Thanks to all those who have been patient and explained things to me. Buddha, pandy, galahs, ohgood, chef, bluehaze, and many others have given help and encouragement as I have modded my bike. It is greatly appreciated.
This is how she sits as of today.
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/GS500F/bike003.jpg)
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/GS500F/bike004.jpg)
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/GS500F/bike001.jpg)
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/GS500F/bike006.jpg)
The list of mods so far include:
Fenderectomy
Removed Reflectors
Bar Ends
Painted Windscreen
Blue LED Gauge Lights
Motrax Wheel Stripes
White Vinyl Cover for Passenger Seat
Flushmount Front Signals
License Plate Mounted Rear Signals
Removed Grab Bar
Removed Rear Tie Down Bars
Touches of Simulated Carbon Fiber Here and There
Pro Grip Gel Grips
Pegs
Shimmed Carb Needles with Washers
Added some decals (waiting on gstwins.com decal to proudly display)
Painted Levers
Grills
K&N Drop In
JT Sprockets 15 Tooth Front Sprocket
The 3 mods that made the biggest difference are the Washers on the Needles, K&N Filter, and sprocket. In that order. The washers on the needle should have cost less than a dollar and took less than 30 minutes but I stripped a screw and had to buy screw extractors. It was still a cheap and easy mod. This is the link to my how to http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43835.0
The result of the washers was a lot more throttle response throughout the rpm range. I didn't get a good read on fuel mileage before adding the sprocket and air filter but suspect that it would be slightly worse than stock.
Today I installed the K&N Drop In with the air restrictor in place. I didn't expect much but you can definetly feel a little more power throughout the rpm range. I got it for about $43 dollars from Motorcycle Pro Shop. The sprocket came from the same place and was $13 and change. They charged $7 shipping and $2 for processing if I remember correctly but shipping was fast and the price on the filter was the best I found. I took the bike up the road to test the sprocket and didn't notice much. I then got alone on some asphalt and took it up to about 5500 rpm and dumped the clutch to see if it would wheely. Stock the front tire would come up about 6 inches. With the new set up it came up almost straight up, or at least it felt that way since I wasn't expecting it.
In my opinion the washers and the air filter make the biggest difference for cheap performance mods. Since you gotta pay shipping you might as well throw the sprocket in the order. Hope this helps anyone thinking about some easy, inexpensive mods for the colder months. Happy riding while its still warm! 8)
what, no gstwin decal ? that's been proven to add 15HP and 22 Ft lb torque ;)
nice looking ride !
Quote from: ohgood on September 17, 2008, 06:09:38 PM
what, no gstwin decal ? that's been proven to add 15HP and 22 Ft lb torque ;)
nice looking ride !
Its supposed to be on its way. Can't wait to get it hear and feel those extra horses!
As always nice looking bike. I will definitely have to try that sprocket upgrade err downgrade i guess. i am thinking 15. I dont mind having to cruise 80 mph at 7rpm. I only maybe 1 minute or so go beyond 100 mph.. which in real life thank goodness is actaully probably 85-89 mph.
I have the exact bike as you and was wondering where you found all the things to do everything??
Quote from: Bluehaze on September 18, 2008, 10:17:27 PM
As always nice looking bike. I will definitely have to try that sprocket upgrade err downgrade i guess. i am thinking 15. I dont mind having to cruise 80 mph at 7rpm. I only maybe 1 minute or so go beyond 100 mph.. which in real life thank goodness is actaully probably 85-89 mph.
the 15t front cog isn't really noticable once you're moving in 2nd. first gear pulls a little more strongly, but after shifting it's just a matter of the rpm's being higher (not much) in whichever gear you're cruising in.
:)
ps - someone has a cleaaaaaaaaan garage !
Quote from: ohgood on September 17, 2008, 06:09:38 PM
what, no gstwin decal ? that's been proven to add 15HP and 22 Ft lb torque ;)
nice looking ride !
