Just recently joined the motorcycle world by taking the MSF class and purchased a GS500. The GS needs a lil bit of cosmetic work (bike was dropped) which is why I got it for a decent price for a starter bike. I've already put over 500 miles on it and the engine runs well, so no work needed there. Now I was just going to start from the front and work my way back. The headlight has some damage to it (the bucket actually) and was wondering where the best place to find a replacement or what other bike model headlights fit, I was thinking maybe the sv650 or bandit 600?? I would really like to get a black headlight bucket if possible and do some customizing as I go. (also on my list to come soon are mirrors, break lever, and gas tank) Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
-BR
When I got a new headlight bucket, I just went to the local motorcycle salvage yard and dug through their box of stuff. The GS headlight is a 7" diameter, and there are a ton of other bikes with the same size headlight. The one I finally picked up came from a 70's Yamaha. The only thing to watch out for is the depth of the bucket. The stock GS bucket is pretty shallow, and as I found out the hard way, if you try to put a bucket that is too deep on the stock mounts, you will break your speedo cable. I had to replace the speedometer cable and extend the stock bracket, but it all works fine now. Just go to the yard and grab whatever you like that is the right diameter and make it work...
Bucket damaged = dented? And you want black? Grab a hammer and some sandpaper, then a can of black spray paint. Pound the dents out. Damaged = Scraped? Sand out the scrapes, and/or do a bit of fill work with body putty to fair out deep scratches/scrapes (or small dents remaining after you hammer out large dents.) Sand all over and paint black. Good to go!
MSF class = :thumb:
Yeah and if not that, I believe there was somebody on here that was just selling one the other day. This forum is a great place to buy or sell stuff for your GS.
Thanks, it never occurred to me since the light was was beat to try and make something of it, and good call on the bike junkyard too, wasnt sure they existed, but I just found one pretty close to here. I'll probably go there and check it out, maybe save myself some time and see what other goodies they may have.
The 70's yamaha headlight actually will take the GS light unit, but the back sides of them are a bit bigger, they clobber stuff on the GS - gauges and the like. I fit that same combo on my nighthawk, just had to bash a dent in the back of the shell.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: fred on July 04, 2008, 12:14:31 AM
When I got a new headlight bucket, I just went to the local motorcycle salvage yard and dug through their box of stuff. The GS headlight is a 7" diameter, and there are a ton of other bikes with the same size headlight. The one I finally picked up came from a 70's Yamaha. The only thing to watch out for is the depth of the bucket. The stock GS bucket is pretty shallow, and as I found out the hard way, if you try to put a bucket that is too deep on the stock mounts, you will break your speedo cable. I had to replace the speedometer cable and extend the stock bracket, but it all works fine now. Just go to the yard and grab whatever you like that is the right diameter and make it work...
does anyone know *how* shallow? i'm shopping for some aftermarket headlight options.