Suzuki GS500F reviews

Let's be realistic. I heard people complain about "how slow the bike is". Well it's not a super bike!! It's a 500cc bike, and a good one at that! I'm just a beginner and it's hard to find a first sportbike where you won't kill yourself or come close to it. I don't need a motorcycle to help my ego; so I was going to get a Ninja 250. I was cramped on that thing and it really couldn't support my weight. I then went to the Ninja 500 but near the back of the tank it was digging into my thighs; so there was logically only one option left. The GS500 is perfect for larger riders (larger not necessarily meaning fat). It has plenty of leg room and I don't feel cramped. One of my major beefs with sports bikes is they seem designed for smaller riders. Now to the performance. Remember it is a 500cc bike; but you get plenty of performance. I'm still breaking in my engine but it can get up and go fast for a 500cc bike. My only major complaint at this time is it takes forever for the engine to warm up on cold days. The manual says full throttle for 30 seconds. HA! Try full throttle for close to a minute, then 1/4 throttle for another. Then, let it run at normal idle for a bit. So let's be real. Even the motorcycle experts say the Ninja 500 and GS500 are a toss-up. If they cannot agree you probably cannot go wrong. So if you're a beginner and in the market for a beginner bike, check both out. See which one feels comfortable and go from there. Show less

This is my first real motorcycle. Previously, I had a Honda scooter (150 cc, 65 mph top speed). I also knew how to drive a manual-shift automobile. But I had never shifted my own gears on a bike. I bought the bike for pleasure riding and for urban commuting. This bike is ideal for those purposes. Some riders claim that it lacks power, but I disagree. In my opinion it has plenty of power for everday riding (one up). It can easily handle speeds up to about 60 mph. In fact, I often ride it at 60 mph in fifth gear (so I still have one gear left). At that speed in fifth gear, the tach is at about 6000 (redline= 12000). On occasion I have ridden at 70 mph in sixth gear, and the bike still does not feel stressed. The GS500F is simple mechanically. It has a small, air-cooled, carburated engine. Maintenance is inexpensive, and the engine has a very linear throttle response. It has an old-fashioned manual clutch, so you must warm it up for about three minutes each morning. It gets incredibly good mileage. I put 94 octane gas in it, and I get 77 mpg! This bike is VERY easy to stop and turn. In fact, it is easier to handle than my scooter! It is easy to lean the bike in corners, and it has excellent brakes. It is also easy to "duck walk" the bike (ie, to move it with your feet in neutral). That can be important in tight spaces. In spite of my inexperience, I have never dropped the bike. The bike looks great! Everyone compliments me on it. It has a full fairing, so it looks like a sport bike. The triangle-shaped double headlamp is really cool. I also like the color (light blue). I do have three complaints about the bike. First, it does not have a fuel gauge. Instead, it has a "reserve" tank. When the engine starts to sputter, you reach down and flip a switch to use your reserve fuel supply. That is a traditional arrangement on motorcycles, and some people like it. However, I am practical. I say screw tradition and give me a fuel gauge! Second, it does not have self-canceling turn signals. This is very frustrating. I do a lot of urban riding, and I sometimes forget to cancel them. Third, I have had some minor transmission issues. On occasion I have had false neutrals on the bike. My mechanic is adjusting the transmission today. So hopefully that will correct the problem. Show less

Its been 6 years since I've owned a bike, and this is worth the wait. there isn't a problem with handling it and not being tall, it cruises well at 65 mph, although the fairing is succeptable to crosswinds, which then make you feel like a sail, and you fight a bit. It's pretty fast off the line, and the powerband is strong once you get there (it takes a while), I don't think it is going to compete against 600 or 750 cc bikes, but I know I won't get a ticket racing one. Overall, lots of fun and cheap too. Show less

I've only had this bike for 3 days, and I have no basis for comparison since I've never ridden any other street bike. BUT.. regardless, this bike is awesome for a new rider. It is very easy to ride; very well balanced. I would recommend this bike, again, to a new rider and to female riders (because the bike is lighter than most bikes I've handled). My husband also loves the bike, so this might be a good choice for a male. I think it comes down to the buyer's experience and what they want to do with it. Show less

I am over 50 and have owned about 20 motorcycles of all types. This is the motorcycle I was looking for. I did not want to spend a fortune and wanted a reliable motorcycle that could cruise at highway speeds and handled well. This bike is smooth, quiet, and has plenty of guts. It has a fairly upright riding position but the seat gets hard after an hour or so of riding. The front fork springs are too weak and you need to be careful with pot holes, etc. The bike has good passing power up to about 90mph, which is plenty for my needs. don't buy this bike if you want to impress your sport bike friends with performance. It will cruise easily at 65-75mph and can get you well over 100mph if the need arises. It will take off from a stop light as fast as a new 883 sportster or a stock 5 liter Mustang. Thats all I need to have in reserve, I don't race anyone these days. Contrary to what the beginners tell you, this is a fine bike for beginners or mature and experienced riders. Just remember it has limitations, it's no rocketship! Show less

