Prepping for next upgrade

[iclrag]

Okay, now that it's winter i'm not really riding much, only twice this week BUT i'm going to be gone  for 3-4 months working (yay money!) so i'm planning on buying some new stuff for my bike! the first (and most important thing) is new tires, i don't like the ones that came with my bike (the middle was worn and the sides were almost un-used!!!) so i'm thinking of some pirellis sport demons, does anyone have experience with these? i hear people mention them alot but i want to know if they are decent if it starts raining ( i am in oregon after all), i'm also planning on getting an upgraded rear shock (maybe a katana?) since i'm a big guy (6'2 220lbs) and eventually getting better fork springs maybe. my other ideas would be a smaller rear sprocket and a new chain, any thoughts here?

so here's my list of upgrades
-Katana rear shock
-pirelli sport demons (still need to look up widest size i can put on the back with no modifications)
-smaller rear sprocket (or larger front)
-new chain
-front springs maybe? i've heard good things about the sonic shocks

[802 305]

Scrap the pirellis and get pilot powers! Actually they are probably about the same but I love the pilots.... they are so soft and grippy, I hit the pegs and pipe before getting to the edge at all. They warm up quick and feel insanely planted. Very low amount of tread coverage, but I haven't had problems in the rain at all. The rear barely fit in the brake torque arm, but has enough space for safe riding. Not sure if the po bent the arm or if it just fits, either way im pretty sure that's an easy mod. They are one of the only super bike tires that will even fit on our rims also. I got size 150/60 ZR17 on the back, 110/70 ZR 17 front. One thing to consider is cost, I got them for about $180 (I worked at a moped repair/ rental shop and got a huge discount) but they may cost $300 plus. I then brought my wheels and tires to a shop and had them mounted/balanced/valved for around $60.   

[iclrag]

I'll look into those, thanks! i'm still suprised when i look at what tires actually fit our rims 

[BassWoW]

I enjoy the 17th front sprocked IMO.

Easier upshifts and less vibration on the highway..means I can spot those staties better 

[gsJack]

I'll look into those, thanks! i'm still suprised when i look at what tires actually fit our rims 

I've run 110/70, 110/80, 120/70 fronts and 130/70, 130/80, 130/90, 140/70, 140/80, 150/60, 150/70 rears on my stock 3.0" front and 3.5" rear rims.

[iclrag]

I enjoy the 17th front sprocked IMO.

Easier upshifts and less vibration on the highway..means I can spot those staties better 

i was thinking about 17, i hear it's a good upgrade

[SAFE-T]

18/39 or 17/36 gives you gearing similar to an SV650. We had an 18tooth front sprocket on an '07 and it was a lot nicer on the open road, and really didn't seem to have any negative effects in the city.

[SAFE-T]

Patrick will be along at some point to tell you to do the fork springs before the rear shock. The OEM fork springs on the GS500 are something like .47kg/mm, whereas a lot of street bikes use around .74kg/mm

.85kg/mm - .90kg/mm seems to be popular with people wanting to make the front end less mushy. You might also check into a heavier weight fork oil. 

[SAFE-T]

A couple of board members make/sell a nice fork brace. 

I've never been completely sold on the idea, but others say it makes a difference, and if I remember correctly the price was under $50 shipped in the U.S.

[catch2otwo]

Is there a reason your going Katana shock and not r6 shock?  Id imagine your choices for springs and adjustments would be greater with the r6 shock. 

[Funderb]

do the front end before you do the shock, it costs more, but the improvement is exponential compared to doing a shock swap.

i love my progressives, but sonics are clearly a great choice too. IMO, rear shock without front end upgrade, is pretty much worthless. with the kat shock alone, you're going to have a super stiff tail, complimented by a squishy boingy front end. i hear that does wonders for traction and control up front.

[SAFE-T]

rear shock without front end upgrade is pretty much worthless

Gotta love squishy boingy suspension 

[iclrag]

true i do enjoy that stff smooshy combo  , but the reason i'm thinking Katana over R1 is mostly the ease of installation since when i get back i plan on having as little down time as possible on the bike. i'll check out the ratios for those other gears as well, thanks