So, I'm not sure why I even bought a crotch rocket to be honest... I'm an idiot for letting the dealer talk me into it. I originally just wanted a cheap 250cc cruiser as my first bike but I got talked into a 500cc gs like a sucker... It's a good bike, runs great, easy to work on, awesome fuel economy... Anyways, I absolutely hate the seating position and having to lean forward. Yes, I can grip the tank with my legs and use my feet to support myself and sit upright but I can only cruise down straight-aways like that and it seriously compromises my ability to handle the bike since the handlebars are so far away at that point. So, rather than selling it since I bought it new, I'm going to try to turn it into a cruiser-style seating position as much as possible. Other than barbacks and having the seat reupholstered to alter its shape a little, what else is there to a job like this? The barbacks seem pretty simple and easy to install, they claim there will be plenty of cable slack so buying longer cables shouldn't be an issue but I wouldn't know, I haven't performed the job yet so I kinda wanted the opinions of others who have either done this or considered it themselves. I figured a good upholstery shop could shave the seat down and fabricate it in such a way that will go along with the new handlebar positioning. I'm not sure what else could be done...

Are you serious?

The GS, a crotch rocket?  

Seriously though, getting some different handlebars is the easiest thing you can do, and probably the only affordable thing.   Changing around the footpegs, modifying the seat, and messing with the forks will all be considerably more involved.  To truly "cruiser-fy" the GS you'd need to change the bars, get some forward mounted footpegs, and change out the whole front end to get a shallower rake.  Selling the bike, taking the depreciation hit, and buying something else would probaby be cheaper.

jeff

You can turn it into an E model that would at least get rid of the front cowling.  Then install the suzuki case guards and install highway pegs on those.  For your seat you can try several places like www.corbin.com or www.sargentcycle.com.  Then like you said put handlebars that come back to you a bit more.  And that should give you a more relaxed riding position for crusiing.

Jeff P hit it on the head tho sell the bike and get cruiser would be better maybe.  After you pay for all the stuff you would need to convert.  Just depends on how much you want to change.

I thought you were selling the bike to buy a couple of new vehicles and save up for a house?  I think that's a better plan thant trying to convert it into a cruiser.

C.

Some theories about how to make a GS chopper:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=21204

Someone did this, I guess, at gs500e.co.uk:
http://www.gs500e.co.uk/albums/Snapshots/100_1222_002.jpg

Regarding buying a cruiser:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=12481.0

Quote from: chrisalberts on June 14, 2006, 10:21:58 AM
I thought you were selling the bike to buy a couple of new vehicles and save up for a house?  I think that's a better plan thant trying to convert it into a cruiser.

C.

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... you're poking holes in the story's plot!

Yeah, I've thought about it both ways... Thinking about it more though, I could most likely get half of what I paid for it at most since I rode it off the showroom floor and for a couple hundred bucks I could modify it into something I can actually cruise with.. so I mean, I could sell it for $3k or so and then just go buy a used cruiser for around that price or maybe a little less... even if it was less, i wouldn't be making back anything worth a crap.

jeff, blue- I appreciate all the helpful info, definately more that I can do than I thought.

It is still a crotch rocket to me... I'm short so I have to lean forward considerably. I don't have that "upright seating position" that many of you say the GS has...

footpegs and the like I'm not too worried about, it's just my back that gets sore from crouching/leaning forwards and then my arms and hands that get sore if I use them to relieve pressure from my back... then, like I mentioned in my original post, gripping the tank with my legs and sitting up seriously compromises my ability to handle the bike if I had to make any quick maneuvers.

Chuck - lol at that second image and thanks for the links.. you guys have definately given me more to think about. I appreciate it.

Quote from: Jeff P on June 14, 2006, 10:05:08 AM
  To truly "cruiser-fy" the GS you'd need to change the bars

Cruiser-fy or Cruicify 

Barbacks?  Are those like the Gen-Mar risers?

