Suzuki GS500

Simple, but flawed, all rounder – Here's a basic naked bike that attracts most people because it's a 500 for similar prices to a 250 or 300. I've had loads of motorcycles and purchased this to be a troublefree commuter while other, more exotic project bikes were off the road being rebuilt. I've now owned it for a while and put down some mileage, found out a few things which aren't… Read more

immediately apparent when you look at these bikes in the classifieds.

Pros:

-cheap to buy

-low running costs (only one disc brake, only two spark plugs, etc etc)

-Returns about 4-4.5L/100km depending on riding conditions

-flexible engine, just as happy to chug along at low revs as it is spinning out to redline

-well spaced six speed gearbox, only pulls 5k rpm (11k redline) at 100 km/h

-long fuel range, over 350km if you're touring

-factory centerstand is a very welcome feature

-reasonably comfy for a pillion passenger

-parts are very common, chances are your local bike shop will have things like brake pads and fork seals sitting on the shelf

-sold on every continent, so there's lots of information about these available online

Cons:

-Stock suspension is just ridiculously soft. I'm 75kg and found the forks bottoming out on gentle stops. Both the forks and shock just wallow about and there's no adjustment apart from rear preload. The good news is there's lots of documentation and DIYs online about fixing this problem. I spent $220 on racetech 0.85 springs, $20 on 20w oil, and $80 on a secondhand yamaha r6 shock and now the suspension is bloody great. Now it feels like a decent sporty naked bike, not a ultra stiff supersport. YMMV due to weight, riding style, and budget.

-Short maintenance intervals. 6k minor, 12k major service schedule. If you look up the owners manual for these you will find that you need to do a valve check and retorque the head/exhaust bolts every 6k.

-Unforgiveably clumsy design elements. In no particular order, here are some of the clangers I've encountered:

>>the valve shims (remember you are checking/possibly adjusting these every 6k) require a special suzuki tool to remove them. Suzuki charges $330 for the tool and it has to come from japan. Or you can get one for about $15 online but it takes a few weeks to arrive. Why doesn't this tool come with the bike?

>>Exhaust bolts which need to be retorqued every 6k - these are steel bolts into an alloy head. They will definitely sieze and snap and ruin your day. If you are lucky enough to get these out, please replace them with studs and nuts and use plenty of antiseize when you reinstall.

>>The fuel tank is a PITA to remove, and yes you have to remove it for all sorts of maintenance tasks. The design of the fuel tap and frame mounted petcock is just stupid. The way the fuel tap is located under the tank, you have to access it with a super long screwdriver so there's no way you can do this with the onboard toolkit (say on the side of the road for example).

>>The fuel hoses are 6mm at the tank end and 8mm at the petcock end, so you have to buy suzuki replacements if they ever wear out. Suzuki recommends replacing them every 4 years but I've never heard of anyone doing that. Anyway try asking your suzuki dealer for the three new suzuki fuel lines and find out that some of the hoses are discontinued, the others are $40+ per hose.

>>The nipples to synchronise the carburettors (every 6k) are just completely buried. Actually the #2 nipple is okay, but the #1 nipple is tucked underneath the choke cable and throttle linkage - good luck.

>>The (cheap steel) rear swingarm is designed in such a way that road grit, leaves, sand etc collect in the internal pockets and rust it out from the inside. If you are buying a used gs500 please carefully check the inside of the swingarm around the shock linkage/front of the back tyre because they all start rusting from here.

...that's all I can remember re: design at the moment, but there's probably more surprises lurking the further you get involved with this bike...

-CHEAP MATERIALS: all the chrome pits, the steel frame rusts if you look at it wrong, the exhaust corrodes like an old alfa romeo (this is a problem because the exhaust needs to come off for certain regular maintenance tasks), bolt heads rust, the paint on the tank is pretty thin and scratches easily, the instrument needles fade. I park my bike undercover and in the shade if I'm on a ride, but even still these problems are showing up quite early.

-The brake calipers corrode and sieze, probably also related to the cheap materials

-Limited tyre selection due to the 130/70/17 rear. You have the unsavory choice of either running very old designs of bias ply tyres or squeezing oversized tyres onto the rims if you want to get your hands on newer radials.

