I just bought a 1995 Gs500e and i was wondering what sprocket combo would increase my top speed. I have a friend that I ride with that has a 2006 Honda CBR600RR and i just want to keep up a bit better. I would also like to know what the maintenance intervals look like so I can make sure she lasts for many more years to come. My mechanics knowledge is pretty basic so I would love to learn more to keep all the work in my own shady tree.

Top speed?

Most '89-00 GS500s in proper tune will go >100mph or more with stock gearing. It's limited by power, not rpm. Changing the sprockets will not increase this. I mean, you might be able to change the rear sprocket one tooth one way or the other and get an extra 1/2 mph out of it but why?

And frankly if 100+ mph is not fast enough for you to "keep up" with some other rider, a) you got the wrong bike and b) you should be riding on a race track. I doubt a whole lot of folks on this forum are going to help you figure out how to go faster on public roads.

You will not be able to keep up with a 4cyl 600cc sport bike in acceleration no matter what you do. You need twice as much power.

Remember that the GS500 makes peak power 7-9.5k rpm. Ride the bike in that range for max power/acceleration. This means that the top speed with stock gearing is usually reached in 5th gear. Changing the gearing won't really change top speed. Its always going to be 95 - 110 mph depending on the condition of your bike and tuning. Its power/drag limited so make sure you are in a full tuck when trying to hit top speed.

You will never keep up in acceleration with a bike that has almost 3x your horsepower. However you should be able to match or beat the CBR in late braking abilities and cornering speed due to your bike's overall lighter weight. Upgrading the brake components and suspension components will lower your lap times faster than tuning. The GS500 may never even hit its top speed on many tracks and only on a straight away. Plan to use this bike to work on your cornering technique; the GS500 has a great frame with good geometry for a beater track bike. With a Katana 600, GSXR, or R6 rear shock and tuned forks (cartridge emulators, proper spring rate, fork oil, and sag) and upgraded brakes (SS lines, HH pads, 6 piston caliper upgrade, master cylinder upgrade, maybe even a rotor upgrade) the GS500 can outbreak and outcorner lesser riders on 600/650 class sport bikes all day. Anyone can get on a fast bike and twist the throttle. Cornering technique is what really separates riders. Obviously get a good sticky tire like the Pirelli Sport Demon or something else sport oriented  so you are not limited by your tires.

http://www.gstwin.com/racers_corner.htm


As far as maintenance intervals: often.
The GS500 engine is a slightly modified version of a late 70's engine. Suzuki recommends checking the valves and re-torquing the head bolts ever 4,000 miles. Oil and filter change ever 3,000 miles. Check your oil (on centerstand, not side stand) often. The only real way to kill a GS500 is to run it low on oil. Realistically valves only need to be adjusted every 10 - 20,000 miles but its better to know what is going on inside the engine.
Everything else is pretty standard across all motorcycles: like brake fluid every 2 years
Just get the Haynes or Clymer repair manual (see top right of this site for a link) and follow the recommended intervals. The GS500 is the perfect motorcycle to learn how to wrench. Its basic tech and hard to screw up.

Maintenance chart from the wiki:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.MaintenanceSchedule

Sprocket info:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.Sprocket

+1 to checking that oil often !

Okay cool, well atleast it checks off the other boxes on my list like being a reliable daily plus there's always the option to bore it over down the line right? i mean as long as i can get point a to b in a reasonable time I'm actually happy plus this is my first dip into a bike not from china. The bike I'm riding right now only does about 60 and its falling apart, so i managed to find the gs after months of getting denied due to limited finances so i feel like atleast with this I dont have to plan trips days in advance like with my tbr7 259. so are there any ergonomic upgrades that anyone would recomend like grips and saddlebags? im already looking at a magnetic tank bag with a phone mount in it for tools and navigation purposes. Id also like a tail bag for groceries as well. Basically this is my sole form of transit and id like to make the most of it.

My wife and I share a car, so my GS500 is my main mode of transport (at least it was before covid19).
I went for the significant investment of full Hepco & Becker racks with locking hard cases. It took me a few years to piece everything together because its pricy but the bags are a lifetime investment and go from bike to bike. Givi and Shad make similar systems. I don't know how a motorcycle could be your only mode of transport without locking storage (this is why maxi-scooters or bikes like an NC750 with built in storage are the most practical for commute duty).
With full locking luggage:
I can do full grocery shopping trips (well, 3 to 4 bags worth).
I can take my laptop bag to work without having to wear it on my back at freeway speeds
I can lock my riding suit, helmet, and gloves on the bike
I can go on camping trips with enough space for everything without having to mess with straps and bungies.
Everything is waterproof (#1 priority in the Pacific Northwest where its raining at least 20% of the time).


Ergonomics are very personal. Would need to know what problem you are trying to solve.
If your phone is waterproof or you live in a dry climate, I would recommend a RAM handlebar mount for your phone. Looking all the way down at your tank for directions is not very safe. A Bluetooth helmet com is even better so you don't have to look at your phone or GPS for directions -- just get the directions through audio.

Unfortunately, your friends 2006 CBR will leave you for shaZam! in every way. If you want to go one better get a 1000 , R1 , GSX or Fireblade etc 😊


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Mostly just making things cozier for commutes and possible road trips. I live in Texas so the lockable storage is a good idea. I am planning on getting a bluetooth com for my helmet eventually and as for phone mounts my phone isn't waterproof just water resistant so having it enclosed would be nice. For now I'm using bluetooth earbuds for navigation and a radio (because who doesn't want their own soundtrack from time to time lol) and it's doing the job for the moment. So yeah all in all I'd like  a comfy bike without goldwing weight and some nice streetfighter style.

If you already are thinking you are going to "overbore" it then you seriously got the wrong bike. I suggest selling it before you make a lot of changes or invest more money and get a bandit or katana 600 or even a sv650 instead. Seriously.

A GS500 is terrific for mechanical simplicity, adequate power for daily use, abundant and cheap replacement parts, rock solid reliability as long as you mind the 25 year old parts, and is very easy for owners to service. But it's not fast or stylish or really great at a lot of on the bike kinds of things. Comfort and ergonomics changes besides swapping handlebars are difficult due to a very limited aftermarket for parts. Luggage is also expensive and limited on options. Performance mods are basically non-existent. You have a motorcycle with potentially 40-45 hp at the wheel if you get it dialed in and no reasonable way to go past that, no way that's cheaper than a whole different bike. If this doesn't appeal to you, trust me you will be way happier with something else.

Don't get me wrong, I love my GS and have spent several times it's value in mods and repairs plus countless hours doing everything from paint and upholstery to fabricating parts where no aftermarket exists and retrofitting modern stuff to work where oem parts are impractical. I'm not selling it or trashing it's value. It just strikes me that you may not be the temperament of person who will appreciate the GS's strengths more than you are frustrated by it's weaknesses.

You start out asking how to go faster. You have the wrong bike.

Yes, but the next thing the OP asks about is making the bike comfy and cozy. They realize what the bike is actually going to be for them or they would have bought a 90's super sport instead. (And btw, look at the new Vstrom1050 and Katana. Suzuki is taking design cues from the same era as the GS500E. I think the bike is starting to look relevant again).

Many people have spent many times the value of their GS500 in mods (I know I have), That shows how the little GS is more than the sum of its parts.
For example, the frame. The GS500 has a load capacity equal to large bikes like a BMW R1200GS. You can't load a GSX600 with fully loaded locking hard cases. The subframe isn't designed for it. Luggage is expensive, yes, but its expensive for all bikes. The fact that the GS is rated to tour fully loaded with 600 lbs of rider, passenger, and luggage is rare in bikes that cost under $2000.

You could turn a Katana into a comfy sport tourer that would be much faster than the GS500 but it would still weight 100 lbs more.
You could try to do it with a CBR or GSXR but it would never be comfy and could never carry as much.

Quote from: Bluesmudge on April 18, 2020, 08:59:44 AM
You could turn a Katana into a comfy sport tourer that would be much faster than the GS500 but it would still weight 100 lbs more.
You could try to do it with a CBR or GSXR but it would never be comfy and could never carry as much.

Buuut... an SV650 weighs little more than a GS and has nearly 2x the power, and far more aftermarket for seats, foot controls, etc. to make it as comfortable as you like. It'll still cost more but in the end, much less than a GS plus the same kind of mods. Ditto that an ER6n or Ninja 650 if you dig parallel twins. Or stretch out and get a FZ-07.

Guess it all depends on budget. I'm just saying that the merits of the lowly GS are not those that are in demand with the "go faster" crowd. But a faster bike is going to be more expensive to own at any price point.

I think that Honda is in a totally different league.   Learn how to ride better in the curves and braking and you might give him a run....but straight out acceleration....the 500 just doesn't' have it.

