Dual sport advice

[ScottishBiker234]

Hey guys! I'm wanting to do up the GS500e to handle better off road and on dirt tracks, I'm an outdoorsy guy and a bit of an explorer, But don't have the funds for a real dual sport! So, I got a few questions, keep in mind I might sound like a tool!

- Where could I get metal box panniers from, The kind that double as crash bars?
- What kind of dual purpose tyres are good and will fit?
- How can I raise the bike and should I replace the front forks with something else?
- What kind of rear shocks would work and fit?
I'm not wanting a dirt bike. Just something I can go touring in and be able to hold my own in the wet/light dirt/loose terrain (I am in Scotland afterall!)

I'm gonna stick on some handguards and have already added front crashbars, ordered a new delkevic exhaust, K&N airfilter, 14 tooth front sprocket, DID heavy duty chain and am considering removing the center stand to fabricate myself an engine plate

Thanks guys! Again, I know this wont be a DRZ or a CRF, But I want it to hold its own as I said.
All advice and info appreciated!

John

[yamahonkawazuki]

check with northwestrider he did something close to what youre describing.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62264.0

[Janx101]

+1 on that!!

[yamahonkawazuki]

theres also a guy in britain i think did a dual sport type fork conversion on a gs. i cant remember which thread covered that. afaik he wasnt one of us.
heres something ive found
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=738523

[adidasguy]

NonFiction  did, too but I haven't heard from him since July.

[codajastal]

Buy a V-Strom........I did

[Janx101]

Buy a V-Strom........I did

you should do an Ad bro!! .. like the Jeep one  .. vlog it with a mate! .. be heaps funny!

[yamahonkawazuki]

his first like " im naked and reading your post while on my v-strom. " or work your title into it. and not explain to the youtube populace the meaning behind those words lol

[yamahonkawazuki]

something like "im naked and reading your posts, because aussie men make me tingle in my no no place, while riding my vstrom. " could go viral Eh?, then again, it could revoke your man card.

[Janx101]

Man card?!? ... We are Aussie!! ... We don't need no steenkin card!! 

[yamahonkawazuki]

Man card?!? ... We are Aussie!! ... We don't need no steenkin card!! 

Hmmm gotta have a man card. specially there. specially if bikes make you tingle in your no no place Eh?