I got ripped off ... I only got 12hp from my sticker but yea 22 lbft torque ... yea ...
Cool.
Buddha.
If I got the K&N Lunchbox (RU-2970), would I need to get it rejetted if I also put the washers in?
From airbox to lunchbox its a huge step up in air supply.
I like to do pipe with lunch box always, but someone may post up with their experience with K&N and stock pipe.
Cool.
Buddha.
as soon as I get my jets from Buddha I'll let you know
Yeah me to LOL! N-E-ways until they arrive I am running stock jets drilled with a #54 drill, right at .054 thru hole. Runs great and 8K plug chop look great.
Quote from: telle33 on October 30, 2008, 07:14:46 PM
I have the exact bike as you and was wondering where you found all the things to do everything??
Thanks for the compliment. I found most of the stuff on line but it has been done over the last three years so I don't have a clue and what all sites I've ordered from but this forum and google are your friend. :D
is there enough weight in your bar ends still? because the idea or bar ends is to reduce vibration in your mirrors.. When i changed my bar ends on my 05 F i had a bit more vibration in the mirrors and it annoyed me.. i was just wondering if you had noticed this.
how do bar ends help with vibration on mirrors on an f when the mirrors arent mounted to the bars?
That is what i thought too.... But when i changed them back to stock for comparison i saw that i wasn't getting nearly any vibration.
They might vibrate a little more but it really doesn't bother me. I scratched one of my stock ones when I let it fall over in the garage so I replaced it with the blue ones. It doesn't vibrate enough for me to really notice or care.
Please forgive me for digging up an old thread but I wanted to post an update of my GS. It currently has around 6,600 miles on it and is still going strong. I did some general maintainence and got it cleaned up for summer. Some of my carbon fiber decals were peeling so I took those off, put on some new rear brake pads, and installed some NGK iridium plugs. I also got my GStwins decals in and installed. :woohoo:
With the beautiful weather this past weekend I rode the GS up to Barber Motorsports Park to check out some vintage racing and even ran into some fellow GS'ers who asked about how I made the mods to the undertail of my bike. Here is the link for anyone interested http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43180.0 and this is how I put the washers on the carbs http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43835.0 I know there are lots of new members on the forum since I started this thread so maybe that will be of some help.
Here are a couple of pics I snapped while I was out of how it currently sits. Happy riding everyone! :)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/4635310297_b0f188dbe6_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4635911660_abc2717506_o.jpg)
This is a great post. I did have a question for you. I have tried to take the tiedown bars off before but they looked like they were welded to the taillight bracket. Do they just bolt off? Or did you have to cut it off? Or was I just seeing it wrong?
Thanks
Quote from: smaeda on May 24, 2010, 09:21:30 AM
This is a great post. I did have a question for you. I have tried to take the tiedown bars off before but they looked like they were welded to the taillight bracket. Do they just bolt off? Or did you have to cut it off? Or was I just seeing it wrong?
Thanks
Nah man, you saw right they are welded on but it was nothing me and my trusty Dremel couldn't handle. :D
Cool thanks for the confirmation.
My compliments...nice bike and mods! I am new here and just bought my 07 and seen your reference to Motorcycle Pro Shop but when I google it I come up empty. Have they moved to a new site or are they not in business anymore? I'm looking for a good source for rejet supplies, filter, and possibly a sprocket. Thanks.
pardegt, I just googled and looked and I can't find it either. Apparently it has moved or closed up. The GStwin wiki has good info on where to buy parts. You might want to check that out.
Quote from: pardegt on May 24, 2010, 09:14:00 PM
My compliments...nice bike and mods! I am new here and just bought my 07 and seen your reference to Motorcycle Pro Shop but when I google it I come up empty. Have they moved to a new site or are they not in business anymore? I'm looking for a good source for rejet supplies, filter, and possibly a sprocket. Thanks.
for jet kits, you can also look to Buddha. he's a moderator on the site and sells kits. you should ask him and see if he has what you want.