Long time lurker, first time poster
Well last August, I purchased a 2006 Suzuki GS500F with 193.4 miles on it, for $3,000.
The name stems from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds. I fell in love with "Eleanor", the Shelby GT500. Since I bought a GS500F, I named her Shelby.

She started like this:





Since with Wisconsin weather, I only had a few months left in the riding season, I promptly put on 2,500 miles, and one lowside.
I put her away for the winter, on the centerstand with a block under the engine to keep the tires up, and took all the plastic off.
I had decided (after my little run-in with the pavement) to paint her gloss black, and add orange airbrushed accents. After spending a few months wetsanding with 1000 grit, I repaired the damaged plastic with a butane soldering iron, fiberglass mesh, and JB Plastic Weld. I sanded down the decals that were under the clearcoat on the tank, and prepped everything for paint.

Motocross bars. I hate MX bars. With a passion. The first thing I purchased was a pair of Vortex's finest, 37mm dust black anodized race clip ons. Since I had the F model, mounting under the triple was out of the question. After spending hours reading this website, and the wiki, I pulled up the forks a bit, and decided to fabricate a new top triple to hold the gauges. I bought a piece of plate aluminum, measured, cut, and bent a new bracket, which just barely cleared the brake master cylinder. Finally I got her painted, and here's how it turned out






Linked due to ferocious size:
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/5337/shelby2w.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5021/shelby1o.jpg

I plan on adding a V&H or Yoshimura TRS Slip-On. Not sure about a rejet and a new filter, but either way the orange airbrush should be finished before summertime.
What do you guys think?

Very nice looking F you've got there, nice job!  I love the clip ons and the plate you made, well done.  Black and orange is one of my favorite color combo's too, so looking forward to seeing her with the orange!

Nice bike but why is everyone putting on practically non-existant turn signals. Are we not afraid of getting t-boned when making a turn?

Keep up the good work and do some real turn signals!

Mary

To be honest, you could have 3" ball strobe lights for signals, and still get T-Boned. Cagers don't look regardless, so I simply drive as defensively as I can, keep myself in a gear where I can get moving fast, and keep my head up.

I forgot to mention - Reflectors were removed, flushmounts added. My next plan will absolutely abolish the tail end. I'll be integrating the tail lights via this mod. My license plate mount will consist of a few hinges, and a small servo motor wired to a toggle switch on the right handlebar. 

Yeah but I don't want to give them a reason or a cop to say well it's your fault for not having DOT approved turn signals. I seriously doubt they are DOT right? Don't know bout your state but FL says I gotta keep my reflectors!

The more I can make cagers "SEE" me the better. Just not a proponent of invisible riding because I've had more close calls that way. I mean no wonder they couldn't see you because you were 'trying' to not be seen.

My thoughts!
Mary

In WI we don't need indicators or mirrors. If you don't have indicators, you have to signal with your hands.

dunno - it doesn't speak of Carroll Shelby to me without two wide stripes...


Also another vote for real signal/brake lights as opposed to jokes, but not expecting to change the minds of people who prefer jokes over functional signals.

"Whut's wrong with that guy's brake light? Huh, dunno, guess I'll pass him, since he's slowing down for no reason. Whups! I guess he though he was signalling to turn left, and now he's done gone and turned into hamburger all over my shiny front grill."

Looks good!  I have signals like that and really small ones on the rear.  Motorcycles will never be safe.  Make it look like you want and drive it as defensively and safely as you can.  Cagers don't look for you with or without signals so just watch out and have fun!

the blacked-out look is pretty cool.  if you did ghost flames in a burnt orange it would look bada@@!!

Ehh, I thought about ghost flames, but I think they're overplayed.
I really want to do some kind of tribal design in a burnt orange airbrush, and then I'd have my wheels powder coated to match.

Tribal designs are just as burnt out as the flames. Look at all the Hardly Abelsons it is either one or the other.

But do what you want you are the only person you have to satisfy. Yes motorcycle are dangerous but that doesnt' mean you should make it MORE dangerous. Your hospital bills not mine unless you don't have insurance then yup I gotta pay for your poor decision making. And honestly those without indicators do you always use hand signals? Doubt it! I'm not saying use stock but use ones that at least can be noticed with minimal effort!

Ahh, forget it why waste my time trying to help somebody. Probably don't wear gear either. Just say your an organ donor and I'll be fine. I'm up for a heart transplant soon if your O+ can I have yours?

Mary

Quite the opposite, I always wear my full jacket with CE approved armor, icon leather gloves with those huge knucklebusters, and Icon riding jeans, and shoes that cover my ankle.

Dress for the fall, not for the ride.

Nice looking bike there bro. 

Gracias senior. 

But you need a seat cowl 

This is true, but I do carry women on the back regularly.

No prob, they just snap right off 

Cool ATGATT! I got to try mine out a week ago not fun! Stinkin debris! Armor helps trust me!


Mary

Very clean looking. I like it.

Nice looking bike! I have to agree that Gone in 60 Seconds (the original, not the remake) is an awesome movie. I still want the Mustang from that movie so bad. The remake had a cool Mustang too, but that's about all it had going for it....