Suzuki GS500E riding in Auckland

[Griff]

I would like to share with you all my experiences on a Suzuki GS500E.

Yesterday my GSXR600 was in for a big service and I was kindly loaned a temp Suzuki GS500E.
(The last time I rode one of those was nearly 20 years ago, after I traded up from a Yamaha TZR125 and I got shot of it within 6 months).


YESTERDAY
=========
Rode the bike through Auckland and realised immediately that I have been cosseted by having such a superb bike (GSXR). The GS500E is a heap of Pooh in comparison!

The GS500E (Subjective Review):
Seat Height and Position:
Fucking awful. Feet & knees cramped up into an upright fetal position. (It’s just wrong)!

Front Brakes:
Shite! Absolutely shite!

Front Suspension:
(See Front Brakes). It bottoms out frequently. (I recommend getting stiffer springs).

Throttle:
I now understand the 2 second rule from a different perspective as it takes well over 1 second BEFORE you get any clunky acceleration.

Engine Braking:
(Now please remember, I have just stepped off from a GSXR which is a joy to engine brake).
Engine braking on and over 5,000 revs - Forget it. It's non existent!
Engine braking on and below 4,000 revs - It says to you "I’m stopping!.... and I’m stopping NOW!!!"

Bars:
They are sooo wide!!!!
I am used to riding with my elbows tucked in and with these bars it makes you look VERY "Special Needs".

TODAY
======
Opened up the tank and peered inside, plenty of fuel, good.
Just got on the SH1, in the fast lane, doing 100kph.
The bike started to cough and judder and after fiddling for the reserve switch, the problem just went away and the fun started.

This is a shite bike….. so bad, it is actually good…. (Like 70’s pop music).

I started to relish the challenge of riding a “Heap” with unresponsive brakes, poor throttle response and wide bars in a perverse way. (Similar to having to hammer a nail in with a brick, because you can’t find your hammer).

With the wide bars and poor stability, I filtered past the cages at a good pace, like a sprinting penguin from the film “Happy Feet.” (I even managed to pass more expensive bikes… which was nice).

It has been a long time since I have actually arrived at work in Auckland, wide-eyed and giggling.
(This was a mixture of the fun I experienced in riding a heap of a bike and also the joy of still being in one piece).

Message to GS500 riders in Auckland
===========================
IF you are on your way up from a 125 / 250cc then for fucks sake, get a better bike as soon as finances allow.
In fact move up ASAP! A GSXR is such a refined bike and you get the following benefits:
1. Sweet throttle response and acceleration.
2. Sharp Front brakes.
3. Superb Suspension and Handling. (You actually get heaps of feedback BEFORE the tyres start to squeal).
4. The riding position is bar far, light years ahead of the GS500.

IF you have traded down from a bigger bike, then BIG RESPECT!!!

I am tempted to take this experience a bit further though, (now I have a taste for it)….
What are the laws regarding commuting on a Mini-Moto ?

[avgas]

Interesting report, i actually enjoyed my time briefly on the GS, I felt it had alot of potential. Brakes were crap, but not deadly.
I reckon for about $1K i could have fixed everything thing i didnt like about it and made it into a mean little fighter.

[MSTRS:Me]

Of course it's crap compared to your race-bred 600 street machine. What did you expect?
For what it is designed for, the GS500 is a perfectly adequate machine. Was looking at them as an option for Yungatart, but ended up with Kawasaki's equivalent, the EX500 Ninja (GPz500). Much better bike, but then it's not trying to be a budget commuter like the GS.

[LilSel]

deleted me post... will start own thread... thought was 500F...

[JMemonic]

deleted me post... will start own thread... thought was 500F...

Same bike just has a fairing fitted.

[F5 Dave]

An ex had one of the first ones. I really quite enjoyed it for what it was. I was however comparing it to a CBX550, but this was the late 80s I guess.

I remember the brakes being superb, But maybe the later models had different callipers, the earlier ones looked like ½ a GSXR. Also any brakes can be poos if ½ seized and soaked in fork oil. Think the later ones had handlebars instead of clip ons.

As a 2nd bike it would be hard to think of a better one for a rider to learn the transition, certainly a modern 600 is a bad choice for a 2nd bike. She did a bunch of miles on it & while it was a budget bike it was still not too bad.

Course now I hold absolutely no desire for one, but figured I’d better fire in another opinion.

[avgas]

Another thing to note that i have notice.
Bike shops GS500 is like taking the Mechanics Mirage home. Even if it WAS as nice vehicle - it would be well and truly fucked now

[F5 Dave]

Indeed, I think we have all ridden some old craper & wondered how far removed it was when it departed from the showroom & if the original owner would recognise it as the same bike.

Mirage huh? The original ones were cool, but only for comedy value with the "Power Shift" TM
You could shift as if you had 8 1/2 gears, amusing & took your mind off how slow it was.

[avgas]

Mirage huh? The original ones were cool, but only for comedy value with the "Power Shift" TM
You could shift as if you had 8 1/2 gears, amusing & took your mind off how slow it was.

New ones are worst. Last 4 wheel contraption i have is a 96 Mirage Asti (less money on car = more money for bikefuel). Looks cool. But is a sack of shit under the bonnet. I can grow cancer faster than it can move.
Power lever was awesome, gave you a reason to change gears just for noise.

Had about the same horsepower as a GS500....mabey less

[Grumpy]

Isn't comparing a GSXR with a GS a little like comparing apples with oranges. A few years ago I bought a GS500 to commute on. Owned it for 2 years and and have to say, bang for buck, not bad. Did a couple of track days at Puke, numerous weekend trips. Sure it is a bit on the basic side but what do you expect for the money. Compared to my TL or GSX1400 I had at the time, the 500 was a little, shall we say different, but still a good ride.

[release_the_bees]

I've had my GS500 for a couple of years now. For the target market that they were designed for I think that the GS500 is a pretty good bike.

Sure it is no sports bike, but it is a good commuter with enough grunt to do the occasional tour without any problems. When touring it usually returns around 70-75 MPG, so you can get around 300 km on a tank. The riding position is also pretty comfortable for long trips, although your fingers can tend to tingle a bit from the vibration.

I agree that the brakes are pretty poor. the drum brakes on my old 1982 GN250 had more feel and stopping power. That said I have never had any major issues although I tend to give a 3-4 second gap to compensate for the brakes.

[Bonez]

Sounds like a bike I could have a lot of fun with.....................

[betti]

rode one for two years as a bike instructor in the Uk.
When you are riding all day and having to pay more attention to your students than your own machine, these little buggers can't be beaten I reckon.
They go forever on very little fuel, minimum maintenance and can be ridden by a total novice with great ease.
We also had kwaka 500's in the fleet, but a lot of learners hated 'em as they were very top heavy compared to the suzi.
All in all they are an excellent step up from a small bike, not enough power to put you through the scenery, and does everything adequately.
They will never be a race bike,but were never meant to be, but I do find them a little pricey over here.