-Realistically this bike is about as fast as a ninja 250 or yamaha r3 in an all-out drag race. The bigger engine is matched by a heavier weight penalty. The only benefit you get from the big engine is more torque at lower RPM than you would get on the smaller bikes.

So with all that said, would I recommend this bike? ....tentatively yes.... kind of. It's a bike that requires the sort of constant tinkering and care that you would give to a classic bike. Not a modern injected watercooled toaster appliance that you just ride and fuel and throw away. However I'm not sure brand new riders will necessarily have the experience required to deal with all the faults and special maintenance requirements. Guys experienced enough to deal with all these faults will probably want a bike more exotic than this. So I'm not sure who I'd recommend this bike to. That said, now that I've sorted most of the niggles on mine... I'm gonna keep it!

The perfect lambs bike – I bought my GS 500 with a plan to keep it for a year or so before upgrading to something bigger. I ended up keeping it for well over 7 years and rode it all over NSW and Victoria multiple times. It was comfortable and reliable with plenty of power for pretty much anything you want to do. Great on the twisty roads. Big 20 litre tank gave me over… Read more

400 km's when touring and well over 300 running round town. Top speed a bit over 170 so very comfortable at 120 on the motorway @ 6k rpm. I'm only 5'3" tall so the seat height at 780 mm was good for me. The GS500 is the perfect bike for entry level mid range lams riders. Great commuter, great tourer. I recently upgraded to an SV 1000 which I love for its power but I miss the GS for its ease of ride.

powerful reliable – As a man 6"4 I struggled to find a bike that was comfortable and powerful enough to suit me and this bike is that and then some. More reliable than the sun rising. If you're looking for a strong LAMS bike this is THE bike to get. Excellent Youtube clips for any DIY servicing including oil and filter change and brake/clutch lever,  Show details

Best damn bike to cut ones teeth on! – Fantastic bike never a issue. Freezing or stinking hot and humid just hums along. IF i had a criticism it would be that it is a little heavy but thats only because I'm not a big fella and tip toe at all traffic lights to reach the ground. You will not find a better value bike from a reputable manufacturer!

Best exotic bike ever – Awesome Heavy Bike I love amazing jumps and other functions while riding like you are moving above the water simply awesome vehicle to ride. I WOULD love to recommend any one going to have a new heavy bike must go for this Suzuki model to enjoy riding on a bike you will surely love to have under you for a long time I bet

Great bike excellent for learners – Hi, I bought a 2010 gs500 about 10 months ago and I cannot fault it. Payed $3800 from a private seller. Insurance was cheap. Ive done about 10000kms on it so far and nothing has gone wrong. The seating position is comfortable although the seat is not the best. Enough power for most beginners and im 6'3 and 110kg can still get going. Servicing is… Read more

easy to do yourself centre stand etc. Needs to warm up a bit to really start humming. I like the look of them. Still looking to get a bigger bike when i get my full licence but wouldnt mind keeping the gs if i could afford it as well. A++

Best learner bike – Best bike I've ever had ! 70.000km and didn't miss a beat. I went on adventures in Australia and had no issues what so ever ! Can't speak high enough of the bike.

Still Riding it After 3 Years! – After 3 previous reviews of this bike here is my 4th. Yes, my comments have appeared here before but what makes this so special is that you get to see first hand how the bike has gone over time with the same owner. It has been a wet past twelve months for riding and my commute to work dropped drastically for four months. So I haven't put as… Read more

many clicks on has had been expected. Nevertheless, the bike is now at 59,000kms and purring along nicely. Since my previous update I had to change the fork seals and 10,000km after that the left side engine cover gasket, as it had started to seep oil. I am a little suspect on that gasket as it had been fine right up until After I got the bike back from a mechanic who fixed a rear tyre puncture - not my normal mechanic. I took it to my normal mechanic and he discovered the side cover bolts were loose, which allowed the oil to seep. He tightened them but the damage had been done and the gasket needed replacing. I suspect the other mechanic loosened the bolts so I'd need to come back again to replace the gasket. No proof, just too darn coincidental that the gasket should be right as rain for three years and then start seeping days after visiting a nearby mechanic who I normally don't go to. Hmmm. Anyway. While the gasket was getting done I also replaced both wheel bearings - the front one was getting worn but I figured I'd replace it now instead of later and get it over and done with while the side cover gasket got changed out. And I figured I'd do both front and rear bearings at the same time so they both had new bearings - that was at 52,000kms.

