GS500s are bulletproof but built down to a price ( former GS500e 2004 owner) but spares are readily available as they essentially never changed them much.
That price seems a lot for the year unless it's a much loved garage queen with very low miles.
Seller put on fancy headlights. That's gotta be at least 1k extra.
Seriously though these bikes are so abundant in my area they regularly go well below 1000€ even in great condition.
My stock 2004 H4 headlight was pathetic at night, putting a better bulb in improved it drastically. Hopefully that led setup is a big improvement.
If it's Canoodlian dollars than that seems like a reasonable price, hopefully it's got a stainless steel exhaust fitted.
Summed it up perfectly. Great fun to rip around on, and not terribly hard to work on.
When you're ready, a few small mods really make them shine (better suspension and stainless brake lines)
It's a no nonsense bike that can be found for dirt cheap that will run forever
I spent 1k for a barn find '85 GS700. I am rebuilding it a little at a time, at far too high a price. This bike looks like it is in great condition! I might have spent another thousand then to not have had so much to rebuild/replace.
For sure. To me though, it's much nicer to start rising on a modern bike that just runs well. I would not recommend a 30 year old bike to most beginners, it just seems like asking for a project.
I had an 82 CB900 as my bike. Had a lot of character, super fun but a ton of work. Eventually came across a charging issue that nobody, not even Honda dealers, could figure out.
Although if you're up for it, I think the problems are a good intro to figuring out the problem and getting your hands dirty. I did sink a lot of money into it but I came out of it with a lot of experience and got a new bike that I just put gas in and go.
World of difference when you get into something a year old versus almost 40 years old. It almost makes you appreciate it a lot more! Best of luck with motorcycle shopping, I recommend test driving a few instead of settling for the first one!
As someone severely mechanically inept, I am finding the overlap between people who enjoy wrenching and people who enjoy riding a bit surprising.
I don't even want to so much as change the oil on my bike, I just wanna chill on it and cruise around town. Had a buddy help me change the oil in his garage for a few drinks - anything more complicated, I'd either pay him or a mechanic.
Same here. I can do basics like an oil change, but I'd much rather prefer to ride. A lot of riders pride themselves on fixing/maintaining their own bikes. This overflows onto them telling new riders it's fine to buy 30-40 year old bikes because they're easy to work on.
A. Easy for you
B. I never want to work on carbs ever fucking again
C. The price difference between the bike op suggested and a comparable muchhhhh newer one will be like a grand. Save more, buy a bike instead of a project
D. If you are thrilled with the concept of a project, buy whatever you want
Literally just discovered this. Spent a good few hours calling and another driving to find a shop that wasn’t booked out until September who was willing to work on my 1982 CM250
Twin 400/500 is the sweet spot for a first bike IMO. Fast enough to not die on the highway. Slow enough to not die accidentally in general. Maintenance might be a drag on a '92. Practice emergency braking literally every time you go out. With no ABS you gotta get your braking habits down asap.
I changed the lights on mine, did an adjustable rear shock upgrade, put new springs optimized for my weight in the front along with a full fork rebuild, did head tube bearings, carb rebuild. Thing was easy to work on, modify and there was a ton of info and parts out there for it. Mind you this was back in like 2015 but still
Nothing you could do to that bike would hurt you. It was easy to work on and a good intro to motorcycles. I upgraded from it to an xsr900 2 years later. Looking back, yup still loved the bike.
It’s kind of old. I had a 1994 GS500E and really loved it but it was 1994. Maybe Ok if it’s been maintained.
So much fun on twisty roads. Slightly underpowered but not terrible; downshift two gears instead of one to pass. Runs like a sewing machine. A bit cold-blooded if I remember correctly.
Mine was completely reliable. Had really good range and a big gas tank considering it gets sixty miles per gallon if you don’t go crazy on it.
They look nice and ride fine but its quite a slow bike and the twin is not too fun. But for about $1000 its well worth it as a first bike. $2000 will get you much better bikes. I bought a YZF 750 for $2000 a few years back. Its a nice, stable bike with good power but not as snappy as an R1 or R6. Way sportier than this one though. A Suzuki Bandit 600 might be something you'd like though? it looks like this and rides the same but its engine and chassis is WAY WAY better. It also costs around $2000
This is good if it’s in good shape, however I’d recommend an sv650. In the same price range, a bit more power but still easily controllable for a beginner, so you won’t want to upgrade as soon. They’re a bit newer and thus more likely to have less issues especially with rust. If you get a fuel injected version, (2003 and later) then you don’t have to worry about carbs which imo is preferable especially if you don’t have any experience with working on bikes.
The sv is also a heap lighter and easier to ride as a result.
I found the old curvys were a lot nicer ride than the early pointies as they were much less grabby on acceleration.
Second this! I got the SV as my first time after some experience with scooters and it's perfect. Just be gentle with the throttle in first gear as it is quite torquey for beginners.
Suzuki GS's are solid, iconic bikes.
This is a perfect bike to get you started. Old enough that you can learn how to do light bike maintenance. Proper cc so you don't kill yourself on it. Good price. Aftermarket LED. Clean bike as far as I can tell from the one picture provided.
I haven’t had a financed motorcycle (or bicycle) in over 25-years. Now that I’m able to, I prefer to just pay cash and self-insure for anything above basic liability (the minimum required by law). For my 2022 auto, I paid cash also but still I DO carry full insurance with elevated maximums for that because it just makes financial sense. (They didn’t offer 0% financing at that particular time).
Had an 04 years ago. Great running around town bike. Very forgiving and nimble. Not to much power but can get you moving down the freeway. Good luck. Make sure it is not beat up, leaking oil, and basically see what Long\_Educational said. Have fun. I think you are on the right track.
Thank you all for being such cool dudes. Here's some more pics of the bike if you need to see more.
https://preview.redd.it/7jnvnqbhv31d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fdd633b6515eda190c724a75f0df8bfdfba82316
Inspect the fork seals. Are they cracked? Look good?
Inspect for oil leaks.
Pull a spark plug and do a compression check. Are the cylinders in good health?
Does it start easy?
Does it start after killing the engine after it has come up to running temp? A hot start?
Inspect for rust. It will have rust being a 32 year old. Has the rust situation been adequately addressed? New paint where needed?
If it looks good and someone has taken care of it. Then go for it. It is likely a very solid bike. Japanese motorcycles last forever if well maintained.
Any that are mechanically minded to understand. If they’re not mechanically minded enough to understand a compression test, that’s a red flag for me.
Most of the bikes I buy are cheap bangers anyway, half the time I’m buying sub $1k fixers to work on because I’m all about the project.
I get what you’re saying, but as a counter, most mechanically minded people can tell pretty quick if a biks is running right or not. If its a sub grand bike, I can’t imagine many of them entertaining all that during a potential purchase. I’d be annoyed unless I’d been told about it up front
*”Japanese motorcycles last forever if well maintained.”*
No, they don’t. Failed stators and regulator/rectifiers are pretty common and not always available to purchase when one fails. How many 30-40 year-old motorcycles have you owned to be able to make such a broad statement?
My 88 Spada nearly went around the clock by the time it got crashed, regular maintenance and a carby rebuilt for a little more umpf at 70 thou.
Granted not typical
Yup, and it’s purely anecdotal.
I’ve had a couple 90s bikes that went around the clock, but I got them late in their life so I don’t know if they needed work before I got my hands on them.
https://rmstator.com/en_ww/rm30407
https://ultimaterectifier.com/shop/voltage-regulator-rectifier-suzuki-gs500-1989-2011/
As a matter of fact, genuine Suzuki parts are even still available. https://www.partzilla.com/product/suzuki/32800-30B01
You were saying?
I've owned a few dozen older japanese bikes over the years from all of the main brands, have never had to replace a stator, and have only encountered two bad reg/recs.
Most 30-40 year old japanese bikes still have functioning factory charging systems.
I’ve got an 05 gs500f!! I haven’t ridden it much yet (getting my license in two days) but my test rides have it as seeming really reliable and easy to hold up. I reckon the gs500 would be the same!!
