So, I'm not sure why I even bought a crotch rocket to be honest... I'm an idiot for letting the dealer talk me into it. I originally just wanted a cheap 250cc cruiser as my first bike but I got talked into a 500cc gs like a sucker... It's a good bike, runs great, easy to work on, awesome fuel economy... Anyways, I absolutely hate the seating position and having to lean forward. Yes, I can grip the tank with my legs and use my feet to support myself and sit upright but I can only cruise down straight-aways like that and it seriously compromises my ability to handle the bike since the handlebars are so far away at that point. So, rather than selling it since I bought it new, I'm going to try to turn it into a cruiser-style seating position as much as possible. Other than barbacks and having the seat reupholstered to alter its shape a little, what else is there to a job like this? The barbacks seem pretty simple and easy to install, they claim there will be plenty of cable slack so buying longer cables shouldn't be an issue but I wouldn't know, I haven't performed the job yet so I kinda wanted the opinions of others who have either done this or considered it themselves. I figured a good upholstery shop could shave the seat down and fabricate it in such a way that will go along with the new handlebar positioning. I'm not sure what else could be done...
Are you serious?
The GS, a crotch rocket? :laugh:
Seriously though, getting some different handlebars is the easiest thing you can do, and probably the only affordable thing. Changing around the footpegs, modifying the seat, and messing with the forks will all be considerably more involved. To truly "cruiser-fy" the GS you'd need to change the bars, get some forward mounted footpegs, and change out the whole front end to get a shallower rake. Selling the bike, taking the depreciation hit, and buying something else would probaby be cheaper.
jeff
You can turn it into an E model that would at least get rid of the front cowling. Then install the suzuki case guards and install highway pegs on those. For your seat you can try several places like www.corbin.com or www.sargentcycle.com. Then like you said put handlebars that come back to you a bit more. And that should give you a more relaxed riding position for crusiing.
Jeff P hit it on the head tho sell the bike and get cruiser would be better maybe. After you pay for all the stuff you would need to convert. Just depends on how much you want to change.
I thought you were selling the bike to buy a couple of new vehicles and save up for a house? I think that's a better plan thant trying to convert it into a cruiser. :icon_rolleyes:
C.
Some theories about how to make a GS chopper:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=21204
Someone did this, I guess, at gs500e.co.uk:
http://www.gs500e.co.uk/albums/Snapshots/100_1222_002.jpg
Regarding buying a cruiser:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=12481.0
Quote from: chrisalberts on June 14, 2006, 10:21:58 AM
I thought you were selling the bike to buy a couple of new vehicles and save up for a house? I think that's a better plan thant trying to convert it into a cruiser. :icon_rolleyes:
C.
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... you're poking holes in the story's plot!
Yeah, I've thought about it both ways... Thinking about it more though, I could most likely get half of what I paid for it at most since I rode it off the showroom floor and for a couple hundred bucks I could modify it into something I can actually cruise with.. so I mean, I could sell it for $3k or so and then just go buy a used cruiser for around that price or maybe a little less... even if it was less, i wouldn't be making back anything worth a crap.
jeff, blue- I appreciate all the helpful info, definately more that I can do than I thought.
It is still a crotch rocket to me... I'm short so I have to lean forward considerably. I don't have that "upright seating position" that many of you say the GS has...
footpegs and the like I'm not too worried about, it's just my back that gets sore from crouching/leaning forwards and then my arms and hands that get sore if I use them to relieve pressure from my back... then, like I mentioned in my original post, gripping the tank with my legs and sitting up seriously compromises my ability to handle the bike if I had to make any quick maneuvers.
Chuck - lol at that second image and thanks for the links.. you guys have definately given me more to think about. I appreciate it.
Quote from: Jeff P on June 14, 2006, 10:05:08 AM
To truly "cruiser-fy" the GS you'd need to change the bars
Cruiser-fy or Cruicify :laugh:
Barbacks? Are those like the Gen-Mar risers?
Another consideration would be to change handlebars, which are $15-20. Bikemaster Daytona, bend G bars come to mind, since I have those and they are quite the upright bars. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23557.msg240096#msg240096
See avatar. <----
Sag the rear end by reducing the preload on the rear shock. Go to the smallest rear tire 130/70. Slide the forks down through the triples, raising the front end, and go to a 110/80 front tire.
