In the springtime of this year I picked up an SV650SF in mint condition. Low low miles, only some minor rash from a drop, and basically in new condition. Put on some personal touches like motosliders, tank grips, and Michelin Pilot Power 3 tires. It pulls hard and fast and turns a lot of heads. Fuel injection is such a convenience.

But I still have my GS in all of its late 80s technology. It spent most of its life in Massachusetts with its 1st owner so there's rust in some places, most bolts are a pain in the ass to remove, and I've spent a lot of time restoring it back to factory specs. It isn't as fast or as attractive as the SV but it has a lot more soul. It always surprises me that it runs so well on such basic mechanicals and electronics. The 500 twin is fairly tame but with the right exhaust it sounds like a beast when you rip it going under an overpass.

I had originally planned on selling the GS once I got comfortable with the SV, but I think its worth keeping.

I see why a lot of you guys here are still riding the GS even when there are a lot of attractive new bikes on the market.

I bought my GS with 72 miles on it for a song. I needed a light, easy to handle bike to learn how to ride after years not riding.

I like the GS a lot. It is so easy to handle and it runs awesome.

It doesn't compare to my Honda 919 Hornet, but it still is a fun bike and pretty bullet proof if you take care of it.

I was going to sell the GS once I learned how to ride again but like it so much that I'm keeping it.

I've had quite a few bikes.
I've had a Hyosung GT650 so I know how you feel with the SV650.

I sold my Hyosung and bought a GS500e for simplicity reasons. I didn't need the 80HP the GT650S had and got into to much trouble with it (wheelies, breaking 130+ MPH, upper 40's for MPG) . How ever I still wanted to ride and this was a great price I couldn't pass it up.

It's a great little bike. Great MPG, light weight, easy to ride, easy to fix, very cheap to own and maintain.

hi everyone ,  yes  I love the gs500f ,  I have a 500cc  collection   ,  suzuki rg500 gamma ,  yamaha rz500 ,    I ride the gs500f everyday with shad hardcase luggage .......   take care  everyone   , kind regards   rg500 gamma

honestly.. I like where the GS500 sits, how it handles, like you know how everyone says the bike is perfect for newbies because its just balanced so right? that's what I like about it.. I actually threw my SV on the back burner for a bit to finish up this GS. even though it needs less work [you know, not rebuilding the WHOLE top end..] Its hard to find a bike that handles like the GS, at least something that's used and on the lower end of the budget.

I really can't wait to test ride the Fz09 sometime next year [when im closer to being able to afford a new bike] hoping it handles decently. if I don't end up liking it, and I hope I do, It sure do look purdy. I'm gonna end up getting a fullfaired/bigbike/sport touring motorcycle of some sort, just something that will be easy on LONG trips, and won't make me end up with a gallon of water in my boots. Super sports are fun, but I like traveling way more then I like being able to go 200mph. plus riding 2up on something that's more geared towards that is always a plus. cause lets be honest, most sportbikes, and even the GS500. being the passenger sucks. I got the pleasure once to ride b***h on a 636. I got butthurt after about 10 minutes.

OH and something I HATE about the sv650 [I have an 02] is those STUPID, STUPID clip-on's that DON'T EVEN CLEAR THE STUPID GAS TANK! even after a year an half of riding it, I still can't make tight U-turns because my hands/wrist get stuck between the clipons and gastank trying to turn it to full lock. the SV has ruined clipons for me, forever..!

I am a new owner of a '05 GS 500.  It was to be my starter bike for me to learn on.  I did a lot of research before buying the bike, and once I rode one, I could see why they were so reputable for first rides.  I purchased my GS on 10/4/14.  My intention was to ride the GS for 6-12 months and then sell it so I could get an SV 650 or some other middleweight sport bike.

Who knows how I will feel in the spring...but right now, I feel like I am keeping this bike.  I only paid 1200 for it, so it's trade-in value relative to its value to me is relatively small.  My next ride will be more expensive and most likely a fuel injected "modern" machine.  I have never worked on a bike and my projects so far on it have been riddled with 'amateur night' mistakes, ham-fisted bungling, and a few moments of fulfillment at getting something right (see my stripped bolt replacing rear shock thread - where I experience all three!).  I am a noob at this sort work, but it is really growing on me.  It is truly a unique feeling to service this machine...and feeling the improvements to it when I ride after the project is done is really great.  Adding the right tools to properly work on the bike to my arsenal has been enjoyable as well.

I am not sure I will be able to do that on a bike that costs 5-10 times as much without fear of damaging it.

I started out on a GS500, sold it and moved on to sportbikes. Everytime i "upgraded" I missed the GS even more, so I bought another to add to the stable and love riding again. The only thing I miss about my sportbike is the suspension. There's something fun and carefree about riding the GS...eventhough the bike is very inconsistent. One day it feels ok, the next it feels like garbage. Meaning....suspension, chain, brake, lever, etc. adjustments don't last long and some gasket is always waiting to leak next.

Back in March of 99 I was riding the last of my 4 Hondas an 85 CB650SC with about 60k miles on it that had started smoking like a chimney in traffic on hot days.  Found a good deal on a brand new 97 GS and traded the Nighthawk in on it.  The Nighthawks were considered a sportier version of their standard CB line, but after riding it to the dealers I came home on the new GS and when I got to hilly twisty River Road I was just getting use to the GS and it felt like a sportbike compared to the old Nighthawk.  I was in my upper 60's then and had just been cruising around enjoying the scenery on my Hondas prior to the GS but I began a period of a few years in my early 70's traveling to the mountains to ride around like I thought I was still 17.  Great years!  But not to worry, I'm riding now like an 80+ year old should.

The 15 years and 180k miles on the GSs have all been great riding and I'd use the word used by Cycle World in their bargain bike comparo back in 03, the GS is just plain SWEET!

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jcp8832/media/CWDealsOnWheels/deals7.jpg.html?sort=3&o=6

And look, the bastards are still selling them new (well, OK, cobbled up out of the stuff left from Gijon) in Colombia. They even call it a GS500 2015 model! Wannnna one.....no new ones left in Oz.
http://www.suzuki.com.co/motocicletas/gs-500-377

Quote from: noworries on November 24, 2014, 08:22:33 PM
And look, the bastards are still selling them new (well, OK, cobbled up out of the stuff left from Gijon) in Colombia. They even call it a GS500 2015 model! Wannnna one.....no new ones left in Oz.
http://www.suzuki.com.co/motocicletas/gs-500-377

Dang! And almost $15 million whatever the currency is there...holy cow! Wonder if we could import them