Advice on upgrades

[nikkinix9991]

Need to know what I can do to my stock gs500 to make it faster and look better.
Not very knowledgeable, but learning as I go.

[EdChen]

Faster as in, straight line acceleration? Top speed? Faster in the corners?

Better looking as in plastics? Different graphics? Different lights? Looks are very subjective. I think a clean stock naked GS looks beautiful.

Tell us what how you want to change it to make it look better, and what faster means to you, and then we can possibly make suggestions.

[cWj]

...trade it for a Murciélago.

[Atesz792]

...trade it for a Murciélago.

aaand we have a winner!

[nikkinix9991]

I definitely want more top end speed as i mostly ride with Harleys and find it very difficult to keep up.  I am fixing the bike up because it was my husbands who died in an accident 3 months ago. I have started riding on it and will never get rid of it. I am looking to buy a Harley as well but want to put some money in the 500 too. I am going to have it painted in memory of him.
I more or less need advice on the mechanics side, as i know very little about motorcycle mechanics. Watching youtube videos and doing alot of research is broadening my knowledge a little bit.
Is it possible to switch to a bigger motor in the GS? From my research I dont think it is....
What sprockets do you recommend putting on it?

[crackin]

A GS will never keep up with a fast harley ,not in a straight line anyway. Not unless the harley rider backs off at about 120kms like they do where i ride, then at that point i just sail past them lol.
I think if you go one tooth bigger on the front i dont think the engine will have enough pull to get you anymore top speed. I went down one tooth one the front and the bike is quicker out of the gates, but not sure about top end as i dont take it over 140kms. It's a fun bike to ride but it aint never gonna be fast like a gsxr600.

[yamahonkawazuki]

my condolences ma'am. on your gs id suggest a k&n lunchbox filter and an exhaust.. followed by a rejet of carbs. this will help.  now for gearing, as he said maybe 1 tooth up on front. this might be the best youll do. will be less responsive off the line, but filter and exh. will help. or 1 tooth down. quicker off the line but 500 rpms higher at highway speed.
Aaron
being a former harley owner and authorised tech i can advise on hd as well. when you get there drop me a line.

[crackin]

So how fast do your friends ride? 140, 150kms? I dont think they would ride that fast constantly. I smash harleys in the bends. Most harleys don't handle corners well, they cant enter corners as quick (too heavy and handle bars all in the air and crap riding position) or lean over as far(foot rests hit the ground and crap riding position), or get the power down (all the afore mentioned reasons) as soon as i can. So just pass them in the corners and let them chase you down on the straights and pass them again on the next corner. I can tell you from experience that harley riders do not appreciate being passed by jap bikes let alone a GS 500.
What is the highest speed you have hit on your GS and how long did it take to get there? How old is the bike? Whats the compression like?

[Wagoneer]

Best and only things you really need:

Engine - exhaust, K&N, rejet the carbs.
Suspension - Front - Stiffer springs from sonic with 15 or 20 weight oil (depending on how heavy you are) in the front
                      Rear - Katana rear shock if you're heavier or R6 rear shock if you're lighter                 

Just those things seriously transform a GS500 from a loose commuter bike to a sweet little canyon carver (PS, it will never be a fast highway bike), and everything will cost you no more than a couple hundred bucks. Nothing over than those things will give you more value when it comes to performance.

[1034am]

not sure if you're looking to cut it up, but there's a whole community of 'cafe racers' that try to make the bike as light as possible.  chopping off the passenger part of the seat, removing the center stand, lighter muffler/battery, etc.  i like the aesthetics of it, not sure how much performance is netted.