.....and I got one

[modular]

Been looking for the right one and found it. Took a little while but I secured a 1994 with under 4400 miles on it for $900. New Michelin tires, refurbished forks with Sonic springs and the carbs have had the popular re-jet. Everything else is a nice stock blank canvas. I have already picked up a 2005 Katana rear shock off fleabay for $45 shipped. I pick the bike up this Saturday....gotta travel about 4 hrs. one way.

Questions:

1) What is the stock front sprocket tooth count? Good idea to drop a tooth? I will ride mostly twisties with this bike.

2) Gonna get EBC Double H pads for the front but I don't see them for the rear?

Here are a couple pics of the bike:

[Funderb]

nice! sounds like a great deal.
My recommendation, ride around on it before making any mods, in my opinion, (i did the kat shock upgrade)
Adding the kat shock is great for:

A. Racing - maybe you're not aiming to win the next GP, but club racing or safe racing with friends.
B. Very hard street driving, cornering like a ridiculous bufoon
C. Weighing more than 200lbs

I find that at 160lbs the rear shock is just fine more fun twisties and moderately aggressive street riding.
The kat shock has made the rear very firm, even with no preload and the crappy roads around town get annoying some times.
But hey, the better stiffer handling of the bike is not something i'm going to give up by going back to the old shock. 
( btdubs-  -Sonics are good- front susp. is a must upgrade. )

As for altering the gearing -  definitely ride the bike first. see how she runs. And have fun!

[modular]

I am trying to see if the seller remembers what spring rate the Sonics are. They are recommending .80 for what I plugged into the website.

I am close to 190lbs. in gear and ride with my fellow Assfault Junkies on the weekends. Let's just say we ride hard and fast. I need both the added ground clearance and firmness the Can-o-tuna rear shock affords.

Here is a video of me tossing around my '12 H-D XL1200C Sportster last weeknd. I have done a bit of work to that to make it work as well as it does. These roads are posted 55mph. Allegedly, we may exceed that on occasion. We ain't slow.

http://youtu.be/LMV8EWL7yC4?hd=1

[adidasguy]

I had a Kat on one bike and gave it away then put the stock back on. Rear is fine. Your front is now good with the upgraded springs.
One of my GS500's has a 15t front sprocket (normal is 16). It is a little better for slower city riding and the slower hair pin twisties. One tooth is not that much different - only a 6% difference in torque. I do find I can stay in 2nd gear more when going slow traffic so less gear shifting. Same for the twisties on Vashon Island.

It is an easy sap, do ride with 16 first. Then switch to 15. Only thing to do is readjust the rear wheel for chain tension. Pretty simple and fast swap going either way.

Try the stock rear first and set the pre-load high. You may like it. I am 180 with all gear and use 0.85's' on the front and stay with stock onthe rear. Love that combination. Perfect.

[Paulcet]

Nice find! 

1) What is the stock front sprocket tooth count? Good idea to drop a tooth? I will ride mostly twisties with this bike.

2) Gonna get EBC Double H pads for the front but I don't see them for the rear?

1)  Stock is 16.  Run it for a while to see if you really want to drop a tooth.  I would just drop a gear if I wanted more kick when I open the throttle.

2)  HH on the rear would not be necessary IMO. 

I watched your video.  You'll miss pulling away in the straights, though I guess you already know that.  But try riding "the pace" to enhance the experience.

[modular]

I enjoy the corners much more than straight line speed. The Sportster is the polar opposite of the GS500 and will be great for these rides. There are a few out there on Kawi 250R's that simply rail!

[modular]

Here's another question....will the later model front brake caliper bolt right on and work as designed with the original master cylinder? Is there a noticeable difference between the 2 sized piston caliper and the same sized piston caliper?

[Zwerski]

Assfault

Haha. That's what I call my butt crack.

[7thgear]

Congratulations..thats a nice clean bike.

[Funderb]

Here's another question....will the later model front brake caliper bolt right on and work as designed with the original master cylinder? Is there a noticeable difference between the 2 sized piston caliper and the same sized piston caliper?

I think the forks have been the same forever - so yes?
the pads are different though. The bolt pattern is probably the same.

[modular]

I'm going to throw some EBC HH pads on the bike and go from there. If I can do just fine with the barely adequate bakes on the Sportster with HH pads I am sure that caliper will be a-ok. Was nor sure if there was a noticeable difference worthy of the upgrade.

[Higgins13]

Questions:

1) What is the stock front sprocket tooth count? Good idea to drop a tooth? I will ride mostly twisties with this bike.

16 is the stock front tooth. Rear is 39. In my opinion you should never go down on the front as it will wear your chain much faster. I would go up on the rear. Remember that going down on the front 1 is equivalent to going up 3 on the back.

[Phil B]

1) What is the stock front sprocket tooth count? Good idea to drop a tooth? I will ride mostly twisties with this bike.

erm... how are you riding them?
Unless you're riding them like you're on a racetrack somewhere, attempting to get maximum acceleration out of each turn.... I'm not sure this sort of tweak, in that situation, really makes sense?
And if where you're riding is any good, you wont have much room between the turns to accelerate much anyway!

(that's actually how I did my one drop in the canyons out here. I decided to accelerate hard out of one turn... but the next one was closer than I expected. Didnt handle the decel very well, and then splat!
Does the stock GS need MORE accel in that kind of riding? I for one, would say no )


Seems to me, if you want maximum enjoyment out of your local tight turns, the biggest thrill is to carefully see how much speed you can maintain safely through the turn.
Slowing way down before the turn, then going with wide open throttle on exit, is the 600RR newbie style of handling twisties.
It's also Really Boring!   compared to just maintaining a good line and slightly higher speed throughout the whole turn. the GS500 corners REALLY REALLY well. Enjoy it!
You get greater lean angle that way.  Much more fun. Not to mention safer, since you can focus 100% of your tire grip on the turn, rather than splitting it between the turn, and acceleration.  Bye-bye traction!