94 white paint job

[The Buddha]

Deep blue - simple SUZUKI on the tank. I forget what year. This is Trey - originally purple. Painted Ducati Yellow (someone on board bought tank & tails) then got original purple (pronator or burning as I recall) then got blue (afterbooster). So Trey has gone through a lot. Everyone loves this dark blue. It is an original paint job. Just SUZUKI in reflective silver - under the cleat coat and there are still a couple marks where the tank stickers were by the fuel cap - so that indicates original clear coat.

This blue if I recall is a 97, the other years with the deep blue pre 00 are 91 - I have one of those, just like the red and the teal but 1000 times nicer than either, and 98 - the year the yellow flooded the market. It had a nike swoosh type stiker on the tail missing the curved bottom part of the swoosh.
Suzuki in some years floods the market with 1 color and totally rations out the other color. 89 may be the only year with a 50-50 of the 2 colors.
Anyway the seat is an easy thing to change color, spray it with trim paint ... any color of your choice ... it will soak in and become that color and that in fact rejuvenates the vinyl and makes it softer and last longer. I had a molecubond brand, the best darned vinyl paint there ever was, spray and it is good as new.
Cool.
Buddha.
   

[Erika]

man that really looks great!!

i'm liking the solid color suzuki on the tank. i think that sealed it for me, i'll be doing a solid blue tank with white suzuki

Just a bit more grunge to clean off that white rear wheel!

Let me know if you need the white Suzuki decals, I bought a bunch of them on EBay and have quite a few white ones.

[Erika]

Get rid of the "did it myself" Suzuki decals on the tank, and put on a set of '89 OEM pinstripes or a reasonable fascimile.

Actually, those are oem decals. Do you have a link to the '89 pinstripes you're thinking of? If I like them, I'll consider it.

[Erika]

I'll do an overall reply for now... I had someone paint it for me because I just didn't have the place/equipment to do it in my little Brooklyn back ally garage. (for those in NYC area, he was great if you're looking... http://www.drmotor1.com/) He actually showed me a blue color like Adidas Guy's and I like the blue/white decals... but I went for something that is high-visible. He suggested a Pearl White, and I'm glad I took him up on that because it reflects all the colors around it now like a seashell. The dark purple was getting me run-down on NYC streets even with the yellow seat, and I liked the idea of having a pearly white chariot. Plus.. the guys were calling it the Barney-Mobile. Especially since it also had frog decals high-fiving on the top of the gas tank. (Yes... it belonged to another girl). I was hoping to get something for the side panels like this... http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=52900.0 , but am still looking. Also deciding on the wheels... keep it white or go black? hmm.

As for the battery, I was thinking the same thing about it being shot. Maybe it keeps it's charge, but drops when I try to turn it over. I'm hoping that's all it is, or that I have a loose connection somewhere. I'll have to check it this weekend when I get a chance. I might mention the Shorai battery again, but wouldn't want to open that can of forum-worms again. ha.

[SAFE-T]

Will look for a link for you

[SAFE-T]

I think this is what Buddha is referring to:

http://nationalmcnetwork.com/wp-content/plugins/RSSPoster_PRO/cache/3ddc8_0b656_001af_3594524578_fee56d783b.jpg

Although I think your bike would look better with 1990 decals:

http://www.streetbikerider.us/Pics12/suzuki-gs500-90-586167.jpg

Or 1992 decals:

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/189546/

The 1992 version from Poland:

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/1454881/

[adidasguy]

The NOS 1989 tail plastic are available fro the guy in Israel that I get lots of NOS parts from.
Good price, too. Just no tail center. Those tail centers are as hard to find as a blue high beam plastic indicator cap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-SUZUKI-GS500-GS-500-SIDE-COVER-LEFT-AND-RIGHT-/320732914978?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aad2be522

[Erika]

The NOS 1989 tail plastic are available fro the guy in Israel that I get lots of NOS parts from.
Good price, too. Just no tail center. Those tail centers are as hard to find as a blue high beam plastic indicator cap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-SUZUKI-GS500-GS-500-SIDE-COVER-LEFT-AND-RIGHT-/320732914978?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aad2be522

I am looking for a set like this, but in gray and black. I'm guessing I will be looking for a long time.

[adidasguy]

Erika - I do have lots of really good tails in my Bike Cave. If you can show me some pictures of what you're interested in, I can see if I have it.
You can google GS500 and get a zillion photos then PM me the links for them. When I have time, I'll get them out and photograph & catalog what I have. My tag has a link to my photos. In there you'll find a couple of tails hanging up. You might see what you want there. They're all stored now because I did the Bike Cave after that picture was taken and had to clear out everything to make the Cave.

