Hey guys I'm new here, bought an '04 gs500f last October for my first bike.  I was pokin around this site and found the thread about defairing my bike to make it naked.  I'm really into this idea and wanted to know how big of a job it is?  Plus, I don't know how I will like all the wind...Is it really that big of a difference?  I'm also looking into a new exhaust since my stock is all scratched up...plus, I want my bike to sound a little better, you know?  How much work am I looking into with a project like that?  I have no welding experience so I would probably need something bolt on.  I was looking at the Jardine complete exhaust set which doesn't look like it requires any welding, but at $400 bucks I don't know.  What else would be involved with putting a new exhaust on?  I've gotten some mixed information from this and other sites, like having to rejet or something?  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

-Lucas

full exhaust means you have to rejet which means you have to open up your carbs. Taking all front fairings off is about a 1-2 hour job. Depending on what type of headlight you go with will depend on how long it takes you to actually finish.

Just take off all your plastics for a few hours, plug in all necessary wires, and ride it around.  It'll tell you how much more wind there will be.  As for headlight, if you're going to take it down to a naked, don't get a stocker, go different and differentiate it from every other gs500 on the road. 

Quote from: lnb001 on February 28, 2008, 09:34:37 PM
Hey guys I'm new here, bought an '04 gs500f last October for my first bike.  I was pokin around this site and found the thread about defairing my bike to make it naked.  I'm really into this idea and wanted to know how big of a job it is?  Plus, I don't know how I will like all the wind...Is it really that big of a difference?  I'm also looking into a new exhaust since my stock is all scratched up...plus, I want my bike to sound a little better, you know?  How much work am I looking into with a project like that?  I have no welding experience so I would probably need something bolt on.  I was looking at the Jardine complete exhaust set which doesn't look like it requires any welding, but at $400 bucks I don't know.  What else would be involved with putting a new exhaust on?  I've gotten some mixed information from this and other sites, like having to rejet or something?  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

-Lucas

full exhaust = rejet
nakked = looks better imo

the stock round globe makes the bike look natural. if you re-use the F headlight, it makes people look twice and wonder wth you're riding. in the past i didn't care for the F look, but i've changed my opinion that this hybrid F head light on a naked is pretty cool.

stock nakked:


wicked cool importbabe ( R ) idea:

wow great lookin bike....i think im deff. goin naked now 

Quote from: bombadillo on February 29, 2008, 12:29:05 AM
Just take off all your plastics for a few hours, plug in all necessary wires, and ride it around.  It'll tell you how much more wind there will be.  As for headlight, if you're going to take it down to a naked, don't get a stocker, go different and differentiate it from every other gs500 on the road. 

+1 - nakked = no wind protection what so ever. take a looong ride with all the plastics off and see if you hate it, 'cause you can only see what it looks like when it's parked

So can I pretty much use any type of headlight and brackets?  Or does it have to be off another GS500?  I am also seriously considering buying an exhaust and so far the Jardine Full exhaust system looks like my best bet.  Does $350.00 sound like a good deal on these?  If I'm not mistaken there is no welding involved with installing the new exhaust, is that right?  Thanks.

-Lucas

Quote from: lnb001 on February 29, 2008, 06:00:46 PM
So can I pretty much use any type of headlight and brackets?  Or does it have to be off another GS500?  I am also seriously considering buying an exhaust and so far the Jardine Full exhaust system looks like my best bet.  Does $350.00 sound like a good deal on these?  If I'm not mistaken there is no welding involved with installing the new exhaust, is that right?  Thanks.

-Lucas

yep thats my bike and all you need is some 12$ headlight brackets off of denniskirk.com . I also have a Jardine and can tell you there is no welding involved. As far as wind....yeah there is more but it doesnt bother me at all.