My '04 GS500F (with a few small mods)

[tt_four]

yeah, the only problem for me is that I had a 600 until I sold it a couple years ago, so I already know exactly what I'm missing. It's less fun to work towards something you already had before, haha.

I grew up 2 miles from QS&L so I know most of the roads up there. Someday if I head up there with you we can take some of the back roads. I tried some new ones last night that I didn't remember so I was riding around to see where they'd come out, and it worked alright. If you don't want to take 279 you can also just get on 19 or mcknight road and take them right up to the 79 exit. The whole thing is boxed in between the river and rt65, Freedom road(which is what QS&L is on) and 19, so it's pretty safe just go pick a road and go for it. If you hit 65 or freedom just make a right, if you hit 19 just make a left. You can also do the same thing on the right side of 19/mcknight if you want to head up towards north park. Just make a left if you hit rt 8 or 228(same road as freedom). Heather completely hates getting lost and freaks out when she's driving us somewhere and doesn't know where she is, but 95% of the time I'm going somewhere I have no idea where I actually am, and just assume I'll find out eventually. Downtown is great for that too with our mess of a triangle city with ramps everywhere. If you get lost you just keep riding in circles around ramps and eventually you see a sign for the road you wanted.

[tt_four]

So how about that weather today?! I pulled my bike apart on Friday night because I knew it was going to rain all weekend, but I woke up today to nothing but warm weather and sun. My bike was still in a couple pieces so I didn't get any riding in, but it did give me a good chance to repaint my subframe. Got my clip ons back on, and put in my other rear shock, plus lowered my gauges a good but so they're not sticking up in the middle of no where and being huge like they used to. You don't have that problem with your clipons because of the windscreen anyway. The only thing I didn't get to do was bleed my brakes, but I can do that another night. It's gonna be mid 80s all week, and mid 70s this weekend, plus I've got Monday off, so I think we can definitely get a ride in sometime.

On the down side, my choke still hates me, and the full carb clean did nothing to help it, I think if anything it made my bike back fire a little worse, but I'll just have to keep messing with the idle when I need to start it cold.

[JEREMY JOCK]

Yeah man today was beautiful! I put quite a few miles on. This week is definitely looking nice. I work til 4:30 or so M-F, but I'm down to ride any time. I usually go out and put a few miles on after work, anyways.

I had to get a new battery, after replacing my plugs. I guess she just didn't have enough juice left to handle the new ones. But I got that all taken care of. My chain is here, sprocket should be here in the next day or two. Then I just have to get my valves checked out, and maybe replace the air filter and new jets. I would like to go farther than that with the mods, but I honestly don't know how long I'm gonna be keeping her around, unfortunately. I have my eyes set on an older model GSX-R...

[tt_four]

Which ones are you looking at? the 96-99s are my all time favorites. I'd love to get one of the 750, and I think it's definitely the one I'd be happy of, but I wonder if after I got it I'd still feel like I was out of date like I am with the GS. 

I also like the 04-05s, but they don't seem to be too popular/common. Hate the new ones though.

[JEREMY JOCK]

Anything from 99-03. I love the big curvy body style that was going on for those years. I found a guy who's selling a '00 SRAD 600 for right around my price range. Also saw an '03 GSXR 750 that's very affordable, but I don't see it being around for very long, for the price it was going for.

This isn't the bike I was looking at, but I loooooove this.

[tt_four]

Yeah those are my favorites. I like naked bikes more, but as far as bikes with fairings go, I think the more there is the better it looks. I've spent so much time commuting on bikes that that giant storage space in the tail pretty much sucked me in, plus if I'm gonna have a windshield, I'd actually want it to do something like that one. I prefer all the red/black/gray paint schemes though....



I wouldn't mind one of the 00-03 models, but they're kind of a mid step between just looking good like the one above, and looking aggressive and fast like the 04-05, and they just kinda came across looking bulky. I'm sure it wouldn't be as bad if I was actually sitting on it, plus they still have the tail space. I swear current bikes just keep getting uglier and uglier. I wouldn't mind a 600, but the last bike I had was a 600, and the 750 has been my dream bike since I started riding, so I feel like if anything I should move up. I usually ride the GS between 2500-4500 rpm, so at those rpms I could definitely use the extra bit of power the 750 has over a 600, plus the upside down front end. It's pretty much the only inline 4 I really have any interest in. I wouldn't mind an 03-04 kawasaki 636, and I love the way the first cbr600rrs looked, but those motors are the opposite of what I'd enjoy. That's all just speculation anyway, in case I'd happen to come across an awesome deal I couldn't turn down before I find what I really want....

