Owners review of the much loved Suzuki GS500e

Advantages: Reliable, cheap, does exactly what it says on the tin! and has masses of fun!
Disadvantages: uncomfortable long distance touring for taller people!

...This bike has been my angel on wheels over the past 10-11 months! it really is as good as people say, and more!!! i have had numerous people say to me that they are bullet proof, will do in excess of 60-80k miles, and mine hasnt once let me down! considering mine is a 95 N reg GS500e, it is in excellent condition, and for around £1000 you get a whole lot of reliability and masses of fun!!! it corners like a dream! left knee down to right knee down in milliseconds! and the best thing is its an ideal sportsbike trainer and pre 21yrs old sports bike if it is restricted to 33bhp (for about £100)!!! i have the unrestricted 50bhp version, bought it with 24k miles on the clock, and N reg... for £1000 exactly.... it was advertised for £1200... but with a bit of cheek i had this reduced.... and i have never ever regretted the buy ever! and i...

sentientphil 18.06.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Suzuki GS500E

Don't mock the GS500

Advantages: Great commuter - and OK for short people
Disadvantages: Some vibration and not trememdously fast if you doing a track day!

...seat has not been lowered, so much smaller people can ride these bikes. I have a friend who is 5' 9" tall with very long legs and she has no problem either. Standard seat height is 790mm. The main disadvantage is that common to many two pot bikes - the vibration is much greater than a four pot and on long distances, numb thumbs and wrists can result, particularly the throttle hand. Also, they are a little vulnerable to rust so keep them covered if possible. Being slim, it is good for filtering and therefore makes a great commuter bike and is also ideal for new riders just out of their DAS, particularly as they are reasonably priced and insurance - even fully comprehensive - is not excessive. Happy biking! Some specs for the GS500E for those who like this sort of information: Engine: four-stroke, air-cooled, 487cc In...

Odysseus4 10.04.2007 (12.04.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Suzuki GS500E

Super Suzuki GS500E

Advantages: Good alrounder
Disadvantages: Might not be flashy enough for some!

...What a very nice bike. Yes indeedi! Whilst many devoted bikers spend countless thousands on their impressive piece of motoring metal, and countless more on horrendous insurance premiums, this little gem seems to have been overlooked. The Suzuki GS500E, fully faired version, is really a super all round bike. It packs plenty of power, handles very well and is very economical. Whats more the super cheap insurance class it falls into is a definate bonus. And the price, what can you say, you wont find any better bargin priced machine on the market. As a passenger, the ride is very comfortable, a little vibration is felt through the pegs, but nothing to complain about. I think as the rider, you will also be pleasantly supprised. The purchase price of these bikes is amazing, good value beyond belief!!And if you want a mega bargin...

ambergem 29.03.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Suzuki GS500E

Olympus E500

Advantages: Superb quality Photo's
Disadvantages: Increased noise at high ISO's

...I've owned an Olympus E500 for two years now and can only say good things about it! I've found it takes superb photos at a very high quality. It sits comfortably in the hand, and has a nice weight to it, something which can be lacking in some of the other models on the market. The only slight draw back is the level of noise when shooting at high ISO's, typically above 500. However this isn't an issue most of the time. The level of available lenses and accessories is more than adequate for the typical user. The interface on the camera is logical and easy to navigate. I recently took it travelling with me on a gap year, and looking through my photos on getting home I felt like I was back in all the places I'd visited! A very good camera capable of taking superb quality photos! A very good choice!...

thomarnold 25.10.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Olympus E-500

GS500 review

Advantages: Cheap, fun, stylish, economical.
Disadvantages: Low pegs

...I bought a Suzuki GS500 in April of this year, and have been in love ever since. As a commuter, this bike doesn't blow your mind with oodles of power or top end speed. What it does do though is leave you wondering how long you've actually been out on the thing. It has a more than ample saddle, and an upright riding position. This makes for a really comfortable ride, and when you couple that with the fuel consumption, or should I say lack of it, you really do forget how long you've been riding for. The powerplant is only putting out 51BHP at the back wheel, which may not sound a lot, but it is only meant to be a commuter. This is where the bike comes into it's own. It has a slender frame which makes slipping in and out of traffic a piece of cake. Also the spread of power is fairly useful, meaning you're never struggling to build up...

firebladeboy 22.09.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Commuter - GS500

