Hi All,
I'm looking at Vance & Hines for my 2009 GS500F. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390262001606&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390262001606&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT)
The listing talks about fitting up 2002 GS500E. Does anyone know if this would fit the 2009 GS500F? In particular will it fit around/through the fairing?
Cheers,
Rob
I'm not the expert, but there is plenty of space around the fairing (looking at my 2009).
I put the same on Junior (my 1992) which has the factory belly pan. The only issue I found was the pipes are about 1/4" further out from the engine at the point of the lower bend from vertical to horizontal. I had to slightly notch the front edge of the belly pan using a round sanding drum. Other than that, everything fit the same. Remember that the original pipes at that point were the same distance out as the frame itself, not the extra 1/4"further out. No big deal. The full 2009 fairing has lots of extra space.
That won't be a problem with the full fairing. The belly pan top edge fit flush with the frame and then with some forcing. So that slight extra clearance needed for the pipes necessitated the tweek to the lip of the belly pan. Photos of Junior are all over the place.
Now, WHY? Junior needed a replacement because his was painted and had 3 holes drilled in the back to make it louder and sound tinny. He's not any louder now but does have a deeper fuller sound. Suzi won't get changed because I don't want her to be so loud.
As for you, is it:
a) your exhaust is all scratched up
b) not scratched up, but don't want to put on exhaust protectors (like Junior and Suzi have) to prevent scratches if knocked over
c) You just want it louder (read other posts on other things you need to do when changing exhaust. Junior didn't need anything done as he was tuned and jetted for those 3 extra holes and he's Canadian which has different emissions requirements. He runs better now!
Whatever the reason is OK. Changing things on your bike is fun just because you can!
I never have replaced an exhaust before. Followed directions and it went real easy. Do get a tube of anti-seize for the 4 bolus when you put them back into the engine block and get 2 new gaskets from your Suzi dealer. (They're really cheap, just a couple bucks). Getting out old gaskets was tricky. Used a tiny screw driver to slowly pry loose and don't scratch things. They came out in a minute - easier than I thought. Can be put on all by yourself. No help needed.
So in short - everything I see when I compare the 2 bikes are that it will fit just fine. Someone else should verify the spacing for the headers but I believe they are all the same.
Oh: HOT engine: don't be stupid. WARM engine: If you can touch it, OK because the header bolts will be looser. COLD engine: Shrinking of engine block due to being cold might make the bolts tight.
FYI to EVERYONE: It would be nice to update your profile to have your location. That way, If you was a question and we're near each other, chances are we can get together for help or to swap extra parts. I wish CITY was a mandatory field.