[JEREMY JOCK]

I think I'm gonna put a For Sale sign in the window of my bike, just to see if anyone around is interested. Might throw an ad up on Craigslist, too, who knows. I just REALLY want the SRAD 600 I've got my eyes on. It's super affordable for me. I just hope it's not gone by the time I can get my GS sold. I do love my GS. It's just not my first choice for a motorcycle, and I can't afford to own 2. 

[tt_four]

Tell the kid you want it and need a couple days to get the money, and put your bike on on craiglist for just enough to cover the new bike and you should be in business.

[taylor]

jeremy.. Hey I just have a quick question... I just got a 09 GS500F for my first bike... and i was wondering how you like your handle bars where they are...with the clip-ons? I've been debating if I want to do that to mine or not, it looks awesome, and i just hate how the wind hits me when im sitting so upright with the stock handle bars.. feedback would be great!! thanks!!

[JEREMY JOCK]

The clip-ons are definitely more comfortable, at least for me. Plus, they seem 100x more stable than the stock bars. No more speed wobbles, and cornering feels much more solid.

If you're thinking about doing it, just go for it. You'll like it. And if you don't, I'm sure someone on here will gladly buy your clip-ons. 

[taylor]

thanks!! I'll definitely be trying it out soon!

[tt_four]

We've both noticed with clipons that handlebar vibrations have increased drastically. I got some new grips, and am going to try to find some heavy bar ends, and hopefully some of it can be settled down. Other than that the clipons are much nicer.

[JEREMY JOCK]

We've both noticed with clipons that handlebar vibrations have increased drastically. I got some new grips, and am going to try to find some heavy bar ends, and hopefully some of it can be settled down. Other than that the clipons are much nicer.

True story. I'm not buying anything else though, until I know whether or not the GS is heading out the door. 

[JEREMY JOCK]

Looks like the GS will be gone by next weekend...

If so, I'm pretty sure this bike will be mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43IHYoSCbdU&playnext_from=TL&videos=u3i_CSRPk5U

[tt_four]

750?! Did you do that just to spite me?? 

haha, no it looks awesome, just repaint that front wheel and the fairing brace and you'll be in business. Once I've got my buell and we've ridden around together plenty of times so you trust me enough I'm gonna make you trade me bikes for a couple miles so I can see if it was everything I dreamed it would be.

[JEREMY JOCK]

Yeah, that stuff will definitely be painted white. I like the red, but the white will look much cleaner. And those stickers are coming off. I want it to look stock, how it was supposed to. 

And yes, that sounds fine to me! I'd love to rip around on a Buell.

[tt_four]

I think the fairing brace and bar ends will want to be black.

[Jabilli]

Nice lookin bike!   

How do you like those clip-ons? Advantages/Disadvantages?

I used to have an old '81 Seca 550 with some cafe bars- excellent control, Back would get tired after anything over 45 min ride.

[tt_four]

I saw this one over in the middle of ohio somewhere....
http://mansfield.craigslist.org/mcy/1758411056.html

only 8k miles, I need to spend less time browsing craigslist and more time listing all the crap I have on ebay so when July comes around I'm actually ready to pick something up.

Jabilli: I have clipons on mine as well, and they feel amazing to ride with. The front end is so much more positive no matter where I'm riding. The downsides are a sore back, which really depends on how active you are when you ride, and some pretty annoying handlebar vibrations once you hit 5k rpm. Mine are under the top clamp, so it puts a little extra stress on my back. I've been thinking about moving them above the top clamp, which I think would get rid of most of the soreness in my back, but I'll see how it goes.

[JEREMY JOCK]

Nice lookin bike!   

How do you like those clip-ons? Advantages/Disadvantages?

I used to have an old '81 Seca 550 with some cafe bars- excellent control, Back would get tired after anything over 45 min ride.

Definitely more control over the bike, and wayyy more stability on the front end. I used to get speed wobble if I'd take my hands of the bars, when I was using the stock ones. The clip-ons eliminated that completely. I enjoy the positioning more with the clip-ons. If I wanted to sit up straight, I'd buy a cruiser. 

The clip-ons, depending on how you put them on your bike, probably would be higher up than the cafe bars you're talking about (assuming you mean clubman style bars), so they might not be as bad on your back.