I high sided with 1200 some-odd miles on the clock

[v6silverstang]

Well, this is my first post, and what better way to introduce myself to the boards than by relating my first crash experience?  Let me just say, that, in a way, I am actually very glad that it happened, because it sparked some very serious changes in my attitude and in the way that I ride.    I'm 17 years old, and had recieved a 2004 F model 500 on my birthday as a reward for geting the Nevada Millenium Scholarship.  In less than a month, I had put over 1000 miles on it and loved nothing more than to be out riding.  Well, with about 1200 miles on the clock, me and the bike decided to become more closely associated with the asphalt.  I was out riding, and, being grossly overconfident in my abilities, ventured to haul through a left turn, leaning low to the ground.  The combination of overinflated skills, a sinus infection that impaired my balance, too much speed, and gravel on the road spelled certain disaster.  Upon hitting the gravel, I slammed the brakes, and felt a wobble that lasted an instant before I flew over the gas tank and landed hard onto the sidewalk, making an interesting grunting noise that I had never produced before in my life, and have been unable to recreate when retelling the story to my parents.  I was amazed to find myself unhurt, and, thanks to the adrenaline surging through my veins at this point, I pulled the bike straight off of the ground and pulled it out of the traffic's path, and set it on the kickstand.  Upon examination, I found the right turn signal detached but still functional, the handlebar end weight scraped quite badly, the handlebars shifted to the left about an inch, and some minor scratches on the fairing and right side swingarm.  Also, the muffler has a minor bend.  Since then, me and my father have been able to repair almost all of the damage, to the point where it is difficult to tell that the bike has been down unless you had prior knowledge of the crash.  Whereas I had been of the attitude that the GS was a bike that I was soon going to sell in exchange for a larger, heavier, and more powerful supersport, I have since changed my opinion of her.  The GS is clearly more bike than I need, is still fast enough to have my license revoked, and is, without a doubt, the quickest thing at my high school.  I have decided to keep it, modify it, and ride it until it falls apart.  Given the condition of the bike, and keeping the lessons learned from the crash in mind, I have a few questions to ask, concerning aftermarket exhaust systems to replace my damaged factory one.

1)Will the Vance and Hines Supersport (priducy #12029) exhaust system fit the F model?
2)I have heard that Yoshimura makes an exhaust system for the GS as well, does any one here know of a part number and whether or not this system fit the F model?

I apologize for the length of this post, and also if I am repeating questions that ave already been asked, I just thought it might be entertaining to some of you guys on here to read this.

V6SilverStang

[JamesG]

Don't worry. we are all the morbidly curious sort (can't you tell by the color scheme of the site ).

Sorry about your get off, but it sounds like you got lucky and thru it with the minimum damage to yourself and bike.

exhausts? AFAIK any pipe for the GS500E will fit the F too. The problem is finding one... Niether V&H or Yosh makes the pipe anymore.  

But really, all the weight in the GS's exhaust system is lumped in the cannister. If you can lop that off and replace it with another can (slip on), you have saved weight, probably money, and have kept the ability to change the oil and filter without having to dismount the exhaust. A problem both of the full systems have.

[pantablo]

Welcome! Glad your highside wasnt worse...they often leave you with a broken collar bone.

Regarding the V&H exhaust. Since the F model is new no one is completely sure if it'll fit but it should fit right on and clear the fairing. If not its only a little dremel work away from fitting. Even some of the aftermarket chin fairings for the naked gs need some 'reworking'...

The yosh hasnt been made in quite some time but news recently would indicate they have a slip on now available but its new. You'd have to check their website and/or call them for part number info.

Regarding riding it into the ground....well that will be a loooong time. These bikes are bulletproof.

I suggest you read "Sport Riding Techniques" by Nick Iensatch and "Twist of the Wrist II" by Keith Code. They are great books for the novice wanting to ride fast, safely.

[Cal Price]

Welcome, I must say I admire your self-critical frankness. We all make mistakes, the trick is to learn from them but I recon you have sussed that.

I too had a spectacular crash when I was 17/18, like about 40yrs ago now, late for work, cold rainy morning, overtaking on the brow of a hill and a head-on with one of those ready-mixed cement waggons and escaped unhurt, no helmet, no real kit and over confident. Bike was a write-off but lesson learned. I still shudder coming over that hill! Very glad you are OK ditto the bike but that's just steel and rubber.

