I recently communicated with the folks at Twisted Throttle. I told them I was in the market for another Five*Stars toprack, but that there were probably enough potential customers at GStwin.com to make it worth their while to add GS500-specific items to their website. Here's most of the latest reply:
Quote from: TwistedThrottle[...] we have complete access to Five Stars and SW-MOTECH products.
SW-MOTECH recently released crashbars and an alu-rack toprack (compatible with Givi) for both the GS500E and GS500F (not yet on our website, but available via phone).
Givi also makes topracks for the various model years of the GS500E, but most are now discontinued.
Five Stars has racks for the bike as well (including a full three-case setup). We'll be adding it to our website soon. In the meantime, please call to order if you need any of the above items.
___________________________________
Erik Stephens
Twisted Throttle Ltd.
1080 Kingstown Rd, Building #4
P.O. Box 338
Peace Dale, RI 02883
401-709-9383 (phone)
707-922-7276 (fax)
info@twistedthrottle.com
http://www.twistedthrottle.com
For what it's worth....
It would have been nice if they provided some pics since they are only available via phone.
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/469/210/
(http://www.twistedthrottle.com/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/3612-350x350.jpg)
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/538/210/
(http://www.twistedthrottle.com/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/3714-350x350.jpg)
Those pics are the Krauser racks, which use Krauser bags (and not Givi). They look maybe smaller than wingracks (would have to see from the side), but probably not as small as the tubular racks like 5*stars.
I left out the part where Erik said they will be adding these items soon. Are they already up? In a previous exchange he asked if they could use some of the Five*Star pics from my website, so maybe they don't have stock photos of some of the items mounted?
I just got off the phone with Twisted Throttle and they have not posted the pictures because they don't have stock mounted pictures, but the can get all the racks. Unfortunately, they only order them every six weeks and they therefor are very slow to arrive (they are shipped via container, so its another six weeks to the US).
I was wondering if anyone as advice on whether it's worth picking up the full rack set (top&sides) which is ~$330 or if you can really get by with a large (maybe the E52?) topcase and the Givi rack. Seems like a lot to put way up in back on the GS500.... Has anyone ever located any other sources for these? I may call a friend in Germany and see if it would be faster & cheeper for them to be shipped directly from there.
This is what i found at the website
GS500E
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/101/
GS500F
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/210/
Joe :dunno:
Somebody needs to point out to them that
* Their own descriptions of the Five Stars sideracks say "The Five Stars topcarrier is sold separately and is required for installation of this sidecarrier."
* They don't list the toprack for either body style. :x [/list:u]