Hey guys!
A thought went through my mind today while reading the GS500 Wikipedia entry, seeing it was discontinued worldwide in the late 00's and is now produced in South America, also only sold there in a few countries.
That got me thinking - seeing as older bikes such as the RD400 are back in stores, and the GS500 being a very popular beginner bike from Suzuki that hasn't been replaced yet (the GW250 Inazuma or TU250X are smaller bikes while the GSXR600 or or V-Strom 650 don't really fall into that category of midweight naked bike, nor does the DRZ400 or DR650).
Seems like almost every maker has it's mid-weight naked - Yamaha with their MT-07 (or FZ-07 for you guys in North America), Honda with the CB650F/CB500F, K.T.M and their Duke 390/690, and Kawasaki with no real mid-weight competitor yet.
The question is - will we see a new version of the once very popular GS500? is there no demand for simple, reliable motorcycles anymore? will a new, fuel-injected and liquid cooled version be some kind of game changer for Suzuki, or is the GS scrapped for good, destined to remain a dirt-cheap fixer-upper reliable motorcycle, and soon it will become rarer and rarer as time goes by?

Your thoughts? 

What can I say, suzuki caught lightning in a bottle, and still didn't know what to do with it.
First in 04 they fixed what wasn't broke, then in 09, they lost the plot and started selling GSXR1000's to 14yr old newb's.
Its profitable, its legal and its lethal. But hey, 2 out of 3 aint bad.

The best GS500 is a CB500 Honda.
If thats too much, then the 300 works for you. Also Kawasaki 300 available.

And The Kawi ninja 650 was anyway the upgraded GS500 from 04 onwards.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on August 28, 2016, 07:43:32 AM
The best GS500 is a CB500 Honda.

Yeah except it's trying real hard to be a sport bike. And it's overweight by 10%

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If thats too much, then the 300 works for you. Also Kawasaki 300 available.

CB300 size and weight are right, but it's a single, which is uncool. And it's underpowered by 40%.

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And The Kawi ninja 650 was anyway the upgraded GS500 from 04 onwards.

Again, I think that's really going too far in the sport dimension for the GS500's intent. But as you said, "upgraded".

Actually I think the SV650N and now the new naked SV are getting close to GS500. Would be awfully cool if Suzuki would put an air-cooled 500cc engine in that chassis. But they've gone decidedly retro with the TU250 instead. Truth is the hipster kids are not into bigger displacement standards, just as likely to get a TU250 or a scooter, and the grown ups are buying cruisers and 4-cylinder sport bikes. It's all about demand and marketing.

V twin wont cut it for me. I'd rather take a steel frame parallel twin over a Aluminum frame V twin, and every one know I love aluminum.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: mr72 on August 29, 2016, 11:57:12 AM
Actually I think the SV650N and now the new naked SV are getting close to GS500. Would be awfully cool if Suzuki would put an air-cooled 500cc engine in that chassis.

I'd buy an SV500S lol

I'd like to see production go back to Europe. There was a production plant in Spain for a while and apparently you see many GS500 on the streets there still.
The GS500 would fit the EU market perfectly because recently new legislation has been implemented to harmonize things more between member states. We have a system of rules related to age and power of the bike. The (unrestricted) GS500 happens to fit in the restricted power category of drivers of a certain age. Popularity has increased tremendously because of this.

Funny title though, 'will it ever come back?', it was never gone 

09 was the last year they made this turkey.
I think they should go back to the 01-02 style, go belt drive, 15" rear wheel water cooled and fuel injected, in that order.
Cool.
Buddha.

My 02 is becoming my favorite versatile bike ever. Thought it wouldn't matter, but I love the improvements from the previous years. Just needs better suspension and 5 HP. Recently took it on a 1500mi trip to Allegheny PA  and Adirondacks NY....including miles off-road and the bike took everything without a care.

I've owned larger bikes like 02 YZF600, and 06 GSXR600, and testridden a few ducatis, recently a Diavel and for some reason was not impressed.

Quote from: The Buddha on August 29, 2016, 12:49:13 PM
09 was the last year they made this turkey.

I run a late model Spanish made GS, certainly don't see it as a turkey.

Getting back to the thread, could be Suzuki in their wisdom saw the Gladius now SV line as a suitable replacement. I had a Gladius for a day while my Strom was getting a fuel pump replaced. Apart from the styling disaster, they are a sweet ride. Not unlike a GS in size and riding position. I've read your views on the V twin motor Buddha, (agreed, they are an awkward lump to fit into a motorcycle frame) but they are a damn good motor. But I may be a little biased there!

That's my two bob worth
Mike

Keep it simple! (That's one of the great virtues of the bike). Keep it air-cooled, stick a 4-valve head on it, modern suspension.

The 4 valve head will cost a lot more than the 2 valve. The cost of a manufactured item depends on the number of machined components. So machining for 4 valves is 2X machining and maybe 2X as complicated.
They would probably not ever need to do that, because emissions don't change much 2 valve vs 4. They may be forced to EFI and water cool it to meet emissions. But they'd likely never bring it back, we're now in possession of a huge collectible. Hey Its like a monalisa.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on August 30, 2016, 01:48:35 PM
They may be forced to EFI and water cool it to meet emissions. But they'd likely never bring it back, we're now in possession of a huge collectible. Hey Its like a monalisa.

Yeah I think emissions is what likely spelled the GS500's demise. The real value of this bike, TO ME, is in the simplicity, light weight, and reliability. I don't think 4 valves/cylinder improves either reliability or simplicity, and water cooling has longevity improvements in exchange for both reliability and simplicity. Fuel injection would be a brilliant idea, but it's unlikely to be enough to get emissions where they would need to be without also making it water cooled so it can run leaner without overheating and operate in a controlled temperature range.

That's why I say the new (2017) SV650 is close. But it's overweight by 50lb, which is not insignificant ... like 20%. Who knows where they hide the weight. The SV400 was a LOT lighter than the 650 of the same era so I am guessing the extra weight is all in that engine. I think a 375lb SV with a 500cc air-cooled engine would be pretty sweet, but it's starting to sound like getting an air-cooled 500cc engine in a new motorcycle is a non-starter for manufacturers.

Plus, the big thing is I don't think Suzuki finds it necessary to crowd their lineup with a lower-power, lighter-weight duplicate of one of their most popular models. Nearly everyone who would be a candidate to buy a GS500 replacement are likely to buy an SV650 instead. I would say it's more likely to find them making an SV300 or something to compete with Honda and Kawasaki's 300cc sporty standards.

And BTW, a 350lb SV300 with a 35hp 300cc air-cooled parallel twin and 70mpg is a bike even I would buy.