I'm back

Advantages: Cheap (second hand) - few vices
Disadvantages: Unsophisticated

...tough. The motorcycle test was frankly a joke, you drove round a couple of blocks, the examiner used to pop out behind a parked car every now and again, and make you do an emergency stop - first time, you nearly always failed, second time, you nearly always passed. But what about the bike? - hang on, I'm coming to that! In spite of my lack of formal training, I considered myself a reasonably proficient rider, six years constant use, with only one minor accident - I put this down to having a reasonably cautious driving style, and 'sensible' choice of motorcycles. Back to the bike I got the chance of a GS500e from my best mate, who after using it for a couple of years upgraded to a Triumph speed four (which, if he ever stops polishing it, and lets me have a go, I'll write a review on!) The GS500e is basically a sheep in...

dobieg 21.08.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Suzuki GS500E

E-500 - Pro Digital SLR at budget price

Advantages: Great features, sensor cleaning, sexy looks, great lcd viewer, dual card memory
Disadvantages: limited choice of lenses (currently)

...I bought the E-500 as a replacement for my previous Fuji S9600. I used to work as a professional photographer years ago and wanted the flexibility of better lenses than the normal fixed lens digital cameras without paying top price for the Nikon or Canon cameras that it seems everyone has. In addition, I always loved the crispness of the Olympus lenses. This camera is a great \'do-it-all\' machine. It\'s simple to use, it has some great features which are easy to find and it looks sexy. The images it produces are sharp and usually have great colour rendition. A good point is that it has two different memory card holders using exactly the same type of cards as the Fuji meaning it is a good step up for Fuji owners who don\'t want to have to buy replacement memory cards. I have it with the 17.5-45mm and the 40-150mm lenses and also...

fightgear 11.07.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Olympus E-500

Olympus E500 Digital SLR camera

Advantages: Light weight, good range of functions, dust reduction system.
Disadvantages: Only just adequate in low light conditions.

...I bought this camera around 18 months ago and have found it to be reliable so far. The 'dust shake' mechanism that activates when you switch it on helps prevent dust build-up on the sensor which has to be a major plus point. This is my first digital slr although I am familiar with film slr cameras and, also, basic compact digital cameras. I found that the transition to more advanced digital photography relatively simple with the E500. The E500 is fairly light to carry but not so light that it impinges on the ingegrity of the camera. The photographer is in control of complexity of use:from fully manual to automatic with useful priority modes in between. There are also 'scene' modes......effictively automatic settings which are tailored to very particular situations eg.'Night and Portrait' and 'Beach or snow'. I have also found...

Moongazinghare 16.01.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Olympus E-500

Fuji's Mindblowing E500 Cam

Advantages: Beautiful, vivid photos. Excellent zoom feature. Great aesthetics. Compact.
Disadvantages: Does eat up battery power.

...Fujifilm have long represented quality in the photography industry, in recent times they have diversified into the digital camera age. With several models for the casual amateur photographer, right upto the seasoned professional. Usually, their cameras are of an excellent standard, possessing a high aesthetic value and specifications for the money you pay. The Finepix E500 is certainly no exception. Thus, Its small wonder Fuji are so popular in a market like photography, which is full to the brim with competition, consumers tend to demand only the finest in cameras. The Finepix E500 is part of Fujis "sophisticated" range of cameras, one of five established catagories in the firms catalogue of digital cameras. My Finepix E500 cost £158.99 from my nearby technology and computer fair, a decent price when compared to its RRP (£199...

Credance100 21.03.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Fujifilm FinePix E500

Marred by rust

Advantages: Cheap. Econonical. Easy to maintain.
Disadvantages: Uncomfortable with distance. Rusts easy. Underpowered.

...I owned a Suzuki GS500E for two years before trading it in for a Triumph Sprint 900. The GS500E handle fairly well once the suspension is set up for your weight but can feel a bit slack at it's rear end. I'd bought the GS500E just after passing my test and realised soon after that I should have invested another £500 and bought the Suzuki Bandit 600 instead. The difference in price doesn't compare to the difference in handling and build quality between the two bikes. The GS500E is an excellent bike for someone who has recently passed their test and wants to enjoy an unrestricted machine but after a brief period of familiarisation the bike will feel underpowered. It may be better to buy this bike second hand rather than new as you will not lose too much in depreciation. The bike is prone to rusting, especially around the welds...

steve.toplis 23.02.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Suzuki GS500E