The worst thing about a comparison test is
that there has to be a last-place finisher. And in the ease of
ihe Suzuki GS500E there could not he a more undeserved one.
Because as bad as we feel about giving the Kawasaki EX500 third
place, we feel even worse about giving the GS fourth. It earned
a spot in our testers" hearts as the underdog: one editor, in
fact, threatened to elect it his favorite before sense — and a
long, winding uphill road — prevailed.
Simply put the GS lacks motor. With less displacement than the
Seca, fewer cylinders than the Bandit and fewer valves than the
EX it was
old.
Cursed from the start. Plus, its two-valve per-cylinder DOHC
parallel-Twin of the ancient GS450T is air-cooled. The poor
thing never stood a chance.
On the dyno the GS is down 8.5 horsepower to the EX. and 10 to
the SECA
And though its tachometer
is redlined at 11000 rpm. the engine peaks much lower — at about
8500. What this means is that to keep pace with the other bikes,
the rider must ride the GS harder. So it is a measure of the
GS's fine handling that, no matter which bikes our testers rode,
the GS was always in the hunt. That wasn't the case during our
dragstrip or top-speed testing, but on twisty mountain roads,
the GS was able to keep up even when the pace quickened.
Most of the credit for the GS's backroad performance goes to its
rigid, twin-spar steel chassis, an item that would not look out
of place on a modern sportbike. But some of the credit should
also go to its suspension and tires.
The GS'a air-cooled motor looks out of place in its twin-spar
chassis, 17-inch wheels, nicely balanced suspension and light
weight make the GS a handler.
Like the Bandit, the GS has excellent brakes, a single disc at
each end offering more power than needed, considering the GS's
light. 390-pound dry weight. And though all four of these bikes
have 30-inch seat heights, give or take a few tenths, the GS is
the shortest and the lightest. Those facts make the GS the
easiest lo maneuver at slow speeds.
What the GS lacks in outright performance, it makes up for in
civility. Its smooth-running, torquey engine is easy to control,
even for a novice, its riding position is comfortable, with a
low wide tubular handlebar, low footpegs, and a nicely
contoured, though thinly padded, seat.
But, while all four of these bikes will tolerate the abuse dealt
them by novices, the GS is the most good-natured. It's a
Labrador Retriever on wheels. And if you're on a budget, there
may not be a better choice.
Any corrections or more information on these motorcycles will be kindly appreciated.