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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: secondhandloser on July 30, 2008, 02:35:54 PM

Title: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on July 30, 2008, 02:35:54 PM
Picked it up about two weeks ago, just clocked over 1100 miles- I'm enjoying the bike world.
Honestly, I wish I had opted for something with a bit more go, but I am enjoying the bike.
Looking to do start modding this winter- or as soon as I can take some time off from riding.

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e35/secondhandloser101/DSC00496.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e35/secondhandloser101/DSC00506.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e35/secondhandloser101/DSC00505.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e35/secondhandloser101/DSC00504.jpg)
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: tripleb on July 30, 2008, 02:42:15 PM
welcome to the forum and to riding...

If I could, I'd recommend your first mod be a fenderectomy...cut that damn thing off
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: astroaru on July 30, 2008, 02:43:16 PM
the color scheme is neat. Happy riding!

PS: what are you doing with both the stands on in the first pic? extra security?  :laugh:
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: pronator on July 30, 2008, 03:09:24 PM
Welcome!  :thumb:
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: scottpA_GS on July 30, 2008, 03:26:02 PM

Yea.. Jeeps are kinda slow  :laugh:

Welcome!!

:cheers:
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on July 30, 2008, 06:49:02 PM
Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 30, 2008, 03:26:02 PM

Yea.. Jeeps are kinda slow  :laugh:

Welcome!!

:cheers:

Haha :laugh:
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: Mdow on July 30, 2008, 07:17:21 PM
serously you arn't going to find anthing that fast with 70 MPG. if you get a SV650 you go down to 50 and you get a new 600 sport bike your talking 30-40 honestly the gs500 is PLENTY fast i was just paying with the bike the other week not realy racing or anything and got to a light and a 350z pulled up and he yelled at me DAMN thats fast i couln't keep up and i was giving it everything it had (i was at about 1/2-3/4 throttle)

its quick

im going to run the 1/8 this fall
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: theUBS on July 30, 2008, 09:55:32 PM
I do believe that's my favorite color scheme for the faired GS.  It looks good!  Welcome, and enjoy!  :thumb:
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: galahs on July 31, 2008, 02:59:22 AM
Looks good mate  :thumb:

The 2 mods I recommend without hesitation for F models are Stiffer front springs (At least 0.80kg/mm) and if you ride at night, get a better quality headlight globe (OSRAM 90+ or Philips Xtreme 80+)
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 06:41:22 AM
Quote from: galahs on July 31, 2008, 02:59:22 AM
Looks good mate  :thumb:

The 2 mods I recommend without hesitation for F models are Stiffer front springs (At least 0.80kg/mm) and if you ride at night, get a better quality headlight globe (OSRAM 90+ or Philips Xtreme 80+)

Any particular brand you'd recommend for the springs?
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: b_long_1 on July 31, 2008, 06:49:25 AM
Welcome and have fun. :thumb:
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: Yev on July 31, 2008, 06:52:34 AM
Welcome.. I love that color scheme!
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 09:58:58 AM
Quote from: astroaru on July 30, 2008, 02:43:16 PM
the color scheme is neat. Happy riding!

PS: what are you doing with both the stands on in the first pic? extra security?  :laugh:

Nice eye man. I don't even know.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: TonyKZ1 on July 31, 2008, 10:05:59 AM
Bike Looks good, nice pictures. Welcome to the site! I'd want to leave that rear fender on if I planned on riding in the rain, though.
Tony
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: kml.krk on July 31, 2008, 10:29:24 AM
very nice and clean bike.

for springs you have few options: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/FrontSprings

I went with progressives cause they were the cheapest and they behave nicely on the street (initially soft but as you compress them more they get stiffer)

good luck
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 01:32:15 PM
Quote from: TonyKZ1 on July 31, 2008, 10:05:59 AM
Bike Looks good, nice pictures. Welcome to the site! I'd want to leave that rear fender on if I planned on riding in the rain, though.
Tony

I was kind of wondering about that- how bad is it to have it off in the rain?


