2005–2007 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Cheap To Own, Easy To Trust
The GS 500 is about as honest as a motorcycle gets. You get a 487 cc air-cooled parallel twin making 45 hp and 30 lb-ft, a steel double-cradle frame, a 6-speed box and a chain. There's no ABS, no traction control and no ride modes, and the only suspension adjustment is rear preload. On paper that reads like a list of what's missing. In practice it's exactly why this generation still makes sense: every part is there to do a job, and every job is easy to understand. It sits at the humble end of the naked class. It gives you a lot of real riding for very little money and asks almost nothing back.
It's approachable from the first parking lot. Peak power arrives at 9,500 rpm, so you learn to use the revs, and that's a lesson worth learning. This bike is for new riders, budget commuters and anyone who wants to get good on a machine that forgives mistakes. The caveat is age. A neglected example will let you know about it through its carburetors, its rear suspension linkage and its exhaust studs. Buy on condition rather than price, confirm the rear reflector recall has been done, and budget for a thorough first service. Look after it and it pays you back for years.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 45 hp (33 kW) @ 9,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 30 lb-ft (40 Nm) @ 7,400 rpm |
| Displacement | 487 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front tire | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 130/70-17 |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 423 lb (192 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
| Top speed | 107 mph (173 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Over the years I've heard a lot about the GS 500 from the people who own one. Some of it came from paddock talk and club nights, and a good deal from the messages riders send me once they've put real miles on theirs. The picture is consistent. Owners describe a patient workhorse that costs little to keep, and their complaints are few and specific.
Riders consistently say the twin pulls usefully from low revs, so stop-and-go traffic doesn't turn into a constant dance on the shifter. Owners who pile on the miles report that it keeps going with nothing more than basic maintenance. Many are surprised by how comfortable it is: the upright position and plush seat hold up for hours, and it takes a passenger and luggage in stride. When the talk turns to money, the same points keep coming back: a low purchase price, good fuel economy and cheap insurance.
The gripes come up far less often. Some owners say the thin paint scratches easily and that frame parts rust quickly unless you keep after them. Others find the suspension soft at both ends, getting wallowy as the miles build and taking some of the confidence out of cornering.
Non-compliant rear reflector (recall, NHTSA Recall 07V-515)
The rear reflector does not meet FMVSS 108 standards, reducing nighttime visibility to following drivers. Affected units need reflector replacement.
Carburetor flooding and fuel smell
Worn float needle seats or failing petcock diaphragm can cause fuel to overflow or leak, leading to a strong fuel odor and potential safety risk.
Cam chain tensioner rattle
A rattling noise from the engine at idle or under load can indicate worn cam chain tensioner components, eventually requiring replacement.
Clutch slipping under load
The clutch friction plates may wear prematurely or become contaminated, causing the engine to rev without corresponding acceleration.
Suspension linkage seizure
If not regularly greased, the rear suspension linkage bearings can seize, causing the rear shock to lock and seriously degrade handling.
Exhaust manifold stud corrosion
Exhaust studs often rust and break when removing the manifold, requiring drilling and re-tapping—a costly repair sometimes exceeding the bike's value.
Where this Suzuki GS 500 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the GS 500 is actually built for.
For drilling your lines on the Dragon and Cherohala, it's a smart tool: light, forgiving and modest enough that you work on technique, not speed. Just don't expect sharp suspension.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honestly, 45 hp and suspension you can't adjust won't keep your Angeles Crest ambitions happy for long. As a cheap second bike for sharpening your fundamentals, it earns its garage spot.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
For easy Saturday loops out of Austin or San Antonio, it's cheap to run and easy to live with. On long interstate stretches out to the Twisted Sisters, you'll feel its modest 45 hp.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