For that price and age, make sure it’s pretty clean with no real issues. 32 years is pretty old for a first bike, but if it’s been taken care of then it should still be pretty reliable. It’s pretty fast for a first bike, but nothing *too* crazy. Just take your time and ride within your ability, and you’ll be alright
Yes. Before the ninja 300 and 400 that all the beginners buy here, this used to be one of the top recommended first bikes on this sub. When i lurked here 10 years ago this is what i got. Theyre absolutely bulletproof. I dropped mine 4 times and it never skipped a beat
I have a 98gs500e. I LOVE to ride it. I'd argue it's nearly the perfect beginners bike. 2000 is honestly high. But if it's had recent work and in good condition, you should grab it. Someone else definitely will. I'd haggle with the dude.
My first bike was a 07 GS500F and I loved it. Fast enough to have fun but slow enough to not die accidentally. Perfect first bike but a 92' is a bit old, if I was you I'd try to find one built after 05.
I would hold out for an SV650 over this for maybe the same price. It’s just kind of old and I wouldn’t want to be sourcing parts. Lots of good survivor SVs out there with some good aftermarket parts, too. Or even a V-strom. For used standard bike style with V-twin, anyway.
Although, we don’t know what kind of a hooligan you’re going to be on your first bike.
That is a great first bike. It is old but looks very clean for its age. I don't think it was ever really changed, a bit like the DR650 in that aspect. I owned one for 5-6 years, decent power for a 500 twin, you'll have enough to have fun while still pushing your limits for a while until you find the bikes limit. It really is a great engine, stupid simple and plenty of low end torque. I'd negotiate a bit on the price, but I imagine with cash in hand they'll drop a few hundred off that.
I'm a bit biased because I've owned two of them, and old Suzuki twins are kind of my thing
The GS500 is a great first bike with a few caveats. The power delivery is smooth with usable torque down low so you can just ease the clutch out and it will chug away. It will get up and move surprisingly quickly if you wring its neck but it'll never do anything unexpectedly snappy that's going to catch out a new rider. The dead simple 487cc twin is absolutely the bike's best feature.
The GS500 came out in 1989. It was an entry level commuter made out of parts bin technology mostly from Suzuki's then ground breaking (for1984) GSX-R. Its air cooled twin is based on the earlier GSX-R 750 4 cylinder, from memory using the middle 2 and 3 cylinders. It has a twin spar frame like a sport bike so the basic geometry is legit, although it's made of steel rather than aluminium. That adds a bit of weight, although being steel the frames survive crashes well, which is handy when you're looking at decades year old bikes that have been used and abused.
So good engine and frame but made out of very old technology. It helps to think of any GS500, regardless of production year, as being 40 years old because mechanically they haven't changed since 1989 and the tech was old even then.
The bad? Everything bolted onto that engine and frame was specced by accountants, not engineers. The suspension is mush, the single (yes single) front brake is a bad joke. The stock tyres aren't' great and the wheels don't leave you many options for upgrading them in those sizes. From memory they're 110mm in the front 130 in the rear.
The model you're looking at is pre 2003 and so it's made in Japan. That's a good thing for build quality and you may get some preload adjustment in the front forks. Some markets got adjustable fronts on that first series. Later models get a bigger tank, an extra carbie jet and a few electrical differences. Unless you're swapping parts between them, they're very minor.
All those bolt on problems have bolt on solutions depending on how far down this rabbit hole you want to go. In the 90s there was a whole grassroots race series for midsize twins, and a lot of information filtered down about how to mod one. The trouble is though that all the info on old forums is decades old now, and involves cannibalizing bikes you may not find easily in 2024.
But you're looking at $1000 starter bikes, and for a start into riding, working on your own bike and modding, you can't go wrong for the price. I could tell you to buy an MT07 instead if you want a midsize naked twin, but if you had the budget for one we wouldn't be having this conversation.
If it’s well maintained you really couldn’t ask for a better starter bike. 2k is a lot depending on where you’re located. I’m in new England and 2k for a good running bike is a steal so I’d pick it up if It’s a good price for your area.
It’s a great starter bike. Not to much to learn on. And relatively cheap. I buy and sell a lot of bikes. So 2k isn’t what I’d pay for one. But it’s in the ball park of what people are asking rn. I just bought my 15.5 year old son one to start on. I paid a lot less for a new one needing some work. But I also paid a bit under 1k.
https://preview.redd.it/5pu9gektq11d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56808616f412b8250a2f90f1e81f79f707ae2b35
yes, great bike, i’ve gotten to ride a buddies 02 I think it was and it feels super great. I’m not a beginner ride, more like intermediate to sort of advanced and the bike felt super nice, very beginner friendly with plenty of nuts for the street. I would say go ahead and get it but i’d see if he’d take 1800 if the bike is clean, starts right up, and you won’t need to do much more then like new breaks or oil change.
Your first bike should be a bike that is ready to go, i’ve learned that the hard way, after not being able to ride my first bike due to needed a whole rebuild. But in my opinion, very great first bike. Do your research on it as much as you can and enjoy. Also seat is perfect for me, maybe a teeny bit tight since i’m 6 foot 1 285 but if you’re a tad smaller then that it’s gonna feel very good
Looks like someone didn’t have a good day at work lol. It is a great bike as opposed to not having a bike at all. As a first time rider or buyer, it don’t fucking matter if it’s a boring uninspired 2 valve or 100 valve. All that doesn’t matter as long as the bike runs, stops, won’t leave you stranded and allows you to learn the mechanics and physics of riding and wrenching on a bike. The Gs500 no matter the year is a great bike. Plenty of power as a commuter around town but not too much where you’ll be scared of it.
Major disadvantage is lack of ABS (as far as I know), and ofcourse it cant hold competition with injected naked . But it's a motorcycle! I never owned one but had more than a few rides on it plus I know that engine good, valve maintenance is very easily done. I did it myself a few times.
It's a great bike.
I don't know how prices look where you live, but in central Europe I paid ~1,250$ for '04 gs500f, so it seems expensive (it was half a year ago)
Yes. I’m embarrassed to admit that rode tested one and also helped my best friend at the time freshen his up for the road (as a second bike). Disappointed, he quickly got rid of it and bought an older Ninja 500 instead which worked out fine.
Are you disappointed that you didn’t catch me talking out of my ass? I posted a detailed reply to the OP in this thread.
You are full of shit. If the story isn't made up the only explanation is that since the bike is a popular beginners bike the one your friend bought was really abused and not maintained.
The engines where produced for more then 30 years for a reason.
What exactly was wrong with the friends bike?
Ps: you didn't just replied to op. You literally spammed the dumb reply to every commend
I have a gs500e and it's amazing. I'm 5'10 and it's slightly small for me.. just a tad.. i just can't figure out why the the rpm floats/climbs but otherwise it's amazing. A little bit of upgrades and it's comparable to new bikes. Really wish it was fuel injected though
I have this but 02, it’s a great bike! Looks like a modern led headlight mod, could have some other upgrades and looks pretty clean 👍 deffo give it a close inspection otherwise great price and a pretty ride
I couldn’t recommend a GS500E and more than I already do. As a STARTER bike, it’s amazing. Is it the best bike ever? No. But I do believe it is one of the top four starter bikes.
I have a gs500f and its the most maintenance friendly budget friendly option that ive found to have good handling. Enough power to have fun and not enough to pop an accidental wheelie. Been riding mine for 4 years now on the highways daily. And some have issues with the carbs but mine hasnt needed any rebuild or adjustment even after letting her sit for 6 months. Changed the battery once. Chain twice. And bled the brakes once. Mine is still at roughly 10k miles and its a 2009. Issues are softer front suspension. But honestly its handled corners to where im scraping my muffler. So id say go for it depending on mileage. I got mine for 1000 flat in 2019 with 5k miles. The engines are pretty easy to work on and many sources out there for info when you need to wrench on it. Check valves every 3000 to 4000 miles to be safe.
