Why do you modify you GS500

[Mk1inCali]

if I start the projcet i want to do it properly.

1. twin disk front fork.
2. a better swing arm, thinking about a single side.
3. bore the engine, exhaust and jet kit.
4. rear set.
5. overhaul the electric wiring, re-wire the whole bike.
6. kill the rust on the frame.
7. upgrade the cooling system

anyway, I need the get another bike for sure, if i start the project i will get a crappy bike to ride around, if i don't i will sell my GS and buy a better bike.

Just get rid of your POS GS and either get an SV650 and be happy or whatever I4 catches your eye.  Swapping front ends to get dual front discs (which most experts (myself included) would promote as simply not necessary on the street) is going to be 500-1000 US dollars, depending on what you can find and what kind of performance gains you want...(if I was going to all that trouble I'd want fully adjustable/damn good forks).

There is no cooling system, it's air-cooled.  Killing rust=complete tear down and powdercoat or rattle can.  Lots of work.

Etc etc etc.  Just have fun on this one and build your skills/confidence in street riding, then go swap it for something newer/more powerful if you feel you need it.

I have had a GS since new in fall '00 (leftover model).  Sticky tires (Pilot Sports), rejet and Progressive Susp. springs went on the bike before I even got 50 miles on it.  Rode it like that till summer of '04 when I started going up into the canyons of Central Cali (up to the redwoods near General Sherman) and actually riding aggressively.  Took a mirror off, crashed the bike and got Srinath's guards, more tires, better brake pads and now just recently I found a Yosh pipe that was semi-local and bought some pod filters from a member here along with another rejet.  Lots more power (I had been running with the stock, original air filter that was disgusting), and a lot better sound.  It's a fun bike, but the Ducati ST2 I am buying is much, MUCH more solid feeling.  Of course, it's a lot more money than a GS so don't think I'm slagging the GS.  It's a great entry level bike, but after a while you can feel and notice the differences in quality.

That, and I like having an aftermarket and I'll never be able to afford every mod I could do to a Ducati.  Dry clutch is definitely first thing to get tinkered with (the bike I'm buying already has slipons, chip and a bad-ass Sargent seat).

[dgyver]

I modify most everything I own. The GS is a perfect platform for me to exercise my imagination. It helps having boxes of parts from  GS's and other bikes as well. It may be a sickness that I cannot leave anything alone. But as I build a bike ideas come along and designs may change or saved for the next bike. I have no problem buying something at a good price just to see if it will work, somehow. Since motorcyling is for fun, I do not have to have one available as a daily driver.

My '97/04/05 street bike, which is nearing completion, is being built from the ground up with plenty of modifications. But none that would be displeasing to the masses though. So it is basically a new bike. Kat forks w/ progressives, 4" Bandit400 rear wheel, GSXR shock, custom adjustable rearsets, dual headlights, SV650 gauges, 04 tank and 05 tail (yes the blue everyone wants), black frame, steering damper, custom exhaust w/ c/f can...just to name a few. Just think...this bike is for my g/f, but she does not know that.

My street bike, whenever I get around to it, will have most of the same stuff but with GSXR USD forks, RGV s/a, Kat rear wheel and eventually it will have the modified GR650 motor.

Considering what I have invested in all of my bikes, which is probably less that those that have purchased one new. I do a lot of trading and economical purchases....but there are a few items that I do splurge on.

I have owned plenty of bikes over my 30 years of riding (I am 40), so the "need" for a bike and fast is in the past. Having a bike that I created has more appeal. Someday I do what to get another bigger bike (for longer rides) but for now the GS will have to fill the void.

[GSRider]

Maybe no more at all- Jardine exhaust systems have gone mythical again, and I may decide to sell and upgrade in the Spring.

Already?

I just got mine two days ago, after ordering it two weeks prior. They had just made a batch when I ordered. Hmpf 

I do the mods for the same reason as alreday mentioned, I am just replacing what's broken/lack luster for cheaper than buying OEM.

[Dr. Love]

Let's see... 100km/h into concrete barrier can modify things rather fast.  Steeper rake? Check!  Rearset? Check!  Lightened case cover? Check! Shorty lever? Check!  The list goes on...  One off custom tank... paint job... etc etc...

