New GS500F owner here!!!!

[nrek619]

Hey fellow GS owners!!! long time lurker, first time poster. I finally bought my first and only bike I have ever wanted an 08 GS500F (blk,gry,red) off of craigs list with 230 miles on it for $1700!! all new with only some minor fairing damage I am fixin now. besides the WIKI here for mods, can some of you GS vets out there recommend some mods for appearance and performance that you like. also I just bought an 06 rear kantana shock to install and want to buy some front fork springs. which ones would be the best? also....15W or 20W oil ... what is the deference and why the heavier weight ? I haven't rode her hard enough to experience the front dip yet. thanks everyone !!!  

[Suzuki Stevo]

If it's your first and only bike, I would just ride it and focus on your riding/survival skills 

[nrek619]

yes sir will do!! 

[ryott52]

+1 to getting used to it. You don't want to start playing with performance characteristics until you're used to riding and used to the bike, it'd be a shame to rash up your fairings you're fixing up.

[ben2go]

Hold off on the Katana shock.After you ride and get used to your bike,you will need to tune your suspension to your weight.There are many different fork spring rates to choose from.You need to match them to your weight and riding style.I am short and heavy.I tried rebuilding my GS forks and used Progressive springs with a Katana 750 rear shock.I ended up rebuilding a Katana 750 front end and installing it.I also redone the Katana 750 rear shock.I needed the support for my fat @$$ and my riding style.Should have just bought a Katana 750.FAQ is where all the good info is.

[mister]

So eager to change the suspension without knowing if it is suitable for you.

My suspension is completely stock and I don't bottom out the front or rear. And after 40,000+km it's still doing fine completely stock.

Same applies to jetting. The way people on here talk it's as if the bike is sh!t in it's stock form. It is not. It is quite ridable and the jetting is fine. You do NOT need to rejet or toss the old suspension. But if you keep reading about doing those things you will talk yourself into it for no reason. So...

Hold off on the performance mods and just ride the darn bike. Get good at riding first - and riding 5,000 clicks in a year is not "good at riding", it's stuff all. I've put over 40k on my GS and still haven't touched its full potential. (BTW, insurance crash data shows most crashes happen within the first 5000 miles and/or 6 months of owning a new-to-you bike and then also at 2 years of riding as you Think you are an experienced rider at that point and now do things which actually exceed your abilities.)

Pick up Ride Like a Pro V and Twist of The Wrist II to help get you started. Leave the mods until later.

Michael

[nrek619]

thanks everyone for the real info!!  I will hold off on the mods until I get use to the bike...this is what i was asking... for real answers...thanks!!! I come from a mod background( cars and such..) 

[tucsondog]

Thumbs up for Twist of the Wrist Volume II It was recommended to me by my aunt when I first bought my little buddy. Every day before work, I read through a skill and make it my goal for the day to apply that skill both going to and coming from work. Then, at the end of the week or a day off, I head out for a ~100km jaunt through some nearby "fun roads" to see how my practice for the week has paid off. That book alone is worth it's weight in gold platinum!
Also, if you're finding the rear shock a little soft going through the corners, read the section on throttle control... that part alone made the book worth getting!

Get out there and have fun!