I was just surfing the net and came across the Suzuki global web site, here.


From here you can go to all the Suzuki web sites.


The only 2 country's that have the GS500 & GS500F for sale are Canada and Australia.


Is the GS500 & GS500F on it's way out of the market place?

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A few of us have been (and actively are) keeping our eyes on this for some time now. I started a thread about it here a while ago - http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=56385.0 and I was going to update it with some of the following...

I again spoke with the local dealer. He said.... the 2011 models would be coming later in the year, maybe early next year (even though that is 2012). A quick trip into their store two days ago revealed a 2010 Nov bike for sale (brand new) so they obviously still have overstock from last year (I even saw a Brand New bike with a 2009 plate a couple months back.)

In Australia, the naked SV650 was replaced with the 650 Gladius. Interestingly, in 2009, Suzuki Japan showed a 400cc Gladius at the Tokyo Motorshow. They Claimed it was for their local market - where getting a license to ride larger than 400cc is quite difficult so 400cc bikes sell well. But, this resleeved 650 motor would make an easy swap for  Suzuki to weed out the GS500 and have their Gladdy 400 as its replacement - this is MY speculation.

While the US market was without new imports in 2010, Australia still got them. And there are some stores passing off 2010 bikes as 2011 because if it is made after August in a calendar year it can be claimed as the following year's model. But so far, we are yet to see any true 2011 manufactured bikes. We regularly check and as soon as we get a straight answer either way we will be announcing it. Sadly it is hard to get an answer cause local country Suzuki branches are not really told what's what by Suzuki HQ in Japan - eg, Aust Suzuki will not be told of bike shipments until they are already on the boat.

As soon as we know, we'll let you know.

But things are not looking good. For one, Aust and Can are not large enough markets to warrant continued manufacture. The GS500 has failed to meet Eu Emissions Level 3 standards so cannot be sold new there anymore - but - they are a large market and I don't think Suzuki would forego it without a fight. Enter the Gladdy 400cc?

More to come as we find out more.

Michael

Well, the problem is that the US sees the sub 600cc market as an economy market, and generally isn't willing to pay more than ~$5000-$6000 for these bikes. Any bike built for the budget market is going to have to meet budget specs to remain profitable. The GS500 excels in that area; development costs are virtually nil, the materials are very simple, permitting it to be built on fairly low tech (and old) construction lines, the parts are bargain bin, and the materials are cheap.

A smaller displacement engine can produce a cheaper bike by way of reducing the demands on frame and suspension, thus permitting more budget oriented parts. Simply reducing the displacement and stuffing the engine in the same frame as it's larger cousin has no such benefits, and in fact actually increases costs, since you have to maintain extra parts supplies and product lines.

I don't see a Gladius 400 being able to fill that niche in the American market, and to be honest, our freeways and traffic patterns tend to benefit more from a large displacement motor than some other countries... So while there is good reason to buy a premium low displacement bike elsewhere, the market just doesn't exist here. I don't see the GS going away...

Look at the market the GS competes in as well... It's pretty much head to head with the Ninja 250, CBR250R, and... I don't think the Ninja 500 is on the market anymore, since the 250 gobbled up most of the market space. The GS really does have some nice benefits over both those bikes.

North America, Aus - and possibly a few bikes into S. America - are the current markets for the Spanish built GS500. The engine seems to be manufactured in Japan and shipped out to Spain. Been keeping an eye on the Spanish sites/press for indications that the bike is ceasing production. What is clear is that the Spanish factory in Gijon is today focused on scooters and the 125cc sector. That's OK, but the bad news is that the factory is also having massive industrial relations problems. Japanese orphan engine, factory concentration on smaller bikes, constrained market, industrial problems.....mmmmmmmm.
PS. In Spain, Suzuki is currently offering a 15% off deal on the bigger sports bikes in the 600 - 1000cc range.

Bike Store clerk told me a few weeks ago, we In Aust sold more bikes, I think in August, than in the USA. If true, it means the NEW bike market in the USA is totally busted. Our market grew by 10% a year for eleven straight years. Sure, we've had a slump but are recovering fairly well. but at some point, the American Consumer cannot be the Consumer for the world's products anymore. Combined with the housing collapse it makes sense New Sales are down. Hence, why the USA did not get any GS500s in 2010.

Spanish factories have had a major MAJOR slump. And as has been pointed out, are concentrating on other capacity bikes. I think we'll know more as we get closer to Xmas whether a 2011 GS500 has been made or whether any will be made for 2012 or...?

Michael

Nosing around the net, it looks as if Suzuki Colombia might have been screwing together GS500s from Spanish CKD kits.  That activity ceased in November last.

