My new 2011 GS500F

froidy · May 26, 2017, 04:56:14 AM

Hi guys,

I want to start by saying what a great forum and wealth of information this is. Thanks to GStwin, Adidasguy (RIP) & GS500F Riders Facebook page.

Loving the bike so far. I have a full license but am a beginner on road bikes. I've always ridden road trails in the past (XR250R & WR450F)

It's great having a bike that the average person can work on easily (with the Haynes manual in hand)

I've only put a thousand kilometers on the clock so far but am already modding it. I love that s.h.i.t.

Got some new mirrors, turn signals, taken off the passenger grab bar and warning stickers, trimmed the rear fender and put a brighter front headlight bulb in.

Ordered some new levers, bar ends, grips and pegs. Keen to get those on.

The Zero Gravity windscreen came with the bike. 12,000kms, one owner, always garaged, 2011, $3500AUD, pretty decent deal really.

I've got new tyres going on in a couple of days (Michelin Pilot Street Radials)

Front suspension (sonic springs) and Rear suspension (R6 shock) are going in next.

Then possibly look at a K&N lunchbox, a new pipe and a re-jet. See how I go on that score.

I'm enjoying this bike immensely and am happy with the power.

Cheers guys and thanks again, any further info and comments are always appreciated

Leigh

P.S. I'd love to add a Adidas sticker to my bike somewhere to honour a legend that has helped us all so much, even if he doesn't know it

First images are of the bike stock and then some basic modifications that I have done.

EDIT: For some reason, it's not letting me post all my pics. Maybe it's because it's my first post. I'll try again a bit later. It's looking much better than this first pic now haha.

Bluesmudge · May 26, 2017, 08:18:10 AM

Nice looking bike. Very cool that they still imported GS500Fs into Australia in 2011. USA got our last model year in 2009.

Watcher · May 26, 2017, 09:11:00 AM

Welcome, and nice looking bike!

Glad you're enjoying it so far, you should consider participating in the "GS500 Picture Game" topic!

ShowBizWolf · May 26, 2017, 09:35:05 AM

Yes I agree! Picture game ftw

Glad to have ya here Leigh!

What kind of pegs did ya get? And I have a Pilot Street on the front of my GS... love it so far!

froidy · May 27, 2017, 11:40:46 PM

froidy · May 27, 2017, 11:43:29 PM

1018cc · May 27, 2017, 11:54:58 PM

Nice looking bike. Very tidy example and in much better condition than mine. It always amazes me how people can find low km examples for pretty cheap of just about any motorbike.

I run pilot streets both front and rear (in stock sizes) and found the wear rate to be very good (the PO put them on and ran around on them a bit and I've put another 12,000kms on them so far). They do get quite squirrelly towards the edges of the tyre which I find doesn't inspire that much confidence. Having said that though, they still stick fine, they just seem to move around a bit.

froidy · May 28, 2017, 12:57:35 AM

froidy · May 28, 2017, 12:59:39 AM

froidy · May 28, 2017, 01:00:12 AM

froidy · May 28, 2017, 01:05:39 AM

Quote from: Bluesmudge on May 26, 2017, 08:18:10 AM
Nice looking bike. Very cool that they still imported GS500Fs into Australia in 2011. USA got our last model year in 2009.

I know, it was a 2011 model but purchased from the dealer brand new in 2012. Great to see they are still coming out

froidy · May 28, 2017, 01:07:59 AM

Quote from: ShowBizWolf on May 26, 2017, 09:35:05 AM
Yes I agree! Picture game ftw

Glad to have ya here Leigh!

What kind of pegs did ya get? And I have a Pilot Street on the front of my GS... love it so far!

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!
ShowBizWolf, I got these off ebay. They may take a small amount of grinding but they should go on okay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231362839665?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=530625778660&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

ShowBizWolf · May 28, 2017, 08:20:11 AM

They look like they will mount similar to how the ones in the wiki do. Very nice!!! I just switched to some aftermarket pegs as well

Do those mirrors have signals in them? I've always thought that was a cool idea!

froidy · May 28, 2017, 09:11:01 PM

Yes they do, I haven't worked out how to wire them in yet. Thought I'd try them out first.
First ride with them this morning. They don't have as wide a reach as the stockers and so I have to move my elbow in a little to see properly from time to time. Also, they seem to have more vibration which could be fixed with some foam or rubber. I also had one move on me from the wind when doing about 130km/ph. I may be going back to the stockers and selling these ones off. I'll have another play with positioning, tightening and vibration mounts first. Will keep you all posted!

Oh and I got the Michelin Pilot Streets on this morning. So far, feels much nicer on the road. Obviously I'll be taking it easy for a bit until they bed in. Does anyone know roughly how many kms that it? The old Bridgestones didn't have a lot of wear but had been on the bike so long, they had started to go hard. Can't wait to get more saddle time with the pilots!

Also picked up some oil, oil filter, air filter and chain lube so I'll be getting to know the big girl better over the next few weeks and giving her a bit of a birthday

Watcher · May 29, 2017, 12:02:14 AM

Quote from: froidy on May 28, 2017, 09:11:01 PM
Oh and I got the Michelin Pilot Streets on this morning. So far, feels much nicer on the road. Obviously I'll be taking it easy for a bit until they bed in. Does anyone know roughly how many kms that it?

Modern tire compounds and manufacturing techniques means that they don't really need to be "scrubbed in" to get grip; they don't use a mold release anymore so the tires aren't really slippery when new, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take it easy at first while you learn the tires. Easily the biggest danger is a rider not used to how a different tire "feels" and pushing too hard.
Fresh on the wheel you probably have 90% grip, once you get them up to temperature the first time and get some texture on the surface you're done. Call it an hour's casual ride through some twists and turns.
If you want to be safe, a tank of gas will more than do the job.

Quote from: froidy on May 28, 2017, 09:11:01 PM
Also picked up some oil, oil filter, air filter and chain lube so I'll be getting to know the big girl better over the next few weeks and giving her a bit of a birthday

Be careful with the filter cover nuts. Stripped studs are a common plague for GS owners. If you don't have an inch-pound torque wrench just use a 1/4" drive ratchet and PALM it while you SNUG the nuts.

Also, don't trust the markings on the swingarm to properly align the chain when adjusting it. You should pick up a chain alignment tool at some point in the near future.

froidy · May 29, 2017, 04:55:54 AM

Got the oil filter change done. Thank god for this forum or else I definitely would have overtightened the oil cover nuts and busted the studs lol. Few pics while the fairing was off. Looks like such an older bike! Also a pic from in the shop today getting tyres done and some close ups of the Michelin Pilot Streets. Cheers guys for the advice, I really appreciate it. Loving that I'm not that mechanically inclined but can still work on this bike