Dual-sport a GS500E ??

[Ken in Regina]

Thanks JoNathan. That sounds like something worth checking out.

...ken...

[pertt-UP-]

I have stock GS with road tires, but still i like driving gravel roads like this

[Ken in Regina]

Beautiful picture, pertt-UP-.    I love finding old buildings like that. That one is in particularly good shape.  I hope my purple one likes to do that as much as your blue one. 

...ken...

[randomway]

I am happy with the Bridgestone bt45's on dirt for now, but I want to try the Anakee-Tourance combo when I get to the Sahara next year. I found 130/80 Tourance for the rear, I think that should be OK. What's up with the front? Anyone knows what size Tourance or Anakee would fit the gs500 rim? Is there an even more dirt/sand orientated tyre that would fit?

[Ken in Regina]

Metzeler makes a 110/90-17 Tourance. It's listed as a "rear" tire but putting it on the front should not be an issue. I've been running "rear" tires on the front of my DRZ super motard all this year because finding 17" "front" tires can be difficult. I had the dealer remove the stock supersport tires before I even picked the bike up. Those tires looked almost like slicks to me and I didn't plan to be doing the hooligan thing with the bike. 

They installed Kenda 761 on both ends for me, straight up trade for the stock tires. I still didn't like the offroad traction so I pulled the Kendas off and installed IRC GP1 on both ends. I'm much happier ... even on pavement, surprisingly. I don't have any experience with the Michelin Anakee. I wanted them instead of the Kendas when I bought the bike but my dealer couldn't get front or rear in the size for the DRZ. My BMW 650GS friend loves the Tourances and that's all he runs on both ends.

If you are interested in moving to something more aggressive than the dual-sport (aka enduro-street) tires like the Tourance or Anakee or Avon Distanzia, the next step is a trials tire. Metzeler's Enduro 3 Sahara is a very interesting pattern. Or you can get a more conventional trials pattern like the IRC GP1 that I'm running front and rear on my DRZ. There are half a dozen manufacturers who make a virtually identical pattern.

I plan to try the Kenda 761's that I took off the Dizzer on the GS first and see how I like a dual-sport tire like that for traction. I don't know if I'll like them any better on the GS than I did on the DRZ. One of the problems I had with the Kendas on the DRZ is that they could never get them balanced properly. They had a distinct "hop" at between 60kph and 75kph. Above that, there was still a fair bit of unpleasant vibration. I didn't realize just how much there was until I took the Kendas off and put the IRC trials tires on. Once the vibration was no longer there, it was obvious just how bad it had been.

But I'll try the Kendas on the GS just to see how I like them for gravel roads. I would prefer to stay with a dual-sport pattern on the GS, even if I end up tossing the Kendas (if I can't balance them better on the GS than on the DRZ) and getting the Tourance. Dual-sport tires are pretty much as quiet on the highway as street tires.  A trials pattern is a little noisy at highway speeds so I really don't want to put them on the GS which will spend most of its time on the highway.

...ken...

[Affschnozel]

Found this on the web , don't know anything about it but that's a dual sport GS 

[Ken in Regina]

Hello Affschnozel,

That's pretty much what I'm thinking of. It's really nice to be able to see what mine might look like when I'm done. Tires like that and something like those hand guards, too. Probably get my friend to weld up a luggage rack similar to that one. It's nice to see that I will be able to fit a high front fender if I decide I need to. I will certainly put some sort of windshield on. That picture is a great find. Thanks so much for sharing it.

The project is now real. I picked up the bike on Friday afternoon so it's sitting in my shop while I decide exactly how to proceed. It's a 16 year old bike. It's in good shape for a bike that old and runs nicely. But there is a bunch of basic repair/maintenance that I think I will need to do before anything else, just to feel comfortable when I put it on the road in the spring.

...ken...

[ivany]

I really hate it when old phartes like me get into "back in the good old days" stuff because they really weren't all that good, technology-wise. No way I want my 1964 Triumph back. But. During my thirty years of riding you could always buy a "standard" motorcycle. They were superb do-everything bikes. All you really had to do if you were going to ride backroads was put a slightly more aggressive tire on and you were good to go. Unfortunately, today there are no longer any standard motorcycles. The naked pre-2003 GS500E is the closest I can find. For my purposes, it will do, I think.

I think you can still find plenty of standard bikes now-a-days. Sure, they're not nearly as common - all the young kids want supersports, all the old guys want cruisers. But there's still bikes like the FZ-6, SV650, Ninja 650, that are still very standard-ish.

I remember when I first got into riding, all I wanted was a supersport. Now, I think that a standard and a sport-tourer are all of the bikes I want in my garage. And I don't think a cruiser will ever be something I'd own.

