The more I ride mine the more I think I made the right decision in buying it over other choices. It has plenty of power for real world riding. It does nothing great but does everything decently.
As an owner of the naked version, this is a LOT of bike in an affordable package. You don't feel underpowered at all on freeways unlike most 250s, gas milage is decent and it's a great budget touring motorcycle as well!
Yes, I agree. When I got into bikes again after a 30 year hiatus I struggled to find a suitable ride. I didn't want a massive cruiser or a dirt bike of which I found hundreds, then I came across the GS500. It didn't have water cooling, fuel injection or ABS, but as soon as I rode one I was very impressed & bought one. The engine is smooth & pulls surprisingly well from low down, the ride is compliant & I've yet to find any vibration. For just under 4 weeks pay I had a decent bike that does everything I need it to, is very forgiving of my mistakes & gets great gas milage.
Excellent Review RH . I have a naked ratted 2008 Spanish built GS500 K7 - I hadn't ridden for 20 years, jumped straight back on and rode 70 miles home in the wind, rain, sunshine and in the dark ! Very confidence inspiring on back roads and motorways - mine has 41,000 miles on and pulls great, sounds rude with a custom shortened pipe and has the tail chopped into a cafe racer style . Everyone loves it, especially my 79 year old Dad who used to ride an air-cooled twin Triumph Tiger 350 back in the 60s . Happy Safe Riding and Jesus Bless You All . RD
Guess you covered everything in the review. I have the same one. It's been over a year. No complains. No breakdowns. Good acceleration and top speed. Now here is the kicker. 300 cc at 60mph close to 6.8 k rpm. Whereas gs500f only 5 k rpm. So engine is quiet at higher speeds. For the price they sell for. You can't get any thing better
I own a 2003, GS500F and I love it to bits. I commute it daily all year round and drive about 11.000km / year. For me it only have two cons: no injection and no abs. Other than that it is a perfect bike for me.
@@facilis pretty sure its fuel related. It died on me other day and wouldn't start unless I had it on reserve. Runs fine on reserve and haven't had any more issues. I definitely need to figure out whats going on though lol
Very happy to see you doing used bike reviews, R.H.. I have only ever bought one new bike, all the rest were used. And I respect your p.o.v... a GS500 is a great all round bike..
+CT Mac Thanks! I believe there are many good bikes out there that deserve to get a second chance. I find myself trolling Craigslist all the time.... Put it this way, If I had unlimited funds I would be adopting quite a few of them.
I just sold my 2007 GS500F, I put 24000 KM on it and only sold it as I wanted something a bit bigger that was comfortable for two up riding, Now riding a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 but Ill always be very nostalgic about my little Suzuki.
I've got a GS500 E from 93 and I got to say it's an amazing beginner bike. It's got plenty of power to have fun with and it's very easy to work on. Give it oil when it needs to and the bike will live pretty much forever.
Got a Gs500f as 1 of my firsts, would say the review is solid. My own handles well, runs great, 2mph or 120mph it won't stop, very reliable. Harder to start than my others and its not a rocket.
Hi Rabid. Greetings from down under. Bought one of these new in 2013 (2012 model, the last of them) as someone new to motorcycling. I did a load of research on my first bike and this one ticked so many boxes. Still own it and it is my primary transport. I have put over 20,000 kilometres on it and it has been reliable. Thought about an upgrade a few times but just can't justify it to myself! Great vid.
The GS was a great platform. I am wondering with the Bandit returning if they will bring back these as well. I hope so as they are great all around bikes.
Bought one of these in the naked variant as my first bike. Was terrific, a perfect larger alternative to the Honda VTR250, which is the classic cheap reliable learner bike here in Australia. I sold it for a bargain price thinking I needed something bigger... Tried a couple of other bikes (Yamaha cruiser, Kawasaki dual sport), then eventually returned to Suzuki with a Sfv650 Gladius which I thoroughly enjoy. Kind of wish I never let the original GS500 go though!
I do love the Gladius though. But it is true that the GS500 and its more humble nature and simplistic air cooled engine has more character and rides well. Ride safe out there!
I have this bike and its a great little machine, Wife and I take it out on a 2-300km cruise and it is a nice ride on the highway. Maintenance is cheap only draw back is no real after market parts
They are wonderfully bullet proof though that is the truth. There are a few things that people do state side, but mostly it is change to the 500E type without fairing.
