GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Cozzy on May 24, 2008, 05:53:33 AM

Title: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: Cozzy on May 24, 2008, 05:53:33 AM
I have seen ppl modify the sv to be a dirt bike, does anyone try to make a gs500 dirt?
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: manofthefield on May 24, 2008, 07:42:19 AM
I've see an nice EX500 dirt bike on advrider.com, and people have asked about a GS here before, but I don't think I've seen a real GS dirtbike
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: 505 on May 24, 2008, 05:12:27 PM
if i ever get my gs running again i plan on putting a paddle tire on it...just for fun  :dunno_white:     
does that count?
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: littleblackjeep on September 27, 2008, 12:17:41 AM
my next mod is a motox handlebar, and my next set of tires will be  dual sport.  gravel roads  are  :bs: on street tires

I suppose if you wanted dirtbike-like torque, a 14 or maybe 13t sprocket would be an option.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on September 27, 2008, 02:54:08 AM
not a wise idea, the biek is really too heavy to be good on trails, even if it is geared. i did motox type tires on it. it does okay but it is heavy. kinda like a chunky ballerina
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: sledge on September 27, 2008, 03:11:03 AM
How long will the exhaust and filter last?  :laugh:
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: AyeKay on September 27, 2008, 05:59:43 AM
Yeah I don't think id waste my time if you want a dirtbike get a dual sport or a dirtbike!
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: iluvmysuzuki on September 27, 2008, 06:05:56 AM
yeah.... cause dual sports around here are like $1500 yo... forreal... i think itd be a waste of time.
if you want a dirtbike go with the dual sport or the dirtbike like they said.
are you crazy?! =]

hahhaha
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: makenzie71 on September 27, 2008, 08:25:39 AM
screw the haters...do it.

The bike may be a pig by modern dirtbike standards but shaZam! it's lighter than my old YZ250 and has more push.  Just don't expect it to perform like a purpose built off-road machine.  Make sure you get a skid plate of some kind.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: ToddG on September 27, 2008, 10:04:47 AM
A YZ250 that is heavier than a GS500? Huh? My YZ490 was only 235lbs and the 250's are about 220lbs.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: makenzie71 on September 27, 2008, 10:48:13 AM
What year?

My 76 250 weighed, easily, 350lbs.  My '91 RM250 was well under the 200lb mark.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: NEWGS500F on September 27, 2008, 11:15:46 AM
GS500F weighs in JUST under 400lbs DRY...minus the fairing, you can knock something off but its no lightweight.....
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: The Buddha on September 27, 2008, 11:43:42 AM
Mak - A gs500 in 1976 weighed 750 lbs ... They didn't make one you say ... really ... really ... so how do you know it didn't weigh 750 lbs ...
Compare the same years ... comparing across 3 decades is just misleading.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: makenzie71 on September 27, 2008, 12:15:23 PM
The age gap matters not, maestro buddha, for the fact that it was a capable and successful purpose-built dirt bike remains unchanged despite the fact that the bike was heavy and remarkably top-heavy.  Low weight does not a dirt bike make.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: theUBS on September 27, 2008, 01:14:44 PM
I'm going to guess that would take a whole lot of suspension changes too.  If it's a flat track, that'd take enough to make it competent, but hitting the woops and jumps would be something completely different! I'm pretty sure I'd buy something different before I dumped a bunch of time and money into a conversion.  ...but then again, perhaps I'm just not adventurous enough!  :dunno_white:
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: Jackstand Johnny on September 27, 2008, 01:23:25 PM
I was thinking about this the other day. Weve seen a gs500 engine in a four wheeler so why not convert the gs to a dirtbike? Ive seen alot dumber things done simply because you can.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: bobthebiker on September 27, 2008, 04:19:00 PM
I'm thinking about something like this for the hell of it.  a GS500 dirtbike would RAWK.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: Roadstergal on September 27, 2008, 06:41:23 PM
It'll do gravel roads and fire roads fine as-is.  It won't be any fun on real dirt no matter what you do to it.  With all of the good dualsport and dirtbike offerings out there, why bother?  You can make it into a good track bike, if you really want to spend money and effort making it something it wasn't to start with.
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: arbakken on September 29, 2008, 08:48:57 AM
a gs500 dirt bike is a horrible idea. It's too heavy, and the suspension can, in no way, handle any of the abuse. If you want to throw dual sport tires on and ride gravel roads, more power to you, but a gs500 will NEVER be even an adequate dirt bike.

It's like asking if anyone has ever entered a school bus in a f1 race...
Title: Re: GS500 dirt bike.. anyone done that before
Post by: mp183 on September 29, 2008, 09:26:37 AM
It will never be a real dirtbike but it's great on back roads.
Just have to watch the bumps.
Bottoms out very easily.
I have DL650 and it sucks on gravel and even small amount of sand.
The GS is great.
It's light and low to the ground.
I saw one with dirtbike tires and that would be a great start.
We should work on tracking a set of knobby tires that will
fit on the GS500.  Stiffer front springs and you are part of the way there.
I can see myself heading for Alaska.
I also have a KLR250.  Now that is a fun bike.