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Does anyone know what the optimal tachometer (rpm) range is for shifting gears on a 2000 model gs500?

Well...... I got a 1990 gs 500 and i change gears anywhere from 6 thousand to 10 thousand rpms depending on how im driving.
Obviously 6k is the norm for everyday regular riding. I doubt the 2000 would be too different.

should be the same. The gs engine has pretty much gone unchanged for most of its production run

The biggest change in the GS engine was between the 2000 and 2001 model years. Starting with the 01 model the old 2 curcuit Mikuni carbs were replaced by three circuit Mikunis. Also about the same time the cam shaft part numbers changed. The 01 and newer ones are much more flexible all around and much more pleasant to ride. My 02 does the quarter mile about a second slower than my 97 did according to published test figures, but the 02 feels much stronger all around in everyday riding. The old 97 does pull a bit stronger at the top though, another indication of a cam change. Both version have peak HP at about 8500 rpm so there's not much to be gained by going beyond 9-10k rpm even though redline is at 11k.

So when running hard in the hilly twisties, I run a nice pace by keeping it between 7k and 9k rpm. Upshifting at about 9k just past the HP peak drops it down to around 7k rpm on top of the torque curve. Likewise downshifting when down to 7k when braking keeps me in the range and ready to accelerate and also keeps me at a nice engine braking rpm.

When putting along at a moderate pace enjoying the scenery, I'll be running at about 4-7k rpm. The 97 really doesn't pull worth a darn below 4k so I kept it above 4k all the time. The more flexible 02 pulls as well from 3k as the 97 did from 4k.

So I guess I'm pretty much in agreement with fireguzzi's figure above, upshift somewhere between 6k and 10k depending on how hard you are riding. Downshift between 4k and 7k when slowing depending on the pace.

thanks,

all this stuff is good to know, I recently bought my first bike and was upshifting at 4k to 5k. I will practice at higher rpm's this should make things smoother.