Also just bought a gs 500F from 2004 with 58k km on it. runs nicely and really nice. it had a custom seat so thats nice. i am a little too tall but my legs doesnt hurt from it. happy with it!
Love mine, but time to clean the Carbs and adding in a Fuel Filter. Simple bike cant ask for more simplistic design to mod/maintain/work on. Its got its quirks, ex. it has no rev limiter.
i own an 89 model gs500e since 2007 and i still keep it original as posible the brakes will be better with metalic pads and dunlop tires i have 120/70-17 and rear 140/70-17
I bought one of these as my very first bike and I f****** love for that. I ended up having to get rid of it because I didn't look at the paperwork before I bought it wasn't registered to the guy I bought it off of and it was the best beginner bike You could buy for the Money so stable. I didn't get upset. By heading small rocks in the road or bumps ended up getting an injutu fifty after this and I had a small rock with it and end up landing in the ditch
Actually having problems with my carburetor too it idles real high what is the best way to clean out a gas tank and to refinish it inside because it seems to have some Rust in the new filter that I put on
Having problems with my carburetor is it okay to take out the airbox and use regular ones that you would put on a scooter type situation I know it's a dual carburetor so I'd have to put two on but would that be okay
Having owned an 07 version of this bike, I'd rather spend my money on a 954rr. Now that is a great every day bike. Very reliable and has never failed me.
Besides that it starts every time it seems like it wants to be a good running bike but it was stalling out on me when I first bought it I haven't tested it yet since I cleaned the carburetor and it would run good for like a couple miles and then it would stall out do you have any idea what that might be
Just got handed a 2000 gs500e and a 2007 gs500f with titles got one to fire up but need both to make one good one I think I'm going to use the 2000 frame due to the 2007 has sport on the title and I don't want to have higher insurance if I don't have to
I have a 2008 here in South London - the front is a little soggy when pressing on ( easy fix ), but as the tyres are relatively narrow and it's a lightish bike it flicks from side to side with no effort, allowing mid corner adjustments with no fuss . It's not a sport bike, but ridden well it can give most 600 SuperSports a run for their money . And it's SO MUCH FUN ! A very friendly little machine - I've had three Suzukis and they're bulletproof with scheduled maintenance, and very cheap to own .
Nice review :) I'm a really tempted to buy this bike. I will get my license this June. I think the bike looks great, and I have heard a lot of nice things about it. I want something that is comfortable on the long trips, but also fun on the smaller trips :)
According to Cycle-Ergo this bike has a more forward lean (for the rider) than a Ninja 650R. 21 degrees on this bike vs 16 degrees for the Ninja 650R. Does that sound right to everyone?
Seems real unlikely but they usually have spot on info. And the 650 ninja isn't like a regular 600 ss anyways so i guess id be inclined to believe them
@@fudgepuppy9683 According to that site, the Ninja 650r has become more upright over the years. 2008 SV650, considered an ergo friendly naked, is 19 degrees vs Ninja 17 degrees. Then in 2017, Ninja goes to 14 degrees. For a different perspective, the adventure 08-09 Versys is 3 degrees!
I got one of these well taken care of for only 500 bucks (thank god for rich people right?). It was converted to naked but i guess nice to learn to ride. I don't like that it does not have an option for a seat cowl. Do you know what kind of pack your friend has on the back? Makes it look more decent to me rather than having one big long seat.
had this bike, my first one..awesome machine..just ugraded to cbr 954rr and loving every second of it..you don't forget your first though so i know that feeling riding this awesome machine. you should do a review for cbr 954rr.
Hey Rabid, I noticed your using a Sony HDR-AZ1 Action Cam and I was wondering what is your method of recording your voice in the video??? Thanks and Great review.
The Ninja is more powerful but handling and brakes are not as good, That has been my experience as I have owned both bikes. The ninja was also not as reliable.
See if you can view the machine completely cold. You would want to inspect the fuel tank. Check for rust and particles when you open it up. Check the smell of the fuel. If it has a kind of skunky odor to it the gasoline has gone bad in it meaning there may be more wrong through the rest of the fueling system. Check the carbs for leaks and other seal failures. Look at the chain and inspect for rust and binds, check wear indication on the swing arm to make sure it is of good order and also tension. (Wear indication is usually showing the axle getting close to the end of the marks meaning the chain has been stretched from age and old). Check tire age and for rot conditions. When you start the bike note if it is easy, does it require much choking even on a warmer day, if it's cold can it start on choke and back off in around 30 seconds to a minute (hence why you want a true cold start if possible to see if it acts up when starting). If it has issues on start could be an indication the fueling system is fouled up and needs deep cleaning or other issues. If you can pull a spark plug or both and look at condition. See if they are burning irregular or are wet, and if you can check out the cylinder with a scope, look at the cross hatch pattern and pistons.