Also, as far as springs go, Sonic and progressive seem to be popular choices. Any directives on which way to go? To me, it doesn't seem like there is enough travel on the bike for a PRS to provide any benefit, but I could be wrong. I always ran PRSs on cars I build, but I don't see the neccesity on a bike.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: DoD#i on July 31, 2008, 02:00:25 PM
Quote from: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 01:32:15 PM

I was kind of wondering about that- how bad is it to have it off in the rain?

How much to you like muck up the back? It's about that bad. Fenderectomy boyz are either fairweather charlies or mud-lovers.

Lemme see if I can photoshop a picture down to size - this is like 10 minutes through light rain with road work (about a mile or so with partial dirt exposure) - I'll edit this post when I get the pic reduced and posted.

Here we are. Mud has dried since a few days passed before I dragged the camera up. Seat and sides were on bike while riding in rain, off for diagnosis of starting problem and perhaps for a repaint if I make time. Note mud on plate, light, and on top of fender (under the seat). It's a messy business. I was thinking of swapping with a fenderectomizer before they ectomized, but I'm now leaning towards a fender fuller than stock (full-dress GS, if you will, though that does not exactly get it right).

(http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/18510/normal_MuddySide.JPG)
(http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/18510/normal_MuddyBack.JPG) (http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/18510/normal_MuddyBack2.JPG)
...yes, that IS a soup can.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 05:00:29 PM
Quote from: DoD#i on July 31, 2008, 02:00:25 PM
Quote from: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 01:32:15 PM

I was kind of wondering about that- how bad is it to have it off in the rain?

How much to you like muck up the back? It's about that bad. Fenderectomy boyz are either fairweather charlies or mud-lovers.

Lemme see if I can photoshop a picture down to size - this is like 10 minutes through light rain with road work (about a mile or so with partial dirt exposure) - I'll edit this post when I get the pic reduced and posted.

Here we are. Mud has dried since a few days passed before I dragged the camera up. Seat and sides were on bike while riding in rain, off for diagnosis of starting problem and perhaps for a repaint if I make time. Note mud on plate, light, and on top of fender (under the seat). It's a messy business. I was thinking of swapping with a fenderectomizer before they ectomized, but I'm now leaning towards a fender fuller than stock (full-dress GS, if you will, though that does not exactly get it right).

(http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/18510/normal_MuddySide.JPG)
(http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/18510/normal_MuddyBack.JPG) (http://gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/18510/normal_MuddyBack2.JPG)
...yes, that IS a soup can.



Eeeesh. I think I'll be leaving that bad boy on.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: galahs on July 31, 2008, 08:37:38 PM
Quote from: secondhandloser on July 31, 2008, 06:41:22 AM
Quote from: galahs on July 31, 2008, 02:59:22 AM
Looks good mate  :thumb:

The 2 mods I recommend without hesitation for F models are Stiffer front springs (At least 0.80kg/mm) and if you ride at night, get a better quality headlight globe (OSRAM 90+ or Philips Xtreme 80+)

Any particular brand you'd recommend for the springs?

I went with Sonic Springs http://www.sonicsprings.com or you could  go with RaceTech. Both are  :thumb:


Go with Progressive springs if your after a more compliant ride.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on July 31, 2008, 08:49:09 PM
not meaning to threadjack, but why a soup can in the exhaust, judging by the hols in it, im assuming it is functional? O0
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: DoD#i on July 31, 2008, 09:04:02 PM
Previous owner "opened it up" - rear baffle plate all gone. Runs much better with the restriction back in it, suits my preferred ambient noise level better, too. Very easy to adjust/experiment with (assuming you have more than one soup can available if you decided that you've opened it up too much).

