List 'o mods questions :)

[Maduro Mistress]

Hope these haven't been asked a zillion times before, but here goes.

1. Can you flip the handlebars all the way around to drop them lower or do you have a steering problem? If no, can you get clipons or a new set entirely or do you still come across the same 'hitting tank/ferring' issues. (I like a "crouchy" bike feeling but I am still a novice so this bike is perfect for me to tear around on)

2. Anyone have a rear set of foot pegs that are adjustable and that cost less than, oh, say, $400!!!!???  

3. Hard cover seat tail for the back - where do I find one. Don't want anyone riding up my butt, literally!!!

4. Anyone ever try heat tape or something so the rubber on my right shoe heel will stop melting into my pipe or will this be solved when I change the pegs? I have long legs, so the pegs are a) too high, and b) too fat for me to squish my foot between the break and the peg) I guess I have big feet too!!!!

I think that's it for now. Again, I do apologize if these have all been asked a zillion times...

Thanks guys!!!

[weaselnoze]

1. idk about flippign the bars.  some have suggested it but idk if anyone has attempted it.  suburban machinery makes bars that have the clip on position.  i think they are actually for sv650.  srinath (member on this board) makes knockoff bars.  true clip-ons arent recognized as a good option because of the cost and there is not a good way to put them on without droping the tubes.  i think i covered that ok.  if not someone else will chime in.

2.  r1 pegs will fit with some grinding.  a company called wood-craft(?) makes rearsets for the gs.  i dont think there are really any good options in this area either..

3.  at this point there isnt a seat cowl for the gs.  apparently there is a cowl in the making through someone on this site however it may be awhile before we see it.  

4.  try repositioning your feet so they dont touch the exhaust.

[stefman722]

Yes, person making seat cowl, chime in and let us know.

[Maduro Mistress]

Thanks for the advice!

[starwalt]

...Can you flip the handlebars all the way around to drop them lower....

With the "F" this would not work. The standard "bicycle" bars would really put you in a serious hunch mode and they could also tend to foul some of the controls. One member modified his bars and the horn button hits the tank at full lock. You would be better off with either a Srinath bar or a commercial "drag bar" that is nearly straaight.

...Anyone have a rear set of foot pegs that are adjustable and that cost less than, oh, say, $400!!!!???

Member Dgyver had a drawing posted of an adapter plate that would move the pegs up and back some. I think it was called a riser plate. Here is the link. You seem like a resourceful person and should be able to find help with this.  

...Hard cover seat tail for the back - where do I find one....

Same guy above was making a race tail for the GS. I don't know if it would work with the "F" or not. The mounting points changed. His tail doesn't really accomodate normal street riding like the original. It really depends on the type of riding you plan to do. Here is a thread with a pic of his (sold) race GS with the tail.

...Anyone ever try heat tape...I have long legs, so the pegs are a) too high, and b) too fat for me to squish my foot between the break and the peg) I guess I have big feet too!!!!

With the riser plates previously mentioned, this problem may be solved or at least modified some. Always look things over well before really spending much $ on a mod.

I enjoyed looking over the "cows" site. Nifty graphics.  

BTW, welcome aboard!

[mjm]

Hope these haven't been asked a zillion times before, but here goes....

4.... I have long legs, so the pegs are a) too high, and b) too fat for me to squish my foot between the break and the peg....

In my opinion your brake pedal  should be positioned so that your foot is never below the pedal when your foot is forward on the peg.  If your toe is under the brake pedal you to need to pull your foot back (out from under the pedal) then up, then forward, then down before you can brake.  Try riding with the ball of the foot rather than the arch on the peg - then you just need to slide forward and down to hit the brake.  Pedal position is adjustable - I believe that both the Clymer and Chilton manuals  show the proper position for the brake pedal as below the top of the peg.

[Maduro Mistress]

You guys totally rock! Thank you, thank you thank you! I've been doing a lot of research - looks like I'm going to have some fun little projects on my hands over winter...  

[Rema1000]

can you get clipons or a new set entirely

See http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17127 for a comparison of Srinath's bars and Suburban Machinery SM2s on a GS500F.

[fettcols]

The factory clip-on bars from an '89 give a nice (sporty) riding position and look good but when you lock the forks the horn button is pressed against the tank. I think an hour with a flat file would fix the problem (filing a taper into the mounts) but I've just been turning the key off before locking the forks and living with the problem.

[scottpA_GS]

What about adjusting the factory bars? can you just tilt them foreward? I have been thinking of just trying it.. would it do anything?

[weaselnoze]

tilting them forward will bring the ends up higher which will make a weird angle.  not very ergonomic.  tilting them towards the rear brings them down a lil but the controls will be closer to the tank.  i had mine so that the controls would be about 1in from hitting the tank when locked.

[scratch]

I'd suggest the GP Touring bars: http://www.tomclarksuzuki.com/eshopprod_cat_1675-5982-12854_product_156506.BIKEMASTER__HANDLEBARS.htm

Stock dims are: 27.5" wide, 7.5" pullback or sweep, 3.5" rise.
GP Touring is: 28" wide, 6.5" pullback and 2.5" rise.

[Faxxxy]

I have been working withmy father-in-law this weekend to develop a really good way to install clip on handlebars..

We should have it for testing in a couple of weeks..
Within a month, we should have some for sale..

Now, what we are making is an adapter to add clip ons to your bike, not actual handlebars..

The neat thing about this mod is it will be 100% removable if you decide its not what you want..

[juno]

Gimbel makes rear-set controls for the GS500.  They are 340.00 You can also get matching rear passenger pegs (folding) for 100.00
I'll post pics when mine arrive and are installed.
http://www.whaccessories.com/wpe26680.gif

I would also recommend the Suburban Machinery bars.  They are very nice and, for me, more comfortable than stock.

[pnaberhaus]

Hard cover for seat?
Try www.airtech-streamlining.com. Apparantly they have bodywork for the GS500 models, including a cover that utilizes stock fitments. Check their website.

[davipu]

it's called a seat "cowl".  

get the two weld bars from Srinath, and mount them Dave style.  anymore aggressive and you will need to steal a set from Lance Armstrong.

move your feet back while riding, the balls of your feet should be on the pegs unless your breaking. there is no physical way that having longer legs will make your heel touch the exhaust if you're in the correct position with the balls of your feet on the pegs.  unless you're from kentucky.....  and quit being a girl, actually use the search function.