[Ken in Regina]

I think you can still find plenty of standard bikes now-a-days. Sure, they're not nearly as common - all the young kids want supersports, all the old guys want cruisers. But there's still bikes like the FZ-6, SV650, Ninja 650, that are still very standard-ish.

Hi ivany,

We are clearly in different age groups.   "standard-ish" is right, emphasis on the "-ish" for sure.

The riding position on even the pre-2003 GS500E is still somewhat sportbike-ish .. leaned forward to get to the bars and feet up under your ass. The three you listed are the same or even more so. The Ninja 650 is fully faired. You can't even buy a naked version. Can you buy a naked SV650?

...ken...

[scratch]

I like, and would be interested in, the crash guard for the instrument nacelles.

[madjak30]

2009 was the last year for the naked SV650 here in Canada, same as the naked GS500.  The naked version of the Ninja is the ER-6n, but a better option for a standard is the Versys.  Honda makes the CBF600 that is closer to a standard bike with a half faring (kinda looks like a V-Strom-ish )

Yamaha has come out with the FZ8...Suzuki is supposed to come out with their TU250 this year in Canada...might be a little to small cc's for what you are wanting it for...Suzuki also has the Gladius which effectively replaced the naked SV650 in 2009...

The naked bikes (standards) just don't have the popularity here in North America, so there isn't the selection as in Europe...they've even dropped the Bandit in favour of a fully fared version GSX1250FA...

You could also check into a Harley Sportster...I know, I know...it is basically a standard bike (was concidered a sport bike in the '60s)...Triumph Bonneyville?

I think the GS would work, but you would be more comfortable on a Versys or V-Strom...the extra suspension would be appreciated on potholed dirt roads.

Good Luck!!

Later.

[scratch]

I was just searching BMW F650 forks, and found this: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486001

So, it might not be such a good idea to get F650 forks.

[mister]

2009 was the last year for the naked SV650 here in Canada, same as the naked GS500.  The naked version of the Ninja is the ER-6n, but a better option for a standard is the Versys.  Honda makes the CBF600 that is closer to a standard bike with a half faring (kinda looks like a V-Strom-ish )

Yamaha has come out with the FZ8...Suzuki is supposed to come out with their TU250 this year in Canada...might be a little to small cc's for what you are wanting it for...Suzuki also has the Gladius which effectively replaced the naked SV650 in 2009...

The naked bikes (standards) just don't have the popularity here in North America, so there isn't the selection as in Europe...they've even dropped the Bandit in favour of a fully fared version GSX1250FA...

Kwaka's FZ8 seems to be a necked down liter bike. Looking at the specs they are essentially the same weight. So the FZ8 would be pushing the heavier bike with the smaller engine. Of course, it'd still leave the GS500 eating dust.

Aust also lost the naked SV650 - want a naked 650 Suzuki? Then it's the Gladius for you.

have heard Yamaha isn't making any more FZ6s. But also heard, they are in trouble as they've over produced by a Mile. Shut factories down. Warehouses full. But they aren't as reliable as Suzukis, Hondas and Kwakas in the Jap bike area.

Naked retro from Kwaka = Er5 and ZR7. Semi naked... Z750

Michael

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

Yep SV650 is nekid, S has the fairing. I'm in the process of installing handguards on my F. I really like em so far. They are the Star series from PowerMadd.

[ivany]

I think you can still find plenty of standard bikes now-a-days. Sure, they're not nearly as common - all the young kids want supersports, all the old guys want cruisers. But there's still bikes like the FZ-6, SV650, Ninja 650, that are still very standard-ish.

Hi ivany,

We are clearly in different age groups.   "standard-ish" is right, emphasis on the "-ish" for sure.

The riding position on even the pre-2003 GS500E is still somewhat sportbike-ish .. leaned forward to get to the bars and feet up under your ass. The three you listed are the same or even more so. The Ninja 650 is fully faired. You can't even buy a naked version. Can you buy a naked SV650?

...ken...

The ninja 650 is fully faired, but sits very upright. It has a naked option in the ER-6N.
The FZ-6 is as upright, if not more-so, than the GS500E. Don't be fooled by the plastics in the front, that's just to trick Americans into buying them The bikes are still quite upright.