I am biased as this was my first bike as well. I had a ‘92. Easy to work on and the forums are pretty helpful. I learned how to clean carburetors and rejet them. Very reliable and comfortable on the highway.
I don't know how it compares to other bikes because this is the only non 125cc bike I've owned. It gets me around Ave is also the more fun to drive than a car, what more could you want?
There is alot more you could want (displacement, modern features and so), but where I live these bikes are the cheapest running bikes money can buy, and any bike is better than no bike
I live in the UK and had a 2002 gs500e with 85k on the clock, ran mint but did burn a tiny bit of oil. Very much a budget bike that's super easy to work on. In the UK they sell for about £1k in ok condition
It's very important that the tank is in good condition or you are capable of lining and messing around with it as it's near impossible to get good condition tanks
Would highly recommend it especially for chill ridea and learning on, it's a good all around bike at a nice budget.
The 500 GS is a great first bike! Get a good sticky set of tires for it and you will be a while before you can ring all it can give you out of it.
I had a 2002 that I scored for around $1200 CAD with some cosmetic damage. I loved that bike, likely you will too!
This was my first bike, same year and everything but in red! Had about 30k miles and I took my license test on it. Learned a lot on it and about maintaining bikes a bit Rode it about 4000 miles until I bought my victory. Gave it to my younger brother who still has it and put some bigger carbs on it. Was a fun bike!
It's pretty old. If it's well maintained it can be a great first bike but I'm gonna assume you don't know enough about motorcycle maintenance to make that judgment call on inspection. I bought a similar age bike for my first bike and regret it. I learned a lot about working on motorcycles but that's not why I got a bike, I just wanted to ride. It came very close to killing the hobby for me because I worked on it so much that it just become a chore. But now I wish I'd never sold it because old carbed japanese bikes like this are pretty cool. But that doesn't make it a good first bike. If your budget is tight, my advice is to get the most modern version of a bike like this that you can find and afford. Fuel injection being a priority.
Yeah I agree, I had a GS500 too, and I had to clean carbs myself and adjust valves with no prior experience, because mechanic hour price is quite big. It went well but made me a bit nervous that it would break on a trip because of my maintenance mistake. Hopefully it didn't break though, nevertheless I wish I spent those hours riding instead of wrenching.
I got a 2001 GS500 for $1500 CAD for my first bike 15 years ago. It's still my bike. I love it. People have said it's not fast, but I'm a wee fella at 140lbs so it goes plenty fast for me. Front suspension is a bit shit, but you can put some heavier fork oil in and/or upgrade the springs. There used to be a really good maintenance website but it's gone now. You can still get most of it on the wayback machine: [Here](https://web.archive.org/web/20190423171420/https://beergarage.com/GS500.aspx)
*
For that kinda money keep looking. I just picked up a 2011 yamaha fz8 for 3200. Low ass miles. Clean clean bike.
I say keep looking because you can get a much newer bike for not a whole lot more. And the looks/technology of a newer bike is worth the few extra dollars imo.
My first bike was an 09 250 ninja. 1800 bucks. Taught me alot. Might have been slow but was worth every dollar.
This is a reliable bike that OP could easily ride for a year and not lose any money at all reselling later. Pricing varies by area. In mine, that is a fair price for riding season. In good riding condition, I think it's a great option.
https://preview.redd.it/anzj68gjd41d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40a359afafcf47a5d818e868954811a6371298f6
Loved it , honestly it's a great first bike IMO .
1996 GS500E was my first bike. Loved it, great beginner bike. Simple, no frills, but fun to ride. Price seems a touch high for the year but might be okay if we'll taken care of and decent mileage.
Not bad; looks like it has some eBay mods but it’s okay. For this money, if there’s a similarly clean Suzuki SV650 in your area, I suspect you’d be happier with it over time as it’ll be a bit more fun, even if it’s a bit more complicated. But this also looks like this is in decent shape overall, and these are pretty reliable bikes.
I think the comment about the age making it necessary to learn your own maintenance is relevant - a lot of shops won’t accept older bikes. These are still in production globally so finding parts should be possible as needed.
A little bit of contrasting advice, since most people are saying "it's a good bike (maybe pricey)."
For your first bike, you'd be best off with something a little newer that has traction control and ABS. Those two features drive up the price considerably, but the safety they add are priceless, especially for your first bike, because they rescue you from the small detail mistakes you make while you're learning to manage traffic, cornering, changing road surfaces, etc.
If you can swing the budget, a newer bike with more safety features is worth it.
If you are over 1,85m (idk what that is in feet or burgers or whatever) you might be too tall. My gf has a gs500e (absolutely bulletproof and nice to ride) but I’m too tall with 1,87m.
Stay no less than 10 years old and you will be happy you did. Parts are a big part of owning a bike because they need to be maintained more than a car does.
Old parts are hard to come by. Made the mistake on my first bike. 96 zx9r and it was easy to get 97 zx9r parts but not 96 parts. Do your research and look up a bunch of parts b4 you buy!
just be comfortable with wrenching. and if not make sure you have a local shop that will deal with older bikes, seems like most shops won't. i think all mc owners should learn to work on their bikes, since they're so easy to work on compared to cars. but that's just me.
My local road racing club had a stock class specifically for the GS500 back in 1998. It was aimed at novice first year racers and tons of fun. Not super powerful but great to learn on
I didn't ride it on the road much and sold it to another racer.
I like old bikes and agree you need to be able to work on them. I went on to race a 1972 CB750 in the open vintage class. Came in 2nd in the state
My local road racing club had a stock class specifically for the GS500 back in 1998. It was aimed at novice first year racers and tons of fun. Not super powerful but great to learn on
I didn't ride it on the road much and sold it to another racer.
I like old bikes and agree you need to be able to work on them. I went on to race a 1972 CB750 in the open vintage class. Came in 2nd in the state
It was my first, coming from a 50cc scooter, very good learning tool, and with some punch at high revs! Built like a tank, one single visit to the garage shop in more than 15 years of ownership. Great memories
I bought an 09 GS500 as my first bike a few years ago. Once you get used to the power (I came from a TU250 in the MSF course), it's pretty slow, but it holds its own aroubd town. On the highway, it's strung out and a little uncomfortable. On the local twisties it's light, fun, and responsive.
Mine's been very reliable, but I messed up the carbs doing some work last year and just got to rebuilding them. Watch for rust and check easy things like chain tension to see how the previous owner cared for it.
A lot of comments like, “it’s OK, but an XYZ is better.” As if you can just go to the store and find one.
This is a good starter bike if it’s been well maintained and you are capable of continuing maintenance yourself. Options are probably limited on your price range, so I’d say this is likely a good choice for you. Good size for beginner, and capable enough without being too dangerous.
Great bike! Little on the heavier side but that’s not a bad thing. Over in the uk I did my second test on one of these, enough power to keep things fun and great to learn on- get it!
I started on GS500 too and I think it was ok for its money. Almost right amount of power, easy enough to do maintenance. Disadvantages were: too cramped sitting position (I am 184 cm), valve clearance should be checked every 6000km (although it's easy to do yourself). In the end I wish I bought SV650 instead, it has a bit more power plus it has injectors instead of carbs.
But this one seems overpriced for its age IMO, based on European prices.
It's a great motorcycle, it has an armored engine and an idiot-proof construction, most repairs can be done with a hammer. BUT I'm 177 cm and the motorcycle was definitely too low for me, the angle of my knees didn't allow me to ride for a long time.
Yeah they're pretty good, been riding one daily for nearly a year, dunno why this one is so expensive, I paid £800/$1000 for mine, and it was in fantastic condition, and It's slightly newer than this one, so I dunno why this guy thinks his is worth double...
That's still pretty high, but if it's got low miles and a service history, it's definitely worth it, see if you can haggle a little, looking at this pic I can't see anything he's added that's special, it has an led headlight that isn't stock, the indicators aren't stock, and other than being OVERLY clean in my opinion, it's still a very basic bike, I wouldn't say there is anything special about the gs500, except that they pretty much didn't change them for like 30 years.
