Thinking about buying a GS

[EXSVrider]

Hi everyone.  I've been lurking here for the past week or so and finally decided to post.  As my handle implies, I rode an '02 SVS for just over a year, but recently sold it .  I am thinking about buying a '02 GS500, and was wondering if you guys had any input.  My worst fear is that it will be too underpowered so the first things I plan to do are rejet, K&N, exhaust, and go to a 15 tooth front - will this be enough?

Specific questions I have are: are the GS and SV's headlights interchangeable?  I read in one of the older postings that a slip on for a SV will fit the GS - any truth to that?  If I do go with a V&H supersport full system, any ideas as to wieght savings?  Is there any specific web page dedicated to rejetting the GS?  Anyone here in TX know what size jets work best?  Does anyone sell a fender eliminator for the GS cheap?

I'm sorry for so many questions, it's just that I've never ridden  a GS before, hell, I've only seen two within a hundred miles of where I live.

Thanks in advance.

[96gs]

http://pantablo500.tripod.com/. That place has alot of info on GS upgrades. There aren't and fender elimators on the market that I know of but I suggest just do a fenderectomy, and a reflectorectomy. There are two (?) people on here that have gotten into the 60 horsepower range and one who's even got a turbocharger. But what you mentioned should be enough. Oh, and welcome to the board and good luck on your buy.    

[GRU]

even after all those mods on the GS, the SV will be faster but GS is still a cool bike...
i did my rejjet, K&N pod and GSXR can and it runs and sound a lot better

[Adam R]

The GS handles well and is easy to work on, but it is also painfully slow.  This isn't so much an issue if you have real twisty mountain roads available to you, but if you plan to do track days, well, be preppared to get blown away on the straights.  Piping and jetting will help, but 43-46hp is about the max I think you can get from a stock motor GS - and superbike mods probably won't get you too much beyond that point anyway without sinking alot of money into the project.  

I've never ridden an SV650 so I don't know how to compare the two, but I did have a CBR600 F1 for a couple years with about 75hp and that pulled much stronger than the GS.  

Adam

[JamesG]

An SV does have more power and much more torque than a GS. You will miss it.
BUT
Handling wise, the are both very similar. Both light and quick. About the only thing the SV has on the GS in this dept is a slightly better fork.

I've owned an SV, and currently own a YZF, but I still love to ride my wife's GS.  Gear it down, stick a pipe on it, and you can rumble and scream around town and thru whatever corners you can find and still be at (nearly) legal speeds. It makes an excellent city/commuter bike.  With me on it, it is the little red menace of Columbus GA.
:mrgreen:

[jlfrench]

if at all humanly possible, get a test drive first.  The difference between the two bikes is pretty significant and depending on what your looking for in a ride, you could come out of this dissapointed.  I would offer you a ride on mine since I've a GS and a SV co-habitating my garage right now, but you're prob a little far for all that.

[GRU]

43-46 HP engine? i though the GS enigne makes about 50 HP at the crank and about 40 to the rear wheel?

[Craig]

I am going the opposite way...selling my GS to buy an SV, but I do wish I could keep both. The GS is a GREAT bike. Once I can afford it, I will buy yet another. At any rate, welcome to the board.


Regarding hte fender eliminator - dont waste your money on a kit. You can do it yourself quite simply. Check out the modifications page (Fenderectomy) for a quick, easy do it yourself fender elimination. I made a few mods to this when I did it on my GS, if you re interested drp me a PM.

[glenn9171]

43-46 HP engine? i though the GS enigne makes about 50 HP at the crank and about 40 to the rear wheel?

Yep.  That's what he was referring to.  Stock = about 40 HP at the rear wheel.  With jetting and pipe, you can expect about 43-46 at the wheel.

[EXSVrider]

Thanks for all the input!  I mostly ride in city ( a small city approx 145,000 people ) and only occasionally ride any great distance ( 100 miles or so ).  I think I'm making the right choice here, on my SVS everyone always ragged me for having a "small bike" and my response was always the same: My SV has more than enough power to keep scaring me on occasion... since I rarely used all the power I had, I don't think the GS will be that bad - probable even help me become a better rider.

So, for those who have done the 15 tooth front sprocket - what kind of gains in acceleration did you feel?  Was it worth it?

Also, my dealer told me the only exhaust they found for a GS was a F1, and no offense to anyone who runs that pipe, but I've never thought all that highly of them.  Who else other than V&H and F1 make pipes for this thing?  Possibly more important - will an SV slip-on work w/the GS?

I'm sorry for all the questions, but do appreciate the help.

[pantablo]

... more than enough power to keep scaring me on occasion... probable even help me become a better rider.

My first instinct was to say that you'd be disappointed in the GS after the Sv but..based on what you said here seems you've got the right attitude for the GS (fast enough, quick in the corners, nimble around town). You'll have to get used to higher revving motor as this baby isn't happy until you get from 7-9.5k rpm with it still pulling into 10.5k rpm. When I rode an SV I didn't like the lazy character of the lower revving motor.

Who else other than V&H and F1 make pipes for this thing?

You'll be disappointed with the [lack of] aftermarket for the GS-there isn't any. Most folks make their own stuff. My page has lots of info on stuff I've done to mine, including a fender job. As far as pipes, V&H is the only company currently manufacturing a pipe for the GS but if you luck out and are persistent (ebay) you can find a yoshimura (holy grail), Hindle, etc. Or you can pay $800 (you'd be used to that with the SV, now wouldn't you) and get a Remus, Laser, etc from UK..where there is more aftermarket for the GS.

Welcome to the site.
The F1 is mostly for sound...no real hp benefit anyway.

[JamesG]

The GS's collector is 2" in diameter. So any stright thru race can with that size connector will fit.

[pizzleboy]

You can always try this mod
<----------