Comments on: Suzuki GS500

By: MotorcycleNotebook

MotorcycleNotebook — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:03:30 +0000

Great, honest review. I had a 1989 (then EX500) Ninja 500 and really liked my 2 years with it. Back then, the it and this Suzuki GS500 went up against each other, and as then, the Kawi prevailed. But this is a great size for new motorcyclists; they’re light and nimble so they can get used to leans and counter-steering before getting on something that weighs twice. I actually recommend real noobs, say those still in high school, to look at 250s.

By: nick

nick — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:20:32 +0000

how does it handle if your a 6ft…200lb man?

By: Devex

Devex — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:54:21 +0000

Paul, we just launched the BMR forums and I’d encourage you to check it out! I’m one of the mods here at BMR and we’re in the process of building an active community of guys/gals like yourself who like the smaller bikes (as well as the big stuff). Riding is truly about the joy of the road and sometimes on a big bike, you are a bit more focused on controlling speed rather than just enjoying the ride.

See you in the Forums! http://www.beginnermotorcyclereviews.com/forum/

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:28:28 +0000

Have a 2009 GS500f- commuted on the bike daily for a year. Have Cortech bags for touring. Still have the bike but now have a company vehicle for work. Have ridden 325 miles in one day and kept up easily with the big bikes. For me it is about the joy of the road, not so much the racing aspects of the machine. If you want to ride at 200mph plus please stay on a track.

By: keith

keith — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:19:26 +0000

Great Bike after a few mods changed rear tire to 150mm put on a set of drag bars and removed fairing i can drag my cousins yamaha r6 up to 125mph then he leaves me. I didnt like the fairing because is wanted to stand up bike in turns and crosswinds pushed you around.It is a great durable bike.

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:22:14 +0000

Thanks Cameron. I rode it on the highway, very slow… especially accelerating from the on ramp. City driving is great and is fast. 1st gear very short… shifting within 1 sec to 2nd gear from standing start. Sometimes Neutral light not on, even though in neutral. Handles great though, i could drive with one hand already. Not very loud bike so it’s dangerous on the streets cause no one knows ur there. Tried taking off the silencer but it’s welded into the muffler.

By: Cameron Martel

Cameron Martel — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 02:07:01 +0000

Congratulations on the purchase Charles!

Absolutely let us know how it goes moving on. Even if it’s not a pocket rocket, it’s still much more fun to ride a “slow” bike “fast” than a “fast” bike slow. Give it a year or so… you’ll love it

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:59:42 +0000

Yes it’s my first bike… I don’t see many 2008 and newer GS500F out there in the used market. But 2008-2009 R250 flood the used market… so I just picked one up last Friday 5/28 for $2900. It has 180 miles on it. Not sure if I got a great deal or something’s really wrong w/the bike. Wonder if i take off the silencer on the muffler, it will make it faster.

It doesn’t seem to have much pickup… but i haven’t went over 8000 rpm because it’s not broken in yet. My friend did rode it on the highway and said it’s pretty bad at accelerating.

thanks for the feedback… i’ll continue to write here so hopefully, it’ll give some feedback to whoever thathave the same decision issues as I did. Price and availability ultimately won.

By: Cameron Martel

Cameron Martel — Sat, 29 May 2010 22:37:51 +0000

When I rode the GS500F I quite enjoyed the handling. It’s a very stable bike, and it will tell you it’s limits clearly enough that you won’t get yourself killed (unless you’re being reckless). It’s a great bike to ride.

At 70mph the GS500 will annihilate the 250R in terms of continued acceleration and overall top speed. I’d like to point out, however, that these kinds of speeds on a bike that’s this small (500cc’s and under) aren’t really what the bike was designed to do. That being said, you could easily get the GS500F to 100mph+. The 250R wouldn’t get that high.

Is this your first bike?

By: Charles

Charles — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:22:07 +0000

Thanks Cameron, just the seats looks so much more comfortable on the Suzuki GS500F. I hear that at 70 mph, the GS500F will have more power than the R250, true or not, i don’t know. There also seems not to be too many GS500F on the used mkt, but there’s a lot of the 2008-2009 R250′s. I’m worried the handling isn’t as good on the suzuki.