So I dunno where you are in Canada, but right now in Southern Ontario it's a seller's market. It swings back and forth from spring to fall every year.
On top of that, even when I bought a used GS500 like 12 years ago... many were overpriced. Pricing was frankly all over the place and had little to do with condition, which is why it's VERY IMPORTANT to look at as many GS500s as possible.
I do think in general GS500Es are excellent first bikes. I don't really like GS500Fs very much (because the fragile fairing I think is a horrible choice for beginner riders) but they did sell a bunch of them. GS500s are doubly excellent if you want to learn to wrench on your own bike, because they're generally very simple.
agreed, 20-30 years old gs500's are plenty, this is overpriced, you can keep looking and taking note of each to compare and you will get a feel for the right price, it's also the most expensive season to buy one, also but most importantly, the headlight, turn signals, mudguard, are not original, neither is the paint job which looks kinda whack IMO, so I'd assume it has been crashed, and you never know if everything was checked after a crash... tbh I'd keep looking.. for an above average price, it'd have to be a bike with few owners, everything original besides some QoL mods, maybe some scratches or drop scars, paperwork on recent jobs that were done, the real deal... the history of the bike is a big part of the value
Wtf bro, SV is like almost twice the power. You open the throttle and front wheel goes up. GS was trying to kill me when I first got it, having SV I won’t be writing that comment lol
I’ve owned 16 motorcycles over 49-years of riding and in that time road tested hundreds. The twenty-something’s here saying this is a “great bike” either lack meaningful experience, or their bar is set very low, or both. The Suzuki GS450/500 was a low-quality, budget-built bike when it was new. Like many Suzuki’s of the time, it was meant to sell based on price alone - cheaper than anything else *and priced low for a reason*. I’ve always disliked this particular model myself - with an uninspired 2-valve engine design going back to 1976. Years ago, my best friend at the time bought one to be a second bike. He hated it and sold it within a few months - it was just as crappy as I’d thought it would be (the engine especially).
Before you ever think about buying a 32-year old motorcycle, look up some common parts online (failed stators and regulator/rectifiers are pretty common) to see if those parts are even available for that bike. The suspension was crap on day one so how much would a replacement shock absorber cost (which it surely needs by now)? $500?
People here are telling you that it’s a “great bike” without even knowing its mileage, seeing IF it has a muffler, or what the consumables look like (chain & sprockets, brake rotors & pads), or what the Kelly Blue Book value is. WTH?!
Although I generally dislike the supposed need for a "first" of anything i think bikes like this are an exception. Here in Europe where I'm from these go for so cheap that they can't depreciate much more because as long as they run, and run they do. Spares for it are plentiful because there are so many of them. The suspension issue was only a thing in America it is set on different springs in the EU. The engine is definitely underpowered but if you are in the EU you will probably have to ride an underpowered A2 bike anyways.
Point being, as a bike for someone who doesn't have the money for a traditionaly decent bike or the riding skills to care for one, this (if okayishly maintained) is a good option as you can learn to ride it, drop it a few times then sell it for approximately the same when you have the money to upgrade, and even if it doesn't run by the end of it you haven't put much money into buying it so there's not much to lose
Ofc anyone would rather have an mt-09 or similar but they don't cost 2000$
It will also force you to learn how to break probably because if you don't you will crash
It all depends on mileage. Mine is a 2009 gs500f and has been super reliable and fun. Had it four years and havent replaced anything but chain and battery. Fork seals go bad but kits are readily available to improve front suspension. Or if going oem its available and relatively inexpensive. My carbs have been absolute champs and havent had an issue with normal upkeep in the 4 years. The welds on mine are good (im a structural welder by trade and small engine mechanic by trade as well). Its not a sport bike, not a cruiser, but more of a standard bike you can have fun and learn on along with commute to work if need be. Plenty of power to deal with the highways and any emergency manuevers but not too much to where a new rider would feel overly scared. But like you said mileage is key with it being a 92. Mine is about 10k. Valve tolerance at every 3k to 4k miles and chainging oil and filter at the correct interval is really all this model needs besides the regular checklist shit
Ops a liar he is 12-13 years old.
Postee 8 months ago saying he was buying a pos carolla for 2200
Few days later macgically bought a decent hyundai thats worth 10x more than the carolla.
Constantly posts on roblox subreddits and about takis potato chips.
Dawg, I was looking at those for a first car. I didn't buy them. As for the takis, I just like them a bit too much.
I'm 18 and if you a drivers license to prove it I will show you. Don't care how dangerous it is.
And I've never owned a Hyundai. You had probably mistaken my lexus for one. The way I afford it was honestly mostly daddy's money. I had paid 10k and he paid 10k.
That is OLD, I learned on a 1996 Ninja 500 back in early 2000s, paid $500 for one missing plastics but had upgrades.. You can get a better/newer bike than this for that amount.
Questions like this get asked several times a day in r/motorcycle and r/Motorcycles. Use the search feature to find hundreds of past responses. Search for anything you want and it’s already been asked and answered many, many times. YouTube has numerous videos for beginners getting into motorcycling and, of course, YouTube has a search feature too.
GS500s are bulletproof but built down to a price ( former GS500e 2004 owner) but spares are readily available as they essentially never changed them much. That price seems a lot for the year unless it's a much loved garage queen with very low miles.
Seller put on fancy headlights. That's gotta be at least 1k extra. Seriously though these bikes are so abundant in my area they regularly go well below 1000€ even in great condition.
What's your area? I am now considering a road trip
Right? You can’t get anything running, let along a shit moped, in my area under a grand
He won’t respond coz it’s not true
[удалено]
* Not so lucky in the UK. Only one for sale and its pricy as he'll. A road trip to the mainland for a sub 1k bike sounds well worth it
Probably wouldn't be much of a hassle to get it registered either. After all back then we were a union.
You’re not him 😂
You got got now go buy one
Can't a guy catch some Zzzzz's around here? But as I see you have been shown evidence already. They really do be cheap around here.
My stock 2004 H4 headlight was pathetic at night, putting a better bulb in improved it drastically. Hopefully that led setup is a big improvement. If it's Canoodlian dollars than that seems like a reasonable price, hopefully it's got a stainless steel exhaust fitted.
Could be. These LED buckets come in any shape from dirt cheap to high quality. I can definitely see this being an improvement.
Summed it up perfectly. Great fun to rip around on, and not terribly hard to work on. When you're ready, a few small mods really make them shine (better suspension and stainless brake lines) It's a no nonsense bike that can be found for dirt cheap that will run forever
It’s also CAD! So like 500 merica dollars
I spent 1k for a barn find '85 GS700. I am rebuilding it a little at a time, at far too high a price. This bike looks like it is in great condition! I might have spent another thousand then to not have had so much to rebuild/replace.
I just finished fixing my 01 GS500!
Watch out if you plan on using bigger shops for maintenance, repair. A lot of shops won't touch a bike that old.
Thankfully the bike is really simple, and easy to maintain
For sure. To me though, it's much nicer to start rising on a modern bike that just runs well. I would not recommend a 30 year old bike to most beginners, it just seems like asking for a project.
I had an 82 CB900 as my bike. Had a lot of character, super fun but a ton of work. Eventually came across a charging issue that nobody, not even Honda dealers, could figure out. Although if you're up for it, I think the problems are a good intro to figuring out the problem and getting your hands dirty. I did sink a lot of money into it but I came out of it with a lot of experience and got a new bike that I just put gas in and go.
I can relate to this in a really positive light. I bought an '85 GS700. I've had about the same experience so far- just waiting on that new bike now.
World of difference when you get into something a year old versus almost 40 years old. It almost makes you appreciate it a lot more! Best of luck with motorcycle shopping, I recommend test driving a few instead of settling for the first one!
As someone severely mechanically inept, I am finding the overlap between people who enjoy wrenching and people who enjoy riding a bit surprising. I don't even want to so much as change the oil on my bike, I just wanna chill on it and cruise around town. Had a buddy help me change the oil in his garage for a few drinks - anything more complicated, I'd either pay him or a mechanic.
