First off, new to the forums, first post, but I've done tons of searching and this site is a great help for these bikes. Thanks
Recently bought a 2002 GS500 for my wife to learn on. I immediately ripped it all apart to rebuild forks (added racetech springs thx to this forum), rebuilt and rejetted the carbs, added a lunchbox filter, new brakes, bars, bar end mirrors, etc....and was putting it all back together with a new V&H exhaust when I ran into an issue. I bought the Vance and Hines 2 into 1, part no 12029 which seems every website I can find says fits this bike, but I'm having issues with the center stand. The lousy instructions that came with it do mention the center stand issue and provide some sort of bracket, but I cannot for the life of me figure it out and I'm pretty mechanically inclined and used to working on bikes. The only way I see the system fitting is w/o the center stand all together. Also the instructions that came with it state that the system is for a 89-94, but these things haven't really changed any have they? I know in 04 they obviously went with a full fairing. I'm not opposed to ditching the center stand, lord knows my wife would never be able to get it up on it anyways, but they are nice to have when it's time to work on a bike.
If anyone can provide any insight I'd certainly appreciate it. Pictures of how this center stand bracket is supposed to work with the exhaust would be an added bonus.
Thanks again.
you remove the right side (from sitting on the bike view) center stand bolt, put the adaptor on, then reinstall the bolt through the hole in the adaptor. the adaptor is a stop for the center stand so it doesnt hit the shock linkage. its very simple, your probobly over thinking it. ive done that plenty of times.
at some point they went with a larger diameter exhaust piping. that may be your issue, if not, then IDK
Sorry for my ignorance, but I still don't get it. With the header on, it looks like the center stand would need to move over about 1/2 inch for the rest of the pipe to mount. The center stand has two bolts holding it in place. Removing the right hand bolt (the side w/o the center stand spring) to install the V&H bracket doesn't really change anything, if anything, it would now cause that bolt (which is the problem) to stick out even farther. And why would V&H care about the center stand hitting the linkage when they're just making the exhaust.
lol I really don't get it, exhaust is normally so simple.
the mid pipe is bent to go around the center stand. are you saying that the header is hitting the stand without the midpipe installed?
if your saying it
looks like the mid pipe will hit the stand, just try installing it. the stand does not need to be removed or modified (other than the bracket being installed) to run the V&H. I had one on mine for over a year and used the center stand the whole time.
QuoteAnd why would V&H care about the center stand hitting the linkage when they're just making the exhaust.
because any good company would. the stock exhaust has a stop for the stand and so does V&H and jardine.
Quoteat some point they went with a larger diameter exhaust piping. that may be your issue, if not, then IDK
the V&H is made specifically for the 89-2002 gs500. if the factory did swich to larger piping it wouldnt matter because the entire exhaust is being replaced.
I pulled mine off but just keep it around with my spare parts. If I ever need to lift the bike up I just slide the bolts in, and don't worry about actually tightening them, and then lift the bike up. I usually have to unbolts the exhaust can from the mount to the subframe so I can get enough clearance to pull the bolt out.
I'm still not 100% sure which part it is that's giving your trouble, but I know I also had to ziptie some rubber hose to my centerstand since the V&H didn't have the stand stopper, and the stand would smack up against the metal and it was pretty annoying.
Thanks, I got it all figured out. I really had to force it all in place where I thought I was going to bend or break something, but it all fits in there like it should now.