Basically when it starts to run low on fuel you'll feel it starting to chug a bit. On the left side of the bike there is a fuel petcock valve that has a selector. Usually they have positions of Off or prime/ Full or On/ and then reserve. When it gets to that chugging point you flip the position indicator to Reserve and it will allow the flow from a reserve of fuel that is in the fuel tank, usually a little less than a gallon or right at a gallon. What this does is tell you to get to the gas station just like your fuel light on a fuel injected bike. However, don't forget to switch it back to full or on because if you accidently leave it on reserve then it pulls everything and you'll actually run out of fuel.
If the bike has been well maintained most anything under 35K would be fine as most services after the 35K mark require the expensive stuff such as seals and forks and all the fun things.
I'm pleased your're doing cheap, used bike reviews, it's often what people can afford. I have a 2008 GS500F & have to agree, they're great bikes, cheap to buy, cheap to insure, reliable & economical. Best of all the seat is a great place to sit on for longer rides. Down side? A bit short of power, be careful of rust & the suspension is awful, especially for bigger riders. It isn't fun bottoming out the forks out on bumps when cornering. For a rider weighing #185 geared up it might be OK, but with all my gear I get on the bike weighing #245 & the suspension is way too soft...however for $200 I put new fork springs & a rear shock (Yamaha R6) & the improvement in the ride & handling is simply astonishing. I did initially prefer the Ninja 500 for the increased performance, but soon learned that a LOT of them were flogged to death, or re-built (but still had "clean" titles!) The selection of GS500s was much better.
@@haroldrandolph3209 I'd still recommend the GS500F over a Ninja 500. Although the Ninja 500 is, theoretically, a "better bike" I'd restate my opinion above, I looked for a clean Ninja for months & only found examples that were abused & way over priced. Every GS500F I looked at was far cheaper & in way better condition by comparison.
Hmm.. This is interesting. I'm doing a lot of hunting and researching for my first motorcycle and this popped up for sale on the website I'm using to buy used bikes. So far I've narrowed it down to a handful: Honda VTR250 Honda CBR250r Honda CBR300RA Kawasaki Ninja EX250J Kawasaki Ninja 300A and this Suzuki Gs500f.... This motorcycle has completely caught me off guard, I never even thought to try and look for a Suzuki... This might be a very high potential dark horse pick for me! I'm hearing and seeing nothing but positive experiences of this motorcycle from comments and videos, I kind of get the vibe that this bike is quite an underrated pick, like a little rare gem. Especially the ones I'm seeing for sale, they are significantly cheaper than all the other bikes I've listed. There's actually not quite many up for sale but the ones that are are still competitively priced! What's you're input Rabid? :) The review video has really made me think more about my decision now haha! Great video mate.
I like the Suzuki very much overall. It is the most relaxed and standard bike of your list and has the best fairing and wind protection. Heat coming from the engine is felt near equal across all of these bikes as they dump most of it right side low, but moving you do not really feel it. The 500 is oil cooled only as well with those other choices being liquid, so easier to maintain, but if you're in a hotter climate it could be an issue if you're stop and go constantly. Moving they are always fine even in the heat. It vibes less than the others as well. Very well balanced engine.
Do any of the other bikes you mention give you 50 HP ? The GS 500 give you great value for the buck, it is a work horse, that have been made almost the same way since 89 so the technology is well proven and rarely break down and it don`t cost you a fortune to fix/maintain.
The more I ride mine the more I think I made the right decision in buying it over other choices. It has plenty of power for real world riding. It does nothing great but does everything decently.
As an owner of the naked version, this is a LOT of bike in an affordable package. You don't feel underpowered at all on freeways unlike most 250s, gas milage is decent and it's a great budget touring motorcycle as well!
That's exactly how I felt about it. It's an everyday rider that can go anywhere.