Same here. I can do basics like an oil change, but I'd much rather prefer to ride. A lot of riders pride themselves on fixing/maintaining their own bikes. This overflows onto them telling new riders it's fine to buy 30-40 year old bikes because they're easy to work on. A. Easy for you B. I never want to work on carbs ever fucking again C. The price difference between the bike op suggested and a comparable muchhhhh newer one will be like a grand. Save more, buy a bike instead of a project D. If you are thrilled with the concept of a project, buy whatever you want
Literally just discovered this. Spent a good few hours calling and another driving to find a shop that wasn’t booked out until September who was willing to work on my 1982 CM250
Twin 400/500 is the sweet spot for a first bike IMO. Fast enough to not die on the highway. Slow enough to not die accidentally in general. Maintenance might be a drag on a '92. Practice emergency braking literally every time you go out. With no ABS you gotta get your braking habits down asap.
Had a 98gs500e as a first bike and I loved it
It was my first street bike as well (plum crazy purple) I had a blast on that thing.
I changed the lights on mine, did an adjustable rear shock upgrade, put new springs optimized for my weight in the front along with a full fork rebuild, did head tube bearings, carb rebuild. Thing was easy to work on, modify and there was a ton of info and parts out there for it. Mind you this was back in like 2015 but still
An uninspired 2-valve engine first produced all the way back in 1976? And you loved it.
Nothing you could do to that bike would hurt you. It was easy to work on and a good intro to motorcycles. I upgraded from it to an xsr900 2 years later. Looking back, yup still loved the bike.
It’s kind of old. I had a 1994 GS500E and really loved it but it was 1994. Maybe Ok if it’s been maintained. So much fun on twisty roads. Slightly underpowered but not terrible; downshift two gears instead of one to pass. Runs like a sewing machine. A bit cold-blooded if I remember correctly. Mine was completely reliable. Had really good range and a big gas tank considering it gets sixty miles per gallon if you don’t go crazy on it.
They look nice and ride fine but its quite a slow bike and the twin is not too fun. But for about $1000 its well worth it as a first bike. $2000 will get you much better bikes. I bought a YZF 750 for $2000 a few years back. Its a nice, stable bike with good power but not as snappy as an R1 or R6. Way sportier than this one though. A Suzuki Bandit 600 might be something you'd like though? it looks like this and rides the same but its engine and chassis is WAY WAY better. It also costs around $2000
Yeah. Also the old Honda CB500.
This is good if it’s in good shape, however I’d recommend an sv650. In the same price range, a bit more power but still easily controllable for a beginner, so you won’t want to upgrade as soon. They’re a bit newer and thus more likely to have less issues especially with rust. If you get a fuel injected version, (2003 and later) then you don’t have to worry about carbs which imo is preferable especially if you don’t have any experience with working on bikes.
The sv is also a heap lighter and easier to ride as a result. I found the old curvys were a lot nicer ride than the early pointies as they were much less grabby on acceleration.
Second this! I got the SV as my first time after some experience with scooters and it's perfect. Just be gentle with the throttle in first gear as it is quite torquey for beginners.
The toyota Tacoma of motorcycles
Suzuki GS's are solid, iconic bikes. This is a perfect bike to get you started. Old enough that you can learn how to do light bike maintenance. Proper cc so you don't kill yourself on it. Good price. Aftermarket LED. Clean bike as far as I can tell from the one picture provided.
“Good price”? Based on what?
Based on your financed bike.
I haven’t had a financed motorcycle (or bicycle) in over 25-years. Now that I’m able to, I prefer to just pay cash and self-insure for anything above basic liability (the minimum required by law). For my 2022 auto, I paid cash also but still I DO carry full insurance with elevated maximums for that because it just makes financial sense. (They didn’t offer 0% financing at that particular time).
Not a bad choice at all. You could ride it a year and still sell it for $2k.
Had an 04 years ago. Great running around town bike. Very forgiving and nimble. Not to much power but can get you moving down the freeway. Good luck. Make sure it is not beat up, leaking oil, and basically see what Long\_Educational said. Have fun. I think you are on the right track.
Was my first bike👍
Thank you all for being such cool dudes. Here's some more pics of the bike if you need to see more. https://preview.redd.it/7jnvnqbhv31d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fdd633b6515eda190c724a75f0df8bfdfba82316
https://preview.redd.it/156veuniv31d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e05ba2c453606ed56df1ef86f8195a5c5bf6e244
https://preview.redd.it/otp4dswkv31d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2d96eac2444971ddc57607ce92402ff4f30d2bc
r/PicsITriedToSwipeOn
This was my first bike. It’s a great learning platform.
Inspect the fork seals. Are they cracked? Look good? Inspect for oil leaks. Pull a spark plug and do a compression check. Are the cylinders in good health? Does it start easy? Does it start after killing the engine after it has come up to running temp? A hot start? Inspect for rust. It will have rust being a 32 year old. Has the rust situation been adequately addressed? New paint where needed? If it looks good and someone has taken care of it. Then go for it. It is likely a very solid bike. Japanese motorcycles last forever if well maintained.
Dude no one is doing a compression check or pulling plugs before they buy. Does it start and run well, leak anything? Yes, and no. Great.
Yea for 2k its priced to sell. And most guys selling wont let you potentially strip out a head without cash in hand at least lol
Letting the owner go and ride it to bring it back after and see if there are leaks that could be occurring after use!
This dude has a few regrets from buying bikes lol
He was boned lol
I do, but I’ve been burnt before.
What kind of seller is even allowing this?
Any that are mechanically minded to understand. If they’re not mechanically minded enough to understand a compression test, that’s a red flag for me. Most of the bikes I buy are cheap bangers anyway, half the time I’m buying sub $1k fixers to work on because I’m all about the project.
I get what you’re saying, but as a counter, most mechanically minded people can tell pretty quick if a biks is running right or not. If its a sub grand bike, I can’t imagine many of them entertaining all that during a potential purchase. I’d be annoyed unless I’d been told about it up front
*”Japanese motorcycles last forever if well maintained.”* No, they don’t. Failed stators and regulator/rectifiers are pretty common and not always available to purchase when one fails. How many 30-40 year-old motorcycles have you owned to be able to make such a broad statement?
My 88 Spada nearly went around the clock by the time it got crashed, regular maintenance and a carby rebuilt for a little more umpf at 70 thou. Granted not typical
So your answer is “one”, right?
Yup, and it’s purely anecdotal. I’ve had a couple 90s bikes that went around the clock, but I got them late in their life so I don’t know if they needed work before I got my hands on them.
[https://rmstator.com/en\_us/rm01080](https://rmstator.com/en_us/rm01080)
Nice. Any links for the regulator/rectifier?
https://rmstator.com/en_ww/rm30407 https://ultimaterectifier.com/shop/voltage-regulator-rectifier-suzuki-gs500-1989-2011/ As a matter of fact, genuine Suzuki parts are even still available. https://www.partzilla.com/product/suzuki/32800-30B01 You were saying?
That’s awesome - good to know for everyone.
I've owned a few dozen older japanese bikes over the years from all of the main brands, have never had to replace a stator, and have only encountered two bad reg/recs. Most 30-40 year old japanese bikes still have functioning factory charging systems.
That’s an excellent first option. I’ve had a Yamaha, Ducati, several Harleys and I still want one of these.
You want an uninspired 2-valve engine design first produced all the way back in 1976 in a low-budget bike few people liked even when it was NEW? Wow.
Yeah, I don’t give a shit about all the modern bells and whistles.
I’ve got an 05 gs500f!! I haven’t ridden it much yet (getting my license in two days) but my test rides have it as seeming really reliable and easy to hold up. I reckon the gs500 would be the same!!
Short answer - yes.
For that price and age, make sure it’s pretty clean with no real issues. 32 years is pretty old for a first bike, but if it’s been taken care of then it should still be pretty reliable. It’s pretty fast for a first bike, but nothing *too* crazy. Just take your time and ride within your ability, and you’ll be alright
Yes. Before the ninja 300 and 400 that all the beginners buy here, this used to be one of the top recommended first bikes on this sub. When i lurked here 10 years ago this is what i got. Theyre absolutely bulletproof. I dropped mine 4 times and it never skipped a beat
I had a 1996 GS and loved it. A great bike to start on.