Anyway. The bike is still purring along. No oil burning, no engine trouble or odd noises indicating bad engine wear. I am Still on my Original Brake Pads (something that surprises my mechanic) showing I do not brake late and hard nor encounter much stop go traffic on my commute. And everything is still going well. I did add an aftermarket fork brace and put in slightly thicker oil (15wt instead of 10wt which it comes with) on the front forks when the seal was replaced at 43,000 - this improved cornering stability, otherwise the bike is completely stock.

Still on the chain I replaced at 23,000kms - so it now has 36,000kms on it and I use Belray Super Clean as the chain lube. The front tyre is the one I replaced at 29,000 so it has 30,000 on it and still life left. And the rear tyre is the one I replaced at 40,000 so it has 19,000 on it and is still looking good. All my tyres are Pirelli Sport Demons (stock front, 140 rear instead of the stock 130).

The bullet proof engine is still going strong, the seat is still comfortable and not hard and brittle. The original battery is still being used and going well, even after letting it go flat a couple of times and letting the water level drop and prolonged non riding due to weather. Fluid top up and on the charger and all is well again.

I have heard people have gotten 100,000 Miles out of their GS500s - that's 160,000kms. If so, I've got another 100,000 clicks to go before the bike is at the end of its working life. And that's a few more years of riding yet.

I still get between 330 - 360km of range before needing to switch to reserve, depending on my riding style (I don't fill right up, only to the bottom of the neck sleeve - but - I can fill the tank right up and get 400km before needing to refill, with fuel still left in the tank). No smoke is being blown from the stock muffler. No bulbs have blown yet either. And basically, everything is still fine with the bike. I know most people do not keep their GS500s and look at them only as bikes to learn on before getting a more powerful and faster bike, but I feel this bike is a keeper and the only difference is how the owner looks upon the bike. It'll break all legal speed limits and can spit you out in corners like any other bike if you ride it too hard for the corner in question, it just doesn't have the launching speed of more powerful bikes. Otherwise, it's a darn fine bike. Do not expect it to have the acceleration of a litre bike or handling performance of bikes with adjustable everything, steering dampers and so on, and you will find much to smile about while riding this bike. Bullet proof engine; large tank with long range before needing to be refilled; agility and maneuverability.

Great all-rounder – Amazingly fun bike that has a decent amount of power. The bike runs very smooth and is easy to service. Also has a large fuel tank that lasted me 2-3 weeks at a time of daily commuting. Maneuverability is very forgiving on the gs500, I was able to get quite low on a few turns and feel completely safe. One sort of annoying thing about the bike is… Read more

that it takes a little while to warm up. Every morning i would use the choke to get it going before my commutes.

Other than that its a perfect bike to learn on with a decent amount of power. I certainly feel comfortable riding something higher than a 600cc now that Ive had experience on the GS.

The perfect budget allrounder – 2011 model first rego'd march 2012, Paid $4,500 with 20k kms full service history up to date in good condition, The Gs500 is just awesome value , i was looking at and wanted the Honda cb400 but could not justify paying an extra 2.5 to 3k for similar year and mileage as a first bike which could quite possibly be dropped ect.That extra cash I… Read more

saved allowed me to buy good quality protective clothing and a top notch helmet (which is super comfy) ;-)

It is definatelty quick enough for a learner, runs unreal once warmed up and handles nicely on twisty roads . Great budget motorbike that wont let you down as long as you keep your servicing up to date (which can be done at home if your keen, there are heaps of youtube videos which explain step by step from basic oil and filter change to checking valve clearance and carby clean out ect.also check out gstwins.com).

Very, Very, happy with this bike ,value for money and ease of rideabilty plus a solid reliable engine make it an affordable learner platform or daily commute for pretty much any persons height,weight or age to get out and enjoy motorcycling . Highly recommended.

