OK the VStar sold so I have some $$$ to play with, I am looking to make my GS awesome
here is a list of things I am looking at
Yoshimura or ? exhaust "not looking for the loudest"
K&N lunchbox
Jet kit for carb
frame sliders
suspension upgrades not sure what to do here yet
please give your input on parts , btw we are planning some track time next year
Put Sonics or Progressives in the forks and go find a track day this year, ignoring the rest of your "upgrades."
The stock fork springs suck (mine especially - they evidently got slightly improved in later models.) After you fix those the main thing holding your GS back is you, or the idea that parts will make it go faster.
K&Ns suck dirt.
The whole lunchbox/exhaust thing tends towards peakier output (one small area has a few more horsepower, everywhere else is worse than stock.)
Man you know you keep me confused.
I drop a lot of coins in my bike because I plan on keeping it. But you said you werent going to keep yours and were going to sell it. Why drop the money in it you are not likely to get back out?
I just did a thread with pics on rejetting my carb ($30). I also just did a thread with pics on my new T-Rex frame sliders ($90).
I have a Katana rear shock with a remote reservoir I will sell if you want it.
Quote from: weedahoe on August 31, 2012, 06:22:02 PM
Man you know you keep me confused.
I drop a lot of coins in my bike because I plan on keeping it. But you said you werent going to keep yours and were going to sell it. Why drop the money in it you are not likely to get back out?
I just did a thread with pics on rejetting my carb ($30). I also just did a thread with pics on my new T-Rex frame sliders ($90).
I have a Katana rear shock with a remote reservoir I will sell if you want it.
yeah I hear ya, I was talking to the wife today and she really likes the GS and so do I, I may not sell it I may sell it you never know with me, everything I own is for sale at some point lol.
The only thing I dislike about the GS is the power, I wish it had some more get up and go
I also have OCD and once I own something that I like I have to have everything perfect on it and love to modify, I come from a Drag Race background
Ron
Quote from: DoD#i on August 31, 2012, 06:14:39 PM
Put Sonics or Progressives in the forks and go find a track day this year, ignoring the rest of your "upgrades."
The stock fork springs suck (mine especially - they evidently got slightly improved in later models.) After you fix those the main thing holding your GS back is you, or the idea that parts will make it go faster.
K&Ns suck dirt.
The whole lunchbox/exhaust thing tends towards peakier output (one small area has a few more horsepower, everywhere else is worse than stock.)
Thanks I was just reading about upgrading to those progressives, as far as the track I am a little scared as of yet, I do not heal as I did when I was younger
Ron
Quote from: rpm121370 on August 31, 2012, 06:33:28 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on August 31, 2012, 06:22:02 PM
Man you know you keep me confused.
I drop a lot of coins in my bike because I plan on keeping it. But you said you werent going to keep yours and were going to sell it. Why drop the money in it you are not likely to get back out?
I just did a thread with pics on rejetting my carb ($30). I also just did a thread with pics on my new T-Rex frame sliders ($90).
I have a Katana rear shock with a remote reservoir I will sell if you want it.
yeah I hear ya, I was talking to the wife today and she really likes the GS and so do I, I may not sell it I may sell it you never know with me, everything I own is for sale at some point lol.
The only thing I dislike about the GS is the power, I wish it had some more get up and go
I also have OCD and once I own something that I like I have to have everything perfect on it and love to modify, I come from a Drag Race background
Ron
I am the same way
Track is a hell of a lot safer than the street. Cell-phone fixated SUV drivers are not on the track. The street does not have cornerworkers.
If you are not dressed to crash, you are not dressed to ride. Asphalt surfing happens whether or not you want it to, or think you are immune.
Gear up rather than adding do-dads (past springs) to your bike. Serious leather still wins if you have the budget for it. But an Aerostich also works (crashed mine, walked away, still wear it, it's still wearable.)
Two kinds of riders - will go down, have been down (and will again.) Belief that it won't happen to you simply makes you poorly dressed and more shocked when it does happen.
An MSF ERC is another good option.
Quote from: DoD#i on August 31, 2012, 06:45:28 PM
Track is a hell of a lot safer than the street. Cell-phone fixated SUV drivers are not on the track. The street does not have cornerworkers.
If you are not dressed to crash, you are not dressed to ride. Asphalt surfing happens whether or not you want it to, or think you are immune.
Gear up rather than adding do-dads (past springs) to your bike. Serious leather still wins if you have the budget for it. But an Aerostich also works (crashed mine, walked away, still wear it, it's still wearable.)
Two kinds of riders - will go down, have been down (and will again.) Belief that it won't happen to you simply makes you poorly dressed and more shocked when it does happen.
I currently ride with a Icon tarmac jacket, Alpine stars gloves with carbon fiber knuckles,full face helmet, and just ordered a set of shoes
the part about the track is that I do not want to go and look bad going too slow, and afraid if I go and push it I will lay it down and do not want to hurt my "NEW" bike
Ron
Quote from: rpm121370 on August 31, 2012, 06:50:15 PM
I currently ride with a Icon tarmac jacket, Alpine stars gloves with carbon fiber knuckles,full face helmet, and just ordered a set of shoes
the part about the track is that I do not want to go and look bad going too slow, and afraid if I go and push it I will lay it down and do not want to hurt my "NEW" bike
I see something missing from your gear list, and I can tell you that denim is good for about 10 feet on asphalt. Not sitting down gets old after a few weeks.
How do I paraphrase so you'll get it? "I don't want to crawl and walk, I just want to start right out running." "I don't want to learn to fly a piper cub - I want to start right out with night carrier landings in an F-14?"