Neither the GS500 nor the Gladius are currently listed on the Suzi US site, up until recently they showed leftover 08 and/or 09 models of these bikes still available.  The only 2012 model streetbike shown is the 650 Strom with ABS, only other new 2012 bikes imported here now are the motocross, dual sport, and offroad bikes.

Quote from: gsJack on October 15, 2011, 07:36:11 AM
Neither the GS500 nor the Gladius are currently listed on the Suzi US site, up until recently they showed leftover 08 and/or 09 models of these bikes still available.  The only 2012 model streetbike shown is the 650 Strom with ABS, only other new 2012 bikes imported here now are the motocross, dual sport, and offroad bikes.

I was looking at that and wondering what it meant. I thought it meant "new versions" not so much "what is getting imported in total." Thanks for explaining.

Michael

I searched the entire US for a new GS. Although many are shown on Cycle Trader, they're all gone. Kicking myself for selling mine, thought I could replace it w/ a new unit.

Suzuki doesn't have anything to fit in between the 250cc and 650cc bikes in it's road bike line up.

I'm thinking the GSR400 may see our roads.


In-line 4-cyl. liquid cooled, DOHC,  fuel injected, about the same power as a GS, but cleaner out the pipe.


Nice machine to go up against the Ninja-400R


I think it will be priced much more than the GS.  That might drive up the price of a used GS.

It would be priced more than the SV, and probably wouldn't sell well here. 400s were tried in the US market. Would love to see them back, because they are amazing race bikes, but I wouldn't expect them to fare very well in our market.

Quote from: angelocardoc on October 15, 2011, 06:18:03 PM
Suzuki doesn't have anything to fit in between the 250cc and 650cc bikes in it's road bike line up.

The  Burgman 400 is a 100 Mph, yes I know......scooter 

Quote from: burning1 on October 14, 2011, 11:11:04 PM
Well, the problem is that the US sees the sub 600cc market as an economy market, and generally isn't willing to pay more than ~$5000-$6000 for these bikes. Any bike built for the budget market is going to have to meet budget specs to remain profitable. The GS500 excels in that area; development costs are virtually nil, the materials are very simple, permitting it to be built on fairly low tech (and old) construction lines, the parts are bargain bin, and the materials are cheap.

A smaller displacement engine can produce a cheaper bike by way of reducing the demands on frame and suspension, thus permitting more budget oriented parts. Simply reducing the displacement and stuffing the engine in the same frame as it's larger cousin has no such benefits, and in fact actually increases costs, since you have to maintain extra parts supplies and product lines.

I don't see a Gladius 400 being able to fill that niche in the American market, and to be honest, our freeways and traffic patterns tend to benefit more from a large displacement motor than some other countries... So while there is good reason to buy a premium low displacement bike elsewhere, the market just doesn't exist here. I don't see the GS going away...

Look at the market the GS competes in as well... It's pretty much head to head with the Ninja 250, CBR250R, and... I don't think the Ninja 500 is on the market anymore, since the 250 gobbled up most of the market space. The GS really does have some nice benefits over both those bikes.

Here in Canada we now do have a Ninja 400R that is more in line with what a GS500 has to offer. I don't know for sure but I think if Suzuki would give the GS500 EFI and a catalyst they would be able to sell it many markets again. I don't know how much it would cost them to make such a change and if it would be easy to make that profitable of course.

QuoteHere in Canada we now do have a Ninja 400R that is more in line with what a GS500 has to offer. I don't know for sure but I think if Suzuki would give the GS500 EFI and a catalyst they would be able to sell it many markets again. I don't know how much it would cost them to make such a change and if it would be easy to make that profitable of course.

That would be nice!!!

Fuel injected GS

Quote from: angelocardoc on October 16, 2011, 07:42:54 AM

QuoteHere in Canada we now do have a Ninja 400R that is more in line with what a GS500 has to offer. I don't know for sure but I think if Suzuki would give the GS500 EFI and a catalyst they would be able to sell it many markets again. I don't know how much it would cost them to make such a change and if it would be easy to make that profitable of course.

That would be nice!!!

Fuel injected GS

The TU250 from Suzuki has fuel injection.

As a Price Comparison... the TU250 sells for $5,990 NEW in Australia, the GS500 on special for $6,990 ($7,790 for the F), the CB400 with fuel injection sells for $9,900 (and in the Naked category it outsold the cheaper GS500).

So EFI is possible for the GS500. And going by Honda sales, a slight price increase should not hurt sales too much. Sure it would piss off people with carb bikes as now 2nd hand buyers will want the EFI model not the Carb model. But the TU250 shows it is possible to have EFI without breaking the bank.

Michael