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Well, I'm going to look at a 2002 Suzuki GS500E this Friday. It only has 2050 miles on it and they are asking $2995 for it.
They sound like they are pretty firm on the price so I probably can't get them to go lower but i'll give it a shot.

KBB says $2510 for that bike in my area, but KBB also thinks it should have 13800 miles on it already and its spring now so prices are a bit higher.
Doesn't sound bad to me, but I'm far from knowledgeable here. Does this sound like a good deal, or at least, not a bad one?

What do you guys think about this bike in general too? I know you all recomend it as a first bike. Anything I should know?

I havn't sat on it yet, but I sat on a 2005 GS500F at a dealership. The seating position might be just a bit sportier than I want, but I'm not sure.
Does this seating position get uncomfortable after a while?

I'm entirely too excited just thinking about this.

eh?

the GS500F has a standard seating position. high handle bars and the seat isn't as far from the handle bars. it's a standard bike disguised as a sport bike.

if you still think it's too sporty then you might wanna go w/ a cruiser.

Heh, no, I don't want a cruiser. I haven't actually rode a GS500E yet so I don't know how it'd be. I just sat on a GS500F at a dealership and noticed the pegs were a bit further back than those on the 250 Nighthawk I rode in the BRC, thats all.

Also... What, besides the fairing, are the differences between the GS500E and the GS500F?

Thanks.

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/compare/5281/3864/

other than the measurements that affect the fairing... it's identical.

i haven't seen one personally side by side but i seriously doubt the seating position will be diff.

The 89-00 were GS500E models, the 01-02 were GS500 models, and the 04 and later with full fairings are GS500F models.

The 01-02 GS500's are the best of them all. The seat and rear end bodywork on them was revised to be like the coming GS500F. Small but important changes were made to the engine; the original 2 circuit Mikuni carbs were replaced with three circuit Mikunis and the cams were revised a bit. The results are a much more flexible and easier and more fun bike to ride. I have put 80k miles on a 97 GS500E and over 30k miles on 02 GS500.

All the GS500 are basically the same bikes except for relatively minor changes. I don't care for the bodywork on the F models and would look for another like new 02 if something happened to my present 02. When my 97 was totalled in July 03 I went looking for an 02 since the new ones were to be fully faired.

Contrary to other sportbike experts opinions, the GS is not a standard. The grips are further forward and lower than the standard bikes were and the pegs are a bit higher and further back than the standards were. I put over 200k miles on four Honda standards before I got the GS's.

The GS ergos feel quite similar to me as the Katanas do and also much the same as the original ZZR600 did. Add some Helibars to a F4i and it also feels about the same ergowise. These are sportbike designs of a decade or so ago and not so all out extreme ergowise as the latest sportbikes are.

An 02 GS500 would be an excellent choice for a first bike or for a last bike after you learn to get the most out of it. There is just something special about the feeling you get running the mountain twisties with liter bikes while on a half liter bike yourself.

seating position on the E and F is identical.

if this GS is in really good shape I would go for it. 2002 GS500Es are highly sought after and not that common, it was the last year for the unfaired E model.

The GS has about as standard a seating position as it gets. If you think the pegs are too far back then you are probably a closet cruiser guy.

Any of the bigger standards will have a bit more aggressive seating position than the GS500, any sportbike will have a much more aggressive seating position.

runsilent, thanks for the rundown of the different models. I thought it was a good bike before, but now i'm sold.
If it is as good as it sounds when I look at it I'll get it for sure.
Thanks for backing me up on the slightly sporty feel to it too.

If anyone knows the GS it's GSJack...oops...runsilent...sshhhh

So, besides fairing, there is no difference between the 01 and 05 models?

skoebl wrote:So, besides fairing, there is no difference between the 01 and 05 models?

There's a few differences most of which are minor. The F model got an oil cooler made necessary by wraping the engine in plastic. Not required on the naked models, the GS's I've had are both much cooler running than any of the air cooled Hondas I had.

OE tires were upgraded from the Excedras to the BT45s and appearantly they worked so much better that MCN thought they were radials.