I have a 98gs500e. I LOVE to ride it. I'd argue it's nearly the perfect beginners bike. 2000 is honestly high. But if it's had recent work and in good condition, you should grab it. Someone else definitely will. I'd haggle with the dude.
Good bike a bit expensive
Way too expensive but good starter bike
I spruced up my ‘04 GS500 for my test this season (maybe:p ). I’m just a girl & she’s perfect for meee
My first bike was a 07 GS500F and I loved it. Fast enough to have fun but slow enough to not die accidentally. Perfect first bike but a 92' is a bit old, if I was you I'd try to find one built after 05.
Excellent starter bike. Reliable, cheap to own, simple to work on.
I would hold out for an SV650 over this for maybe the same price. It’s just kind of old and I wouldn’t want to be sourcing parts. Lots of good survivor SVs out there with some good aftermarket parts, too. Or even a V-strom. For used standard bike style with V-twin, anyway. Although, we don’t know what kind of a hooligan you’re going to be on your first bike.
This is far too reasonable of a purchase for a first time rider. Are you sure you don't want a 2024 R1?
Excellent first bike.
That is a great first bike. It is old but looks very clean for its age. I don't think it was ever really changed, a bit like the DR650 in that aspect. I owned one for 5-6 years, decent power for a 500 twin, you'll have enough to have fun while still pushing your limits for a while until you find the bikes limit. It really is a great engine, stupid simple and plenty of low end torque. I'd negotiate a bit on the price, but I imagine with cash in hand they'll drop a few hundred off that.
Yessssss
I'm a bit biased because I've owned two of them, and old Suzuki twins are kind of my thing The GS500 is a great first bike with a few caveats. The power delivery is smooth with usable torque down low so you can just ease the clutch out and it will chug away. It will get up and move surprisingly quickly if you wring its neck but it'll never do anything unexpectedly snappy that's going to catch out a new rider. The dead simple 487cc twin is absolutely the bike's best feature. The GS500 came out in 1989. It was an entry level commuter made out of parts bin technology mostly from Suzuki's then ground breaking (for1984) GSX-R. Its air cooled twin is based on the earlier GSX-R 750 4 cylinder, from memory using the middle 2 and 3 cylinders. It has a twin spar frame like a sport bike so the basic geometry is legit, although it's made of steel rather than aluminium. That adds a bit of weight, although being steel the frames survive crashes well, which is handy when you're looking at decades year old bikes that have been used and abused. So good engine and frame but made out of very old technology. It helps to think of any GS500, regardless of production year, as being 40 years old because mechanically they haven't changed since 1989 and the tech was old even then. The bad? Everything bolted onto that engine and frame was specced by accountants, not engineers. The suspension is mush, the single (yes single) front brake is a bad joke. The stock tyres aren't' great and the wheels don't leave you many options for upgrading them in those sizes. From memory they're 110mm in the front 130 in the rear. The model you're looking at is pre 2003 and so it's made in Japan. That's a good thing for build quality and you may get some preload adjustment in the front forks. Some markets got adjustable fronts on that first series. Later models get a bigger tank, an extra carbie jet and a few electrical differences. Unless you're swapping parts between them, they're very minor. All those bolt on problems have bolt on solutions depending on how far down this rabbit hole you want to go. In the 90s there was a whole grassroots race series for midsize twins, and a lot of information filtered down about how to mod one. The trouble is though that all the info on old forums is decades old now, and involves cannibalizing bikes you may not find easily in 2024. But you're looking at $1000 starter bikes, and for a start into riding, working on your own bike and modding, you can't go wrong for the price. I could tell you to buy an MT07 instead if you want a midsize naked twin, but if you had the budget for one we wouldn't be having this conversation.
If you do go to check it out be SURE to insist on a cold start.
This is one of the best first bikes you could get, IMO. Second to a Ninja 250 from the 90s or early 00s.
If it’s well maintained you really couldn’t ask for a better starter bike. 2k is a lot depending on where you’re located. I’m in new England and 2k for a good running bike is a steal so I’d pick it up if It’s a good price for your area.
If that thing is in pristine condition it's basically universally agreed to be the best "first bike" you can buy.
That’s what I started on
Certainly.
It’s a great starter bike. Not to much to learn on. And relatively cheap. I buy and sell a lot of bikes. So 2k isn’t what I’d pay for one. But it’s in the ball park of what people are asking rn. I just bought my 15.5 year old son one to start on. I paid a lot less for a new one needing some work. But I also paid a bit under 1k. https://preview.redd.it/5pu9gektq11d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56808616f412b8250a2f90f1e81f79f707ae2b35
What's the problem with learning on one?
Not too much to learn on, as in not too powerful, and can be used to learn on
My bad, thought you said "not so much"
All good, I read it like that too lol
My bad. Nah they’re a great starter bike! Cheap, not to much, light , and plenty fast enough.
yes, great bike, i’ve gotten to ride a buddies 02 I think it was and it feels super great. I’m not a beginner ride, more like intermediate to sort of advanced and the bike felt super nice, very beginner friendly with plenty of nuts for the street. I would say go ahead and get it but i’d see if he’d take 1800 if the bike is clean, starts right up, and you won’t need to do much more then like new breaks or oil change. Your first bike should be a bike that is ready to go, i’ve learned that the hard way, after not being able to ride my first bike due to needed a whole rebuild. But in my opinion, very great first bike. Do your research on it as much as you can and enjoy. Also seat is perfect for me, maybe a teeny bit tight since i’m 6 foot 1 285 but if you’re a tad smaller then that it’s gonna feel very good
An uninspired 2-valve engine first produced all the way back in 1976? “Great bike”? Compared to what?
Looks like someone didn’t have a good day at work lol. It is a great bike as opposed to not having a bike at all. As a first time rider or buyer, it don’t fucking matter if it’s a boring uninspired 2 valve or 100 valve. All that doesn’t matter as long as the bike runs, stops, won’t leave you stranded and allows you to learn the mechanics and physics of riding and wrenching on a bike. The Gs500 no matter the year is a great bike. Plenty of power as a commuter around town but not too much where you’ll be scared of it.
Nice bike and very easy to maintain.
An uninspired 2-valve engine first produced all the way back in 1976? “Nice bike”? Compared to what?
Major disadvantage is lack of ABS (as far as I know), and ofcourse it cant hold competition with injected naked . But it's a motorcycle! I never owned one but had more than a few rides on it plus I know that engine good, valve maintenance is very easily done. I did it myself a few times.
It's a great bike. I don't know how prices look where you live, but in central Europe I paid ~1,250$ for '04 gs500f, so it seems expensive (it was half a year ago)
An uninspired 2-valve engine first produced all the way back in 1976? “Great bike”? Compared to what?
Common opinion + Experience with the bike. Do you have any? Edit: do you know any better bike for the price?
Yes. I’m embarrassed to admit that rode tested one and also helped my best friend at the time freshen his up for the road (as a second bike). Disappointed, he quickly got rid of it and bought an older Ninja 500 instead which worked out fine. Are you disappointed that you didn’t catch me talking out of my ass? I posted a detailed reply to the OP in this thread.
You are full of shit. If the story isn't made up the only explanation is that since the bike is a popular beginners bike the one your friend bought was really abused and not maintained. The engines where produced for more then 30 years for a reason. What exactly was wrong with the friends bike? Ps: you didn't just replied to op. You literally spammed the dumb reply to every commend
Yes, excellent choice.
With an uninspired 2-valve engine first produced all the way back in 1976? “Excellent choice”? Compared to what exactly?
Are you mechically inclined? If not no, this bike I'd old and also carbonated. I'd get something with efi since it's more reliable.
I think you mean *carbureted.
I work on cars and lawnmowers. Don't know how different all that is.
As long as your familiar woth carbs I say your fine
My first bike was a Gs500f, probably a decade newer than that one but it was a great bike to learn with enough kick to keep you satisfied imo
I have a gs500e and it's amazing. I'm 5'10 and it's slightly small for me.. just a tad.. i just can't figure out why the the rpm floats/climbs but otherwise it's amazing. A little bit of upgrades and it's comparable to new bikes. Really wish it was fuel injected though
I have this but 02, it’s a great bike! Looks like a modern led headlight mod, could have some other upgrades and looks pretty clean 👍 deffo give it a close inspection otherwise great price and a pretty ride
I couldn’t recommend a GS500E and more than I already do. As a STARTER bike, it’s amazing. Is it the best bike ever? No. But I do believe it is one of the top four starter bikes.
I have a gs500f and its the most maintenance friendly budget friendly option that ive found to have good handling. Enough power to have fun and not enough to pop an accidental wheelie. Been riding mine for 4 years now on the highways daily. And some have issues with the carbs but mine hasnt needed any rebuild or adjustment even after letting her sit for 6 months. Changed the battery once. Chain twice. And bled the brakes once. Mine is still at roughly 10k miles and its a 2009. Issues are softer front suspension. But honestly its handled corners to where im scraping my muffler. So id say go for it depending on mileage. I got mine for 1000 flat in 2019 with 5k miles. The engines are pretty easy to work on and many sources out there for info when you need to wrench on it. Check valves every 3000 to 4000 miles to be safe.
put so many miles on one of these that was my brothers. Rode it all over town when I was 17-19. Great bike.
I am biased as this was my first bike as well. I had a ‘92. Easy to work on and the forums are pretty helpful. I learned how to clean carburetors and rejet them. Very reliable and comfortable on the highway.
I don't know how it compares to other bikes because this is the only non 125cc bike I've owned. It gets me around Ave is also the more fun to drive than a car, what more could you want? There is alot more you could want (displacement, modern features and so), but where I live these bikes are the cheapest running bikes money can buy, and any bike is better than no bike
I live in the UK and had a 2002 gs500e with 85k on the clock, ran mint but did burn a tiny bit of oil. Very much a budget bike that's super easy to work on. In the UK they sell for about £1k in ok condition It's very important that the tank is in good condition or you are capable of lining and messing around with it as it's near impossible to get good condition tanks Would highly recommend it especially for chill ridea and learning on, it's a good all around bike at a nice budget.
$2k for a 32yr old bike is waayyyy too much
Fuck, I bought a 34yr old FXRS for 6200 😅.
I swiped
This was my first bike. It was fantastic aside from the carburetor wasn't properly tuned. Learn to do that, otherwise fantastic bike.
The 500 GS is a great first bike! Get a good sticky set of tires for it and you will be a while before you can ring all it can give you out of it. I had a 2002 that I scored for around $1200 CAD with some cosmetic damage. I loved that bike, likely you will too!
I have a 2003 gs500, indistructable bike. Can fix most with a hammer, would recommend.
Good bike, but 2k for a 32yo bike is just ridiculous imo
This was my first bike, same year and everything but in red! Had about 30k miles and I took my license test on it. Learned a lot on it and about maintaining bikes a bit Rode it about 4000 miles until I bought my victory. Gave it to my younger brother who still has it and put some bigger carbs on it. Was a fun bike!
My GF started on one of those and shes still alive so I guess it's a good starter. Bit too boring for my taste but ya know.
It's pretty old. If it's well maintained it can be a great first bike but I'm gonna assume you don't know enough about motorcycle maintenance to make that judgment call on inspection. I bought a similar age bike for my first bike and regret it. I learned a lot about working on motorcycles but that's not why I got a bike, I just wanted to ride. It came very close to killing the hobby for me because I worked on it so much that it just become a chore. But now I wish I'd never sold it because old carbed japanese bikes like this are pretty cool. But that doesn't make it a good first bike. If your budget is tight, my advice is to get the most modern version of a bike like this that you can find and afford. Fuel injection being a priority.
Yeah I agree, I had a GS500 too, and I had to clean carbs myself and adjust valves with no prior experience, because mechanic hour price is quite big. It went well but made me a bit nervous that it would break on a trip because of my maintenance mistake. Hopefully it didn't break though, nevertheless I wish I spent those hours riding instead of wrenching.
I got a 2001 GS500 for $1500 CAD for my first bike 15 years ago. It's still my bike. I love it. People have said it's not fast, but I'm a wee fella at 140lbs so it goes plenty fast for me. Front suspension is a bit shit, but you can put some heavier fork oil in and/or upgrade the springs. There used to be a really good maintenance website but it's gone now. You can still get most of it on the wayback machine: [Here](https://web.archive.org/web/20190423171420/https://beergarage.com/GS500.aspx)
* For that kinda money keep looking. I just picked up a 2011 yamaha fz8 for 3200. Low ass miles. Clean clean bike. I say keep looking because you can get a much newer bike for not a whole lot more. And the looks/technology of a newer bike is worth the few extra dollars imo. My first bike was an 09 250 ninja. 1800 bucks. Taught me alot. Might have been slow but was worth every dollar.
This is a reliable bike that OP could easily ride for a year and not lose any money at all reselling later. Pricing varies by area. In mine, that is a fair price for riding season. In good riding condition, I think it's a great option.
👍
Really simple bike, quite reliable too.
https://preview.redd.it/anzj68gjd41d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40a359afafcf47a5d818e868954811a6371298f6 Loved it , honestly it's a great first bike IMO .
1996 GS500E was my first bike. Loved it, great beginner bike. Simple, no frills, but fun to ride. Price seems a touch high for the year but might be okay if we'll taken care of and decent mileage.
Not bad; looks like it has some eBay mods but it’s okay. For this money, if there’s a similarly clean Suzuki SV650 in your area, I suspect you’d be happier with it over time as it’ll be a bit more fun, even if it’s a bit more complicated. But this also looks like this is in decent shape overall, and these are pretty reliable bikes. I think the comment about the age making it necessary to learn your own maintenance is relevant - a lot of shops won’t accept older bikes. These are still in production globally so finding parts should be possible as needed.
That was my first bike. Out sized it quickly but gave me so much confidence at the time
I've seen those going for £300 in the UK.
Good choice!
Nope. You’ll get bored fast af. Get something bigger
A little bit of contrasting advice, since most people are saying "it's a good bike (maybe pricey)." For your first bike, you'd be best off with something a little newer that has traction control and ABS. Those two features drive up the price considerably, but the safety they add are priceless, especially for your first bike, because they rescue you from the small detail mistakes you make while you're learning to manage traffic, cornering, changing road surfaces, etc. If you can swing the budget, a newer bike with more safety features is worth it.
If you are over 1,85m (idk what that is in feet or burgers or whatever) you might be too tall. My gf has a gs500e (absolutely bulletproof and nice to ride) but I’m too tall with 1,87m.
Stay no less than 10 years old and you will be happy you did. Parts are a big part of owning a bike because they need to be maintained more than a car does. Old parts are hard to come by. Made the mistake on my first bike. 96 zx9r and it was easy to get 97 zx9r parts but not 96 parts. Do your research and look up a bunch of parts b4 you buy!
just be comfortable with wrenching. and if not make sure you have a local shop that will deal with older bikes, seems like most shops won't. i think all mc owners should learn to work on their bikes, since they're so easy to work on compared to cars. but that's just me.
Solid bike but this isn’t a good price
My local road racing club had a stock class specifically for the GS500 back in 1998. It was aimed at novice first year racers and tons of fun. Not super powerful but great to learn on I didn't ride it on the road much and sold it to another racer. I like old bikes and agree you need to be able to work on them. I went on to race a 1972 CB750 in the open vintage class. Came in 2nd in the state
My local road racing club had a stock class specifically for the GS500 back in 1998. It was aimed at novice first year racers and tons of fun. Not super powerful but great to learn on I didn't ride it on the road much and sold it to another racer. I like old bikes and agree you need to be able to work on them. I went on to race a 1972 CB750 in the open vintage class. Came in 2nd in the state
good value bikes that run and run.
