No doubt, the GS500 is a good bike! It meant to be a simple realiable bike that takes you from A to B. I reckon can and fork spring other simple modification is needed. :bowdown:
And no douft the modifcation are awsome :thumb:.Waned to do the front and rear end swap, wheel change, engine bore and other staff but need someone to convince me to put my hard earn money and weekends to start the project , I reckon with all that money I can get a more powerful bike like a GSX-R750 and I can also save alot of time. :icon_confused:
Anyway, I need the GS500 the get me to work and then uni nearly everyday, no time to work on it just yet.
I'm like you, I can't justify doing most mods for the $$ I'd have to put into it. It took me 2 years to get around to doing a rejet (still on stock air filter and pipe.) And I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty either. I guess most of the time I'd rather ride that modify, and fix/ do maintenance when I have to. I did do a few little inexpensive mods in the spring when I was out of work and really bored.
I guess it's nice to have something that's a little different... AFAIK no one else on here has Duc Monster mirrors (not a highly recommended mod unless you really like the look... ask me why)
The question has an obvious answer to anyone who is an enthusiast; because we want to. It's like asking, "Why buy and modify a Volkswagen, when you can just buy a Porsche?" Some people would rather have something unique, then something ultimately faster or better performing. Just my opinion though ;)
:laugh: Alright mate, point taken.
Still, don't have the time and money to start modify it yet, no doubt UNIQUE is the reason for modifying a bike.
The only reason I modified mine was to make it a tad bit faster. It's been months since I've done any modifications to it, and I'm still very happy with it's performance. I'll have this bike for a while, long as it still runs :) It's also my main mode of transport, as I hate taking the car anywhere because of traffic. So the little speed boost I got from the mods made it a great little ride for zipping around town on.
Good question Cozzy. Me thinks there are a million answers.
I have only dabbled with a few changes from stock; Flyscreen (to add a bit of wind deflection), a taller front sprocket (to let me run comfortably in 3rd at 30 MPH) and an all-LED dash (for bling and so I don't have to replace on of those dash bulbs every 8-12 months). Other mods like Progressive Springs make obvious sense.
But to do radical surgury to boost power or performance? Do it if you like to learn how or like the challenge. For me, I'd rather buy a different motorcycle life form that better fits what I'm looking for. (I'm probably lazy, but seems to be the easier route.)
A few of my mods were just for apperance or because I wanted to mod it. Then theres performance mods to make the bike a little bit more comfortable & fun to ride.
BTW I also usually mod the crap out of my cars as well so maybe it's a sickness. :cookoo:
Most of my mods were simply to correct the items that Suzuki cheaped out on from the factory. Suspension, lean jetting, ugly F model fairings, odd design lines, rear wheel.
meh, what else ya gunna do when your bored, its as good as an excuse as any to not to talk to the girlfriend :D
Quote from: hmmmnz on October 07, 2006, 06:32:38 PM
meh, what else ya gunna do when your bored
Ride? I'd rather ride than tinker! :icon_mrgreen:
lol, yep, what about when its dark, or raining , or snowing, or american idle is on tv. there is always time to tinker, and you can't ride 24 hours a day.
just my oppinion of course, and i do spend more time riding than modding, but i think its quite therapeutic working on bikes. :D
Front Springs - because the original ones are crap and nbot up to the task for even normal riding. Aids performance!
Exhaust - Because the stock one is too restrictive and not loud enough for many's tates. Aids performance!
Air intake - Too restrictive and too quiet. Aids performance!
Jets - Current ones are too lean and plus this needs to be done if you improve the exhaust or intake.
Fenderectomy - Pure Squid and slight weight saving. No other reason.