[cernunos]

V6, I don't know what to tell you about the mods for the bike except there are a lot of people here who know quite a bit about doing mods. They can tell you what will and will not work. Sorry about your wreck...and a highside too!! Those are really scary hey? Glad you learned from it and understand now that even little doggies can bite back pretty hard :lol: . Yes, ridden properly the GS500 is a bang-up ride (no pun intended, but I didn't want to say "blast", 'cause of Buell's little Blast which I think is a neat bike) which can satisfy for a long, long time. There are some here who have ridden nothing but the little "G" for years. I know I love my little GS500 and this forum...welcome to the show.

C.......

[BlueByYou]

I suggest you read "Sport Riding Techniques" by Nick Iensatch and "Twist of the Wrist II" by Keith Code. They are great books for the novice wanting to ride fast, safely.

The "Twist of the Wrist" video is excellent, as well.

[v6silverstang]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions, I'm weighing the new options as far as exhaust and my allowance money go.  Cernunos, I also enjoyed the Buell Blast, and considered getting one of them, having ridden one during the MSF class out here, but the look of the GS got me hooked.  The wreck was downright terrifying, after the fact, because it happened so fast that I didn't really have time to register anything until I was laying on the ground.  It's pretty amazing how fast a motorcycle can teach you the hard lesson about respect for power.

[Roadstergal]

Welcome, I must say I admire your self-critical frankness. We all make mistakes, the trick is to learn from them but I recon you have sussed that.

I didn't really learn to drive until my first Miata met a guardrail, and I faced the fact that the car was just fine, and it was entirely my own fault.  It's excellent to hear that you've taken a positive message out of a negative event; it will only make you better!

[JamesG]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions, I'm weighing the new options as far as exhaust and my allowance money go.  Cernunos, I also enjoyed the Buell Blast, and considered getting one of them, having ridden one during the MSF class out here, but the look of the GS got me hooked.  The wreck was downright terrifying, after the fact, because it happened so fast that I didn't really have time to register anything until I was laying on the ground.  It's pretty amazing how fast a motorcycle can teach you the hard lesson about respect for power.

That is usually the only good thing about a highside, its over before you know whats going on.

Glad you didn't get the Blast(!), it is the one bike, besides maybe sub-50cc scooters, that you can get bored of...

[crash]

welcome to motorcycling! :lol:

i am glad that you are ok, and heartened to "hear" such words coming from someone so young (yeah i know i'm not much older, but still)

i have heard it that when you ride, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.  i guess you know when your when was, and you learned some lessons from it - just trying to bring out the posiitives of the situtation.

what i am wondering is what kind of gear you had on.  i would love to hear how it faired and if you could take some pictures, that would be just grand!

[pianopraze]

If you can lop that off and replace it with another can (slip on), you have saved weight, probably money, and have kept the ability to change the oil and filter without having to dismount the exhaust.

and i thought i was the only one who took it all the way off.... the manual says you can do it without taking it off  

[ollie357]

While you're at it, replace those bent bars with a type II suburban machinery bar.

[Meighan]

I know what you mean about being almost glad that the crash happened.. a month ago I crashed my 2002 gs500 (which I'd only had for 4 months) and even though the situation I got into was a bit dicey, with more skill and experience I'm sure I could have gotten out of it with out going down. It really makes you think a lot, and be more cautious.

It's also good to work on your bike yourself (with some help!) and learn more about how it works, it's good experience for the track

Glad to hear you are okay, and welcome to the forum!

[v6silverstang]

Yeah, someone asked me about what gear I was wearing during the get-off...I was in squid mode...I had on a white t-shirt, some Icon Tarmac gloves, Icon super duty boots, an Icon Mainframe helmet, and some jeans.  The jeans held up fine, some abrasions on my knees through the jeans, the right glove is a bit scarred, boots just got dirty, as did the t-shirt, and my right elbow is all scraped up.  Last time I go out without even my mesh armored jacket on, would have probably saved the elbow scrapes.

[pantablo]

...and have kept the ability to change the oil and filter without having to dismount the exhaust.

and i thought i was the only one who took it all the way off.... the manual says you can do it without taking it off  

You CAN change the oil filter without removing the STOCK exhaust. Its the vance & Hines (or other aftermarket ones) you have to remove to get to the filter.

the gstwin oil change page is -->HERE<--

[Blueknyt]

Its a competent person that reconizes ones mistakes. its a wise person that learns from those mistakes. it is also good to share the knowlege one gathers.