Or to borrow from the late Richard Feynman's late wife "What do you care what other people think?"
You're not going out there to wow the stands full of spectators (there probably won't be any to speak of), you're going out there to learn to ride better. Or you should be. Get over the image crap and figure out that the way to "look good" is to "actually develop the skills" which may involve "startling slowly." If you are going to ride beyond your limits in order to "look cool" (crashing is SO cool) (well, I guess these days you'll probably at least get to make a lot of people laugh as they watch it on youtube) you might as well sell the bike now and run everywhere without learning to walk first.
Anyway, consider the MSF ERC instead. They'll make you ride slow, and you'll find out just how hard that can be...
Quote from: DoD#i on August 31, 2012, 07:10:45 PM
Quote from: rpm121370 on August 31, 2012, 06:50:15 PM
I currently ride with a Icon tarmac jacket, Alpine stars gloves with carbon fiber knuckles,full face helmet, and just ordered a set of shoes
the part about the track is that I do not want to go and look bad going too slow, and afraid if I go and push it I will lay it down and do not want to hurt my "NEW" bike
I see something missing from your gear list, and I can tell you that denim is good for about 10 feet on asphalt. Not sitting down gets old after a few weeks.
How do I paraphrase so you'll get it? "I don't want to crawl and walk, I just want to start right out running." "I don't want to learn to fly a piper cub - I want to start right out with night carrier landings in an F-14?"
Or to borrow from the late Richard Feynman's late wife "What do you care what other people think?"
You're not going out there to wow the stands full of spectators (there probably won't be any to speak of), you're going out there to learn to ride better. Or you should be. Get over the image crap and figure out that the way to "look good" is to "actually develop the skills" which may involve "startling slowly." If you are going to ride beyond your limits in order to "look cool" (crashing is SO cool) (well, I guess these days you'll probably at least get to make a lot of people laugh as they watch it on youtube) you might as well sell the bike now and run everywhere without learning to walk first.
Anyway, consider the MSF ERC instead. They'll make you ride slow, and you'll find out just how hard that can be...
THANKS :cheers: I know I need to get over the I do not have a liter bike syndrome, and BTW I always wear pants
Ron
Ride your own ride.
Ride to your own comfort lever.
Do not ride to impress anyone.
track days are times to learn to ride better. You are not in a race. There will always be better riders. There will always be risers not as skilled as you. Do you want a novice wiping out trying to catch you? Do you want to wipe out trying to catch someone who's been doing track for 10 years? NO!
Never put yourself or your bike down. Be honest about your riding skills and be proud of your GS500. Other riders will respect you for that and they will help you.
They always know I am proud of my Gs500 - whichever one I am riding. That pride spreads and they are likewise impressed with my bikes and ask questions about them as they admire them. (PS: I got over the 500cc inadequacy when on the ferry sone guys with 1300cc bikes came over and drooled over my GS500 because it was so light and nimble.)
When I ride in a group, they will know my comfort level. We ride better as they know my skills. They watch out for me if they are more advanced. I watch out for the newbies. When we take a break, I ask those riding behind me for tips on my riding. I get great tips and complements when I do things well. It makes me a better rider because I am not there to impress anyone.
Around here we have track days of varying skill levels. I haven't done one yet. I plan to. But I have been told that on the most novice days, you have a class. Then they ride behind you. They critique you. You ride some more. It is no contest. It is a skills development day.
Nuf said.....
Quote from: adidasguy on August 31, 2012, 07:29:29 PM
Ride your own ride.
Ride to your own comfort lever.
Do not ride to impress anyone.
track days are times to learn to ride better. You are not in a race. There will always be better riders. There will always be risers not as skilled as you. Do you want a novice wiping out trying to catch you? Do you want to wipe out trying to catch someone who's been doing track for 10 years? NO!
Never put yourself or your bike down. Be honest about your riding skills and be proud of your GS500. Other riders will respect you for that and they will help you.
They always know I am proud of my Gs500 - whichever one I am riding. That pride spreads and they are likewise impressed with my bikes and ask questions about them as they admire them. (PS: I got over the 500cc inadequacy when on the ferry sone guys with 1300cc bikes came over and drooled over my GS500 because it was so light and nimble.)
When I ride in a group, they will know my comfort level. We ride better as they know my skills. They watch out for me if they are more advanced. I watch out for the newbies. When we take a break, I ask those riding behind me for tips on my riding. I get great tips and complements when I do things well. It makes me a better rider because I am not there to impress anyone.
Around here we have track days of varying skill levels. I haven't done one yet. I plan to. But I have been told that on the most novice days, you have a class. Then they ride behind you. They critique you. You ride some more. It is no contest. It is a skills development day.
Nuf said.....
THANKS :cheers:
I really needed you guys tonight and I really love my little GS it puts a smile on my face every time I look at it.
Ron
Yeah, I would definitely recommend upgrading the front to sonic springs and heavier fork oil. Best upgrade I've done to my bike. I did the rejet/lunchbox/muffler too. I'm not convinced that I gained that much power, but it definitely starts 100 times better, and the engine sounds less like a sewing machine now, but I get about ~4-5 mpg less now too.
+1 on doing the suspension. I have race tech, .85 springs in the front and a katana 600 rear shock. Makes the bike so much fun. Takes about a day or two to get everything dialed in.
As much as I want to do "power" mods, I'm resisting. On a good day, my GS is more than adequate. And the fastest GS won't compare to most I-4s so I just save that money for another bike.
I notice some people using Katana shock and some people using R6 shock what are the advantages of either
Ron
You can use some of the older gxsr shocks too