ME I MOD. EVERY THING JUST BECAUSE. IF THE FACTORY WOULD HAVE ASKED ME THE RIGHT WAY TO BUILD IT THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE TO FIX IT AND I JUST LOVE MAKING THINGS ALL MINE :thumb: :cheers:
I've been saving this little tidbit on my harddrive for a long time:
Did you buy the bike solely for the reason of modifying it? If modifications are the motivation for purchasing a bike, wouldn't you purchase a bike that has a large aftermarket for it? Or, are you into the "challenge" of modifying, or finding modifications for a given bike?
Ij7
Quote from: hmmmnz on October 07, 2006, 06:32:38 PM
meh, what else ya gunna do when your bored, its as good as an excuse as any to not to talk to the girlfriend :D
All I can say is, "Good think your GF doesn't review your posts in this forum." :)
guys i am confirmed my bike is half a lemmon, should i start to modify it or save up for another bike.
what to built a unique bike, but not sure if i have the determination to carry on the projects.
if I start the projcet i want to do it properly.
1. twin disk front fork.
2. a better swing arm, thinking about a single side.
3. bore the engine, exhaust and jet kit.
4. rear set.
5. overhaul the electric wiring, re-wire the whole bike.
6. kill the rust on the frame.
7. upgrade the cooling system
anyway, I need the get another bike for sure, if i start the project i will get a crappy bike to ride around, if i don't i will sell my GS and buy a better bike.
It a chemical inbalance I'm sure of it... :cookoo:
Well in my case anyway...
If the bike were my daily driver - I would be doing very little in the way of mods. (or rebuilding... :) ) I'm the tinkering kind of person though. Major rebuild projects or modifications are a good escape for me, and they tend to make me enjoy the time I spend riding all the more. Tinkering is just something that's in your blood, I grew up knee deep in Jeep CJ parts, walking through junk yards and weilding air tools at an early age. I grew up and got an office job, now the need to work with my hands is even more. It's some odd need that you just have to do... hard to ecplain to those who aren't of the tinkering inclination...
Quote from: RiderX on November 19, 2006, 08:35:58 AM
It a chemical inbalance I'm sure of it... :cookoo:
Well in my case anyway...
If the bike were my daily driver - I would be doing very little in the way of mods. (or rebuilding... :) ) I'm the tinkering kind of person though. Major rebuild projects or modifications are a good escape for me, and they tend to make me enjoy the time I spend riding all the more. Tinkering is just something that's in your blood, I grew up knee deep in Jeep CJ parts, walking through junk yards and weilding air tools at an early age. I grew up and got an office job, now the need to work with my hands is even more. It's some odd need that you just have to do... hard to ecplain to those who aren't of the tinkering inclination...
It's not a Chemical Inbalance for me.I think it's Bipolar Disorder or Terets Syndrome or Possibly ADD.F%^@ What was I talking About? :icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol: I've only bought a couple of bikes in my Life that I haven't found a purpose for modifying.Like Riderx I love to Tinker when I get the time.I grew up a Farm Boy so I was Always Tearing into some sort of Equipment fixing or Making better. :thumb:
Most of my "mods" involve fixing broken or neglected things on the bike whilst spending a minimum of money on the precess. This pretty much rules out purchasing "standard" parts! :laugh:
Quote from: Cozzy on November 19, 2006, 08:20:25 AM
if I start the projcet i want to do it properly.
1. twin disk front fork.
2. a better swing arm, thinking about a single side.
3. bore the engine, exhaust and jet kit.
4. rear set.
5. overhaul the electric wiring, re-wire the whole bike.
6. kill the rust on the frame.
7. upgrade the cooling system
anyway, I need the get another bike for sure, if i start the project i will get a crappy bike to ride around, if i don't i will sell my GS and buy a better bike.
Just get rid of your POS GS and either get an SV650 and be happy or whatever I4 catches your eye. Swapping front ends to get dual front discs (which most experts (myself included) would promote as simply not necessary on the street) is going to be 500-1000 US dollars, depending on what you can find and what kind of performance gains you want...(if I was going to all that trouble I'd want fully adjustable/damn good forks).
