BMW F 850 GS versus Suzuki GS 500
BMW F 850 GS
Suzuki GS 500
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- raised seating position
- good handling on and off-road
- Wide range of extras and accessories
- successful appearance
- Handy
- Low seat height
- Suitable for everyday use
- Value for money
- Excellent spare parts situation
- Windscreen could be slightly larger
- Price skyrockets with extras
- not quite as manoeuvrable
- No electronic helpers
- Susceptible to rust
- Weak rear damping
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.305 mm Height : 1.356 mm
Seat : 860 mm until : 880 mm
Weight : 229 (max: 445 ) kg
Seat : 790 mm
Weight : 174 kg
Engine
Displacement: 853 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 84 mm
Cooling: wassergekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 487 ccm
Cooling: Luft
Drive: Kette
Performance
Performance: 95 HP at 8.250 U/Min
Torque: 92 NM bei 6.250 U/Min Tank contents: 15 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 341 km
Performance: 45 HP Tank contents: 17 Litre
Chassis
Steel bridge frame in shell construction (steel) Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm (travel 204 mm) Rear suspension:
Mono strut (travel 219 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 90/90 21
Rear tyres: 150/70 R17
Brakes
Double disc (∅ 305 mm) Rear brake
Disc (∅ 265 mm)
For beginners? Well, yes....
So what remains? In our case, the question of whether a motorcycle can work for only EUR 900 must clearly be answered in the affirmative. And more: Little Suzi is really fun. Of course, she is especially noticeable when it is brakes, but she has no real flaws. If you want or have to ride a motorcycle cheaply, you would have a long time with this Suzi for the narrow thaler.
Two things about it: It worked in our case, because the buyer had been informed exactly what to look for. It should not be concealed that a portion of luck can't hurt: If a previous owner often turned the Suzi out cold or driven it over the runway at full throttle, this conclusion would probably not be so positive.
The second is the concept of an entry-level machine, which is often attached to machines such as the Suzuki GS 500E. Of course, you don't want to spend a lot of money and gain experience first. But whether you should do this with a motorcycle that lacks any electronic safety feature?
Everyone has to make up that with themselves.
