Hey everyone, thanks for helping me get my bike started. Been riding it a lot in the last week. I have a question: is it easy to find aftermarket headlights for the GS500? I like the naked look, especially the European models. Unfortunately, being in Canada, we only get the more boring models. I saw a picture of the 2006 GSR600 and I liked the headlight. Can anyone recommend something like that that will fit the GS500?

Thanks.

Nick

GSR600:
http://www.gsr600.co.uk/images/GSR_S2_IMG_0538.JPG

Quote from: nick_the_guy on March 07, 2006, 12:38:49 PM
Hey everyone, thanks for helping me get my bike started. Been riding it a lot in the last week. I have a question: is it easy to find aftermarket headlights for the GS500? I like the naked look, especially the European models. Unfortunately, being in Canada, we only get the more boring models. I saw a picture of the 2006 GSR600 and I liked the headlight. Can anyone recommend something like that that will fit the GS500?

Thanks.

Nick

GSR600:
http://www.gsr600.co.uk/images/GSR_S2_IMG_0538.JPG

what do you mean being in Canada we only get the more boaring models? we get exactly the same thing as the US gets.  there is lots of stuff you can do to your GS. I was thinking for a while about useing a V'rod headlight. they're pretty cool.

Lots of people put the Acerbis headlights on there.  The Cyclops, the Diamond, etc.  Do a search here for those.
I know that some of their lineup are DOT approved and some aren't, but the all look really cool.

Cool . . .

Servus Nick_the_Guy,

looks good the Headlight from the GSR600.

You can take the Headlight from the Ymaha XT660 on your GS. That one is smaller!



or this one from the MZ Baghira:

Buel Lightning Dual headlights are sweet... I got them but havent put them on yet.

There are tons of pics on here of GS's w/ em

As far as dual headlights, I have these:

http://flyncycle.com/acatalog/_Dominator__Twin_Headlights.html

Beats the stock headlight by far.  They look well made too.  Not cheap though.

Quote from: scottpA_GS on March 07, 2006, 02:17:28 PM
Buel Lightning Dual headlights are sweet... I got them but havent put them on yet.

There are tons of pics on here of GS's w/ em

They're fairly cheap too right?  About $70?

GeeP....those lights look so small and poorly fitted together.  I'd seen a lot of them advertised on ebay, though, and a couple people actually say they were decent.  They do the trick?  Better than stock?  And they're legal?

Here's what I use on my TL...they're hella low-beams...plenty of light for me and it leaves me an "open" position on my light switch (to aid in starting and stuff).




sorry that second one is crappy...

They're good I think.  Mine are black, the chrome plated things look tacky.  They're heavily built for a motorcycle headlight, and significantly better than the stock stock carbide lamp. 

55/60 watts x2 is a pretty decent amount of light.  Light output is even, high beam works well.

DOT approved.  Hell, they're no smaller than a GE 4509, the standard landing lights bulb on most GA airplanes.  It's not so much the reflector size as the design.

Your bike looks like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. AKA awesome!

Quote from: makenzie71 on March 07, 2006, 05:02:36 PM
GeeP....those lights look so small and poorly fitted together.  I'd seen a lot of them advertised on ebay, though, and a couple people actually say they were decent.  They do the trick?  Better than stock?  And they're legal?

Here's what I use on my TL...they're hella low-beams...plenty of light for me and it leaves me an "open" position on my light switch (to aid in starting and stuff).




sorry that second one is crappy...

Quote from: GeeP on March 07, 2006, 04:17:23 PM
As far as dual headlights, I have these:

http://flyncycle.com/acatalog/_Dominator__Twin_Headlights.html

Beats the stock headlight by far.  They look well made too.  Not cheap though.

The president of the campus sportbike club has those on his SV.



I really like dualy headlights, but it would look like I was copying him.  The ones he has are pretty nice. Very clean, high quality, and plenty bright.

Those big duel Hella's on the TL look like they are ready for the Baja 1000 or Paris to Dakar.

Geep: what was it like to put those lights on?  Difficulty rating?

Dunno.  They were on the bike when I got it.   

Shouldn't be much to it.  It appears to bolt right up, so no special brackets necessary.  Then just connect the high beam, low beam, and common wires and you're good to go.

If you're interested, I'll take a few detail pics and post 'em.

Here's what they look like on the GS:

Hey GeeP, can you do me a HUUUUGE favor and take pictures of the clearance between the bottom of your engine and the headers on your V&H system? I'm wondering if it will fit an '04 and clear the oil pan bolts... and it looks like it will. The Yoshimura didn't, but this one might, which would make a ton of F owners happy.

Those headlights look great though.

I agree about the headlights.  They work so well with the speedo and tach.

I like the white fender too.  That is the dopest.

Quote from: Jake D on March 08, 2006, 09:54:46 AM
I agree about the headlights.  They work so well with the speedo and tach.

Man, I never noticed that. It's like the guages are flipped around and replaced with lights. Bad ass.

I put these on my bike.  Light output is much better than stock, it runs dual 35 watt beams, both high and low.

Hey Alpha, not sure what the sump of the F-model looks like, but if it's any deeper than the E-model you're going to have a problem!



The rule is 1/2 wide 6" standard machinist's rule.  As you can see, it's pretty tight.  Near the back, the clearance is less than .050".  Yes, you read that right!  The bolts aren't the problem, as the bosses are about 3/8" lower than the top of the fins.

Does this help?

I believe I recall a post by someone who tried the V&H system on the F.  Supposedly it wouldn't clear the oil cooler.   

Those are E headers on an F. You can see how the oil pan bolts hang down a considerable way from the base of the pan. Much more than .050"!

Unless, wait... the .050" is towards the back of the oil pan, hmm? The front part, where the bolts are on the F looks to have a clearance of a little under a half an inch. Hmm. That MIGHT clear the bolts, but I'm also thinking maybe not. I wish there was someone around Austin I could do a test fit with...

Geep, what front fender is that?