500 good reasons to get your motorbike L's – A classic that was awesome 20 years ago and still is! Even though I've had much bigger bikes, I bought this agile run around so I could save in fuel and got a bargain at 3200$ last year. Very easy to ride, only problem I've ever had was when it dropped off its side stand (still trying to figure out why...) while idling, had a broken clutch lever… Read more

which cost me a whopping 15$ to replace!!! haha Very economical, mechanics couldn't be simpler, has a centre stand. Because it's so silent with the original exhaust, car drivers and pedestrians might not hear you coming, don't trust anyone sees you on the road!

Top bike – This is my third bike in about 5 weeks I first had a scooter then traded it for a 250cc but still wasn't happy with that then I accidentally come across this bike my 250 was a new bike but after taking the GS500 for a test ride I traded it on straight away it rides so smooth on the road and the gears are smooth as well it handles great. Now im… Read more

happy riding the GS500. has plenty of power when you need it. squeeky back brake but thats not a problem really.

Bullet Proof Learner Legal Bike – Given that I only wanted to spend $4000 or less, I bought my GS500F (fairing model) with 48,000 km's for $3400. It's a 2008 model, so it didn't need a road worthy inspection for rego. Previous owner was based in Wollongong, so the high km's are mainly highway. Bike has obviously been serviced, and runs well. If this were any other bike, I… Read more

wouldn't dream of purchasing a bike with so many kilometres, but given these bikes are;

A) Super simple

B) Haven't changed in 20 years

C) Can be serviced by anyone, with parts galore available from any motorcycle wrecker

I felt I couldn't go wrong.

I have absolutely no regrets.

This thing will smash all your newer 250's and 300's that people pay full price for. It's economical (350 - 400km's / tank), handles well, has more than enough power, and more importantly has more torque than smaller bikes in the learner range.

I just had the bike fully serviced and inspected (after putting 5000km's on it) and the mechanic could not fault it in any way. All it needed was oil and filter. His verdict? So long as I continue preventative maintenance (oil's/lube/filters) this bike will run forever.

Given I bought this bike as a commuter, so I don't have to pay for parking, or be stuck in traffic, I'm completely over the moon.

Best advice I can give if you're looking, is to find one used, with a service history (don't be scared of high kilometres).

I don't think these are a good buy brand new, given the choices you have in that price range (Honda CB500F/R/X), but as a used proposition, this is the Corolla of motorcycles. Indestructible, millions on the road, parts galore, and mechanics love them.

Just like a Corolla, it doesn't do any one thing brilliantly, but it does EVERYTHING very, very well. Price, parts, simplicity, robustness, handling, power Nothing really, as others have mentioned, squeaky rear brake. Mechanic advised pad change would fix, but why spend money when you don't need to?

Fantastic – This is my second bike, upgraded from 250 and bought 2012 unfaired model brand new. Absolutely no regrets. Purchased around 5 months ago and have since put 3000k's on the clock commuting to and from work every day. This is the perfect bike for me, i'm 6'3" tall and even on longer rides it remains comfortable and easy to handle. I get at least… Read more ·  1

300-350 k's from a tank with city riding and closer to 400 on longer rides. Has enough power to get you to the speed limit quickly without being over the top. Likes the corners and handles comfortably. Easy to handle, very fuel efficient, super comfortable. Great price. Need to remove seat to access helmet locks. No storage space at all. Rear brake screams! Lots of vibration on highway.

Best "Bike" ever made. Great for learners and fun for an experienced rider too – It's not fancy, its not fast, its not a head turner but it is probably the best all round value for money bike ever made. Brakes: the steering geometry of this bike gives you confidence to brake hard. An important consideration if you are a learner that wants to stay alive. Handling: the thing basically has training wheels. It is extremely… Read more

forgiving of poor riding, yet extremely rewarding to a good rider. The riding position is perfect to give you the maximum control.

Rideability: It's got great gearing for riding around at legal speeds plus a bit. Plenty of low down torque, for its weight so you don't have to constantly change gears through the mountains. The cornering clearance is pretty good. As a rider with 400 000km of experience, I can beat most riders through the mountains on this bike once I have adjusted the suspension to suit. Yes a competent rider on this bike will beat any gumbi on an R1.