What kind of springs do you have in the forks? Add some more preload to those to help raise the front end, but stay within reason; bike sag alone should be around 1 inch, and rider sag should be around 1.4 inches. See: www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm
Quote from: phire on June 14, 2006, 11:15:42 AM
it's just my back that gets sore from crouching/leaning forwards and then my arms and hands that get sore if I use them to relieve pressure from my back... then, like I mentioned in my original post, gripping the tank with my legs and sitting up seriously compromises my ability to handle the bike if I had to make any quick maneuvers.
This paragraph leads me to believe you are leaned forward into a racier-than-normal position, and can actually ride in the upright/"normal" position just fine, you just aren't accustomed to it, and feel at a disadvantage while trying it.
start with shifting the stock bars back alittle, Gen-Mar does make bar risers to help as well. perhaps nipping some foam out of the crotch of the seat might help a tad. the GS is a general purpose bike with a sport edge, but while its not a "Cruiser" it certainly isnt a "Crotch Rocket" or SPort bike if you will. there are plenty of short riders on here that can help give you idea's to better "Personalize" your ride to your flavor of enjoyment. while 250's are ok, and run good, they are quiickly out grown with alittle skill.
I agree the gs is not a crotch rocket, but I didn't care for the seating position either.
I built my own bar riser out of 1" square stock. I played with it and got max rise and aft without having to change the cables. I have moved them back 1.5 " and up 2". I like it much better.
I put a 24" long 1" pipe behind the fame just above the front motor mount, for cruising pegs. To check it out I just wired it on and used a little duct tape too. I can drill 4 holes in the pipe and get two 1" square U bolts to make it semi permanent if I like it. I don't feel very secure with my foot away from the break. On long rides it is my left knee that bothers me, and I can ride with just that foot forward.
Will
01 gs 500
Please Please dont do it. My GS is crying right now.
. . . cowering in the corner scared of having "the chop"
You'll find out that with higher, swept back cruiser bars, you will have much less control than you do with it stock. If you put highway pegs on, you will not have any control either. You get control with you feet underneath you. You control the bike by weighting and unweighting the footpegs, and holding the bike with your knees. I don't know who is trying to get you to ride a cruiser, but they are wrong about the control positions like the handlebars and footpegs.
Unless you are joking with this thread.
Cruisers are for dorks.
heh I don't care if they're for dorks or not, it's -extremely- uncomfortable to ride for any considerable length of time. Gripping the tank with my knees gets annoying as all hell after awhile. Given my stature, the GS is a fun bike to make short trips with around town but for any long-distance ride that isn't at least 75mph (wind resistance to help relieve pressure off the palms of your hand) sucks. I'd love to be able to ride for hours and hours but getting stiff and sore so quickly ruins all the fun for me.
Mk1inCali - Nah, trust me I've scooted as close to the tank as possible and as far away, tried every combo imaginable, in order for me to ride upright and be comfortable, I'm only able to grab one handle bar with my fingers. Perhaps if I were taller it'd work out better but I'm not.. :(
scratch, mclard, blueknyt, thanks for the information... I think I'm armed with enough of it to go out and customize my bike to fit me better.. :D
Floorboards 8)
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Why do you think you could only get $3K out of it? I have an '05 with 5K miles that I've had for a year and think I'll get nearly $4K for it, a loss of about $1300. I'd sell it and start over. Lesson learned, I guess.
Dave
Shouldn't you be obligated to sell your bike after the tongue-lashing we got for suggesting it might not be the best idea?
well i think that a cruser gs is just about as crazy an idea as my gsxr tires but they work for me but to make a comfortable cruser out of your bike you should take a good look at the vulcan 500 and find a friend with a welder . drop your seaking position a couple of inches get some new plastics made or some crome parts or some sidecovers you and your welding friend made after you seating is farther down it will seem farther back and you can streatch your arms out and grab the bars. make some new handlebars there is no end to what you could do but time and money have fun but think of the worst conditions or riding your bike could be in before you change anything make sure you will be comfortable enough to rideout whatever comes along
How tall are you?
Quote from: Egaeus on June 14, 2006, 09:13:05 PM
Shouldn't you be obligated to sell your bike after the tongue-lashing we got for suggesting it might not be the best idea?
If it were only that simple... You got a tongue-lashing because of your attitude; not because of your advice. Nothing I despise more than someone just wanting some advice and instead getting the 3rd degree by people.
