I am looking to purchase my first bike this weekend...

Have been looking at either a GS500F or an SV650S
Saw a few that I am interested in, and was wondering if there prices are good deals..

2005 GS500F w/ 15,500 miles for 2200
2004 GS500F w/ 9000 miles for 2300
2009 GS500F w/ 13000 miles has been dropped a few times 2300 (fairings have been sanded and repainted / engine covers scratched up)
2006 SV650S w/ 13000 for 2600

Seeing as all of these four bikes are in the same price range, Im stuck on which one I should buy.

Any suggestions?

Where are you located. I have an 07 with less and 1000 miles in the engine I would make you a good deal on

A friend of mine has an SV650S, and has nothing but trouble with it. Not to say that it'll happen to all SV's, but his experience has turned me off those bikes altogether. Not to mention that I hate the seat position on it, feels too bunched up down below, and too stretched at the top for me.

For the most part, the GS series has been untouched since the original 'F' came out. Minor bits and pieces changed, but same bike overall. The 2004 has less miles then the 2009 for the same price, and it hasn't been dropped from your information. That one sells it for me, dropping bikes has a tendency to bust up more than fairings and indicators from what I've experienced.

Some of the other guys here should be able to tell you more about each of the different year models and whats expected as far as mileage for those bikes ages. They may also have a less biased opinion on the SV as well.

Go with your favorite color.

But seriously, seeing how they are around the same asking price, I would look at general condition and upkeep.   This may mean going to look at each one before you decide anything.  Get a feel for the owner and how well they took care of it.  To me, thats more important than any other factor... besides color (JOKES!).

Going into it, know the maintenance that should be done already given the mileages and ages and ask about it.  For instance, brakes need to be bled every two years and lines replaces every four... Valves need to be check aprox. every 4k miles... Regular oil changes ever 2-2.5k miles or once a year... How has the bike been left during the off season? (can help indicate carb condition)

I also suggest looking up guides for buying used bikes in general.  Create a chart or a questions list to have on hand to refer to... You will forget otherwise, as buying a bike is exciting in itself.  Keep yourself grounded, and do not buy the first bike you look at.  There will ALWAYS be another one... and it is the off-season, so they generally don't sell fast unless asking price is very low... and if thats the case, it may be too good to be true...

...and since weedahoe brought it up, location would be helpful, as there are always members selling.

- Bboy

Bockinboy, you bring up good points about maintenence and it's good to ask but I ALWAYS go through whatever I buy used as if it had never been maintained. That's the real true one way to know it has been done.

Thanks for the advice everyone.
Weedahoe I'm in Melbourne, brevard county.
Sat on the sv650 and didn't like it much, so that ones eliminated lol.

Melbourne FL? Check your PMs

SV seems like best buy there,insurance is more though

Quote from: mg0519 on November 14, 2012, 05:34:00 AM
I am looking to purchase my first bike this weekend...

Have been looking at either a GS500F or an SV650S
Saw a few that I am interested in, and was wondering if there prices are good deals..

2005 GS500F w/ 15,500 miles for 2200
600 too high, and likely will need a chain in 500-5000 miles

2004 GS500F w/ 9000 miles for 2300

just too much, no point

2009 GS500F w/ 13000 miles has been dropped a few times 2300 (fairings have been sanded and repainted / engine covers scratched up)

way too much if you like fairings (cracked fairings suck)

2006 SV650S w/ 13000 for 2600

way too much torque and not as forgiving for a new rider

Seeing as all of these four bikes are in the same price range, Im stuck on which one I should buy.

Any suggestions?

since you've ruled out the sv, ok, good. you may want to consider the ninja500 (500ex, 500r) as a very close comparible bike. the fairing has better wind protection, and it's water cooled, a littttlllle more power. very good machine.

for a first bike i'd suggest removing the fairings for the first 5-6 months and put a round "E" headlight on it until you get your silly drops out of the way. i'm not saying you'll never drop it again... cause stuff happens.

take the msf course, watch lots of crash videos on youtube, and do some light off roading (sand! crash! owie!) to learn more about traction and how it works. take any all the advanced safety courses you can. attend a gymkhana (the real kind, with real people trying to improve their skills, not a stupid drift meet!) and learn more about riding.


