Suzuki GS500 reviews

This is my first bike. Everyone told me to get a 250cc as a starter bike but one friend told me I would get bored quick. So I went with this bike as an interim to a 600cc. I think this is great for a person who truly wants a starter bike but after 4 months and riding with other friends who had 600cc's, I got bored and now I long for a faster bike. I think you should get the SV650, its only $1500 more and you get alot more; it has more HP, more CC, and weighs the same. This bike is kinda top heavy! (Well, at least its hard for me to pick it up when I drop it; I'm 5'0" and 100 pounds!) I got a custom Corbin seat and its heavenly. PS - Has anyone bought the windshield? Show less

I bought my 2001 GS after a bunch of years not riding. The rider positioning was just right for a newer rider that may want to go more agressive later on. The performance of the bike was as advertised, but a little disappointing on the highway.I sold mine after 3 months and moved on to a cruiser. Show less

My GS is a 2000 model, and I can't say enough good about this bike. If you want a motorcycle that you can ride all the time this is the bike you want. I put over 1000 miles on this bike in less than a month, and I didn't take any long trips. I may have taken the long way home a few times, but what the heck, right? The best thing about this bike is that it takes virtually no effort to ride. My dad has an 800cc BMW that he maybe rides once a week. It just seems like a big hassle for him to get it ready for a ride. All I do is pull my bike out of the garage, start it, put on my jacket and helmet, and off I go. After taking the long way home I sometimes suffer from numb buns, but it's a small price to pay. Show less

I bought a brand new '01 gs500. it has been broken in with over 1000 miles. This is my first bike. It has enough speed and maneuverability for any rider. going over 100 MPH is an intense feeling although dangerous. don't judge this 500. It can handle GP abuse! I put universal cafe fairing on it, replaced handlebars, which lowered it...replaced bar grips, took off the center stand, and will soon add a nice rear seat cowling. this bike is very similar to the ex500, just a little more top end, that's all. They are both equally capable. Show less

light easy to handle I have a brand new GS500 2001. I love it! It is light and easy to handle. The only flaw is that the seat is very hard, but is easy to fix. It takes a long time to warm up. It is great on gas, with over 50 mpg. It is lots of fun and I would recomend this bike to any new rider. Show less

My GS500 is actually a 1989. I choose to write because I'm so impressed by this little 12-year old bike. I purchased my bike new a while back with only 15000 miles on it. The thing runs like it's brand new (I know, I've test ridden the 2001 model). I would recommend this bike to anyone starting out (like myself) but also to veteran riders looking for a cheap, reliable ride to scoot around town or day day-trips on. This little 487cc engine has more than enough power to get you in trouble, but its power delivery can be controlled so it doesn't seem overwhelming to a newbie like me (e.g., it will easily outrun any normal vehicle on 4-wheels). It also gets between 45-60 MPG between my aggressive city-highway riding. Faults? Well, every bike has them. The only thing I can see is that the front fork tends to bottom out on large holes in the road (particularly when you're using the front brake) and it tends to take a about 2-5 minutes to fully warm up here in Colorado. Speaking of Colorado, I've taken up to 7000-10000 foot passes and it performs flawlessly with a downshift or two. One more note: I'm over 6 foot and weigh around 225 pounds, and again, it has more than enough power to scoot me around very quickly. Bottom line: If you're looking for a fun little bike, get one! If you're looking for a cheap and reliable bike, get one! If you're looking for a bike that will do almost everything with little fuss, get one! Show less

I picked up my bike last March from the bike show. I just got my license last October. I wanted a good all around bike that would not be too intimidating to learn on and one that I would not grow out of easily. I definitely made the right choice. The 2001 GS500 is a great bike with great looks. It's cheap to buy, maintain, and insure. I take it out with my wife on the back most of the time and there is plenty of room and power for two. I love the classic unfaired look! A pipe, filter, and jet kit would spice up the performance. Show less

Anyone who doubts the performance of this little 500, hasnt driven it properly. Its my only my second bike, but I've driven many, and can easily say this is the most forgiving ever. Acceleration is great, and with the right tire, you can lay her right down in the curves. Top speed is supposedly 190km'h, but good luck getting past 180km/h. In fact thats about the only downer about this bike: not very good high speed roll on. After you hit 160km/h, you sluggin it; but up to 160km/h is nooo problem. Front suspension is a bit too soft, but a fork oil change solves that problem quickly. And the rear suspension is adjustable which is great. You can set it up for blasting through the winding side roads, or for two-upping. Off the line, shes great, and you can stand her up easy if you know how. Its a it slower then a EX500 Ninja, but way more for your money (significantly cheaper). With a few changes (tire, fork oil, air filter, and pipe), its runs just as fast as any EX; but sounds waaay better. So if you like the stylish unfaired look, and want an easy to ride bike with a lot of "bang for your buck", Suzuki's GS500e is the bike for you. Show less

My racing red '94 was the best street bike I ever had...and I've owned all kinds of streetbikes too....very reliable, great looks, handling, acceleration, fit & finish...was able to top out at 105mph with a set of splitfire sparkplugs & synthetic oil...actually sold it last summer for $$$ than I had paid for it years ago!...seems like everyone wants one!...plus the local state police safe rider course instructor recommends this bike!...I even had no problem with two -up riding!...buy one & enjoy this lil' gem with ease of maintenance too! Show less

Just got my bike in June of 2000, and she is my first ride. She is real peppy in the city, with the lower gears to easily allow you to get in and out of traffic. On the highway, anything above 120 km/h (65 mph) she gets a little squirrily. It tops out at 165 km/h (approx. 92 mph) and that is fine...so long as you aren't riding with true sport bikes. Suzuki was able to blend the speed bike handling with the cruiser comfort with this bike. In the 5 months I had her on the road, I racked up 8000 km. It is a real joy to ride, and you will always find something new you can do with her. Although I plan on selling her in another year, learning off of this bike instead of a powerhouse sport bike or a monsterous cruiser will allow anyone new to the game the confidence to learn with ease. The only issues I have with the bike is having to stop every several hours to....ahem...adjust yourself. A cushier seat for those long rides would be beneficial indeed. Cold starts are hard sometimes...not fuel injected. I would recommend this bike to anyone who has never riden before, but to the more experienced, go after something you won't out grow within 2 years. Show less