Mk1- A shade shy of 5'8".
cowboydave- I've thought about that, too, but... I just don't know yet if I can come out on top this way. I mean, coming out "on top" isn't going to be very likely, but if I'm just going to be in the hole even more then it isn't worth it to me to sell and buy another bike... I figured if I could just modify my GS for a couple hundred or less, I could keep it and still have fun riding it. $4,000 I'd sell it for if someone offered me that, $3,000 I'd have to turn it down.. hehe see where I'm coming from? It aint like I'm selling a high priced car and taking $1,000 less wouldn't matter. I dunno, still keeping my options open I suppose, but just trying to have clear direction once I make a final decision.
And before any of you jump on him about you been 5'8" and the GS fitting you right just take into consideration, height is only one part of how a bike fits you, remeber you've got to take into consideration length of arms length of legs, weight. All sorts of things.
I say go for it at least you can say you've tried it and if it didn't work so what a few 100 bucks is better than a large loss. Im not been mean but im guessing you have quite short arms and thus to reach the bars comfortably for alot of control you are having to lean forward and not able to sit upright, thus all the weight goes on your wrists. If this is the problem some new handlebars may help, also i had a whacky idea for some foot rests, fit engine pars to protect the casings and mount some foot rests off of that :icon_mrgreen:
There are a lot of members here who have not liked the riding position of the gs, and raised and moved back their handle bars. It is easy and makes a big difference.
The gs is a standard bike with a little lean toward the sports bike instead of toward the cruiser. It is not practical to make it as comfortable as a cruiser. You would have to change the handle bar position, foot peg position, get more low end torque in the engine, and rake the front forks. In doing all this you would loose a lot of performance. Where the gs shine is in its compromise. It is not as comfortable as most cruiser but it has much better performance. It doesn't perform as well as most sports bike but it has more comfort.
It is a sliding scale. Most members here who like to mod their bikes go the other way and make it more of a sport bike.
If you truly just want to cruise you probably should try and get a different bike, but if you are willing to sacrifice a little comfort, you gain some great performance.
I used to have a Vulcan 750 it was a great cruiser but the gs is far more fun, even with my bars raised.
g6
Buy a Harley, evidently that's what you really want.
You make it sound so easy.
If I could afford a Harley I wouldn't have a GS.
I wouldn't have a Harley either, but that's cos I don't like them.
Quote from: My Name Is Dave on June 14, 2006, 09:04:38 PM
Why do you think you could only get $3K out of it? I have an '05 with 5K miles that I've had for a year and think I'll get nearly $4K for it, a loss of about $1300. I'd sell it and start over. Lesson learned, I guess.
Dave
Exactly.... sell it and get a different bike.
Hi all,
This whole link got me thinking, what about converting my 1992 Honda Accord station wagon into a Porsche 933?
If it's under a few hundred bucks, I'm doing it!
Best wishes,
Todd
P.S. OK, that was sarcasm. :) My advice, if the bike isn't what you want it to be, sell it and find something you like better. But next time, buy what you want, not what a dealer wants you to buy. Try lots of different bikes. Sit on them. Feel them. Listen to your heart and brain. Best of luck -- you'll be happy you got what you really want.
You just need two bikes. A cruiser, and a sport bike.
And Im not saying this to be a prick, but more for u to think about:
Why would you want to sink more money into the GS, (already unhappy about paying for it new) to do a half-ass job converting it to an even more uncomfortable ride. The only way to make the GS a full cruiser is to just swap the motor into a new frame of a cruiser. Everything else seems like its going to make the bike handle like crap. I mean if you put "a few 100 bucks" ( which will really be alot more ) into the bike and still dont like it, now ur out more than what u paid, and it all mungerd up so no one wants to by a 1/2 GS, 1/2 cruiser.
You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig. I think the best thing to do economically is to sell the GS, and buy a bike your comfortable with. I think the best thing to do IMO, is to keep the GS, ride it like u stole it so your not thinking about your wrists when ur on it. and also get a cruiser for some easy ridin.
Did you look up what your bike was worth on www.kellybluebook.com ? I think the going price for a 05 is $3830.00 at leas that is what is listed. Try asking for 4K and see what happens if you don't get any takers then figure out if your going to make it into a cruiser or not.
I don't find term crotchrocket offensive at all. We should just all sit in a circle holding hands singing Kumbha ya my lord. . . ( or however you spell it ). And stop being mean because someone has a different view of what direction they want to take their bike.