The parts are cheap and can be soured easily from a wrecker. Unlike other bikes, susuki doesn't change the design of this one every year. This makes it a really cheap bike to own and if your a learner, a cheap bike to drop. The engine is bullet proof, it has been around for years. it doesn't look pretty.

great start – my first road bike loved it for a long time just about off my p plates and cant wait to upgrade. i found it to be a good start and gave me confidence to move up to a bigger bike . this bike is so close to being awesome it now just needs a few upgrades mainly cosmetic new light, tail fairings and instrument cluster would bring it into the modern… Read more

age the engine is fine as a runabout bike or a bit of twisty riding very light and flickable and good power over 6000rpm. im sure when i trade up ill talk fondly of it like my first car but for the love of money i would never go back or would i? light and nimble,easy power delivery,awesome fuel economy (id run mine to reserve 370k and still 6litres in tank low torque , dated light and instrument cluster wooden brakes

Older bloke – What a great bike! Not too much power to get you into strife, however more than enough power to get you to the speed limit quickly, take the hills and buzz past anyone you want. I got one of these to do my learners. I could have got a newer 250 but I'm so glad I changed my mind. Fuel economy is fantastic, the riding position is upright (so you can… Read more

look over your shoulder) and its user friendly to service yourself. If your a bit older over 6 foot and about 100kg, this will do you well Pretty quick, heaps of talk, great on fuel The seat is a bit hard

Good – Now a bloody good bike, I love it, my mates love it, even my wife loves it. Why Suzuki cant make a more comfortable seat is beyond me! Very reliable, looks good. Would like a bit more power at times, but would probably end up killing myself. Looks good, easy to lay into through corners, feels secure, nice exhaust note, enough power even with… Read more

pillion passenger, cheap to buy, especially secondhand. Standard handlebars too low for me,(got some vh8 bars, so I can sit more upright) Seat is too hard long distance,(got a sheepskin),too much foot brake pedal freeplay,and can't be adjusted,(go into corners with with light pressure on pedal to take up slack)

Money Spent well – I bought my GS500 (09) model bike an I've had no problems with it at all I've had the Gs500 (1995) model an both have been fantastic they may not be the most powerful or fastest bike but wow its still great to ride no matter how old you are or level of experince its a great bike to go on my mate races CBR 600's an he enjoys my… Read more

bike more then his bike

an we both see it as its more enjoyable to ride great breaking power an power to go with it

I would 100% recomended this bike to them reliable, inexpensive, energy efficient, great on fuel hates the cold same as I do ha ha

Excellent Learners/Provisional Bike – I purchased a 2005 Suzuki GS500 against all my friends who advised me that Suzuki's were unreliable, untrustworthy, miserable pieces of garbage. They were all proven wrong by this bike. I love it to bits. Brought the bike from where we bought it back home on a single tank of fuel (about 420ks), and hit the reserve about 15ks out of home. And I… Read more

wasn't kind to it on the way home either.

Purchased with 32,000 ks on the clock, I have since put it up too 38,000 since buying it 8 months ago, and it runs like a dream. Easy to start, plenty of pull when you need it, and enough go at highway speeds to keep up with much larger bikes (The group I ride with has a selection of huge displacement bikes, and yet I never feel I'm holding the group up.)

The gears are well engineered, and there are no faults I can find with shifting up and down gears at speed. My fiancee had a Kawasaki Ninja 250r, and it would occasionally go into a "false neutral" between 2nd and 3rd, and also between 5th and 6th gears. Never had that problem with this bike. It can be difficult to find neutral after running for some time, but I've had that experience with all bikes I've ridden.

The engine is solid, low maintenance, reasonably quiet, but still gives you a kick in the pants when you want to get a little stupid on the road. The power produced is linear, and doesn't kick like a mule between rev ranges. It doesn't like the cold all that much, loves the choke on most mornings, it runs brilliantly after it's warmed up for a couple of minutes.

The seat height and position are a plus for myself. I'm not a tall lad, and most sports bikes leave me having to lean off to the side of the bike to get a foot on the ground. The riding position is comfortable, but the seat itself is something less to be desired. It's no armchair, but it certainly keeps you from falling asleep on the arrow straight roads I have out here. If you can find an aftermarket seat to put on it, do it. It'll save your ass, literally.

The rear brake is not brilliant, but does a good enough job of bringing the bike to a halt when you get a little more heavy with your foot. The front brakes, although only a single rotor job, seem to do very well. I have yet to experience the "rear brake squeak", although it does seem to be a common complaint.

