Quote from: RoadstergalOK, you talked me into it.  Eastside tossed a Vortex 17T in with the bike.  After a beeyotch of a time getting the axle nut to move, everything else was straightforward.  I didn't disconnect the clutch cable; just let it dangle to the side.

Welcome to the 17T Club.   The axle nut is always a bugger to get loose -- leverage is your friend.

How did you get the Circlip off?  I had to improvise with a pair of industrial-sized dental implements.  My tool bag was missing anything special -- curious if there's something that I'm missing that works better than what I've got.

Quote from: RoadstergalAlthough I know it's present, I haven't felt much of a difference in the off-line performance.  My speed is now limited by breakin to something like 66 instead of 60, which is the difference between annoying and terminally frustrating.  The gears do seem to be better set up for city toolin'.

After 600 miles, I'm in full agreement with your assessment.  You get about 5-6 miles per hour for the same RPM, and that's the difference I needed to balance out riding in town with the big boys.  

The spirit of the GS500 is still there -- just spread out a bit more than with the 16T.  That, and I'm getting about a 3 MPG boost over the 16T.  

I have a circlip tool... and I couldn't find it.   :x I spread the two 'arms' apart with a small screwdriver (which also moved the circlip arm out a hair), put a small Allen in one hole (which now held it snugly since it went all of the way through), and pushed on the other with the screwdriver.  *ping!*