Yes, I agree. When I got into bikes again after a 30 year hiatus I struggled to find a suitable ride. I didn't want a massive cruiser or a dirt bike of which I found hundreds, then I came across the GS500. It didn't have water cooling, fuel injection or ABS, but as soon as I rode one I was very impressed & bought one. The engine is smooth & pulls surprisingly well from low down, the ride is compliant & I've yet to find any vibration. For just under 4 weeks pay I had a decent bike that does everything I need it to, is very forgiving of my mistakes & gets great gas milage.
@@dumptrump3788 awesome man great mini review! Trump 2020!
Dump sleepy Joe rhymes better in my ear
Charlie Saliba “If you vote trump you ain’t black.”
Excellent Review RH . I have a naked ratted 2008 Spanish built GS500 K7 - I hadn't ridden for 20 years, jumped straight back on and rode 70 miles home in the wind, rain, sunshine and in the dark ! Very confidence inspiring on back roads and motorways - mine has 41,000 miles on and pulls great, sounds rude with a custom shortened pipe and has the tail chopped into a cafe racer style . Everyone loves it, especially my 79 year old Dad who used to ride an air-cooled twin Triumph Tiger 350 back in the 60s . Happy Safe Riding and Jesus Bless You All . RD
Hey mines made in spain too. Thought that was weird considering its Japanese lol
I just got this bike couple weeks ago. 2009 Gs500f 5k miles on it for $600. Runs perfect!
Great little bike to have fun on! Hope you enjoy for years to come.
That’s a deal this persons selling one for 750 with under 15k miles on it
Thats a good fuckin deal for a bike lol
Where are you guys finding these deals lol, here I thought 1800$ was a steal
Guess you covered everything in the review. I have the same one. It's been over a year. No complains. No breakdowns. Good acceleration and top speed. Now here is the kicker. 300 cc at 60mph close to 6.8 k rpm. Whereas gs500f only 5 k rpm. So engine is quiet at higher speeds. For the price they sell for. You can't get any thing better
I own a 2003, GS500F and I love it to bits. I commute it daily all year round and drive about 11.000km / year. For me it only have two cons: no injection and no abs. Other than that it is a perfect bike for me.
why no injection is a con?
@@nsharg For me it's because of the cold climate that I live in. Chocke system is pretty bad on the GS. Might be a non-issue in warmer places.
@@facilis yeah mines a bitch to start when its cold and then I need to let it warm up for like a solid 10 minutes
@@KleinHeister Oh, I'm sorry to hear about the start issue. Might want to get it checked. Mine starts very easy, freezing weather included.
@@facilis pretty sure its fuel related. It died on me other day and wouldn't start unless I had it on reserve. Runs fine on reserve and haven't had any more issues. I definitely need to figure out whats going on though lol
Very happy to see you doing used bike reviews, R.H.. I have only ever bought one new bike, all the rest were used. And I respect your p.o.v... a GS500 is a great all round bike..
+CT Mac Thanks! I believe there are many good bikes out there that deserve to get a second chance. I find myself trolling Craigslist all the time.... Put it this way, If I had unlimited funds I would be adopting quite a few of them.
This is the motorcycle that I ride and I love it. Haven't had any issues with it and never really heard of them having any problems.
They are a great little ride! Glad you are a proud owner!
I just sold my 2007 GS500F, I put 24000 KM on it and only sold it as I wanted something a bit bigger that was comfortable for two up riding, Now riding a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 but Ill always be very nostalgic about my little Suzuki.
I've got a GS500 E from 93 and I got to say it's an amazing beginner bike. It's got plenty of power to have fun with and it's very easy to work on. Give it oil when it needs to and the bike will live pretty much forever.
Great bike, had mine 2 years , not the fastest,but top make for comfort and handling
Got a Gs500f as 1 of my firsts, would say the review is solid. My own handles well, runs great, 2mph or 120mph it won't stop, very reliable.
Harder to start than my others and its not a rocket.
If only there was a way to add some fuel injection to it, easier to start, and added bonus of a bit faster top end. Bike would be near perfect.
Hi Rabid. Greetings from down under. Bought one of these new in 2013 (2012 model, the last of them) as someone new to motorcycling. I did a load of research on my first bike and this one ticked so many boxes. Still own it and it is my primary transport. I have put over 20,000 kilometres on it and it has been reliable. Thought about an upgrade a few times but just can't justify it to myself! Great vid.
The GS was a great platform. I am wondering with the Bandit returning if they will bring back these as well. I hope so as they are great all around bikes.
Got 19,000 on mine now. Great bike. Pity you didn't get it in the corners- it's good!
