and economic recovery will be produced again in Spain Bikes in large numbers. If the industry sees the future with some hope, this is certainly distressing. All alarms are fired in 2009 when Honda announced the closure of its plant in Santa Perpetua (160 fired), which now holds only a witness activities. Yamaha has continued this year's defection closes its plant Yamaha-Palau-Solita i Plegamans with 430 workers, and, just two weeks ago, Piaggio announced that offshoring activity Derbi, leaving the street to 220 workers Martorell factory. At a stroke, Spain was without three of its four major producers, surviving only, and with many difficulties, (is)the Suzuki plant in Gijon. "The situation is particularly dramatic in Catalonia, traditional national bike polo, which accounts for 84% of productive activity in the sector. In the case of Catalonia, survive 12 manufacturers and 43 suppliers employing 7,000 workers, with a turnover of 1,000 million in 2010. "
On a positive note it looks like US bike sales are up this first quarter 2011.  Interesting days indeed.

I fear that the world may loose Suzuki Motorcycles due to the world economic issue and the tsunami closures.Suzuki would have to come back with some top self products with really great pricing.I'm waiting for Suzuki to do something along the lines of the Can Am Spyder or a plush trike cruiser like the Honda Gold Wing.I have noticed a decline in sport bikes in my are and that seems to be what Suzuki is pushing.Well sport bikes and off road products.

It's not really that Suzuki's offerings declined, it's that they stagnated. Suzuki used to build some of the best bikes on the market... But Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, and BMW have all brought really interesting new literbikes to the table, where Suzuki is still producing the same basic bike with a few more parts bolted on (BPF, Monoblock calipers.)

Quote from: burning1 on May 24, 2011, 01:16:49 AM
It's not really that Suzuki's offerings declined, it's that they stagnated. Suzuki used to build some of the best bikes on the market... But Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, and BMW have all brought really interesting new literbikes to the table, where Suzuki is still producing the same basic bike with a few more parts bolted on (BPF, Monoblock calipers.)

I can agree to that.

Quote from: mister on May 21, 2011, 05:25:01 PM

Quote from: Pelikan on May 21, 2011, 04:56:19 PM
Isn't it commonplace for motorcycle models to skip years?  Either way, we might be reaching a point where the market is saturated with GS500s.  There're always a ton of them available used, which I'd wager is how most people buy them.

The GS500 has not skipped any years since its inception.

2003?  For America, at least, but again I don't think it'd be unusual for it to skip a year regardless of history.  And they just did the fairings and all that back in '04.  I'd guess they'd want more bikes on the road to consume those parts before they pull the plug.

I don't think we should get too worked up that they're not producing any GS bikes in 2011, but either way they're either going to continue making it, or they're not.  Plenty of bikes and plenty of parts out there, so it's really no harm.  And at the end of the day the GS is an 80s model in 2004 clothing...

ben, you wanna see sportbikes, come out this way.

While getting a new tire fitted to my GS, a quick walk around the store revealed this...



A Suzuki TU250X. These are only recent additions to the Australian Market first hitting our shores in April. With a top speed of 121kph (75mph) and only 16hp, they aren't going to be much more than City Commuters. But what gets me excited about them is, they are Fuel Injected. If Suzuki feels it's viable for a cheap FI 250cc, it gives hope to a FI GS500 down the line. Well, I can hope.

Michael

Anyone know if those are available in the US?I haven't seen them and it would be perfect for my GF,if it's short enough.

According to Suzuki's website, it's available here. It's an air cooled single, for what it's worth.

It's in the showrooms in Canada too.

Suzuki jacked the price on the TU250 for some reason.  I was interested in one when it first came out in '09 and was priced at $2999 (same as the GZ250) but could never find a dealership around here that stocked one.  Now the price has been raised $1000 dollars (and they changed the $2999 price on the '09 page to $3799) which is more than I'm willing to pay for a little beater bike. 

-Jessie