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42443.msg478856#msg478856 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42443.msg478856#msg478856)

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42443.msg479098#msg479098 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42443.msg479098#msg479098)

Title: Re: New GS
Post by: nascarkeith on July 31, 2008, 09:21:45 PM
I am kinda jealous of the new color combo.  That is wicked.  I bet it would look good with some red wheel stripes.  I have ridden mine in the rain a few times and haven't had a problem with mud and the fenderectomy but then again mine never sees dirt if I can help it.  I'm kind of a clean freak with my vehicles.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on August 01, 2008, 06:04:13 AM
Quote from: nascarkeith on July 31, 2008, 09:21:45 PM
I am kinda jealous of the new color combo.  That is wicked.  I bet it would look good with some red wheel stripes.  I have ridden mine in the rain a few times and haven't had a problem with mud and the fenderectomy but then again mine never sees dirt if I can help it.  I'm kind of a clean freak with my vehicles.

Interesting- you don't get a whole bunch of water flung up there?
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on August 04, 2008, 09:42:22 AM
As far as springs go, Sonic and progressive seem to be popular choices. Any directives on which way to go? To me, it doesn't seem like there is enough travel on the bike for a PRS to provide any benefit, but I could be wrong. I always ran PRSs on cars I build, but I don't see the neccessity on a bike. Anyone got any advice?
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: kml.krk on August 04, 2008, 10:32:02 AM
Quote from: secondhandloser on August 04, 2008, 09:42:22 AM
As far as springs go, Sonic and progressive seem to be popular choices. Any directives on which way to go? To me, it doesn't seem like there is enough travel on the bike for a PRS to provide any benefit, but I could be wrong. I always ran PRSs on cars I build, but I don't see the neccessity on a bike. Anyone got any advice?

I understand that by PRS you mean progressives, if yes than let me tell you that progressives are excellent springs for GS.
If you race then they may not be that great, but for everyday enjoyment on a street they're perfect.
I bottomed out my stock springs on 2004 GS500 few times, that never happened with progressives, so I wouldn't say that there isn't enough travel.

if this is not what you meant please disregard this post  :thumb:
if it is what you meant please consider that as honest advice  :cheers:

cheers
Kamel
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: secondhandloser on August 04, 2008, 10:44:30 AM
Quote from: kml.krk on August 04, 2008, 10:32:02 AM
Quote from: secondhandloser on August 04, 2008, 09:42:22 AM
As far as springs go, Sonic and progressive seem to be popular choices. Any directives on which way to go? To me, it doesn't seem like there is enough travel on the bike for a PRS to provide any benefit, but I could be wrong. I always ran PRSs on cars I build, but I don't see the neccessity on a bike. Anyone got any advice?

I understand that by PRS you mean progressives, if yes than let me tell you that progressives are excellent springs for GS.
If you race then they may not be that great, but for everyday enjoyment on a street they're perfect.
I bottomed out my stock springs on 2004 GS500 few times, that never happened with progressives, so I wouldn't say that there isn't enough travel.

if this is not what you meant please disregard this post  :thumb:
if it is what you meant please consider that as honest advice  :cheers:

cheers
Kamel

PRS= progressive rate springs

Sounds good. Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: Mike451 on August 06, 2008, 06:03:09 PM
I just got a 2008 GS500F within the last month as well.  While reading the message logs on this site I noticed a lot of talk about ignition advancers on older bikes.  Has that problem been resolved on the 2008? 
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: nascarkeith on August 06, 2008, 06:44:44 PM
I don't get too much water flung up there from what I can tell.  The main thing I notice is chain lube on the back of the license plate.
Title: Re: New GS
Post by: kml.krk on August 07, 2008, 09:51:17 AM
Quote from: Mike451 on August 06, 2008, 06:03:09 PM
I just got a 2008 GS500F within the last month as well.  While reading the message logs on this site I noticed a lot of talk about ignition advancers on older bikes.  Has that problem been resolved on the 2008? 

there hasn't been any problem with them! what people were doing was changing the timing advance to get a little more power in down range of rpms.

someone correct me if I'm wrong  :thumb:
cheers