Bought one of these in the naked variant as my first bike. Was terrific, a perfect larger alternative to the Honda VTR250, which is the classic cheap reliable learner bike here in Australia.
I sold it for a bargain price thinking I needed something bigger... Tried a couple of other bikes (Yamaha cruiser, Kawasaki dual sport), then eventually returned to Suzuki with a Sfv650 Gladius which I thoroughly enjoy.
Kind of wish I never let the original GS500 go though!
I do love the Gladius though. But it is true that the GS500 and its more humble nature and simplistic air cooled engine has more character and rides well. Ride safe out there!
I have this bike and its a great little machine, Wife and I take it out on a 2-300km cruise and it is a nice ride on the highway. Maintenance is cheap only draw back is no real after market parts
They are wonderfully bullet proof though that is the truth. There are a few things that people do state side, but mostly it is change to the 500E type without fairing.
Also just bought a gs 500F from 2004 with 58k km on it. runs nicely and really nice. it had a custom seat so thats nice. i am a little too tall but my legs doesnt hurt from it. happy with it!
Very nice! Ride it safe!
Still a lot of these running around. The perfect first 'big' bike
I have this exact same bike 6.500 k's now. Good in the rain too.
just watched vid my hubby got one yesterday and he loves riding it.
They are a nice stable and wonderful commuter bike that just works. I have a co-worker that just picked one up as well.
Love mine, but time to clean the Carbs and adding in a Fuel Filter.
Simple bike cant ask for more simplistic design to mod/maintain/work on.
Its got its quirks, ex. it has no rev limiter.
I did not know it lacked a rev limiter. But it is a simple bike to take care of and a good ride.
i own an 89 model gs500e since 2007 and i still keep it original as posible the brakes will be better with metalic pads and dunlop tires i have 120/70-17 and rear 140/70-17
Great testimony to their reliability! Keep on riding!
I bought one of these as my very first bike and I f****** love for that. I ended up having to get rid of it because I didn't look at the paperwork before I bought it wasn't registered to the guy I bought it off of and it was the best beginner bike You could buy for the Money so stable. I didn't get upset. By heading small rocks in the road or bumps ended up getting an injutu fifty after this and I had a small rock with it and end up landing in the ditch
Actually having problems with my carburetor too it idles real high what is the best way to clean out a gas tank and to refinish it inside because it seems to have some Rust in the new filter that I put on
I took this bike on a 3000 mile tour. It's fairly comfortable but there is a bit of weight on my hands which hurt a bit after a while.
I could see that. Since it's not a clip on bar though it could be rocked or raised or changed easily which is nice
I get around 45 MPG around town with this bike.
I did recently dip below 40 mpg once and it depends how much I rev the engine and how many red lights I hit.
I’m working a job to save up for this bike I can’t wait to get this bike
Own a 500f. Love it
Nice and ride it safe!
Why do you need to Lane split? Looks like no traffic
Got the same bike it has 20k miles is that high ?
Having problems with my carburetor is it okay to take out the airbox and use regular ones that you would put on a scooter type situation I know it's a dual carburetor so I'd have to put two on but would that be okay
How does it compare to a CBF600 please?
Having owned an 07 version of this bike, I'd rather spend my money on a 954rr. Now that is a great every day bike. Very reliable and has never failed me.
Besides that it starts every time it seems like it wants to be a good running bike but it was stalling out on me when I first bought it I haven't tested it yet since I cleaned the carburetor and it would run good for like a couple miles and then it would stall out do you have any idea what that might be
Just got handed a 2000 gs500e and a 2007 gs500f with titles got one to fire up but need both to make one good one I think I'm going to use the 2000 frame due to the 2007 has sport on the title and I don't want to have higher insurance if I don't have to
Probably too late lol but it’s not going to matter too much.. I have a 07 500f and my insurance for basic is like $20 a month.
Great review, thanks for posting
Thank you!
Great & well done review!
Thank you!
Great vid mate 👍 has all info that matters the most. Missing only cornering review tho. Thanks heaps 😎
CarlosDS Oklahoma is a lovely state unless you're looking for corners sadly. Thanks for the support!
I have a 2008 here in South London - the front is a little soggy when pressing on ( easy fix ), but as the tyres are relatively narrow and it's a lightish bike it flicks from side to side with no effort, allowing mid corner adjustments with no fuss . It's not a sport bike, but ridden well it can give most 600 SuperSports a run for their money . And it's SO MUCH FUN ! A very friendly little machine - I've had three Suzukis and they're bulletproof with scheduled maintenance, and very cheap to own .