There is no cooling system, it's air-cooled. Killing rust=complete tear down and powdercoat or rattle can. Lots of work.
Etc etc etc. Just have fun on this one and build your skills/confidence in street riding, then go swap it for something newer/more powerful if you feel you need it.
I have had a GS since new in fall '00 (leftover model). Sticky tires (Pilot Sports), rejet and Progressive Susp. springs went on the bike before I even got 50 miles on it. Rode it like that till summer of '04 when I started going up into the canyons of Central Cali (up to the redwoods near General Sherman) and actually riding aggressively. Took a mirror off, crashed the bike and got Srinath's guards, more tires, better brake pads and now just recently I found a Yosh pipe that was semi-local and bought some pod filters from a member here along with another rejet. Lots more power (I had been running with the stock, original air filter that was disgusting), and a lot better sound. It's a fun bike, but the Ducati ST2 I am buying is much, MUCH more solid feeling. Of course, it's a lot more money than a GS so don't think I'm slagging the GS. It's a great entry level bike, but after a while you can feel and notice the differences in quality.
That, and I like having an aftermarket and I'll never be able to afford every mod I could do to a Ducati. Dry clutch is definitely first thing to get tinkered with (the bike I'm buying already has slipons, chip and a bad-ass Sargent seat).
I modify most everything I own. The GS is a perfect platform for me to exercise my imagination. It helps having boxes of parts from GS's and other bikes as well. It may be a sickness that I cannot leave anything alone. But as I build a bike ideas come along and designs may change or saved for the next bike. I have no problem buying something at a good price just to see if it will work, somehow. Since motorcyling is for fun, I do not have to have one available as a daily driver.
My '97/04/05 street bike, which is nearing completion, is being built from the ground up with plenty of modifications. But none that would be displeasing to the masses though. So it is basically a new bike. Kat forks w/ progressives, 4" Bandit400 rear wheel, GSXR shock, custom adjustable rearsets, dual headlights, SV650 gauges, 04 tank and 05 tail (yes the blue everyone wants), black frame, steering damper, custom exhaust w/ c/f can...just to name a few. Just think...this bike is for my g/f, but she does not know that.
My street bike, whenever I get around to it, will have most of the same stuff but with GSXR USD forks, RGV s/a, Kat rear wheel and eventually it will have the modified GR650 motor.
Considering what I have invested in all of my bikes, which is probably less that those that have purchased one new. I do a lot of trading and economical purchases....but there are a few items that I do splurge on.
I have owned plenty of bikes over my 30 years of riding (I am 40), so the "need" for a bike and fast is in the past. Having a bike that I created has more appeal. Someday I do what to get another bigger bike (for longer rides) but for now the GS will have to fill the void.
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on October 09, 2006, 12:01:45 PM
Maybe no more at all- Jardine exhaust systems have gone mythical again, and I may decide to sell and upgrade in the Spring.
Already?
I just got mine two days ago, after ordering it two weeks prior. They had just made a batch when I ordered. Hmpf :dunno_white:
I do the mods for the same reason as alreday mentioned, I am just replacing what's broken/lack luster for cheaper than buying OEM.
(http://www.gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10622/Almost-Done.jpg)
Let's see... 100km/h into concrete barrier can modify things rather fast. Steeper rake? Check! Rearset? Check! Lightened case cover? Check! Shorty lever? Check! The list goes on... :cookoo: One off custom tank... paint job... etc etc...
I modify mine, cause I get bored cleaning it on rainy or cold days, there's only so much riding season here, gotta do something in the off season!!!
Two reasons..... Winter & tax returns!
And then there's the sole reason of having it your way. I can't leave anything alone. I picked up a new harley on a Saturday... Next Monday it had a new seat and pegs... A month later... Dragbars, chrome, and other cool stuff..
I work with about a dozen riders... And it seems we all notice when somebody rolls in with some hardware...
