I bought my gs about a month ago. It is a 2006 GS500f.  I got it for $4,800.  That seemed like a good deal to me.  I know some people will say that I should have bought a used one but I know exactly what I got with a new one.  Used bikes sometimes have demons that you can't find until its too late.  Anyway I had a Ninja 250 while in college but that was a few years ago.  I have been riding my Dad's cruiser and decided it was time for me to get another bike.  I had a Katana picked out.  Good price, easy payments, and then the insurance.  Insurance was going to be $1,400 a year.  Then I found the gs.  Cool bike, good performance, but what about the insurance.  Only $426  a year.  Good deal time to ride.  So far it has been an excellent bike to get back in the sadle on.

So far I have done the fenderectomy and reflecterectomy.  Yesterday I put new turnsignals on so I just took the reflectors off.  I got some Lockhart Phillips flush mounts for the front and the ones that bolt onto your license plate for the rear.  I know some people aren't going to like them because they are not as bright or noticeble as stock but oh well.  I think the made the bike look 1000 times better.  If your depending on your turn signals to keep you safe you are screwed anyway.  Below are the pics.


The adventure part came on the way to get the parts.  Cyclegear.com has a store in Alabama about an hour away from where I live.  Lucky for me I am a teacher so I have all day to ride in the summer so I headed that way yesterday.  I got about 6 miles from the store and the bottom fell out of the sky.  I got soaking wet.  I waited in the store for the rain to pass but got caught in it again on the way home.  New bike, limited experience, an hour away from home, and rain.  All that was not a good combination but it worked out well.  I took it slow and got some more riding experience so all is well. 

I know this was a long post.  Thanks for reading and keeping the post going so rookies like me have a place to learn about these cool little bikes. The chain adjustment how to was a huge help! 

Nice looking bike, Keith

Where are you located?  I'm in Winfield, an hour north or T'loosa and 30 minutes west of Jasper.

your bike looks great.   i like the small blinkers,did you have to change any thing to hook them up?   see y'all.

Stephen I live in Brookwood in Tuscaloosa County.  I bought my bike at the Suzuki Superstore in Hamilton.  Denman the lights were really easy to install the front ones are Lockhart Phillips flushmounts.  Cycle gear sales them for $24.99.  The go right into the stock hole in the fairing with no modifications whatsoever.  They will also plug into the stock wiring connectors.  The plugs are a little smaller on the new lights so you will need a little electrical tape to hold them in place.  The rear ones bolt on to the license plate.  They are also made by Lockhardt Phillips. Same thing on the wiring except the new wires are too short so you will have to splice some wire onto them to make them long enough.  They were $19.99.  They also have a license plate frame with the blinker made into it but it was black plastic and I didn't think it would look as good but it would clean the back end up even more. It was $24.99 as well.

HA!  I sat on your bike in the showroom couple months back...

Hit me up for a ride sometime... I'm down around lake tuscaloosa all the time.

looks tight

Quote from: nascarkeith on July 20, 2006, 01:09:53 PMI got about 6 miles from the store and the bottom fell out of the sky.  I got soaking wet.  I waited in the store for the rain to pass but got caught in it again on the way home.  New bike, limited experience, an hour away from home, and rain.  All that was not a good combination but it worked out well.  I took it slow and got some more riding experience so all is well.

Exactly right!   Rain happens...  Keep calm, slow down a little, pay more attention... And enjoy it.

You should talk to Scratch about it...  He prefers to ride in the rain.    (I kinda like it too)...  (But, I have to, I live in Seattle).

Your bike looks shmick mate!