GET OFF MY LAWN YOU KIDS !

sorry, had to get it out. i'm more crotchety by the day.

if you buy a gs, avoid the modifying traps, and just learn the bike... self maintenance, what a bad chain looks like, etc

it will serve you a long long time with very very little expenses, if you follow the guides on gstwins, and the noble advice of the gurus here.

congrats, now gear up fully and enjoy  the ride !

Take a Motorcycle Training Course and buy the 2006 SV650S for $2300.

Those prices for GS500's are good where we are. Some places they are more expensive and elsewhere they are cheap as chips. I would rather have an older bike in mint condition than a newer one that's been neglected.

Or buy my 07 with an 09 engine @ 975 miles for 2K and spend $250 on the MSF and still come out less. 

Quote from: weedahoe on November 14, 2012, 08:14:46 PM
Or buy my 07 with an 09 engine @ 975 miles for 2K and spend $250 on the MSF and still come out less. 

Shipping to Australia will be a Buddha Loves You, nevermind the plane trip to the US and back to take the MSF course LOL

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 08:18:22 PM

Quote from: weedahoe on November 14, 2012, 08:14:46 PM
Or buy my 07 with an 09 engine @ 975 miles for 2K and spend $250 on the MSF and still come out less. 

Shipping to Australia will be a Buddha Loves You LOL

Sorry, I must have missed the Australia joke somewhere. What did I miss?

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 08:18:22 PM

Quote from: weedahoe on November 14, 2012, 08:14:46 PM
Or buy my 07 with an 09 engine @ 975 miles for 2K and spend $250 on the MSF and still come out less. 

Shipping to Australia will be a Buddha Loves You, nevermind the plane trip to the US and back to take the MSF course LOL

given his original post talks MILES, I'm guessing he's NOT in Australia, there are other cities/towns called Melbourne in the world.

Ah. Gotcha. This is where I was thinking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Florida

Quote from: weedahoe on November 14, 2012, 08:20:12 PM

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 08:18:22 PM

Quote from: weedahoe on November 14, 2012, 08:14:46 PM
Or buy my 07 with an 09 engine @ 975 miles for 2K and spend $250 on the MSF and still come out less. 

Shipping to Australia will be a Buddha Loves You LOL

Sorry, I must have missed the Australia joke somewhere. What did I miss?

Me bad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevard_County,_Florida

Since you don't like the SV650, weed's '07 sounds like a good deal.

This is the kind of bullcrap GS500's people try to sell up here all the time:

http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-street-cruisers-choppers-2005-Suzuki-GS-500-has-low-kms-great-project-bike-W0QQAdIdZ337097101

Too bad you ruled the SV out.  I've got an SVn and it's better than the GS in every way.

Not knocking the GS at all, the SV is just a better machine.

If the SV650s is in good shape, buy it and I'll trade you my SVn for it.  Maybe you'll find it more comfortable.

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 09:03:32 PM
Since you don't like the SV650, weed's '07 sounds like a good deal.

This is the kind of bullcrap GS500's people try to sell up here all the time:

http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-street-cruisers-choppers-2005-Suzuki-GS-500-has-low-kms-great-project-bike-W0QQAdIdZ337097101

"has damage all over
salvage title
runs great
would make a great starter project bike"

LOL....damn. All of that for 2250 FIRM

Quote from: weedahoe on November 14, 2012, 10:44:32 PM

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 14, 2012, 09:03:32 PM
Since you don't like the SV650, weed's '07 sounds like a good deal.

This is the kind of bullcrap GS500's people try to sell up here all the time:

http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-street-cruisers-choppers-2005-Suzuki-GS-500-has-low-kms-great-project-bike-W0QQAdIdZ337097101

"has damage all over
salvage title
runs great
would make a great starter project bike"

LOL....damn. All of that for 2250 FIRM

Farrk, Thats even a ripoff for Australia by about $1000