[chefod]

I modify mine, cause I get bored cleaning it on rainy or cold days, there's only so much riding season here, gotta do something in the off season!!!

[fettcols]

Two reasons..... Winter & tax returns!     

And then there's the sole reason of having it your way. I can't leave anything alone. I picked up a new harley on a Saturday... Next Monday it had a new seat and pegs... A month later... Dragbars, chrome, and other cool stuff..

I work with about a dozen riders... And it seems we all notice when somebody rolls in with some hardware...

[ixolas]

I've had my GS for about 3 wks and I haven't modified it yet, but I can feel some little changes bubbling up.  Similar to others, my father was a knuckle buster so I've been in a garage, under and in cars, and working with my hands since I was a child.  I have an office job and will probably always be a "tie" guy, so this is my outlet... there is a certain satisfaction when doing something with your own hands and acomplishing something that makes a difference even if it is a small one.  Thats the reason I believe most ppl mod.

I've moded my car but since its my daily driver I can't mod it to much, until... I bought my gs, now I can finally finish my car's turbo project.  Then, I will turn my attention back to the bike.  I mod things that I don't like, for instance the fender, reflectors, muffler, paint scheme, and turn signals have already caught my eyes as something that needs to change.  As far as power goes... 100+ and 0-60 in <5. is fast enough when not in a cage. So most of my mods will be superficial and cosmetic, but like I said it is mainly the satisfaction of doing something with your own hands to make it better or more unique than what it was.

[Reddogjk]

I'm with you ixolas! I can pretty much copy/paste most of your words. From building a 12 sec. Nova w/NOS that went to car shows, to a lifted geared superchipped suburban, supercharged Comp G Grand Prix, and even back to the "high school beater hot rods". If I had it, it wasn't stock. Maybe the love for speed wedges its way into our modivation, too.

So, I bought a 2006 GS500F w/900 miles on it for the guy's pay off, about a month ago. I love the bike, and even more do I love finding out about the history of the GS500 and all the awsome insight here and on the linked sites. I had no idea that the GS world was so big. I deffinately feel some mods coming on, trouble is figuring out what to do first, lol. Some things I've read here have inspired me to try building a Buell style ehxaust, building new custom header pipes. Been tossing around different ideas, like a single muffler or a couple tinny round ones (a pic in the wall of fame of a racer shows a tinny muffer). A single muffler with a 2 into 1 may inspire funky header pipes, depending on fearing clearance, who knows. Haven't even measured anything yet, lol.

My wife had a simpler answer to the question............. Why not?

[pandy]

My wife had a simpler answer to the question............. Why not?

Welcome, Reddogjk!  Sounds as though you have a smart wife! 

I had no idea the cult....er....big world....I was joining when we purchased our first bike, a '92 GS500E. That little bike taught me to ride (I'm still mastering the art of not falling over), and I'll have a soft spot in my heart for the Baby G forever (and for my '90 GS500 ratbike...I've GOT to do something with him!)... 

[Chilly Willy]

I enjoy doing mods in order to learn more about my bike.  Most of my mods are practical, rather than cosmetic.  For example, replacinging the rear shock because I'm too heavy for the stock one, replacing the seat because the stock was a butt-biter, adding a fairing, crash bars, bigger mirrors, etc.

About the only "pretty" mod I've done is to replace the instrument bulbs with LEDs.  I still have my fender and intend on keeping it (I've even mounted extra reflectors on it).

As a wannabe tourer, I would like to add racks and better suspension so that I can go touring on it.

Plus, it's just plain fun and rewarding to tinker around.

Chilly

[zOU]

because it's my bike and not a mundane GS500. 

[rob1bike]

That's a good question. I modify everything I own, to some extent. I'm always thinking I can make it better or I'll use someones idea and build on it. I modify my modifications!?!?! I'm ill!

[RobTheTyrant]

I put 180 horses on  dodge Neon without a turbo, I can make somehting out of this GS dammit

[Alphamazing]

because it's my bike and not a mundane GS500. 

There ya go. When I switched my GS back to stock, it reminded me how utterly bland the GS is without a little customization.

[bettingpython]

I put 180 horses on  dodge Neon without a turbo, I can make somehting out of this GS dammit