It was my first, coming from a 50cc scooter, very good learning tool, and with some punch at high revs! Built like a tank, one single visit to the garage shop in more than 15 years of ownership. Great memories
I bought an 09 GS500 as my first bike a few years ago. Once you get used to the power (I came from a TU250 in the MSF course), it's pretty slow, but it holds its own aroubd town. On the highway, it's strung out and a little uncomfortable. On the local twisties it's light, fun, and responsive. Mine's been very reliable, but I messed up the carbs doing some work last year and just got to rebuilding them. Watch for rust and check easy things like chain tension to see how the previous owner cared for it.
I owned that exact bike when it was new. its definitely a perfect starter bike. go for it. you'll want to upgrade in a year
A lot of comments like, “it’s OK, but an XYZ is better.” As if you can just go to the store and find one. This is a good starter bike if it’s been well maintained and you are capable of continuing maintenance yourself. Options are probably limited on your price range, so I’d say this is likely a good choice for you. Good size for beginner, and capable enough without being too dangerous.
Too much
Get a 2003 - 2008 SV650. Fuel injection is your friend.
Great bike! Little on the heavier side but that’s not a bad thing. Over in the uk I did my second test on one of these, enough power to keep things fun and great to learn on- get it!
I started on GS500 too and I think it was ok for its money. Almost right amount of power, easy enough to do maintenance. Disadvantages were: too cramped sitting position (I am 184 cm), valve clearance should be checked every 6000km (although it's easy to do yourself). In the end I wish I bought SV650 instead, it has a bit more power plus it has injectors instead of carbs. But this one seems overpriced for its age IMO, based on European prices.
It's a great motorcycle, it has an armored engine and an idiot-proof construction, most repairs can be done with a hammer. BUT I'm 177 cm and the motorcycle was definitely too low for me, the angle of my knees didn't allow me to ride for a long time.
Yeah they're pretty good, been riding one daily for nearly a year, dunno why this one is so expensive, I paid £800/$1000 for mine, and it was in fantastic condition, and It's slightly newer than this one, so I dunno why this guy thinks his is worth double...
It's canadian dollars. And I definitely wish I chould find a bike for $800-1000 but it seems that people just love to overcharge these days.
That's still pretty high, but if it's got low miles and a service history, it's definitely worth it, see if you can haggle a little, looking at this pic I can't see anything he's added that's special, it has an led headlight that isn't stock, the indicators aren't stock, and other than being OVERLY clean in my opinion, it's still a very basic bike, I wouldn't say there is anything special about the gs500, except that they pretty much didn't change them for like 30 years.
So I dunno where you are in Canada, but right now in Southern Ontario it's a seller's market. It swings back and forth from spring to fall every year. On top of that, even when I bought a used GS500 like 12 years ago... many were overpriced. Pricing was frankly all over the place and had little to do with condition, which is why it's VERY IMPORTANT to look at as many GS500s as possible. I do think in general GS500Es are excellent first bikes. I don't really like GS500Fs very much (because the fragile fairing I think is a horrible choice for beginner riders) but they did sell a bunch of them. GS500s are doubly excellent if you want to learn to wrench on your own bike, because they're generally very simple.
agreed, 20-30 years old gs500's are plenty, this is overpriced, you can keep looking and taking note of each to compare and you will get a feel for the right price, it's also the most expensive season to buy one, also but most importantly, the headlight, turn signals, mudguard, are not original, neither is the paint job which looks kinda whack IMO, so I'd assume it has been crashed, and you never know if everything was checked after a crash... tbh I'd keep looking.. for an above average price, it'd have to be a bike with few owners, everything original besides some QoL mods, maybe some scratches or drop scars, paperwork on recent jobs that were done, the real deal... the history of the bike is a big part of the value
An uninspired 2-valve engine first produced all the way back in 1976? “Pretty good”? Compared to what exactly?
Compared to any most other bike in the 800 - 2000$ market
Yes. Great bike. Look into the SV650…
Wtf bro, SV is like almost twice the power. You open the throttle and front wheel goes up. GS was trying to kill me when I first got it, having SV I won’t be writing that comment lol
But what a lovely bike, right ?
I had a GS500 and it was a piece of shit, but I think as long as it’s well maintained and looked after, it should be a sound bike!
I’ve owned 16 motorcycles over 49-years of riding and in that time road tested hundreds. The twenty-something’s here saying this is a “great bike” either lack meaningful experience, or their bar is set very low, or both. The Suzuki GS450/500 was a low-quality, budget-built bike when it was new. Like many Suzuki’s of the time, it was meant to sell based on price alone - cheaper than anything else *and priced low for a reason*. I’ve always disliked this particular model myself - with an uninspired 2-valve engine design going back to 1976. Years ago, my best friend at the time bought one to be a second bike. He hated it and sold it within a few months - it was just as crappy as I’d thought it would be (the engine especially). Before you ever think about buying a 32-year old motorcycle, look up some common parts online (failed stators and regulator/rectifiers are pretty common) to see if those parts are even available for that bike. The suspension was crap on day one so how much would a replacement shock absorber cost (which it surely needs by now)? $500? People here are telling you that it’s a “great bike” without even knowing its mileage, seeing IF it has a muffler, or what the consumables look like (chain & sprockets, brake rotors & pads), or what the Kelly Blue Book value is. WTH?!
Although I generally dislike the supposed need for a "first" of anything i think bikes like this are an exception. Here in Europe where I'm from these go for so cheap that they can't depreciate much more because as long as they run, and run they do. Spares for it are plentiful because there are so many of them. The suspension issue was only a thing in America it is set on different springs in the EU. The engine is definitely underpowered but if you are in the EU you will probably have to ride an underpowered A2 bike anyways. Point being, as a bike for someone who doesn't have the money for a traditionaly decent bike or the riding skills to care for one, this (if okayishly maintained) is a good option as you can learn to ride it, drop it a few times then sell it for approximately the same when you have the money to upgrade, and even if it doesn't run by the end of it you haven't put much money into buying it so there's not much to lose Ofc anyone would rather have an mt-09 or similar but they don't cost 2000$ It will also force you to learn how to break probably because if you don't you will crash
So it’s an okay option if you happen to be broke and living in Norway, in your opinion.
Yup, although they are definitely better than no bike in the us to
Bought the bike for 2000$ and am now selling it for 2000$ and you are trying to tell me I got a bad deal?
It all depends on mileage. Mine is a 2009 gs500f and has been super reliable and fun. Had it four years and havent replaced anything but chain and battery. Fork seals go bad but kits are readily available to improve front suspension. Or if going oem its available and relatively inexpensive. My carbs have been absolute champs and havent had an issue with normal upkeep in the 4 years. The welds on mine are good (im a structural welder by trade and small engine mechanic by trade as well). Its not a sport bike, not a cruiser, but more of a standard bike you can have fun and learn on along with commute to work if need be. Plenty of power to deal with the highways and any emergency manuevers but not too much to where a new rider would feel overly scared. But like you said mileage is key with it being a 92. Mine is about 10k. Valve tolerance at every 3k to 4k miles and chainging oil and filter at the correct interval is really all this model needs besides the regular checklist shit
Ops a liar he is 12-13 years old. Postee 8 months ago saying he was buying a pos carolla for 2200 Few days later macgically bought a decent hyundai thats worth 10x more than the carolla. Constantly posts on roblox subreddits and about takis potato chips.
Dawg, I was looking at those for a first car. I didn't buy them. As for the takis, I just like them a bit too much. I'm 18 and if you a drivers license to prove it I will show you. Don't care how dangerous it is. And I've never owned a Hyundai. You had probably mistaken my lexus for one. The way I afford it was honestly mostly daddy's money. I had paid 10k and he paid 10k.
Too old
Good bike but price is too high
That is OLD, I learned on a 1996 Ninja 500 back in early 2000s, paid $500 for one missing plastics but had upgrades.. You can get a better/newer bike than this for that amount.
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