[scratch]

Found an interesting list of fork legs on ADVrider (and other street-to-dual-use bikes: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330726):

37 Honda CR-80R (96-98)
37 Honda CR-80R (99-02)
37 Honda CR-85R (03-04)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (79)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (80)
37 Honda CR-250R "Elsinore" (78-80)
37 Honda NX-250 (88-90)
37 Honda XR-250R (81-82)
37 Honda CMX-450C (86-87)
37 Honda CX-500TC (82)
37 Honda FT-500 "Ascot" (82-83)
37 Honda VF-500C "Magna" (84-85)
37 Honda VT-500C "Shadow" (83-84)
37 Honda VT-500C "Shadow" (85-86)
37 Honda XL-500R (82)
37 Honda CB-550SC (83)
37 Honda CBR-600F "Hurricane" (87-90)
37 Honda CB-650SC "Nighthawk 650" (82)
37 Honda CX-650T "Turbo" (83)
37 Honda VF-700C "Magna" (84)
37 Honda VFR-700F "Interceptor" (86)
37 Honda CB-750F (81-82)
37 Honda VF-750C "V45 Magna" (82-83)
37 Honda VF-750S "Sabre" (82-83)
37 Honda VFR-750F "Interceptor 750" (86)
37 Honda CB-900C "Custom" (80-82)
37 Honda GL-1000/K "Goldwing" (75-79)
37 Kawasaki EX-500D1-D11 "Ninja 500R" (94-04)
37 Kawasaki ZL-600A1/A2 (86-87)
37 Kawasaki ZX-600A1-A3 "Ninja" (85-87)
37 Kawasaki ZX-750A1-A3 "GPz" (83-85)
37 Kawasaki ZX-750E1/E2 "Turbo" (84-85)
37 Kawasaki ZX-1100A1 "GPz" (83)
37 Kawasaki ZX-1100A2 "GPz" (84)
37 Suzuki RM-85 K2-K4 (02-04)
37 Suzuki XN-85 D "Turbo" (83)
37 Suzuki GS-500 EK/EL/EM/EN/EP/ER/ES/ET (89-96)
37 Suzuki GS-500 EV/EW/EX/EY (97-00)
37 Suzuki GS-550 LD/LF (83, 85)
37 Suzuki GS-550 ED/ESD/ES3/ ESE/ EF/ESF/ESG (83-86)
37 Suzuki GS-650 MD "Katana" (83)
37 Suzuki GS-700 EF/ESF (85)
37 Suzuki VS-700 GLFG/GLEFG/ GLFH/GLEFH "Intruder" (85-87)
37 Suzuki GS-750 ED/ESD (83)
37 Suzuki GS-750 LN (79)
37 Suzuki GS-750 SD "Katana" (83)
37 Suzuki GS-850 GN/GT/GX/GZ (79-82)
37 Suzuki GS-850 GD (83)
37 Suzuki GS-1000 C/EC/N/EN/ET (78-80)
37 Suzuki GS-1000GT/GLT/GX/GLX (80-81)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 ET/EX/EZ (80-82)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 ED/ESD (83)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 GZ/GLZ (82)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 LT (80)
37 Suzuki GS-1150 ES3/ESE/EF/ESF/EF2/EG/ESG (83-86)
37 Yamaha XJ-650 LK "Seca Turbo" (83)
37 Yamaha XJ-900 RK "Seca" (83)
37 Yamaha XV-920 RH/RJ "Virago" (81-82)
37 Yamaha XJ-1100 J "Maxim" (82)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 E/F/G/H (78-81)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 LG/LH (80-81)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 LG/LH "Midnight Special" (80-81)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 SF (79)

[Ken in Regina]

The ninja 650 is fully faired, but sits very upright. It has a naked option in the ER-6N.
The FZ-6 is as upright, if not more-so, than the GS500E. Don't be fooled by the plastics in the front, that's just to trick Americans into buying them The bikes are still quite upright.

I can't speak to the FZ-6 but I've sat on the Ninja 650 and the ER-6N. Both nice bikes but both pull you at least as far forward and have the pegs as high and back as the GS500E. They also weigh nearly 100lb more.

@madjak30

The Gladius is pretty much the same as all the others I've mentioned .. a mild sportbike riding position.

I know I wouldn't be comfortable with either the Versys or the Wee-strom. I've ridden both. I took a pretty long test ride on the Wee-strom. I could get a new 2009 for about $400 less than I paid for my '09 DRZ400SM. But the 650 V-strom is too heavy and too tall for me. So I plan to make my '94 GS500E into a mini V-strom.

...ken...

[scratch]

Seems like someone in the UK has already customized one: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330726&page=33

[madjak30]

I kinda like that...maybe that should be the winter project instead of worrying about an "upgrade"...but wouldn't it be easier and cheaper in the long run to just get a used KLR, or a DR650?  Still kinda cool though...kinda like this one I posted a while ago...



I think I need atleast two, maybe even three bikes...one street, one offroad and if the buget would allow it, one for touring...

Later.

[Ken in Regina]

Seems like someone in the UK has already customized one: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330726&page=33

That's an excellent thread. Thanks for the link.

...ken...