And that topic has been (http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/dlchris1/cheeburga.gif)
Did you call me "cowboy dave"?
Quote from: My Name Is Dave on June 15, 2006, 10:25:13 AM
Did you call me "cowboy dave"?
I assume he meant him:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?action=profile;u=4903
Quote from: Chuck on June 15, 2006, 10:28:24 AM
Quote from: My Name Is Dave on June 15, 2006, 10:25:13 AM
Did you call me "cowboy dave"?
I assume he meant him:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?action=profile;u=4903
Right right, I just got lost. He mentioned him and then discussed my post. I get it now.
Dave
Sell it and buy a Honda Rebel shorty :icon_lol:
I'm tall (especially for a girl, 5'10") and felt uncomfortable on the GS until I installed Genmar bar risers. I have real short arms for my height and the bars just seemed too far away until I put the risers on. It's a lot more comfortable now.
The only problem I had on the install was I had to reroute the choke cable or it would bind up and pull the choke open when I turned the bars.
It may be cheaper to try something like the Genmars first before getting rid of the bike.
Personally, I LOATHE the "feet out in front of you" position of cruisers. I don't understand how people can stay balanced on them - I've sat on them and felt like a turtle on my back every time.
But if that's truly more comfortable for you I'd sell the GS and get what you would rather have. Don't wreck the GS by turning into something it's not.
LQ
Yeah, I've looked up what it's worth on kbb and given the fact that it has a small scuff on the crankcase cover, a scratch on one of the right fairing decals, barend, mirror scuffed on the side a tad as well as the turn signal from the wife trying to move it by herself. She was trying to be nice and not bother me but oh well, $hit happens. So, that's the main reason I don't think I could get full asking price for it. I've priced the decals and other parts to return it to a never-dropped look and the costs far exceed any real benefit. If I spent the money replacing the parts, I could ask more for it but... I'd still be that much in the hole.
Also, I should mention that I'm happy with where the footpegs are and everything else, it's just my arms that get cramped very easily on the GS. Sure, I'd love to have a Harley, but I'm in no hurry to get rid of the GS. It's a great bike and it was designed very well. Some people can cruise for hours without a problem on it and some can't. Unfortuntely, I'm one of the ones that can't. I don't even really mind the seat itself, when I mentioned having the seat reupholstered, I was more talking about having the angle I sat on it altered and not so much the softness of the fabric. If a different bar and/or a riser wasn't quite enough, I'd try it or a number of other things these helpful guys have mentioned. I don't really want to alter the entire bike, just enough to make me sit upright so I can relieve the pressure from my arms.
bargovic- I will all in good time my friend. :) It'll be quite a few years before I'm able to buy another bike, though so I figure a couple hundred bucks making some slight mods would serve me better for the time being. Once I ever do get around to buying a cruiser for easy-riding, I can always reverse the GS back to its stock position. I don't plan on spending more than a couple hundred bucks.
This could also be just a technique flaw as well, but I don't think so... I've spent the past 2,000 miles sitting every which way and leaning at a different angle, etc to no avail. Only thing that really works is to almost hug the tank and I can't be riding around like that. :laugh:
Quote from: phire on June 16, 2006, 11:15:55 AM
I don't really want to alter the entire bike, just enough to make me sit upright so I can relieve the pressure from my arms.
This is what makes me think it's a technique flaw. I think you're putting too much weight on the bars. You should be supporting yourself with your torso and legs, not your arms. Your hands should feel light on the bars with just enough pressure to operate the controls. The GS is an upright standard with the stock controls. You shouldn't be hunched forward very much and your elbows shouldn't be locked.
Why don't you stick the bike on the centerstand and get some pictures of your riding position?
Well, I don't really have any standard riding position, I'm always shifting around to stay comfortable. My elbows aren't locked, I found out that causes more problems a long time ago. I have to hunch a bit in order to unlock them while still keeping a good handle on the controls, though. If I grip the tank with my legs and use my feet to upright me a couple inches, that works and I'm able to just lightly hold onto the handlebars like you should, but then keeping those muscles constantly flexed gets annoying after awhile. I've even tried using padded gloves with what I thought was good insulation but that didn't make any difference. I currently sit as close to the tank as possible which of course gives me the shortest distance from the handlebars. I really think though that if I just get some bar risers or whatever the official term is and/or some handlebars it may just be enough to give me a perfect fit. (If not, this thread is full of other ideas.)