This is an awesome bike! Of course anyone who just got their first bike will say that. But really, this is a wonderful bike. I have ridden other peoples' bikes since I learned how to ride on my GS500. They just do not feel as good as this. Smooth ride, awesome look, and just enough power. I have the yellow and black model, a real eye catcher. Chicks dig the bike man. Only complaints are the rear brake is weak, and the mud flap had to get cut off. Minor gripes right? This is a great bike. Show less

Well just took delivery of the bike two weeks ago, and so far I am very impressed. I had a half an hour test ride on a GS500F before I purchased, so I knew what I was getting. I got a whole lot more though once I started to put the miles on. I got a bike that inspired more and more confidence in my riding ability the more I rode it. It's amazing how my riding speed, and confidence has grown. Everything just kept getting better. Its a great commuter bike, something I use it a lot for. More than two hours in the saddle and you do start to get a bit sore, but overall the ride is comfortable. She handles really well, both in the dry and wet. My previous bike, a Triumph TT600, didn't inspire me at all - I don't miss it or the problems it gave me. I have become a much better rider in the past two weeks riding this bike. When your sweeping through the corners on those 'B' roads, on this bike, you'll be grinning from ear to ear. Plenty of power, fantastic looks in the black version, and for the price, you get a bike that will do all you want it to. Cheap insurance (unbelievably cheap), excellent on fuel, an all around bike that is happy trundling through town, making progress through the traffic, ripping through the countryside, or commuting down the motorway. The new fairing looks the biz, especially the headlight, and offers adequate protection in winds. It will make a great starter bike for someone. Things I would improve - first the brakes - they are ok, but the bike could do with something able to stop it better. The back brake is weak at the moment, may just need bedding in, but there are times when I press it and get not much at all!? A fuel warning light, or gauge would be handy - nobody likes to feel underneath to switch to reserve when flying along at 70mph. Badly positioned warning lights on the instrument display, as your keyring covers these. They would have been better incorporated into the clocks, or just above them. The bike is quite light, and so riding in strong crosswinds becomes a little tricky to say the least. Bike would look a lot better with a fatter back tire..just my opinion! She has just had her first service at 600 miles which includes changing the oil and a gasket as the timing needed adjusting. Overall a big thumbs up to Suzuki, well worth the face lift on this bike. I am sure it is going to appeal to a lot more riders, not just because of the looks, but also for the reliability, and cost of ownership. I'm looking forward to many years, and many miles with mine. Cheers Carl Williams UK Show less

I am a new rider to sport bikes, have had a couple Cruisers, and found something missing. This year I decided to try a sport bike. I picked up the 2004 GS500. The price was my first draw, then the test drive. This bike is the complete package for new riders. It has the looks and strong design of the 1000, and perfomance that is stunning for a 500. I added a few toys to it, and was not let down, riding 350 miles my first weekend, which coincided with bike week. It has the power to easily pull up the front tire in first,(provided you know what your doing). And I can clutch it up in second. If you wanna smoke the big bikes that's not going to happen, but if you want to ride and have fun then this is your bike. Getting better than average gas milage, and plenty of power for a bike it's size, then you will not go wrong with the purchase of the 2004 GS500f. Show less

I have a 2004 Suzuki GS500F and I just put 1000 miles on it. This is my second GS500 the first one was a '94. The bikes are pretty much bullet proof with the exception of the front suspension, which is way too soft. The bike will do everything you ask it to. I am 5'10" and 190lb. the fit is great and very comfortable. At 65mph the bike is turning 5000rpm's At 75mph it is turning around 6000rpm'w with redline being at 11000. You can cruise on this bike all day at highway speeds never have a problem and get 65MPG. I have had the GS500F up to 110 and still had RPM's to go. I'm not sure where it would top out at but I'm guessing around 120-130mph. The new fairing looks great and the bike is always being mistaken for a much bigger sport bike. With a performance pipe and some front suspension work this bike is a blast to ride and you can still keep up the big bikes. I would recommend this bike to anyone from beginner to advanced. I have been riding sport bikes for 20+ years and you can not go wrong with this bike. Show less

I'm probably considered an "old guy" compared to most purchasers of this ride I'm 36. I bought my '04 GS-500F as my first street bike. Sure I'd ridden 4-wheelers and dirt bikes when I was younger but nothing on the street. The bike is comfortable assembled well and relatively maintenance free and has a much more upright riding position than it's sport-bike counterparts. It looks good and a lot of people will stop you on the street to tell you how much they like it. I heeded the advice of websites and others that recommend not starting with anything larger than a 500cc bike and now I'm regretting it. On the positive side I'm sure that this bike was easier to learn on and pass the licensing test and insurance is MUCH cheaper than larger displacement sport models. It may even have saved me a few times from newbie mistakes being much more forgiving than a faster bike. After about a month-however- I am finding that I really want a more powerful bike. I don't like being on the highway at 7000 rpm (bike redlines at 11) to keep up with traffic or looking for my buddies that have disappeared off into the sunset. Just keep in-mind when looking at this model if you intend to upgrade within a year you'll take a pretty large hit on depreciation of the bike's value even if you haven't had it for long. Show less