Suzuki
GS500E model history
1979—1981, 1989—
| I
have put tried to tell the Suzuki GS500E model history on this
page as I know it.
I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads,
magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material
in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send
them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible.
If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these
instructions.
|
| Confusing
enough, Suzuki has manufactured two quite different models of
GS500E. The original GS500E was one of the original GS models
from the late-seventies and early-eighties. The second, far more
modern, version of the GS500E was released in 1989. I put a couple
of pictures of both of the models on this page. |
 
Suzuki model year code: T
The air cooled GS500E engine traces its roots back to the first
Suzuki four-strokes. The 1977 GS400 became the GS425, then the
GS450, and finally the GS500, which retains the same basic layout
and qualities, such as reliability, that made the original GS
engines so appealing.
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|
 GS
500 E 1980
Overall Length: 2,200 mm (86.6 in)
Overall Width: 850 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: 1,155 mm (45.5 in)
Wheelbase: 1,435 mm (56.5 in)
Dry Weight: 200 kg (440 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 486 cc inline-4, DOHC, 8 valves. 46
hp.
Here's
even larger picture.
|
Suzuki model year code: K
Totally new model
The model name GS500E suddenly reappeared in the Suzuki program
in 1989. Again, the four-stoke DOHC formula was used but this
time there were only two cylinders, with a 270 degree crank. A
counterbalancer was used in the engine to get rid of vibrations
but despite of the double overhead camshafts the engine had only
two valves per cylinder and modest power output.
But the the GS500E twin had a very rigid frame, Full Floater swingarm,
slingshot carburetors, large disc brake at the front and lightweight,
holow 3-spoke wheels. The combination made the chassis better
than usually found in ”commuter” bikes.
The GS500E has been a popular model for years and it's still in
production. No larger upgrades has been made and the bike is still
popular, after 14 years in production.
The given specifications vary some between the countries,depending
on the emission/noise/insurance regulations etc.
|
Suzuki
model year code: M
 GS
500 E 1991
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 785 mm (30.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (373 pounds)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, STDCC, 4 valves.
52 hp (38 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 41 Nm (4.2 kg-m)/ 7.500 rpm.
Body color: red, black, green, blue.
|
Suzuki
model year code: P
 GS
500 E 1993
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 785 mm (30.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (373 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, STDCC, 4 valves.
52 hp (38 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 41 Nm (4.2 kg-m)/ 7.500 rpm. |
Suzuki
model year code: R
 GS
500 E 1994
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 785 mm (30.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (373 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, STDCC, 4 valves.
52 hp (38 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 41 Nm (4.2 kg-m)/ 7.500 rpm.
Here's
even larger picture. |
Suzuki model year code: S
 GS
500 E 1995
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 mm (31.1 in)
Ground Clearance; 155 mm (6.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Dry Weight: 169.0 kg (372.6 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. Sweden:
45,5 hp (33,5 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 39,2 Nm/ 7.600 rpm. Unrestricted:
52 hp (38 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 41 Nm (4.2 kg-m)/ 7.500 rpm.
|
Suzuki model year code: T
GS 500 E 1996
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 785 mm (30.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (373 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 52 hp
(38 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 41 Nm (4.2 kg-m)/ 7.500 rpm. |
Suzuki
model year code: W
 GS
500 E 1998
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm.
|
Suzuki model year code: X
 GS
500 E 1999
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm.
Here's
even larger picture. |
Suzuki
model year code: Y
 GS
500 E 2000
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm. |
Suzuki
model year code: K1
 GS
500 E 2001
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47,7
hp (35,1 kW)/ 9.200 rpm, 40,2 Nm/ 7.500 rpm.
Here's
even larger picture. |
Suzuki
model year code: K2
GS
500 E 2002
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm.
Click here
for even larger picture. |
2003 Suzuki year code: K3
 GS
500 E 2003
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm.
Here's
even larger picture. |
2004 Suzuki year code: K4
For the 2004 Suzuki introduced a model with fairing, GS500F, on
the side of the naked GS500E. You could mount a full fairing to
model even earlier, a full fairing kit was available at least
in Germany. This time the fairing came from Suzuki and was already
mounted on the bike. Technically the models are identical. See
the GS500F on a separate
page.
|
 GS
500 E 2004
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm.
|
 GS
500 E 2004
Overall Length: 2,075 mm (81.7 in)
Overall Width: 745 mm (29.3 in)
Overall Height: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Seat Height: 790 m (31.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1,410 mm (55.5 in)
Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
Dry Weight: 169 kg (372 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 487 cc inline-2, DOHC, 4 valves. 47 hp
(34.3 kW)/ 9,200 rpm, 40 Nm/ 7,400 rpm.
|
|
1998 Suzuki GS500E Specifications (USA)
|
|
Overall length:
|
2,075 mm (81.7 in)
|
|
Overall width:
|
745 mm (29.3 in)
|
|
Overall
height:
|
1,045 mm (41.1 in)
|
| Seat
height: |
790 mm (31.1 in) |
|
Wheelbase:
|
1,410 mm (55.5 in)
|
|
Ground clearance:
|
155 mm (6.1 in)
|
|
Dry mass (weight):
|
169 kg (272 lbs)
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| Dry
mass (California): |
170 kg (374 lbs) |
|
Engine type:
|
Air-cooled inline-2, DOHC, 8 valves
|
|
Bore:
|
74.0 mm (2.913 in)
|
|
Stroke:
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56.6 mm (2.228 in)
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|
Piston displacement:
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487 cc
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|
Compression ratio:
|
9,0:1
|
|
Carburetor:
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MIKUNI BST33SS slingshot x 2 *
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Air
cleaner type:
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Polyurethane foam element
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|
Starter system:
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Transistorized
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|
Lubrication system:
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Wet
sump
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|
Clutch type:
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Wet multi-plate
|
|
Transmission type:
|
6-speed constant mesh
|
|
Gearshift pattern:
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1-down, 5-up
|
|
Final drive:
|
DAIDO D.I.D. 520 V6 chain
|
|
Front suspension:
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Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped, adjustable spring preload
|
|
Rear suspension:
|
Swinging
arm, Full Floater type, 7-way adjustable spring preload
|
| Front
suspension stroke: |
120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Rear wheel travel: |
115 mm (4.5 in) |
|
Steering angle (left to right):
|
|
|
Caster:
|
64º 30'
|
|
Trail:
|
95 mm (3.74 in)
|
|
Turning radius:
|
|
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Front brake:
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Single hydraulic disc, floating 310 mm disc
|
|
Rear brake:
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Single hydraulic disc, 250 mm disc
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Front tire size:
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110/70-17 54H, tubeless
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Rear tire size:
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130/70-17 52H, tubeless
|
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Ignition type:
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Transistorized
|
|
Generator type:
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Three-phase A.C. generator
|
|
Fuel tank capacity:
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17 liter (4.5 US gal), 3,5 liter reserve
|
|
Fuel tank capacity (California):
|
15 liter (4.0 US gal)
|
|
Engine oil capacity:
|
2.9 liter (3.1 US qt.)
|
|
Engine oil capacity (without filter):
|
2.6 liter (2.8 US qt.)
|
| Battery: |
12V 11Ah, FB10L-B2 |
| Spark
plugs: |
NGK DPR8EA-9 or ND X24EPR-U9 |
| Headlight: |
12V 60/55W |
| Available colors: |
Black, Orange |
Note: *) Mikuni BSR34 carburator is used for some year models/countries.
The physical dimensions seem to vary some between countries and/or year
models.
More: GS500E
brochures and adverts
More: Suzuki
GS models
More: All
Suzuki models
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