GS500 rebuild after taxi tried to kill me and my GS

[harrypotter]

It got damaged when a taxi thought it would be a good idea to make a random u-turn infront of me. I also have little experience doing maintenance on bikes, so i dont know the names of all the parts needed for replacement. I do however know that almost everything attached to the front end is finished. I am still fighting with the insurance company cause here in Japan they assign percentages of fault for any accident. That means i will not have any money for parts untill i get my claim settled. I just thought it would be useful to post anyway so if someone is getting ready to get rid of some parts they can let me know. I have attached some before and after pix oth the bike and my leg.





2 weeks before the crash









taxi made a u-turn in about 10 feet in front of me when i was going 35mph...snapped this pic with my cell as i layed in pain






really bad leg bruise







front end after crash

[Big Shot]

Love the color on that bike!  My favorite!  Shame it had to go down and get banged up like that.  Couldn't you have tried any harder to protect it better with your body?!!

As far as your parts, i have what you need whether it's gonna be a set of GS replacement forks, a Katana front end swap, or a GSXR front end swap.  PM-ing you now...


Glad you're ok too - Bob!

[harrypotter]

Love the color on that bike!  My favorite!  Shame it had to go down and get banged up like that.  Couldn't you have tried any harder to protect it better with your body?!!

As far as your parts, i have what you need whether it's gonna be a set of GS replacement forks, a Katana front end swap, or a GSXR front end swap.  PM-ing you now...


Glad you're ok too - Bob!

I think no matter what i was wearing the impact to my leg would have been the same, the rest of my body is ok and the bike didnt fare too bad i think. Sorry my body was not big enough to protect it.  It just was a dissapointment cause i brought it to Japan and spent all kinds of $$$ getting it to pass their inspection. It was great to have everyone looking at my bike and loving it for the 6 days i had a tag on it though!

[werase643]

RG-V250 is a direct bolt on USD front end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and you can get them in japan
super sweet front end

[Big Shot]

^-----  Werase is like Buddha, except he knows what he's talking about.  I'd look into that : )


There can B only one...  BIGSHOT!

[The Buddha]

The forks look like they can be straightened.
Atleast the left one does, right - no idea you need a pic from the other side ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[harrypotter]

RG-V250 is a direct bolt on USD front end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and you can get them in japan
super sweet front end

I will look into that if i am not happy with what i find here, but i am sure what i find here will be cheaper even with shipping

The forks look like they can be straightened.
Atleast the left one does, right - no idea you need a pic from the other side ...
Cool.
Buddha.

I didnt know that was possible, is it a kinda safe thing to do? and my bracket that holds the fender brace thing is broken

[The Buddha]

Fork lowers are a dime a dozen. Fork lowers never get damaged, and uppers rust, bend, get gouged etc ... I have a couple sitting round, but mail to japan will kill it for $$$, You can have it free.

Straightening the thick walled steel works well, typically the chrome on it is brittle, you look for any signs of damage in that, and if you dont see any, you've not affected the steel enough to hurt it, just strighten it (need a well skilled press operator and accurate V blocks which they oughta have and you would be fine. However remember in repeated crashes it will start to turn brittle, but, 1 crash wont affect it, Just dont bend it over and over again, and past 3-4 times its gonna start to show signs of stess and crap out.

I have straightened GS legs quite OK. However my guy has a ton of expertise, and he will straighten anything and get it to work, as well as tell you when something is DOA. He isn't cheap ... yea try 40-50 bucks per leg, and you have to separate it and hand him the uppers only, so you have to do seals when done.
IMHO, GS junk aint worth it. but I have access to Kat crap for about that same $$ outlay. If you do, I'd take that option.

Cool.
Buddha.

[harrypotter]

thanks for all the replies, I am currently still fighting with the insurance company. They like to assign percentages of fault. I am currently 15% at fault. That means if they settle on the total being $1000 i only get $850. I am also working to get parts from Big Shot. I just want to know if anyone has any advice from experience on how to keep shipping costs down when sending to a APO, AP address.

[werase643]

if you get caught posting it as books/skool supplies they will spank your pee pee
but it is cheaper

seriously look at local breakers   you have access to sh!t we will never see

you could probably get some kewl 400cc USD or 250 USD front end   look at yamaha and suzuki for easiest fit

[The Buddha]

So what in japan there are no GS500's ?
And ...
You cannot find RGV250 stuff ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[werase643]

RG 250
RG-V 250
GSX-R 400
bandit 400
GSX 400

among others should be available to you locally

[harrypotter]

seriously look at local breakers   

sorry i dont understand what a breaker is

So what in japan there are no GS500's ?
And ...
You cannot find RGV250 stuff ?
Cool.
Buddha.

there are no GS500's here, some older GS models though.
All bikes and parts here hold resale value here, so if i could find this RGV250 you talk of the parts would be very expensive.

[Trwhouse]

Hi Harry,

A "breaker" is Brit for "salvage yard."

Good luck and I hope you are feeling better,

Yours,
Trwhouse

[harrypotter]

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[harrypotter]

Here are some updated pix of all the damage and I have a few questions. While i was working on it i realized how much i still love my GS! It could have more power, or look better but for a bike that i bought just to learn to ride i love it very much.


























what are these two wires supposed to go to?
















These go to the clutch lever switch, why would these be spliced back togeter....i sometimes do this to a cars clutch safety
switch so i can start the car without pressing the clitch in so maybe the same. I would like this to be working on the bike though.

[harrypotter]

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[harrypotter]

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[harrypotter]

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[DoD#i]

The first set of wires (brown & black/white) go to nothing on a US bike. They are for a front parking light on euro-spec models. Listed as "sidelight" on wiring diagram. Handy as a source of switched power for accessories.

The clutch switch wires get bypassed because the clutch switch is prone to failure, corrosion, etc. Either reconnect them or fix/replace the clutch switch and then reconnect them. You'll find matching wires & connectors connected to each other in the main harness - just connect to the clutch switch wires. You'll probably find that your bike won't start because the clutch switch is probably having problems - and then you'll fix it, if you don't check it and fix it first.

Junkyard/scrapyard/breaker/used parts/what have you would be well worth looking into. You're not looking to buy a whole used bike that's holding its value, you are looking to buy the front end off a bike with a rear end collision or a blown motor, etc.