Shortly after purchasing the bike, the stator shorted out, leaving me with a flat battery and no way to ride. Replacement stator was $800, refurbished was half that price. It has been the only thing I've needed to replace on the bike since I bought it. (Aside from a rear tire, but lets not get into that.)

The bars do tend to vibrate quite alot at highway speeds, more of a gentle hum moreso then a violent "This is when I die" that I've experienced on other bikes. I blame the heated grips that are fitted to the bike more then anything else. I didn't experience that problem when I test rode a new one. 20 litre fuel tank, plenty of power for learners and P-Platers, lower seat position makes more a better choice for shorter riders, very reliable Can be difficult to start on cold mornings, vibrations through handlebars make your arms go numb, seat is anything but comfortable.

Excellent – This is my first bike - initially I wished I'd gone with something smaller but after a couple of weeks I was glad I picked it. It's stable at low speed and at 190 kg it's reasonably easy to pick up when dropped! Once it gets warmed up it goes very nicely - good acceleration and handling make it fun to ride both in town and on the open road. Good… Read more

torque, comfortable riding position, great mileage, fairly light, decent speed Needs lots of choke when cold; numb bum after 2 hours + riding

Excellent – Bought a new K9 model as my learners bike. For an entry level bike it has plenty of go and there are not many cars that will take you off the lights. I've done 6000kms so far and it has never missed a beat. Seems to need a bit of choke to start most days but once warm it runs fine. Great pricing for the new bike. Easy to ride especially in traffic… Read more

(i use mine mainly as a commuter) and it fits between the cars easily. Being light and easy to ride it also loves the corners on the open road. Getting about 340kms before having to switch to reserve, so i only have to fill up once a week. Centre stand is standard which makes chain maintenance and other reparis & servicing a breeze. Had the squeaky rear brake looked at during the 1000km service but it still is noisy. If thats the worst thing then life ain't too bad. Not sure if i will need to upgrade once getting my full license as this bike currently does everything i need it to. A great entry level package and one i would highly recommend. Price, 20L Fuel Tank, Easy to service, nimble in traffic and easy to handle. No fuel gauge, no clock, squeaky rear brake and rear brake lever has too much play.

Excellent – Ive ridden bikes for about 25 years on and off and in this time I have made alot of purchasing mistakes...but buying this Suzuki new wasn't one of them. Its cost me dear and I didn't want to waste my hard earned cash again. I have ridden many bikes ranging from 50cc to 900cc,and this is definitly the best bike I have ever owned. I say this… Read more

because I am somebody who likes a good combination of utility and aesthetic and this bikes got enough of both. I also want to pay the least to get the most in terms of transport and you dont get much cheaper than this in terms of value for money. I like the bikes style, its huge 20 litre tank, its mechanical simplicity, its reliability, its fuel economy, its value for money, its colour (blue). Its been around that long its almost a classic in design and I can spot another one a mile off. Its got smooth acceleration and a decent top speed. Its got a centre stand for ease of maintenance. The seat is comfortable enough. Its well designed for pillion carrying. Its got helmet hooks under the seat to make your life easier. Has little street cred...but so what...I never cared much what other people think anyhow. I just wanted reliable and affordable transport for short, mid and long range riding around Australia! If you want to look real fancy and burn everyone off when the lights change then this is probably not the bike for you!

Good – I bought a 1999 GS500E in yellow and black in England. I kept the bike for 6 years and sellling it in August 2005 as I had moved to Australia. The bike had excellent fuel usage about 4L/100KM and was happy to cruise at 130 kmh all day and still return good fuel use. The handling was good and very fast turning and you could keep up with bigger… Read more

bikes in very twisty roads. It only needed tyres and fork seal while I owned it. I did garage the bike though and the bike is built down to a price so surface can appear If you do not keep on top of it. A excellent learners or go to work bike though. Engine goes on forever If you change the oil regular. The price, the fuel economy and comfort. A little gutless but then it is only a 500cc bike

Good – Great bike for begineer or someone looking for low cost ride, looks great and cheap to run what more can you want? Great riding position, handles very easily, enough power to really go but great in town as well Would like better brakes and suspension