But he Gs500 is plenty fast....driving around like a maniac gets old pretty quick...and there's a lot more to enjoy about motorcycling then that.

If your friend thinks he is hot shite...get him to a track day.....guys and girls on 300 ninjas and Yamaha R3's will pass him!


Cookie

Quote from: pugg330 on April 17, 2020, 09:46:54 AM
I just bought a 1995 Gs500e and i was wondering what sprocket combo would increase my top speed. I have a friend that I ride with that has a 2006 Honda CBR600RR and i just want to keep up a bit better. I would also like to know what the maintenance intervals look like so I can make sure she lasts for many more years to come. My mechanics knowledge is pretty basic so I would love to learn more to keep all the work in my own shady tree.

Quote from: twocool on April 19, 2020, 05:52:10 AM

If your friend thinks he is hot shite...get him to a track day.....guys and girls on 300 ninjas and Yamaha R3's will pass him!

This! Except most track days won't let you pass each other but having the track day people move you into the slower groups is just as embarrassing for people with an ego.

I prefer the GS500 to the SV650 since I found myself doing 90 in a 30 on the SV. And, the SV is not an actual "fast bike" with HP in the 60s.

I remember seeing endless posts in the old EX250 forum, people ride the EX as a first bike and then they want 10 more HP out of it. The responses include 1) learn how to ride better if you want to go faster, 2) get a faster bike, 3) learn to enjoy a mild motorcycle.

I read somewhere the GS500 crank cannot handle 50 RWHP, hence the ceiling is mid 40s.

I don't want to start a "specs" war or anything but the SV650 has 75 hp and 47 lb ft. Those are noticeable increases over the GS. Once I graduate I'm actually looking to pick up a lightly used newer SV650, I love the trellis frame on the new bikes haha. Probably keep the GS to tinker on, and teach my wife to ride on it.

Source: https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2017-suzuki-sv650-first-ride-review.html

Like as far as luggage i'm thinking like toss over saddlebags and a tail bag thats easily removed mostly for grabbing groceries and some road tripping but not anything major like hard cases. Oh, and also are grips with throttle bosses any good? Like I'm really curious about them for road trips and stuff like that.

Quote from: pugg330 on April 19, 2020, 09:56:42 PM
Like as far as luggage i'm thinking like toss over saddlebags and a tail bag thats easily removed mostly for grabbing groceries and some road tripping but not anything major like hard cases. Oh, and also are grips with throttle bosses any good? Like I'm really curious about them for road trips and stuff like that.

yea their pretty neat, atleast for me, wrist gets tired easily on long trips, and with one of those you just relax your hand on the throttle. I'd say its a must have for long trips

Awesome so the throttle boss doesn't get in the way should you decide to open up on the empty roads? Like I'll be adult and honest and say i speed every now and again and I like to ride fast at times and try to draw my inner street racer out from time to time. But as for throw over saddle bags am i going to need to do any other mods to the bike or can i just throw them over and be good?

You can just throw on soft saddle bags. Watch where they contact the plastics as they may cause some paint wear if you care about such things. The exhaust is pretty low on the GS so that shouldn't be a problem as long as you adjust the bags correctly.
You can throw them on under the seat for a more polished look that is harder to steal.

I tried a cramp buster/throttle boss once. I hated it -- totally gets in the way for me. Some people love it (obviously or they wouldn't be selling them for decades).
I have a friction based cruise control (Throttlemeister ) but the situations where I have used it are few and far between. I had it on a Vstrom1000 I was selling and figured it wouldn't increase the value so I moved it to my GS. Its basically functioned as an expensive bar end weight since then. Occasionally it is nice to give your right hand a break on long/straight/flat stretches of road (not many of those where I live).

Btw, filling your bars with lead or copper bbs will drastically reduce vibrations for long road trip comfort. It changes the resonate frequency to a wavelength that doesn't bother your hands as much.

Quote from: pugg330 on April 19, 2020, 09:56:42 PM
Like as far as luggage i'm thinking like toss over saddlebags and a tail bag thats easily removed mostly for grabbing groceries and some road tripping but not anything major like hard cases

I think my only two cents worth of contribution here is to recommend the Renntec rear rack.  It's the only one I've found that is a good fit and pretty rock solid.  I use one in combo with a (relatively) cheap Chinese top box on my GS commuter and it fits plenty of stuff and is lockable. Renntec makes racks that fit the E or F.