2004 GS500F

[KeL]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie here...  :dunno: gonna get a 2004 GS500F in april...  

Just wondering if anyone else have got this or inspected this bike yet? I'm thinking of temporarily removing the fairing and converting it to the naked style while I'm still learning/practicing in case I drop it... then put the fairing back on once i've become confident... of course i know i have to add the headlight, handlebar mounted mirrors and re-attach the signal lights... but is there anything else? think it'll be do-able?

Any opinions and comments are welcome!  

Thanks,
KeL

PS: Also have anyone owned/used a Zeus ZS-508 modular/flipup helmet before? any comments?

[Frost]

if you're going thru all that trouble...why not just buy a GS500E and then buy a fairing when you're ready for it?...

[JamesG]

No on the helmet, my wife had a Shoei Syncrotech before and liked it.

About the F-  Why don't you buy a used GS first? Get used to riding it, get your first couple of "opps" out of the way. And then get an F?


If not (you want to get new or whatever) You can probably get by by just taking the lower parts of the fairing off and leave the upper & headlight on.  This would minimize the damage from a crash or tip over and give it that street fighterish look.  Changing the whole headlight system is pretty involved. You would have to take the forks out to put the headlight brackets on and the headlight plugs may not be compatable....

[KeL]

cuz the local dealer here told me that he's not sure if i'll ever be able to get this new fairing sepately and probably costs like $1500CAD to buy and install it if it was available... he also said that the GS500E model is lacking the holes/brackets and wiring to fit the fairing on easily (cuz the fairing has 2 headlights??)

i'm not sure if he's BSing me or what... but it only costs $800CAD more to buy the faired model (comparing both 2004 models)... so i figured that might be a better route...

also, here in canada the faired version comes in black/silver but the naked only comes in blue/white (and i like black better) ...

[The Buddha]

Well The headlight plug will be pertinent to the bulb only, so the bulg you use with the naked should be like the bulb in the fairing. I recomend taking off the fairing, the tank, side covers etc and fitting on a dented tank only and riding around like that. The only liability in that case is the guage pod, and that is compatible with older ones. That makes the bike very crash resistant. Then once you are done learning put all the stuff back on. Or better yet - love the ghetto look on the bike and leave it that way.
Cool.
Srinath.

[JamesG]

You are assuming that the two different headlight assemblies use the same bulb...

[The Buddha]

I am assuming that the bulb for the new headlight will fit into some sorta reflector+bucket housing that can be fitted on the forks. Why - you know something about the new bulbs that I dont??
Cool.
Srinath.

[yamahonkawazuki]

actually ,
actually, he was going to send me the fairing :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :dunno:  

[bbanjo]

Finally. Some new, useful emoticons  

[vtlion]

seems like it would be easier to buy a mid-90's GS for a grand US or a little more, ride it for a few months to get your riding legs, then sell it to another newb and go get your GS500F.  That's what I would do.

peace.

[Cal Price]

KeL, most of us have dropped (or flipped) a bike easpecially in the early days usually when moving it a foot or two when cleaning it or parking, it is infuriating but It is wise to assume that you may do it. Fairing damage can be expensive as often the replacements can't be bought piece by piece some fairings come as all-or-nothing you really need to find that out before making your decision. You could look at crash bars perhaps but it always hits the ground somewhere where you don't want. Having said that I'm so glad I prefed "naked" bikes but it's all personal preference, your money, your choice. Good luck with it. Stay safe and be visible.

[scratch]

If not (you want to get new or whatever) You can probably get by by just taking the lower parts of the fairing off and leave the upper & headlight on.  This would minimize the damage from a crash or tip over and give it that street fighterish look.  Changing the whole headlight system is pretty involved. You would have to take the forks out to put the headlight brackets on and the headlight plugs may not be compatable....

I'll echo that, James.

Kel, it's really up to you, if you're really concerned about the fairings you'll go through the work to preserve them. Unfortuneately, you may be the first person here to get an F model, and we wont know the actual differences until you get to tell us!

[Diderich]

Sheesh..if you're going to worry about everything that *might* happen to you, motorcycles are not for you.       Get some frame sliders if you are really worried about the fairing.  You'll be fine..not everyone drops their bike, and when most newbies do they cradle it all of the way to the ground...It's not like your fiberglass is going to burst into flames like a ford pinto.  You will probably scratch the paint if you drop it and if you are unlucky, you might crack it a little bit.  I'm not trying to be mean or anything...but removing the fairing sounds like a major pain in the butt, unless you are going for the streetfighter look...   mmmmmmm...streetfighter....

However, unless the gs is your dream bike, i would get a nice cheap used bike while i learned how to ride and figured out exactly what features i liked and disliked in bikes..but i'm a dork...sooooooooo...