I like stock-ish GS'es, tell me there isn't something wrong with me.

[The Buddha]

Seems like there is a new flood of heavily modded GS'es. Mainly tail section mods.
Call me "plain chaser" ... but a stock GS tail is beautiful IMHO. The 89-00 even more so than 01+, but if one of those showed up @ my door cold wet and shivering, I wont turn it away.
I also like stock paint ... even the purple ... even the teal ... ewwwww ... cant believe I said that ... the orange too, in fact I know a tennesse Vols fan who has to be crowbared off the orange GS I worked on a few years ago.
I'll do pipe, I'll jet it, I'd do K&N, I'd do kat fe's and maybe a rear wheel B4 or kat as much as anyone else, but that is about it.

The new sport bike tails IMHO are too wide to go on a GS and look right, the USD FE's are sometimes great, but they are rather brightly colored and that's all you see, like they are far too eyecatching. The twin headlights - I like that concept but you have to get the wiring properly hidden to make that work.

So does anyone else echo this feeling ? Seriously ... an 89 in the original livery IMHO is the best looking bike ever made IMHO. White or black - owned 2 whites and 1 black body sets that I slapped on various years bikes ... fit on the 89 clip on's and beautiful.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Firstoni]

I rather like my largely stock GS ^_^ (its a 2009 F =P) after I finish the clutch lever change only other thing I want to change is the seat and I want a seat cowl, heck I still have the 3 warning stickers still on my bike =P. If I ever upgraded bikes it would be to a 650F since it looks mostly like the same bike, and I would leave it mostly stock too.


Now don't get me wrong, some of the mods on here are absolutely jaw dropping and more power too them, but I don't have the skills (or the tools) to do anything like that even if I wanted too, some are really nice looking but unless someone came up with a decent kit, they are just out of my range to do.

[JB848]

I definatley prefer the stock 89-00 look. I have only slightly modified my 90 with a little paint here and there and "bolt on" things like the lower scoop and upper 1/4 fairing.

All of that being said I love to see what these guys can do to the GS.

So no, you're not the only one Buddha.

[The Buddha]

You love what they can do to a GS only cos you only see pics of it, usually side on.
The tail section mod needs to have pics of it from straight above it, and right behind it.
The tail looks all goofed up and fat, and there is a ton of weird looks crap just under where the mounting is done.
Cosmiccharlie's ducati monster tail looks promising though.
Cool.
Buddha.

[madjak30]

I like my '03 GS enough that I am trying to keep it for my daughter when I replace it this winter...it's an absolute blast to ride around town and can go on the hiway for short blasts and I just love the no nonsense looks of the bike...the problem is, most of my riding is touring around back roads at 100-110kms (60-65mph) and it is lacking a little oomph at those speeds, and the bike is physically a little small for me...but I want to replace it with something similar so that I still get the look of the GS...

Nice bike...



But too small...



So looking at one of these...



Later.

[JB848]

You love what they can do to a GS only cos you only see pics of it, usually side on.
The tail section mod needs to have pics of it from straight above it, and right behind it.
The tail looks all goofed up and fat, and there is a ton of weird looks crap just under where the mounting is done.
Cosmiccharlie's ducati monster tail looks promising though.
Cool.
Buddha.

You're right about the tail but I have seen the pictures and while not a fan of the high fat tail street fighter look I can appreciate the work and creativity. I havn't seen any progress in O.C.D.'s in a while and I like cosmeticcharlies decade long project my favorite mod to date is seamax's exhaust.
Also Fry's attention to detail and the powder coating I am jealous!

And of course don't forget the zeusrekning "swamp buggie" but not all of us are master craftsmen like him.

[scratch]

I like the old body style, too.  And, I prefer stock, as well.  If it's not broke, don't fix it.  Why put money into something that doesn't need it?

[TonyKZ1]

Ehhh... I'm right there with you, oh and there's nothing wrong with you. I also prefer the stock-ish versions. I do prefer the dual headlights, and I like the suspension upgrades too when possible.
Tony

[tt_four]

I do like the look of the earlier GSs. They've definitely got a good clean look to them. Unforunately I've got busy hands, and whether or not I think a bike looks ok, it's gonna get some work done to it. That's not just specific to the GS. I've got hopes of buying another bigger bike next fall and I'm probably gonna start tearing into it as soon as I get it. When I look at fully faired sportbikes the first things I do is check out the frame and tail so I can try to picture how it would look naked. My life would be easier if I lived in europe where naked bikes are more common, but the pickings here are pretty slim, and even the ones we do get are often just budget/commuters.

