First Ride On A GS500

[philp38]

When I first purchased the bike last week I kinda wondered if a 500 would be enough. I was very surprised with how smoooth the bike is and how nice it handled these twisty TN roads. The power is good and the gear ratios are perfect. The only changes I am making are handlebar barbacks ( I read here that no cables have to be changed)
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/handlebar-riser-barbacks-top-clamps-bmw-ducati-gas-gas-honda-kawasaki-ktm-lc4-mz-suzuki-triumph-yamaha-pair-1-rise-1-pullback... I also need a rear rack.
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/sw-motech-alu-rack-toprack-suzuki-gs500e-05-gs500f-04-for-givi-hepco-becker-krauser-topcases
My wife likes to ride sometimes and she likes something to lean against.
I am going to purchase a small top box (Givi).Is The SW-MOTECH rack strong enough for a passenger to lean against with a top box mounted to it?

[BockinBboy]

I have the SW Motech Alu-Rack with a 46L Shad topcase.  The rack is a sturdy piece of equipment in itself.  It directly takes the mount for the rear grab bar, so it is as strong as that mount for the grab bar is.  My fiance rides with me, and she has leaned against it; however, she much prefers to lean forward to push on the tank... not because she doesn't trust it, but because she doesn't like to slide forward on stops... so she really doesn't use it for leaning much at all.  You can see a little bit of movement downward if you push down on the case hard with it loaded, but I haven't really checked by pushing backward since she doesn't use it for that.   

- Bboy

[gsJack]

Don't bet your life on that frame crossmember where the grab handle mounts, it's quite flimsy.  I mounted a small Givi E33 case on a Suzuki luggage rack and a week later the rider behind me told me it was bouncing up and down.  The crossmember was cracking already so I added some bracing and it's been solid as a rock for 9 years and 80k additional miles so far.  Suzuki dropped that rack quickly and no doubt that was the reason.



That SW-MOTECH rack looks OK to me, I looked into it years ago and it is a 4 point mount not counting on the frame cross member to hold it alone.  Seems it's made of spring steel and rugged enough, a couple came down from New England to our annual get together in Maggie Valley, NC on a  B12 with one and when he took off fast she went way back but they did a lot of clowning around.

Those look like cast risers and I don't know anything about them but I used the GenMar risers that go 1" up and 1 3/8" back and are machined from bar stock.  That moves them back so the front cap bolt goes all the way thru into the fork top plate and you could do handstands on them without them failing I think.  Anyway they were on both my 97 & 02 GSs for 150-160k total miles so far.

[adidasguy]

The Motech mounts in place of the grab bar and the extra bracket further in. I have that rack. It is quite strong mounted at 4 points. I even ride with bowling balls in there. No problems after nearly 3 years.

Rack without the Bags Connection soft case:

[codajastal]

The Motech mounts in place of the grab bar and the extra bracket further in. I have that rack. It is quite strong mounted at 4 points. I even ride with bowling balls in there. No problems after nearly 3 years.

Rack without the Bags Connection soft case:

So would that rack mount on a 90 model GSE?

[adidasguy]

Don't know. I'm sure they have one for the 89-00. I have other racks around but I forget what they are. I know Rentec makes one. Trey had that. It was more generic type, not one with the universal 3 hole thingies for thing-a-ma-bobs.

[gsJack]

The current SW_MOTECH rack is listed for (Suzuki GS500E, '05- / GS500F, '04-) so it must also fit the 01-02 models with the same rear end.  But they used to have a different model for 89-00 GSs with the older style rears and it's not listed anymore at Twisted Throttle.  Would have to check with dealer to see if it's still available.

[philp38]

I installed the risers last night and noticed the brake hose wasn't long enough. I disconnected it from the top holder. I tried pushing the rubber grommet down on the hose with no luck so that I could line it up with the holder. With the brake line out it doesn't look like it would bother anything. The brake line bracket mounted to the fork looks like it is removable. Any suggestions?

[gsJack]

The hose just slipped thru the top holder on my naked GSs, don't know if the F models are the same though.  On both the 97 and 02 GSs I pulled the hose out of the midway holder at the top of the fork slider and slid it down on the hose to remove the slack between the bracket and the wheel cylinder and that gave me enough slack for my 1 3/8" rearward movement of the bars.  I also found the grommet to be bonded to the hose but noticed it had a split across it at one point so I managed to peel it off and slide it down.  I put it back in the bracket and it's been there for 10 years and 90k+ miles so I guess it worked out OK.

Another point worth mentioning was I discovered a couple days after putting the risers on the first GS that the hot engine would race away at full right lock in parking maneuvers.  The choke cable was routed around the left fork tube so it would pull the choke circuits open turning right.  I rerouted it behind the fork tube, maybe not a problem with your 1" movement back of the bars.

[philp38]

gsjack...I just looked again...Your right there is a split in the grommet. I just did the same thing you did. Thanks for the reply.

[MNgs500]

dang i had some risers i could have sold you i took mine off i like the more aggressive stance

[Twisted]

dang i had some risers i could have sold you i took mine off i like the more aggressive stance

The more aggressive stance of a stock GS???

[philp38]

I adjusted my chain per the manual and also read some threads on this forum. I notice that when it's adjusted on the sidestand at around 1 and a half inches (tightest spot in chain). When I sit on the bike I'm 185lbs the chain is tight all the way around the sprocket. I have the rear shock set at number 4. There seems to be very little sag when I am seated on the bike. I'm going to go loosen the chain another inch and check it again while I'm seated. I figure I have to have at least a half inch play while seated. Am I correct in assuming this?

[fetor56]

1/2" minimum(sitting on it) doesn't seem enough to me......1",yes(just in-case u hit a large bump,or with a pillion)