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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Mdow on September 10, 2008, 08:09:35 AM

Title: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 10, 2008, 08:09:35 AM
Just wondering here what some people have done for SAFE weight reduction even little things cause they add up

i have a GSXR rear brake arm you can even feel its alot lighter ALUM not steel

after market pegs weight alot less the stock pegs

wondering if anybody else has done anything creative
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: tripleb on September 10, 2008, 08:32:30 AM
are you worried about the bike being too light or reducing weight with aftermarkets parts of some components of the bike are unsafe?
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: The Buddha on September 10, 2008, 08:34:04 AM
Oh yea ... I replaced all the bolts with titanium bolts, and used ultra light magnesium valve cover.
And of course I only ride on the street and weigh 300 lbs ... 3 big mac minimum ... Then I only fill up 1 gal in the tank ... lighter ...
Oh, exhaust can is a pig ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: fred on September 10, 2008, 08:34:40 AM
Quote from: Mdow on September 10, 2008, 08:09:35 AM
Just wondering here what some people have done for SAFE weight reduction even little things cause they add up

Diet and exercise are usually considered pretty safe...
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: nascarkeith on September 10, 2008, 09:44:50 AM
Since I go 275 a skinnier rider would be a huge weight saving option.  :laugh:  It will be interesting to see what people say.  I know some have removed the center stand but I use mine too much for that.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Kasumi on September 10, 2008, 09:52:53 AM
Put it this way, if you had one less takeaway a week or cut down on a couple of pints here and there you would save more weight than you would if you started trying to remove/replace parts on your GS. Plus you'd save a hell of a lot more money lol. They are a simple bike, there isnt alot to them. What is there thats heavy is stuff you can't change, ie engine and chassis. Because they are made of heavy materials. If your looking to reduce weight don't bother. It would be cheaper to try and increase HP, but even then its just cheaper to upgrade. Peolpe don't buy GS's to go super quick. Thats what a supersports is for.

If you just want some trick parts then by all means go ahead i hope you got a big wallet hehe.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: the mole on September 10, 2008, 02:38:56 PM
+1 Kasumi
Buddha, you forgot to mention putting 1/2 as much oil in the motor also saves weight, shaves a little weight off all those moving parts too.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 10, 2008, 02:41:42 PM
well yes those are obvious things

im talking about ways to reduce weight that isn't comprimising safty.  car forums people will tell you to take out bumper beams and frame suports but i would call that NOT safe weight reduction.

ya i could cut some of the frame of the bike and make it lighter but thats not what im talking about.

im mainly trying to see if there is somthing cool that i could do and save weight at the same time
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Chanse on September 10, 2008, 03:36:45 PM
I had an old GSXR set up for track with all of the following plus some. And still only saved like 20 pounds. very expensive.

bored, stroked, balanced. (removes grams from rotating assembly and produces more power)
remove grab bar.
remove center stand, and kickstand if using for track with a spool lift.
replace entire body with race weight fiberglass fairings and solo seat or go naked.
swap rims with lighter weight rims. (I beleive the kat wheel is lighter do a search for which one it is though.)
remove under tail plastics & chain guard.
stockair box and filter go k&n.
polish frames and rims. (ounces)
remove factory weighted bar ends.
remove all unnecessary gauges.
remove mirrors and blinkers.
Oh and most importantly wash it... lol all that dirt counts.

I might have forgoten some things. point is weight reduction on a bike is useless unless your in competition where the miniscule difference count and money is no object..
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: The Buddha on September 10, 2008, 04:58:10 PM
All kat wheels are heavier, and after tires are fitted they are not even close.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 10, 2008, 06:46:04 PM
^ darn

anybady make aftermarket wheels for the GS or i guess katanas too
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: starshooter10 on September 10, 2008, 07:14:58 PM
you could cut the seat to a single.

clip off the tail if you never want to ride 2 up...

remove the rear pegs

remove the centerstand (keep the kick)

only need ONE mirror to be legal (at least in CA)

remove the plastics under the seat

AL sprokets

differant can (stock setup is heavy)

those are all relistic mods
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 10, 2008, 10:33:19 PM
ALUM sprocket is a good idea

i might look at gearing it up a tooth also
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: the mole on September 11, 2008, 12:11:43 AM
If you want to save wheel weight, a spoked wheel with alloy rim will be lighter (and probably stronger) than stock.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: sledge on September 11, 2008, 04:20:01 AM
Take a good dump before you ride.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Kasumi on September 11, 2008, 06:24:17 AM
Quote from: sledge on September 11, 2008, 04:20:01 AM
Take a good dump before you ride.

+1

...why are you people encouraging this.. its a pointless exercise along a road that ends in nothing but wasted time, effort and money.