Another consideration would be to change handlebars, which are $15-20.  Bikemaster Daytona, bend G bars come to mind, since I have those and they are quite the upright bars.  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23557.msg240096#msg240096
See avatar.  <----

Sag the rear end by reducing the preload on the rear shock.  Go to the smallest rear tire 130/70.  Slide the forks down through the triples, raising the front end, and go to a 110/80 front tire.

What kind of springs do you have in the forks?  Add some more preload to those to help raise the front end, but stay within reason; bike sag alone should be around 1 inch, and rider sag should be around 1.4 inches.  See: www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm

Quote from: phire on June 14, 2006, 11:15:42 AM
it's just my back that gets sore from crouching/leaning forwards and then my arms and hands that get sore if I use them to relieve pressure from my back... then, like I mentioned in my original post, gripping the tank with my legs and sitting up seriously compromises my ability to handle the bike if I had to make any quick maneuvers.

This paragraph leads me to believe you are leaned forward into a racier-than-normal position, and can actually ride in the upright/"normal" position just fine, you just aren't accustomed to it, and feel at a disadvantage while trying it.

start with shifting the stock bars back alittle, Gen-Mar does make bar risers to help as well.  perhaps nipping some foam out of the crotch of the seat might help a tad.  the GS is a general purpose bike with a sport edge, but while its not a "Cruiser" it certainly isnt a "Crotch Rocket" or SPort bike if you will.  there are plenty of short riders on here that can help give you idea's to better "Personalize" your ride to your flavor of enjoyment. while 250's are ok, and run good, they are quiickly out grown with alittle skill.

I agree the gs is not a crotch rocket, but I didn't care for the seating position either.
I built my own bar riser out of 1" square stock. I played with it and got max rise and aft without having to change the cables. I have moved them back 1.5 " and up 2". I like it much better.
I put a 24" long 1" pipe behind the fame just above the front motor mount, for cruising pegs.  To check it out I just wired it on and used a little duct tape too. I can drill 4 holes in the pipe and get two 1" square U bolts to make it semi permanent if I like it. I don't feel very secure with my foot away from the break. On long rides it is my left knee that bothers me, and I can ride with just that foot forward.

Will
01 gs 500

Please Please dont do it.  My GS is crying right now.

. . . cowering in the corner scared of having "the chop"

You'll find out that with higher, swept back cruiser bars, you will have much less control than you do with it stock.  If you put highway pegs on, you will not have any control either.  You get control with you feet underneath you.  You control the bike by weighting and unweighting the footpegs, and holding the bike with your knees.  I don't know who is trying to get you to ride a cruiser, but they are wrong about the control positions like the handlebars and footpegs. 

Unless you are joking with this thread. 

Cruisers are for dorks.

heh I don't care if they're for dorks or not, it's -extremely- uncomfortable to ride for any considerable length of time. Gripping the tank with my knees gets annoying as all hell after awhile. Given my stature, the GS is a fun bike to make short trips with around town but for any long-distance ride that isn't at least 75mph (wind resistance to help relieve pressure off the palms of your hand) sucks. I'd love to be able to ride for hours and hours but getting stiff and sore so quickly ruins all the fun for me.

Mk1inCali - Nah, trust me I've scooted as close to the tank as possible and as far away, tried every combo imaginable, in order for me to ride upright and be comfortable, I'm only able to grab one handle bar with my fingers. Perhaps if I were taller it'd work out better but I'm not..

scratch, mclard, blueknyt, thanks for the information... I think I'm armed with enough of it to go out and customize my bike to fit me better..

Floorboards   

Why do you think you could only get $3K out of it? I have an '05 with 5K miles that I've had for a year and think I'll get nearly $4K for it, a loss of about $1300. I'd sell it and start over. Lesson learned, I guess.

Dave

Shouldn't you be obligated to sell your bike after the tongue-lashing we got for suggesting it might not be the best idea?