Hi all,

I know this bike isn't built for touring, but I'm wondering what kind of long-distance trips people have taken on the GS500?  Where did you go?  What sort of luggage did you carry and how?  What modifications did you make to your bike before the trip (i.e. new seat)?

El Noobo

550 miles in one day. Drove to the Oklahoma border from Austin, TX and back. Made no modifications prior to the trip, carried no luggage, and stopped only for Gatorade and snacks every few hours. The trip took 10 hours overall, incuding breaks and fuel stops.

I was running stock gearing at the time. My throttle grip came loose entirely a few miles from the OK border, meaning I had to grip the throttle fairly hard or it would slip like mad. I was still running naked though, so no wind protection. Didn't have a throttle lock either. Still had the stock seat.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on September 05, 2006, 10:42:09 PM
550 miles in one day. Drove to the Oklahoma border from Austin, TX and back. Made no modifications prior to the trip, carried no luggage, and stopped only for Gatorade and snacks every few hours. The trip took 10 hours overall, incuding breaks and fuel stops.

I was running stock gearing at the time. My throttle grip came loose entirely a few miles from the OK border, meaning I had to grip the throttle fairly hard or it would slip like mad. I was still running naked though, so no wind protection. Didn't have a throttle lock either. Still had the stock seat.

Ah, so you passed through my scenic home town of Wichita Falls then?  Having grown up in that area (go Burkburnett Bulldogs!), I have to ask WHY?   Austin is so much more interesting than the Texas / Oklahoma border.

My longest was in June this year, Dover England to Prague Czech Republic. My route was about 800 miles each way.

The GS was great as a "tourer" riding position and comfort being, I think, the biggest issues. The picture is my full luggage set-up. For the actual trip I did not take the tail pack I found that I could take all my personal kit for fourteen days in the "Buffalo" panniers, all bike and riding-related stuff like tools, spares, second pair of gloves and waterproofs in the Givi 46L top-box with room to spare for my helmet when I stopped, which left the tank bag for drinks, snacks, maps, reference books and documents. i did not rush, took plenty of breaks for water or juices and rode without any particular target destination for that night staying wherever the fancy took me. Ouytward leg took two and a half days but i could have done it in two but I was "touring" not racing. For comfort I don't want to ride much more than 300 miles per day but those with younger, less creaky bones might go for more.

The bike was pretty much stock as in everyday riding but i do have a big screen which is very useful especially when mile crunching on the German Autobahns.

x

300km
luggage 1 pack on a rack
avrage speed 130
top speed 180
mods none
police seen 0
speed traps seen 7
damage blown head gasket leaking oil from air box
(all fixed under warrenty)

3,200 miles in 7 days with 610 miles in one day.

Quote from: El Noobo on September 05, 2006, 11:36:51 PM
Ah, so you passed through my scenic home town of Wichita Falls then?  Having grown up in that area (go Burkburnett Bulldogs!), I have to ask WHY?   Austin is so much more interesting than the Texas / Oklahoma border.

I was bored. I hadn't been to Oklahoma before, so I decided to go.

2400 KMS (about 1500 miles) in 8 days trip to Croatia from Italy. Maximum 350 miles in one day.
stock 2003 bike. Fairly loaded.

I really enjoyed it 

150 miles in one day with a passenger.  Only luggage was a tank bag.  I'm hoping to do some longer trips during fall here in PA.

Don't pay any attention to what these youngsters are saying, mature riders like Cal and myself recognize the GS500 to be a great sport touring bike.   

Got my first GS500 (not 1st bike) in 99 and took my first trip in 01 to the Knoxville Honda Hoot about 600 miles from home. Repeated trips to the Smoky Mtns in 02, 03 ,and 04 and all of these trips started with a 400 mile 1st day and a total of about 1500 miles or so over a 5-7 days.  Longest single day was 535 miles to the Americade in the Adirondaks of upper NY.

Here's a pic of my 97 GS500E fitted for travel; Plexi 2 fairing, tank bag, small sadlebags, and a tailbag on my homemade rack:



Got the 02 GS500 in late 03 and fitted it with AV45/46 tires, a smaller screen, Givi 33L trunk, and a JR Sport tankbag for the trip south.  Here's a pic of it 600 miles from home in Maggie Valley, NC:

Hi there,
I agree with GSJack. The GS500 is a great touring bike and here are my experiences:

See this earlier thread on the same topic:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=9571.0
Here are my comments from that thread:
I've done 450 miles a day, two days in a row, for a total of 900 miles, on my 91 GS500E from PA to Wisconsin, then two days for a visit with friends before heading back home, again with two 450-mile days. It was heaven and I can't wait to do it again. That was with the stock seat and now I have a Corbin saddle, so it should be very comfy!
On my 1975 Honda CB400F back in 1984, I rode 500 miles in one day to a friend's wedding in Omaha, Neb., from Madison, Wisc., where I was going to college. It was a great trip, too.  Two days at the wedding then 500 miles home in one day.
I like to ride two hours or 100 miles --whichever comes first -- then stop for gas and a stretch. It works well for me and I find it very enjoyable.
Don't forget to pack a good tool kit and a few spares, as well as a good rain suit and extra gloves. If you take it, hopefully you won't need any of it. But if you DON'T take the extra stuff, it almost guarantees you'll need it. 
And as far as luggage, I use an Eclipse standard sized tank bag, which I love. I have owned Eclipse bags for 30 years and the company just started production again after being bought out by a new firm. I use Chase Harper standard soft-sided saddlebags with rain covers and Chase Harper's soft tail trunk, too. Great quality, good capacity, easy installation and removal and the bags don't scratch my bike's paint. I highly recommend them! 

My best advice --- JUST RIDE IT! 

Have a great trip!
Yours,
Todd

I rode from Fresno, CA to San Diego, CA to find my sister had left her house locked and without a key, so I had to turn around and come home, got my bike back in the garage about 11PM.  Just in time to get some sleep, then get back on the road in the morning to head back to SD.


So, about 900 miles in 18 hrs or so.  Blech.

Quote from: Mk1inCali on September 06, 2006, 08:57:37 AM
So, about 900 miles in 18 hrs or so.  Blech.

Just 100 more miles in 6 more hours and you'd be an Iron Butt!
http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm

The GS will work as a touring bike but if your a taller person then it is probally not the best choice. I am 6' and have done a couple long distance trips(Alabama to Michigan 2500+ mile in 7 days) and really would like a little more leg room. The mods I had at the time were some simple saddle bags, duffle sack on the passanger seat(full camping gear), a tank bag, a cruiser style windshield, stock gearing, seat, no engine mods. My most recent long distance ride was from Deals Gap to Mobile, AL approx. 500 miles/8 hours. That trip I didnt have my windshield and I payed the price, any wind protection on a naked bike will consiterably help reduce fatigue.

btw, a couple bags and a bungee's are all you really need. Hard luggage and all is nice but if your creative enough you wont need to spend big bucks.

-ash

2up:  About 150 miles round trip in one day...  Took about 6 hours (wasn't going that fast and got lost about two dozen times)...  Packed LOTS of water, but no snacks.


Solo:  300 mile round-trip in one day...  Packed LOTS of water and some snacks...  Hit the road about 11 and got home around 8:30...  (Yes, there were several long stops in there).


I would say that 300 miles and/or 8 hours is just beyond my limit... 

3000 miles in 7 or 8 days, I forget.  Went from Houghton, MI to Bar Harbor, ME.  I've got a post about it somewhere, probably has highest mileage in a day and I know it has some pics of my bike outfitted.

I put my Suzuki headlight fairing to get a little wind off my chest (though I usually like the wind) and a Suzuki gel seat, which came with my bike, so that's how I always ride it.  For luggage I had my tankbag and Kerry's Tourmaster saddlebags and tailpack, with sleeping bag and pad strapped on top.

Was it the most comfortable sport tourer? No.  Did it work flawlessly? Yes.  IMO the GS makes a great inexpensive sport tourer, especially if you avoid the Interstates and other 65mph+ highways.  If you're gonna do that, go spend $20000 - 40000 on a Goldwing or Electra Glide (Not really, I'd get a V-strom or FJR1300 for that and still try to avoid the interstate)


Oh yeah... Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  I was hoping to do a trip of similar length this summer, but it didn't work out due to a new job.  Hopefully next summer....

Oh yeah again... topped out at 66mpg, probably got around 60mpg most of the trip. 

Wow,

Thanks for sharing all of your experiences.  One of the major reasons I upgraded from a scooter (besides the fact that I looked like a big dork), was that I wanted to get out and see more of the state on my bike.  Although I've only done a few small trips (5 miles or less), I find that I notice so much more on the bike than in a car.  As soon as I get the gasket work done (parts are ordered and on their way), I would like to plan longer trips out to the Washington and Oregon coasts.  It would be neat to do a tour of the Oregon coast along 101 with the bike.

I think if I were to do such a trip, I would want to add three items:  1) a new seat (those Corbins sure do look nice, but $pendy), 2) a fairing, and 3) a rear mount and top-case.  All I have right now is a Nelson Rigg magnetic tank-bag for my wallet, keys, insurance, and registration.

I know one of you mentioned making a rear-mount for a topcase.  Are there aftermarket mounts that would fit the GS500?  Also, what would be a practical fairing that won't necessarily break the bank?

El Noobo 

530 miles in one day on a 97', stock seat,  no screen, more then 1/2 of it in the rain!  I suspect that Kerry may have all of us beat

Wayne

You can use a tail bag too!  They're pretty slick... 

Saddle Bags + Tail Bag == LOTS of room.



As for a 1/4 fairing...  There are several out there to choose from...  Search around.  Just FYI, the 1/4 fairings aren't going to move the air up much...  Basically from your navel to your nipples.