Now everyone stop posting suggestions because its rediculous. There is no point in this world or the next in trying to shave weight off a GS or pretty much any bike or car unless your putting it on a track and not even a trackday, were talking about professional racing where 10ths and 100ths of a second count.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 11, 2008, 06:57:52 AM
i do track my car SCCA autox and have gone to acouple of track days.

i would also like to start tracking my bike

and really why don't you just let me do what i want to do
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 11, 2008, 07:00:21 AM
Quote from: the mole on September 11, 2008, 12:11:43 AM
If you want to save wheel weight, a spoked wheel with alloy rim will be lighter (and probably stronger) than stock.


yes i know but does anyone actually make one?
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: bobthebiker on September 11, 2008, 09:44:02 AM
spoked wheels are actualy a big pain in the ass,  you have to constantly check that you dont have broken spokes, loose spokes, keeping them tight is a pain and they flex. something our solid alloy wheels do not. 

unless you're competing with the bike, you're wasting a LOT of time.  aluminum sprockets SUCK on the street because they wear wicked fast.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: sledge on September 11, 2008, 11:10:21 AM
Quote from: Mdow on September 11, 2008, 06:57:52 AM
i do track my car SCCA autox and have gone to acouple of track days.

i would also like to start tracking my bike

and really why don't you just let me do what i want to do

How much extra performance are you expecting to gain?  :laugh:

Is this excercise really going to increase the "enjoyment factor" for you? There are far more worthwhile and beneficial mods you can carry out that will improve the rideability and performance of your bike and if you are going to take it on the track there are higher priorites to address than weight-saving.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Kasumi on September 12, 2008, 06:16:13 AM
Quote from: sledge on September 11, 2008, 11:10:21 AM
Quote from: Mdow on September 11, 2008, 06:57:52 AM
i do track my car SCCA autox and have gone to acouple of track days.

i would also like to start tracking my bike

and really why don't you just let me do what i want to do

How much extra performance are you expecting to gain?  :laugh:

Is this excercise really going to increase the "enjoyment factor" for you? There are far more worthwhile and beneficial mods you can carry out that will improve the rideability and performance of your bike and if you are going to take it on the track there are higher priorites to address than weight-saving.

Exactly, we arn't even talking about trackdays here, its not even worth it for that. We are talking about pro racing, 100ths of a second difference that you could make by removing everything but the engine and handle bars from your bike.

Put the money you clearly have to waste on weight saving into improving front and rear suspension, putting on better tyres and making the exhaust system more free flowing. Then you will have made significant gain and i would more than happily support that. But even acknowledging weight saving is just rediculous.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 12, 2008, 08:21:50 AM
Quote from: Kasumi on September 12, 2008, 06:16:13 AM
Quote from: sledge on September 11, 2008, 11:10:21 AM
Quote from: Mdow on September 11, 2008, 06:57:52 AM
i do track my car SCCA autox and have gone to acouple of track days.

i would also like to start tracking my bike

and really why don't you just let me do what i want to do

How much extra performance are you expecting to gain?  :laugh:

Is this excercise really going to increase the "enjoyment factor" for you? There are far more worthwhile and beneficial mods you can carry out that will improve the rideability and performance of your bike and if you are going to take it on the track there are higher priorites to address than weight-saving.

Exactly, we arn't even talking about trackdays here, its not even worth it for that. We are talking about pro racing, 100ths of a second difference that you could make by removing everything but the engine and handle bars from your bike.

Put the money you clearly have to waste on weight saving into improving front and rear suspension, putting on better tyres and making the exhaust system more free flowing. Then you will have made significant gain and i would more than happily support that. But even acknowledging weight saving is just rediculous.

done that katana front end is here in my room
searching for a GSXR shock
lunchbox is on the bike
jardine is on order

why can't you just let me do what i want to do?

i have cut almost 300 pounds out of my car without comprimising ANY safety and who knows how much rolling weight since i cut 6 pounds of each wheel and their affective weight increases on a log scale at speed
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: sledge on September 12, 2008, 10:24:44 AM
Quote

why can't you just let me do what i want to do?

Errm....who is stopping you exactly? Is someone from this forum standing next to you with a length of 4x2 saying...."If you chop any weight from that bike I am gonna knock seven shades of sh**e out of you"?  :icon_lol:

You do what you like pal, its your bike, you live in a free country and no-one is really bothered what you do :dunno_white: but consider this....Its a forum and you invited comments, people are going to have differing views and opinions. If you are not going to accept them without spitting out your dummy maybe its better if you dont invite them to start with.
Title: Re: Safe Weight reduction
Post by: Mdow on September 12, 2008, 10:30:14 AM
i know and im know that its not going to make my bike 100 times faster but thats not the point cutting weight is the point