Possible GS500F owner

[anoopb]

Congrats on the bike!! Yes indeed it does look very clean!! 

Yes yes take the safety course... I took the one my state offers and I would take it again if it wasn't so hard to fit in around my shift schedule at work. They also have a more advanced one that I'd like to take... you can never learn too much!

I just recently put a bigger rear tire on my bike... got a 140/80 and I love it. Here is a good read about tires from the wiki:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.Tires

Update us on all ya do and don't forget the pics 

speaking of pics. do you have any of the new bigger tire? I'm intrigued by this. New rim?

[ShowBizWolf]

No different rim, no changing anything with a 140/80. I tried to upload a pic but it keeps telling me the upload folder is full. I can't get on photobucket to do it that way until I get home from work later, but I will 

[gsJack]

The preferred rim width for a 140/80-17 tire is 3.5" which is the size of the GS500 rear rim.  I've run 140/80, 150/60, and 150/70 rear tires on my GSs on the stock rim.  150/70 Roadattack tire:

[anoopb]

The preferred rim width for a 140/80-17 tire is 3.5" which is the size of the GS500 rear rim.  I've run 140/80, 150/60, and 150/70 rear tires on my GSs on the stock rim.  150/70 Roadattack tire:

that looks pretty good. you think increased stability as well?

Definitely something to think about when it's time to get new tires. My bike only has 11K miles on it but I always wondered if the tires were stock. Could they possibly be 15 years old and be ok? I wish i knew when the PO or PPO replaced them.

[Big Rich]

Tires are date coded. Check this out:

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/riding/street/resources/tiredesignations.aspx

[anoopb]

Tires are date coded. Check this out:

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/riding/street/resources/tiredesignations.aspx

great info! now i can go look this evening when i replace me broken clutch cable!

still hoping that lube tool shows up in time! i guess i could always lube it after install.

also going to clean up the front sprocket area and the chain while i'm at it. can't wait!

[Big Rich]

You can definitely lube it after it's installed. Just remember to have a rag at the other end of the cable. Don't want to just be pouring cable lube into the sprocket cover or all over the carbs. 

[ShowBizWolf]

As promised... (I had to put something over my plate in the first pic cuz the flash kept reflecting off it and making the rest of the pic too dark lol)

[anoopb]

As promised... (I had to put something over my plate in the first pic cuz the flash kept reflecting off it and making the rest of the pic too dark lol)

that's a fat tire! looks so odd! does it help with the ride at all?

[adibee]

Wow those tires look really good . I went for a ride today and man it felt good, everything went well despite a few hiccups. Got stuck uphill and man it was a pain to get it going . Another problem I feel like is I have issues shifting gears, the gears on this one really suck (Hard to shift and sometimes doesnt shift to 1 when its on neutral)
   Thanks for the amazon link I bought one . Really good deal there!

[Slack]

ShowBiz, I have to say, those rear turn signals are. . . hideous
The front of your bike looks sooooo good to have the back look all jacked up with the funky angled blinkers.
Maybe you really dig it, if so, that's cool. Just trowing my opinion out to the internet 

[ShowBizWolf]

Well I certainly do appreciate the honesty Slack! Thank you for telling me... I'm sure you're not the only one in the world who has thought this. I have gotten some complements on them but there's always room for improvement!

Throw me some suggestions as to what would be better 

[Suzuki Stevo]

ShowBiz, I have to say, those rear turn signals are. . . hideous
The front of your bike looks sooooo good to have the back look all jacked up with the funky angled blinkers.
Maybe you really dig it, if so, that's cool. Just trowing my opinion out to the internet 

Agreed the angle aspect looks a bit funky, at least they are not flush mounted little pieces of compost that are there only for the "looks". With that angle putting them up higher they are probably easyer to see in traffic, the place where you want the people around you to know your intentions 

[anoopb]

Tires are date coded. Check this out:

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/riding/street/resources/tiredesignations.aspx

3908! they're not ancient like i thought!

[ShowBizWolf]

Stevo, that was indeed my reasoning! I wanted them to be easily spotted and once I eliminated my fender there really was no other option of where to mount them.

When I bought the gixxer signals for the front fairing I got a great deal on a set of 4 so I figured what the heck I will put the other ones on the back so they all match.

[Big Rich]

I dunno anoopb.... that makes them about 7 years old. I don't know what the tire manufacturer recommends, but a lot of people consider 5 year old tires too old.

I'd replace them as soon as it is possible - new tires feel awesome.

[anoopb]

I dunno anoopb.... that makes them about 7 years old. I don't know what the tire manufacturer recommends, but a lot of people consider 5 year old tires too old.

I'd replace them as soon as it is possible - new tires feel awesome.

yeah that's a good point. it sucks that i'm going on a 900 mile trip next week over four days. perhaps after that. i haven't really got the time to replace them between now and then.