I also just get tired of seeing the same bikes. Even if it's a good looking bike from the start, you get used to it and want to move on. That's what happens when you enjoy playing with pneumatic cutting wheels and angle grinders almost as much as you like riding. Eventually I'm gonna learn how to weld, and at that point all of my bikes will definitely be in some trouble.

In my opinion, there's nothing better looking than an old slingshot gsxr stripped down with a tall stubby tail. They never made them though, so if you want one, you've gotta make them.

All that being said. I don't really have the heart to tear into a perfectly clean bike. It's gotta be pretty roughed up before I'm willing to start chopping things up. On the plus side, it gives me a reason to save $2k by buying a crashed bike and making it look however I want.

[JB848]

All that being said. I don't really have the heart to tear into a perfectly clean bike. It's gotta be pretty roughed up before I'm willing to start chopping things up. On the plus side, it gives me a reason to save $2k by buying a crashed bike and making it look however I want.

+1 You said a mouth full right there.

[tt_four]

I'll agree that the original tanks were a little too skinny for most tail swaps....



But I think the newer style tanks are more than wide enough for most modern tails. I usually try to encourage people doing tail swaps to look for a newer tank because it helps everything flow a little better.





Keep in mind that the picture taken from behind still makes the tail look a little wider than it is because it's closer to the camera than the tank.

[Jared]

Don't worry Srinath... I'm sure someone will always be telling you something's wrong with you...Heheheheheheehhe 

I like the Stock paint on most of them too... Quality repaints are nice--- I just like the factory stuff...

Nothing wrong with that 95 teal...put a set of pristine white wheels on there and some chrome sv650 mirrors.... Sweet...


I'd have to say the 91 Blue is my favorite of all of em...89 Black next (first bike nostalgia)....The 92 Purple with pink stripes.....yummm...( grows on you like mold! ) heheheh

As for mods... to each his own....Anything that makes it ride/ handle/stop better is always a good thing...

[007brendan]

I like the teal, too.  I've never even seen an orange one!

I'm don't like the look of most tail swaps, but I do really like the chopped tail look.  Chopping the subframe, painting it black and shortening the seat make the bike look way more aggressive. Psyber optix has one of the best, IMO.



Also, I really like the ducati tail swaps, these are some of my favorites

[tt_four]

Those are all definitely some good looking GSs

[Fry]

You love what they can do to a GS only cos you only see pics of it, usually side on.
The tail section mod needs to have pics of it from straight above it, and right behind it.
The tail looks all goofed up and fat, and there is a ton of weird looks crap just under where the mounting is done.
Cosmiccharlie's ducati monster tail looks promising though.
Cool.
Buddha.

Also Fry's attention to detail and the powder coating I am jealous!

Hly Crap, some one mentioned me, is it a full moon, did I forget to take my meds? Awwww thanks JB848

[JB848]

[Hly Crap, some one mentioned me, is it a full moon, did I forget to take my meds? Awwww thanks JB848

Well to be honest when I saw you powder coating everthing I asked you how you can afford it remember? Anyway I like clean bikes foremost and the original GS500E form. While all of the mods I have been watching being built are very creative the closer to the original form is my preference. You have maintained that as others, but the little things you have done so far not that they won't I think make a difference.

YW

[samburger]

When I started looking for me first bike & saw the naked GS, I fell in love. I liked the no BS look of the bike. Everything is practical & tastefully done. However, now that I have one I find myself longing for that sporty look of the streefighters, like the '03+ naked SVs. If only I could have both..

Oh, & I really like the simple chopped look as well. I would love to do it to my bike, but it's my daily driver & I just got the tail end set up with a top case rack & Givi case earlier today. No tail end mods for me..

[EndlessProject93]

I can honestly say that the monster seat looks awesome on these bikes. they are also comfortable. I might look into one myself.....maybe.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Best mod I have done to my stock '07 is fatter getting.....Yay!

[JB848]

LMAO Suzuki Stevo..best thing I ever did with my GS is buy it and keep it as close to mint as possible!

I like it simple and pure!