Overloading a GS500?

[kbankovi]

Hello,

I've since relocated to Chicago from Cleveland and our schedule is filling up fast for trips back to ohio.  My fiance has given the green light for us to travel back home on my 07 gs500f a few times .  I am starting to look at hard side cases and a hard rear case to fit our stuff for the trips and giving her addded backsupport.  After spending two days scouring ebay and elsewhere I just have one question.  Is the GS500 big enough to accomodate 400 pounds inlcuding us with all of our gear (350 human pounds & 50 pounds for gear) ?  Were probably looking at trips between 5 - 10 hours mostly highway.  Let me know your thoughts!  Thanks!! (and if there is another post out there I apologize for duplicating it, just point me in the right direction)

[gsJack]

The gross vehicle rating for a GS500 is about 840# as stated in the Owner's Manual and the curb weight for a GS-F is about 440# so a 400# load is just within specs, older naked models are 20# or so lighter with same gross rating.

I've weighed as much as 250# and travelled with enough gear for a week doing 400-500 mile days at Interstate speeds going from NE Ohio to Smoky mountains to play.  No problem, I got by with a 33 liter Givi trunk and a large tank bag but I rode one up.  You might need a couple more cases with a lady aboard.   

Be sure to crank up the rear shock preload setting and increase the rear tire pressure as called for in the OM for your travelling load.  If your going to do that all the time you might want to consider a little larger rear tire when you get around to replacing yours.  Tire size and load rating is an important part of establishing the gross vehicle rating of a vehicle.