get bored at work so i make fun checklists of things

['04gs500f]

GS500 Weight Reduction Diet

1. Aluminum wheels
2. Gsxr aluminum swingarm
3. Subframe chop promptly followed by a new aluminum subframe designed for a solo seat fairing
4. New gas tank .... aluminum of course (just checking, is it made of steel, i was sure it was)
5. Fairing stay bracket redone in aluminum or just toss the fairings all together.
6. Rearset shoeguard thingies replaced with carbon
7. bye bye centerstand/boat anchor
8. carbin fiber wileyco can


how much weight would you say i have eliminated and what weight would be dangerously low for a gs

[pnaberhaus]

Back in the early '70s, if you wanted a "sport bike", (we called 'em "cafe racers"), you had to "roll your own", so to speak. The basis of my first sport bike was a Honda CB-450 K-1(w/front disc-"hot stuff" back then). Anyway, I got rid of the seat, a heavy, steel based, thickly padded unit, the front and rear chrome, steel fenders, fork covers, turn signals, tail-light and bracket, dual mirrors, and side covers. Back then, that was a considerable weight savings. I replaced the rear fender and seat with a Yamaha TZ RR piece, the front fender with a Rickman fibreglass item and left off everything I didn't absolutely need. A minimalist bike! It looked really cool BUT I couldn'y tell a performance difference in the saddle. The whole point of this is to say that when I remove some of the pieces off my GS, I'm amazed at how little they weigh to begin with. I don't think you're going to be able to save enough weight with your diet program on your bike that you will be able to feel a difference in the weight savings. It might give you a unique look to your bike but I would resist any attempt to lighten the frame. You don't want to compromise strength and rigidity in that area.

['04gs500f]

i could easily see my list saving 100 lbs, and male nascar racers Buddha Loves You about the female nascar racer that weighs a meer 100lbs.  As far as structual integrity chopping the subframe shouldnt compromise the strength the the frame where it matters.

[94suzuki500]

the wheels are already aluminum.  and yes the gas tank is steel.

[SWEET-TL1000R]

Think you can save 100lbs?  That'd be a pretty good achievement....  First I'd get rid of the 30 lb exhuast system..

I'd also think that swapping to a GSXR swinger won't save you that much weight for the work you'd have to do to make it fit... Unless it's a direct bolt on..

['04gs500f]

the wheels are already aluminum.  and yes the gas tank is steel.

good point, guess i can fork out 8k for CF wheels jk

[stefman722]

There is such a thing as carbon fiber wheels? THats sorta freaky

[cay]

Heh.  Your checklist reminds me of the guys at my highschool who would tell everyone who would listen about how they were going to reduce weight by tearing the hell out of their car -- all the while chowing down on a McDonald's combo w/gigantic non-diet pop.  I don't know why those guys were always 280 lbs.

"First thing I'd do is pull the air conditioner..."

<chomp chomp burp>

"Next thing to go would be the hood..."



C

[DarkCyDE]

Jenny Craig or a good tape worm = weight reduction!
getting rid of boat ancher = weight reduction
rims are what they are.
aluminum frame for fairing = 1-2 lbs
GSXR swing = about 5 -lbs
kickplates = a few ounces

If its not going fast enough look at modding

If you have already modded the beast then look at bigger bike

[raylarrabee]

I find it hard to beleive that there's a way to shed 100 lbs from a bike with a dry weight of around 380 and still have it rideable.

[V8Pinto]

Heh.  Your checklist reminds me of the guys at my highschool who would tell everyone who would listen about how they were going to reduce weight by tearing the hell out of their car -- all the while chowing down on a McDonald's combo w/gigantic non-diet pop.  I don't know why those guys were always 280 lbs.

"First thing I'd do is pull the air conditioner..."

<chomp chomp burp>

"Next thing to go would be the hood..."



C

I know somebody like that.  He took the AC out of his 5.0 to get the HP back from not turning the pump and he's got at least 75lbs of stereo in there....

[sprint_9]

I know somebody like that.  He took the AC out of his 5.0 to get the HP back from not turning the pump and he's got at least 75lbs of stereo in there....

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol: sounds like something I'd do.

['04gs500f]

If I lost any weight I would be anorexic.... i weigh 135 pounds haha

[mp183]

[snapper]

How about removing the engine and adding pedals?

:mrgreen:

[gazingwa]

tires are overrated... they used to ride bicycles on metal rims back in the day

[Mountaineer]

My old 1977 GS400 was the forerunner of the current GS500, and it also weighed 380 pounds. Suzuki gets a lot of credit from me for building such a nice bike with much more power, but same weight. Other not-so-subtle improvements include electronic ignition, plain bearings instead of balls on the crankshaft and countershaft, rollers in the steering stem instead of balls, a nifty rear levered single spring/shock, cast wheels, and a much lighter, but hard as shaZam! seat.  I hate the seat, so does my girlfriend. I'd glady invest in a heavier seat if it felt more like a seat instead of a pipe fitting. Also the airbox and filter is a big improvement over the old oiled foam. (My used 2001 came with a K&N filter which I didn't even notice the first time I cleaned it.)

I think of this bike kind of as the 1967 Beetle of motorcycles. That was my favorite car, and VW never improved on it. In 1968 it aquired the anti-pollution gizmos and went downhill from there.

I also think the carbs on the GS are great with factory jetting. I'm getting 75mpg compared to around 50-55 on the old 400. That's definitely a great improvement. The bike runs flawlessly when warmed up.

[dgyver]

Bore it and you will drop about 2 pounds.
If I remember correctly, my RGV swingarm is 5 pounds lighter than the GS.
A full Yosh system weighs 10 pounds. Have not weighed a stock sytem yet.

[97gs500e]

ha
keepin' busy at work eh?

what are they paying you for  

['04gs500f]

$7 an hour taking phone calls for part orders at Barney's