GS500F fairing on a GS500E?

[Maiden of Odin]

Does any one know if fairings for a GS500F will fit on a GS500E? I really would like to have fairings on account that i weigh 106 lbs and it is kinda tiring for me to fight the wind at high speeds on my fully naked E. If anyone knows i would greatly appreciate being informed! Thanks!

[Alphamazing]

They will, but to get them to fit you will need to drill holes in the frame and weld a metal tab on the steering head, then drill holes in the tabs.

If you've got all the fairings and mounting pieces you can always send your bike off to Srinath, he's worked that miracle before!

[Jake D]

TazanBoy has F fairings on an '89.  Looks great.  Not small task.

[The Buddha]

Does any one know if fairings for a GS500F will fit on a GS500E? I really would like to have fairings on account that i weigh 106 lbs and it is kinda tiring for me to fight the wind at high speeds on my fully naked E. If anyone knows i would greatly appreciate being informed! Thanks!

Yea drilling, welding etc needed ... and in effect it wont help any, cos the faired bike is far more suseptible to getting blown about ... It will run faster especially over 60 though ... first hand knowledge from riding TB's bike.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Alphamazing]

I'll vouch for what Srinath said. However, for me it ran faster when it was over 70. At least, it FELT that way. I'll take the weight loss over the high speed smoothness anyday, though.

[RVertigo]

If you tuck over 70, you lose some wind resistance.

[Maiden of Odin]

Thanks everybody. I guess i will just have to hang on tight for a while...it's not so bad. I was just curious if it would work, but since it wont really help, there's no point. i'm gonna put i short windshield on it though just for a little resistance. I like the way my E looks better naked anyhow, if it's gonna be fully faired it's gonna be a Yamaha R6!  

[Alphamazing]

If you tuck over 70, you lose some wind resistance.

Yeah, but then I look like a 'tard because my bars are stock height. I'll give it a shot, though; I'll make that headlight do some work.

[RVertigo]

Mine are too...  It's a little tough on the forearms, but when you're hauling ass with little wind it's pretty cool.  I scoot to the very back of the front seat, use my fingers to work the controls (rather than palm && fingers), and look over the dials.

There are lots of problems with it though...  Slower dodge/swerve reaction time and you can't see a damn thing behind you.

Stearing is a little odd too...



Nevermind...  I don't suggest it.  



I'm outa here.  

[Alphamazing]

Maybe I'll just grin and bear it. It really isn't THAT bad. Maybe one of those Ducati Monster headlight fairings? Or are those useless?

[RVertigo]

Maybe one of those Ducati Monster headlight fairings? Or are those useless?

RG said even the little ones help...  I wouldn't know. :dunno:

[xtalman]

Thanks everybody. I guess i will just have to hang on tight for a while...it's not so bad. I was just curious if it would work, but since it wont really help, there's no point. i'm gonna put i short windshield on it though just for a little resistance. I like the way my E looks better naked anyhow, if it's gonna be fully faired it's gonna be a Yamaha R6!  

The little windscreens help a lot.  They keep the air off your chest, and if you're short enough they'll shift the air over your helmet.

[TarzanBoy]

Hmmm... my spider sense told me that someone was talking about my bike!

Srinath is a magic magician.  He turned a butt-nekkid '89 into a faired '04-doppleganger.  I still owe him some pix (just got the digicam working again), but here and here are some photos of my aformentioned bike.  (I will get some inside shots of the welded brackets one of these days).

I'd be willing to bet that the hardest part will be welding to the aluminum frame.  Locating fairings that don't cost an arm-and-a-leg and lining up the bracket/bolt-on points will be lesser, but formidable obstacles to be overcome.

HOWEVER, if you think you can scrounge up the money & expertise (or persons with enough expertise) for the mod, then you might want to consider the Aluizio fairings (available only from Brazil).  If I knew how to weld (and had the spare $$) I would probably pick up an old GS and attempt Srinath's mod myself!

As for being blown around... the fairings make you a bit more susceptible to crosswinds that push the bike laterally.  I don't know how long you have been riding, but crosswinds used to bug me a lot until after I had 300+ highway miles under my belt.  You don't feel crosswinds any less on a heavier bike... (its just that they won't move the bike as much).

A windscreen *will* help, but with the riding position on your GS, you'll have to stick your butt out a bit to lean your chest on the tank (or ride in a tiring half-leaned forward position) in order to not get any wind drag on the helmet.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Hmm... 106lbs... I'd assume you're short (assumptions sometimes suck though), so if you are short, might I pose a question? Simply put, how tall are you, and do you have trouble with the bike? I want one, only had about 2 minutes to sit on one at a stealership, and thought it fell really tall... I know the seats can be shaved, tall shoes worn, etc, but just wondering how other short people deal, cuz I refuse to let my height force me to buy an inferior bike *cough*NINJA*cough*... :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Badger]

I want one, only had about 2 minutes to sit on one at a stealership, and thought it fell really tall...

I thought the GS looked huge when I first sat on it.  Seems to get smaller each time I ride it, though.

[Narcissus]

Hmm... 106lbs... I'd assume you're short (assumptions sometimes suck though), so if you are short, might I pose a question? Simply put, how tall are you, and do you have trouble with the bike? I want one, only had about 2 minutes to sit on one at a stealership, and thought it fell really tall... I know the seats can be shaved, tall shoes worn, etc, but just wondering how other short people deal, cuz I refuse to let my height force me to buy an inferior bike *cough*NINJA*cough*... :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I'm 150lbs. and I'm 6'1"    Anyways many of my vertically challenged friends have had a go at the GS and they don't like it very much. If I were to shave the seat down it would hardly make a difference and the thicker the shoe, the hard it is to get it in under the shifting lever, my shoes barely have anything to them at the toe end (yeah I know they're definately no good for riding) but if I wear combat boots which might add half an inch? it makes it much more difficult to get my toe under the lever.

[Toledo Jim]

the thicker the shoe, the hard it is to get it in under the shifting lever, my shoes barely have anything to them at the toe end (yeah I know they're definately no good for riding) but if I wear combat boots which might add half an inch? it makes it much more difficult to get my toe under the lever.

Did you try to move the lever?  :dunno:

Worked for me

[dbNnc]

Did you try to move the lever?

My first modification was moving the shifter up to get my 13 underneath it. Worked great.

[Maiden of Odin]

Hmm... 106lbs... I'd assume you're short (assumptions sometimes suck though), so if you are short, might I pose a question? Simply put, how tall are you, and do you have trouble with the bike? I want one, only had about 2 minutes to sit on one at a stealership, and thought it fell really tall... I know the seats can be shaved, tall shoes worn, etc, but just wondering how other short people deal, cuz I refuse to let my height force me to buy an inferior bike *cough*NINJA*cough*... :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I'm about 5'4" and all legs...adjusting the suspension helped with the reach a lot! when you sit on the bike it should sit level. it helps to have someone there to tell you if it is level or be infront of a large window so you can see your reflection. If you have your manual it should tell you too but I got mine GS used and with out one. I do recommend the GS for someone little cause it isn't very heavy or tall when set properly (and it turns better set right too). I learned on it with the suspension set to hard and it was a lot tougher (so if you are having trouble learning, check the suspention)!

It's good to hear that the wind screen will help cause my torso is short! So thank you for the info it makes me feel better about spending $60 for a piece of plastic!