Nice review :) I'm a really tempted to buy this bike. I will get my license this June. I think the bike looks great, and I have heard a lot of nice things about it. I want something that is comfortable on the long trips, but also fun on the smaller trips :)
I believe this one will fit that need for sure. I was very impressed.
Awesome :)
How'd your license go? Did you get this bike?
According to Cycle-Ergo this bike has a more forward lean (for the rider) than a Ninja 650R. 21 degrees on this bike vs 16 degrees for the Ninja 650R. Does that sound right to everyone?
Seems real unlikely but they usually have spot on info. And the 650 ninja isn't like a regular 600 ss anyways so i guess id be inclined to believe them
@@fudgepuppy9683 According to that site, the Ninja 650r has become more upright over the years. 2008 SV650, considered an ergo friendly naked, is 19 degrees vs Ninja 17 degrees. Then in 2017, Ninja goes to 14 degrees. For a different perspective, the adventure 08-09 Versys is 3 degrees!
I got one of these well taken care of for only 500 bucks (thank god for rich people right?). It was converted to naked but i guess nice to learn to ride. I don't like that it does not have an option for a seat cowl. Do you know what kind of pack your friend has on the back? Makes it look more decent to me rather than having one big long seat.
Sifaka It was Cortech Super 2.0 tailbag.
Wow they're just over 100 bucks. Thanks for the fast reply!
Sifaka No problem :)
had this bike, my first one..awesome machine..just ugraded to cbr 954rr and loving every second of it..you don't forget your first though so i know that feeling riding this awesome machine. you should do a review for cbr 954rr.
Wish I knew somebody from Massachusetts USA that knew about this bike that could help me out
I have a gs500 94. I do tank shell ultimate 98.
Hey Rabid, I noticed your using a Sony HDR-AZ1 Action Cam and I was wondering what is your method of recording your voice in the video??? Thanks and Great review.
Joshua Paul It is an external Sony mic connected directly to port. It's actually an AS-100V
Ok thanks heaps :-)
No idea why this popped up in my feed. But a motorcycle / motovlogger from Oklahoma? I’m in.
Welcome!
Brilliant review! How it this bike compared to the kawasaki ninja 500r? (in terms of power, mpg, built quality, handling, etc)
Time for me to see if my friend still has his 500 in storage. I will have to add it to the list to ride.
Thanks! Subbed.
Taijean Moodie Thank you!
The Ninja is more powerful but handling and brakes are not as good, That has been my experience as I have owned both bikes. The ninja was also not as reliable.
Yeah I thought so air cooled bikes just seem to be more reliable idk why though.
Oh it's a 2005 GS500F and it's got 4500 miles on it
i found one for 1800$ with 12,000 miles what should i look for
See if you can view the machine completely cold. You would want to inspect the fuel tank. Check for rust and particles when you open it up. Check the smell of the fuel. If it has a kind of skunky odor to it the gasoline has gone bad in it meaning there may be more wrong through the rest of the fueling system. Check the carbs for leaks and other seal failures. Look at the chain and inspect for rust and binds, check wear indication on the swing arm to make sure it is of good order and also tension. (Wear indication is usually showing the axle getting close to the end of the marks meaning the chain has been stretched from age and old). Check tire age and for rot conditions. When you start the bike note if it is easy, does it require much choking even on a warmer day, if it's cold can it start on choke and back off in around 30 seconds to a minute (hence why you want a true cold start if possible to see if it acts up when starting). If it has issues on start could be an indication the fueling system is fouled up and needs deep cleaning or other issues. If you can pull a spark plug or both and look at condition. See if they are burning irregular or are wet, and if you can check out the cylinder with a scope, look at the cross hatch pattern and pistons.
How does the reserves work?
Basically when it starts to run low on fuel you'll feel it starting to chug a bit. On the left side of the bike there is a fuel petcock valve that has a selector. Usually they have positions of Off or prime/ Full or On/ and then reserve. When it gets to that chugging point you flip the position indicator to Reserve and it will allow the flow from a reserve of fuel that is in the fuel tank, usually a little less than a gallon or right at a gallon. What this does is tell you to get to the gas station just like your fuel light on a fuel injected bike. However, don't forget to switch it back to full or on because if you accidently leave it on reserve then it pulls everything and you'll actually run out of fuel.
