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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Rhandom on December 08, 2008, 08:23:33 AM

Title: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: Rhandom on December 08, 2008, 08:23:33 AM
Has anyone taken an older GS500E and added the ferring from the F? I live in PA, and honestly I love my bike, but it's Cold here. I was thinking of buying the ferring for a GS500F. Has anyone done this and documented it at all that could tell me if it's worth the time? My other thought is wait another year then up-grade to something zoomier.
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: gsJack on December 08, 2008, 08:46:23 AM
I've been riding naked GS500s here in NE Ohio thru 10 winters now and think a National Cycle Plexi 2 or 3 type fairing gives much better winter and spring rain protection than a F type GS fairing.  If I get one more GS and it's a F type I'll use parts from my 02 GS to convert it to naked.  I switch to a smaller Spitfire type shield for summers.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/summer-winterGS.jpg)

I don't do zoomier.    :icon_lol:
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: beRto on December 08, 2008, 08:57:47 AM
Quote from: Rhandom on December 08, 2008, 08:23:33 AM
Has anyone taken an older GS500E and added the ferring from the F? I live in PA, and honestly I love my bike, but it's Cold here. I was thinking of buying the ferring for a GS500F. Has anyone done this and documented it at all that could tell me if it's worth the time? My other thought is wait another year then up-grade to something zoomier.

I don't think it is common to add fairings to an "E" model because it requires substantial fabrication work. You will need to attach mounting brackets to support the fairings.

An easier solution would be to add a windshield for your bike. There are several threads and a wiki page on the topic: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Windshields
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: bucks1605 on December 08, 2008, 10:47:30 AM
It has been done before.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25399.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25399.0)

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=40600.msg456017#msg456017 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=40600.msg456017#msg456017)
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 07:38:48 PM
So the E type bikes don't have fairings? My bike looks like an E (1995 gs500) but it has fairings that appear to be factory install. So that means my bikes an F?
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: bucks1605 on December 08, 2008, 07:55:43 PM
Quote from: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 07:38:48 PM
So the E type bikes don't have fairings? My bike looks like an E (1995 gs500) but it has fairings that appear to be factory install. So that means my bikes an F?

The "E" model is naked, no fairing, and looks like this.

(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/bucks1605/2002-Suzuki-GS500E.jpg)

The "F" model has a fairing and looks like this.

(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/bucks1605/2004-Suzuki-GS500Fb.jpg)
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 08:06:20 PM
Mine looks like the E but side fairings goes under seat to touch tank and headlight definitely isn't F.
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: bucks1605 on December 08, 2008, 08:12:02 PM
Quote from: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 08:06:20 PM
Mine looks like the E but side fairings goes under seat to touch tank and headlight definitely isn't F.

Ah ha, so it's a pre-01 E model. Like mine.

(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/bucks1605/4.jpg)
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: ohgood on December 08, 2008, 08:20:36 PM
Quote from: bucks1605 on December 08, 2008, 08:12:02 PM
Quote from: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 08:06:20 PM
Mine looks like the E but side fairings goes under seat to touch tank and headlight definitely isn't F.

Ah ha, so it's a pre-01 E model. Like mine.

(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/bucks1605/4.jpg)

buck- if i haven't said it before, i heart yer bike.
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 08:58:16 PM
Yeah just like yours :) except blue and crappier condition.
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: joshr08 on December 09, 2008, 09:46:57 AM
what clipons you running? is that the gs front end?
Title: Re: GS500E to F conversion
Post by: bucks1605 on December 09, 2008, 10:09:00 AM
Quote from: ohgood on December 08, 2008, 08:20:36 PM
buck- if i haven't said it before, i heart yer bike.

Well thank ya!

Quote from: loki7714 on December 08, 2008, 08:58:16 PM
Yeah just like yours :) except blue and crappier condition.

I was lucky, my bike was in great condition when I bought it.

Quote from: joshr08 on December 09, 2008, 09:46:57 AM
what clipons you running? is that the gs front end?

The front end is from a katana 750, with a kat 600 top clamp and clip ons.