Suzuki Gs500

"The smartest, most sensible used motorcycle under two grand."

The GS500 is about as honest a used buy as motorcycling gets. It's not exciting, it won't embarrass sportbikes, and nobody's going to turn their head in a parking lot. What it will do is start every single morning, teach you real throttle and clutch control without punishing your mistakes, and cost you almost nothing to maintain. The parallel twin is bulletproof if the previous owner didn't completely ignore the valve clearances — check that first, non-negotiable. Watch out for neglected chains, worn rear tires from new riders dragging brakes, and cosmetic damage from inevitable tip-overs. These bikes get dropped. That's actually fine — it means used prices stay low and parts are cheap. The suspension is soft and the brakes are merely adequate, but within its limits the GS500 handles cleanly and predictably. It genuinely rewards smooth riding. Buy the cleanest example you can afford, not the cheapest. A well-kept GS500 with documented service history is worth every penny over a mystery bike with 40,000 miles and a cracked fairing.