I've had my GS for about 3 wks and I haven't modified it yet, but I can feel some little changes bubbling up. Similar to others, my father was a knuckle buster so I've been in a garage, under and in cars, and working with my hands since I was a child. I have an office job and will probably always be a "tie" guy, so this is my outlet... there is a certain satisfaction when doing something with your own hands and acomplishing something that makes a difference even if it is a small one. Thats the reason I believe most ppl mod.
I've moded my car but since its my daily driver I can't mod it to much, until... I bought my gs, now I can finally finish my car's turbo project. Then, I will turn my attention back to the bike. I mod things that I don't like, for instance the fender, reflectors, muffler, paint scheme, and turn signals have already caught my eyes as something that needs to change. As far as power goes... 100+ and 0-60 in <5. is fast enough when not in a cage. So most of my mods will be superficial and cosmetic, but like I said it is mainly the satisfaction of doing something with your own hands to make it better or more unique than what it was.
I'm with you ixolas! I can pretty much copy/paste most of your words. From building a 12 sec. Nova w/NOS that went to car shows, to a lifted geared superchipped suburban, supercharged Comp G Grand Prix, and even back to the "high school beater hot rods". If I had it, it wasn't stock. Maybe the love for speed wedges its way into our modivation, too.
So, I bought a 2006 GS500F w/900 miles on it for the guy's pay off, about a month ago. I love the bike, and even more do I love finding out about the history of the GS500 and all the awsome insight here and on the linked sites. I had no idea that the GS world was so big. I deffinately feel some mods coming on, trouble is figuring out what to do first, lol. Some things I've read here have inspired me to try building a Buell style ehxaust, building new custom header pipes. Been tossing around different ideas, like a single muffler or a couple tinny round ones (a pic in the wall of fame of a racer shows a tinny muffer). A single muffler with a 2 into 1 may inspire funky header pipes, depending on fearing clearance, who knows. Haven't even measured anything yet, lol.
My wife had a simpler answer to the question............. Why not? :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: Reddogjk on November 22, 2006, 12:28:37 AM
My wife had a simpler answer to the question............. Why not? :icon_mrgreen:
Welcome, Reddogjk! :cheers: Sounds as though you have a smart wife! :icon_mrgreen:
I had no idea the cult....er....big world....I was joining when we purchased our first bike, a '92 GS500E. That little bike taught me to ride (I'm still mastering the art of not falling over), and I'll have a soft spot in my heart for the Baby G forever (and for my '90 GS500 ratbike...I've GOT to do something with him!)... :icon_mrgreen:
I enjoy doing mods in order to learn more about my bike. Most of my mods are practical, rather than cosmetic. For example, replacinging the rear shock because I'm too heavy for the stock one, replacing the seat because the stock was a butt-biter, adding a fairing, crash bars, bigger mirrors, etc.
About the only "pretty" mod I've done is to replace the instrument bulbs with LEDs. I still have my fender and intend on keeping it (I've even mounted extra reflectors on it).
As a wannabe tourer, I would like to add racks and better suspension so that I can go touring on it.
Plus, it's just plain fun and rewarding to tinker around.
Chilly
because it's my bike and not a mundane GS500. :icon_mrgreen:
That's a good question. I modify everything I own, to some extent. I'm always thinking I can make it better or I'll use someones idea and build on it. I modify my modifications!?!?! I'm ill!
I put 180 horses on dodge Neon without a turbo, I can make somehting out of this GS dammit
Quote from: zOU on November 22, 2006, 12:32:33 PM
because it's my bike and not a mundane GS500. :icon_mrgreen:
There ya go. When I switched my GS back to stock, it reminded me how utterly bland the GS is without a little customization.
Quote from: RobTheTyrant on November 23, 2006, 08:17:40 AM
I put 180 horses on dodge Neon without a turbo, I can make somehting out of this GS dammit
:icon_rolleyes: :cookoo: :dunno_white: