Hello everyone, new to the forum and new to the GS500!!!!!  Just picked mine up a couple of months ago, 2005, all nice and naked!  I am noticing most of the performance parts out there are for 2002 and older, how much different is the 2005 version?  Does anyone know of any manufacturers who have released aftermarket parts specifically for the 2005?  Thanks for your time, I'll be seeing you all on this world's twistiest roads!   

Good choice on the naked '05. They are the best looking.



You should take the stickers off the tail plastics. It looks so much better without them.

The GSes are all pretty much the same, all the way back to 1989. For a list of model year changes, go here: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Main/YearChanges

For "performance" upgrades, the first thing you need to do is change the suspension. It sucks. Get your suspension upgraded first, then start upgrading power. Straight rate springs or Progressives in the front, Katana shock in the rear.

http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Main/Upgrades

Tons of upgrade information there.

And just so pandy doesn't get pissed off at me, Welcome!

Welcome, hdragon! 

Don't mind Alpha...he's one of the harmless ol' coots on GSTwin! 

WOOT



-El Turdo.

DAMMIT!!!

Alpha AND Turd got the blue tails before me!!!


Welcome hdragon!

Mine is an 05...blue tail from the factory, SUCKA.

Welcome hdragon.  Hope to see you become a regular around here!

-Turd.

Welcome!

Disc brakes are considered performance parts...












Back in 1978.

welcome
ride it
make some comfort changes so you will ride it more
then ride some more,  enjoy the beautiful days on a bike


if you want more power....sell it in a year or so and buy more power (insert yor favorite cruizer or sportbike here)....more power on a gs is 3-4 HP.....and it really isn't worth hundreds of dollars for something you will barely notice.

I'm a "nay-sayer" and a pessimist.  Even I was impressed with the difference a K&N lunchbox filter and a quick carb rejet gave me.  The bike is much more alive from 7-10k RPM.  All told, I think I spent $55.

Toss a 15t sprocket on the front and go nuts.

-Turd.

Thanks everyone, great pics, I'll post some of my machine in a bit, being stock, you all know what it looks like at the moment  .  Were the stickers easy to get off the tail section?   

Absolutely easy to get off.  I picked up an edge...and started pulling.  There was a small bit of residue left over so I busted out the WD-40 and they came right off.  Gave the bike a quick bath, applied wax to the area where the sticker was (and where the WD-40 touched) and that was that!

It looks so much better.

-Turd.

Fantastic, thanks Turd, the pics with the tail without stickers look great.  Now I've got a simple little project for the weekend!  Greatly appreciated!