[Erika]

Erika - I do have lots of really good tails in my Bike Cave. If you can show me some pictures of what you're interested in, I can see if I have it.
You can google GS500 and get a zillion photos then PM me the links for them. When I have time, I'll get them out and photograph & catalog what I have. My tag has a link to my photos. In there you'll find a couple of tails hanging up. You might see what you want there. They're all stored now because I did the Bike Cave after that picture was taken and had to clear out everything to make the Cave.

Well, I'm looking for a black and gray decal like in this photo... but I'm now realizing this guy put up a black and white photo...ha. I don't have to have decals on the back. It just might be cool if I could find something like this...

[The Buddha]

Yea these pin stripes are the stock 89 sky blue and deep blue ... gorgeous IMHO.
The black one had red and white, also beautiful. But see you have to be a GS500 head to appreciate that I guess.
Cool.
Buddha.

[mach1]

Maybe it was school colors? Purple/yellow or Purple/gold?
Whichever, that yellow seat was weird 

lakers fan maybe???

[Erika]

Yea these pin stripes are the stock 89 sky blue and deep blue ... gorgeous IMHO.
The black one had red and white, also beautiful. But see you have to be a GS500 head to appreciate that I guess.
Cool.
Buddha.

You guys are making me indecisive. The 89 blue stripes are pretty. I also have the oem headlight cowling and belly pan, I'm just waiting for some bolts that were back-ordered to put them on.

[Erika]

Maybe it was school colors? Purple/yellow or Purple/gold?
Whichever, that yellow seat was weird 

lakers fan maybe???

That yellow seat is hideous, and I still have it. I can't even give it away. I thought maybe I'll take it and get it recovered with new foam. A friend of mine restores old seats and can help.

[Erika]

Anyone know the length of the "GS500E" decal without the stripes on the '89? I can find those, but I'm not exactly sure what the length is and they come in different sizes. Then I thought I can get vinyl in the colors I want and cut stripes to resemble the '89 look. I dig those stripes.

[SAFE-T]

Have you asked a decal shop if they can make replica decals from pictures and/or taking measurements off your bike ? I see Suzuki had discontinued them.

[bombsquad83]

http://www.sportbikestickershop.com/GS500E-Sticker-gs500e.htm

I got a set there.  I haven't used them yet, but it says it can be cleared over.  I did some eyeball measurements from pictures and got the 9".

[SAFE-T]

The 'GS500E' decals should be cheap as chips and available everywhere.

A decal shop should be able to do everything though. I had a set of replica decals made for my other bike ~ cost $250 for the first full set but only $50 for the second full set. 

But if you are trying to do this for under $20 yourself this will not be the way to go.

Are you thinking of doing the tank stripes as well or just the tail section ?

I like the idea of doing colors that were not stock, but only if they look OEM. Stuff that looks like it was done by someone in their kitchen just doesn't sit right with me.

I think that is what I dislike about the plain 'SUZUKI' on the tank by itself ~ it just looks bush league to me, or that maybe the factory didn't give a shaZam! that year.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Let me know if you need the white Suzuki decals, I bought a bunch of them on EBay and have quite a few white ones.

not sure how i missed this, glad i was bored rereading build threads!!

i would Love a set of white zuki decals!! pm'd ya

[Erika]

The 'GS500E' decals should be cheap as chips and available everywhere.

A decal shop should be able to do everything though. I had a set of replica decals made for my other bike ~ cost $250 for the first full set but only $50 for the second full set. 

But if you are trying to do this for under $20 yourself this will not be the way to go.

Are you thinking of doing the tank stripes as well or just the tail section ?

I like the idea of doing colors that were not stock, but only if they look OEM. Stuff that looks like it was done by someone in their kitchen just doesn't sit right with me.

I think that is what I dislike about the plain 'SUZUKI' on the tank by itself ~ it just looks bush league to me, or that maybe the factory didn't give a shaZam! that year.

I know how you feel. I had been riding my bf's CB350 and now that I got a different bike, he wants to cafe it and rattle can flat black it. I'm trying to buy it off of him so it will stay bare bones stock.... it has the original paint and stripes and it would be a pity to paint over that.

The GS500 is an experiment for me. I just hated that 90's paint swirl decal that goes with the 94's. I do like the 89 stripes, though, just not in blue. I did find the GS500E decals for the tail, put without the stripes. I wish I could find a pattern to follow, but may have to measure and cut myself. I did go to art school, so I'm pretty handy with design and an x-acto blade. I won't put it on if I can't get it right.