I'm thinking of buying one of these as my first bike but can anyone shed some light on how many miles is TOO many for a 2006 model?
If the bike has been well maintained most anything under 35K would be fine as most services after the 35K mark require the expensive stuff such as seals and forks and all the fun things.
A garage technician said to me that he saw this bike with over 200.000km on it. Like damn....
Where is fuel indicator?
Bike does not have one it is a carburator model with a fuel petcock selection
Is there a fuel light somewhere on the gauge?
Not on this particular bike as it has a carb, so you have the classic sputter sputter... oh no better hit the reserve moment.
Rabid Hedgehog Thank you.
I have the 96 model gs 500 with 5000 miles on it ...
Very good l liked it a lot, trying to get myself one at the moment.
What does compliant mean?
Means the bike and it's components are willing to agree with what the rider is inputting.
I'll buy that. The only real gripe I have with mine is the mirrors get blurry from the vibration over about 5500 RPM
I'm pleased your're doing cheap, used bike reviews, it's often what people can afford. I have a 2008 GS500F & have to agree, they're great bikes, cheap to buy, cheap to insure, reliable & economical. Best of all the seat is a great place to sit on for longer rides.
Down side? A bit short of power, be careful of rust & the suspension is awful, especially for bigger riders. It isn't fun bottoming out the forks out on bumps when cornering. For a rider weighing #185 geared up it might be OK, but with all my gear I get on the bike weighing #245 & the suspension is way too soft...however for $200 I put new fork springs & a rear shock (Yamaha R6) & the improvement in the ride & handling is simply astonishing.
I did initially prefer the Ninja 500 for the increased performance, but soon learned that a LOT of them were flogged to death, or re-built (but still had "clean" titles!) The selection of GS500s was much better.
Would you still recommend this over the ninja 500? I’m currently deciding between the gs500 and ninja 500 for my first bike.
@@haroldrandolph3209 should prolly get the ninja if its a newer model tbh but the gs is a great bike
@@haroldrandolph3209 I'd still recommend the GS500F over a Ninja 500. Although the Ninja 500 is, theoretically, a "better bike" I'd restate my opinion above, I looked for a clean Ninja for months & only found examples that were abused & way over priced. Every GS500F I looked at was far cheaper & in way better condition by comparison.
Seems like the power is about the same as the Ninja 300. It has about 5 more horsepower but is heavier than the Ninja which cancel each other out
Yeah it's a good comparison. Seems like it goes better for larger guys than the ninja
The low rpm torque is a lot better than the ninja. You don't have to rev the gs500 as much
Gs500 50hp ninja 300 39-40
I read wheel horsepower is about 40 vs 35 for the ninja 300.
Basically a 500cc katana
Hmm.. This is interesting. I'm doing a lot of hunting and researching for my first motorcycle and this popped up for sale on the website I'm using to buy used bikes. So far I've narrowed it down to a handful:
Honda VTR250
Honda CBR250r
Honda CBR300RA
Kawasaki Ninja EX250J
Kawasaki Ninja 300A
and
this Suzuki Gs500f.... This motorcycle has completely caught me off guard, I never even thought to try and look for a Suzuki... This might be a very high potential dark horse pick for me! I'm hearing and seeing nothing but positive experiences of this motorcycle from comments and videos, I kind of get the vibe that this bike is quite an underrated pick, like a little rare gem. Especially the ones I'm seeing for sale, they are significantly cheaper than all the other bikes I've listed. There's actually not quite many up for sale but the ones that are are still competitively priced!
What's you're input Rabid? :) The review video has really made me think more about my decision now haha! Great video mate.
I like the Suzuki very much overall. It is the most relaxed and standard bike of your list and has the best fairing and wind protection. Heat coming from the engine is felt near equal across all of these bikes as they dump most of it right side low, but moving you do not really feel it. The 500 is oil cooled only as well with those other choices being liquid, so easier to maintain, but if you're in a hotter climate it could be an issue if you're stop and go constantly. Moving they are always fine even in the heat. It vibes less than the others as well. Very well balanced engine.
Do any of the other bikes you mention give you 50 HP ?
The GS 500 give you great value for the buck, it is a work horse, that have been made almost the same way since 89 so the technology is well proven and rarely break down and it don`t cost you a fortune to fix/maintain.
other bikes like this for the same price
+Brett Tickell I'm on the hunt for them to ride!
Talking about 7,000 mile like it’s high miles or something 😂