Ok so i'm looking into buying a GS and this particular bike has 30k on it. Are there any longevity problems with this bike that i should be aware of? As in, does the engine typically run out of steam around 40k miles? Or, does the clutch give out around 50k? I mean, i have no idea because it's an air-cooled engine whether or not to worry about 30k miles. WHen i was into water-cooled engines i knew 30k was significant but because it was water cooled had a pretty long life span, almost like a car. However, i've never dealt with air-cooled outside of my training bike nighthawk250. Anyone give me some advice??? Anything i should worry about? Thanks again guys

Well I know some guys have gotten up around 50 thousand miles. I think one guy got up to 90. But thats probably inspecting the bike after every ride.

30K is no spring chicken for a GS but if it has been poroperly mantained :dunno: . Normally, a GS will rust away before the engine goes.

how many miles do most GS owners buy their bike at? estimated, what percentage of life is left on the engine/trans? I don't want to buy a used up bike and have it break on me every other day.

This guy is asking 1300 for a 94 bike with a new rear tire 140/70 and smaller turn signals, chopped rear fender, new seat, slightly jetted, and it's never been downed/dropped, and the body/paint is supposed to be clean. I haven't seen it in person, but it looks pretty nice in the pics. i was thinking of offering him 1150 or so.

What do you think?

I bought my 96 with 6000 miles for 1500. The only mod was a Cobra F1R can. I think you should go for $1000 or look for a diferent bike. How many miles on it.

the bike has 30k on it... the only OTHER downside is that it is dark purple.

Yea. I would say go for a grand or just move on. There will be better deals.

I bought my '99 with about 1,750 miles on it.  It just turned 30,000 miles and I anticipate running it another 20,000 miles or more.  After that I will probably need to do some "refurbishing"....

any rebuilt yet kerry?

No rebuilds yet.  The only thing I've done to the engine is swap out 2 valve shims, and that was just a couple weeks ago.

I believe gsJack logged his (70,000+?) miles on a stock '97.  I think he swapped some shims out a few times, but as far as I know that was it.

Jack?

Mine lasted 8500km before it sucome to an untimely demise...Run over with a truck. It may be gone forever!
Regardless, I met a chap here in Calgary who claimed to have 90,000km on his GS. What he was doing with it, I have no idea.

Quote from: KerryNo rebuilds yet.  The only thing I've done to the engine is swap out 2 valve shims, and that was just a couple weeks ago.

I believe gsJack logged his (70,000+?) miles on a stock '97.  I think he swapped some shims out a few times, but as far as I know that was it.

Jack?

The 97 GS has close to 80k miles on it now and still runs well.  Only have changed valve shims on the exhaust valves, the intakes are still to spec w/o any shim changes.  The one exhaust valve was only changed once or twice, but the other has been changed frequently at 8k interval checks and now has a minimum thickness standard shim.  Will be necessary to get a a shim ground down if it needs further adjustment.

I expect a GS500 to go 80-100k miles w/o major engine work if treated well from the beginning.  Never know how a used bike with 30k on it has been treated by previous owner.  I just gave away a 81 CM400A with 98k miles on it and it too still ran good.  I used it as a winter bike in NE OH for years and it was badly rusted and the front fender had rusted thru and just fell off one day.   :lol: The 97 GS just became my winter bike last winter and really isn't showing much rust yet, but it's days are numbered if used every winter in the salt water around here.  Still expect it to go a few years yet since I probably will only put about 2k miles a year on it now.

Quote from: Rich500Mine lasted 8500km before it sucome to an untimely demise...Run over with a truck. It may be gone forever!
Regardless, I met a chap here in Calgary who claimed to have 90,000km on his GS. What he was doing with it, I have no idea.

My 97 GS was hit by a truck last July and was totalled out by the ins co.  I got $1850 (minus $200 ded) for it from my insurance co and then bought the totalled GS back from them for the $100 salvage price and spent only $250 putting it back into good running order.  Has a few cosmetic blemishes like a small dent in gas tank and slightly scratched side covers, but is all fixed up functionally.  The GS held up better than me, I still have and probably always will have a broken left clavical and torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder.  Still got about 17k miles in last year, just a little off my usual 20k a year pace.  

The impression I get from reading the reports is, that the GS Engine can virtually last forever, but give it to a kid with a nervous throttle wrist and a tendency to forget to check the oil, and it's gone in less than 10'000 miles.

Well since I am the one selling the bike I can tell you it has ZERO rust.
It has been in So cal it entire life and was driven by an old man who worked in military research down here for the last 10 years. The bike has records and is in very nice condition. You can even meet the previous owner as he is my nieghbor. If you think you can do better than $1300 you can try but just for fun I looked up every bike for sale in California on Cycletrader right now between $100 and $1300.
Guess what? The only street bike or any bike over 80CC for that matter was a 94 Honda 250 nighthawk.
Additionally there are only four "1st gen 89-99" Gs500s for sale in the country right now on Cycletrader and the closest one to us in California is Wisconsin and its PURPLE too! :lol:
I will work on getting those vids to you this weekend.
TTYL,  
Evan

My '91GS just turned 37k.  I picked it up a week ago for $500.00(retired drag bike), and it was a theft or accident auction deal for the prev. owner.  I can count on it being run hard by the prev. owners, but right now, it runs great, burns no oil, and gets about 50mpg.  This is with a D&D can, K&N filter, and jetting.  I can rebuild a motor easily(as long as I have the parts), but I prefer to do almost anything else(tuning/tweaking is fun though).

Don

My 1994 gs has 78.000 km and runs better everyday. (also looks better)

http://groups.msn.com/ClubSuzukiGS500EColombia/mimoto.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=186

 

:lol: LMAO

Evan (seller of bike i am interested in getting),

I hope you don't find that this thread is slandering you at all, i just didn't know a better resource to find out about the bike! Which is funny because i thought that you might actually see this thread and comment. Let me know when you get this vids, looking forward to it.

jon

Quote from: mercdude63:lol: LMAO

Evan (seller of bike i am interested in getting),

I hope you don't find that this thread is slandering you at all, i just didn't know a better resource to find out about the bike! Which is funny because i thought that you might actually see this thread and comment. Let me know when you get this vids, looking forward to it.

jon

:lol:  LMAO
No problem, will email you later.
Evan

Quote from: JuanferMy 1994 gs has 78.000 km and runs better everyday. (also looks better)

http://groups.msn.com/ClubSuzukiGS500EColombia/mimoto.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=186

 

Tocayo, where did you get the stickers?  I'm considering painting my bike and it will be nice to have the stickers to go with it.