So, it seems like there is no "local" (ie: USA) company selling frame sliders marketed as compatible with the GS500.

I dont get it: what's so special about em?
Looking at the install notes from the UK company R&G, at
http://www.rg-racing.com/Images/Products/ProductFields/pdf195_60.pdf

and ignoring the fairing issues, it seems like installation can be summed up as:

1. remove old engine bolt
2. remove old engine "bar"
3. install new bar + some spacers + "extensions"
4. install new bolts, with "sliders" on the end of em

Seems fairly basic stuff. What's so wierd about the gs500, that it cant fit a gsx600 or gsx400 frame slider kit, or equivalent?

Bolts are bolts. They come in all sizes. if something results in sliders that are just a little wider than a custom fitted kit... I personally wouldnt care.

Is the issue that the gs500 "engine bar" is too weak, and needs to be replaced, whereas on other bikes, they dont need the new engine bar?

side note: This page, for kawa ex500, http://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php/Frame_Sliders
suggests that "For less money than the BRG frame sliders you can replace the long bolt the front of the engine is mounted with, with a piece of threaded rod, available from many hardware stores, and use this as an attachment point for generic frame sliders on either end of the rod. "

So why cant we do the same ?? !!

To fasten crash bobbins, you need threads on both ends of the bolt. GS has threads only on one end, hence you need a different bolt.
Some sliders faster with a bracket. Again, the GS bolt is not long enough for  bracket to fit under each end so you need a bolt about 1/2" longer.
Some sliders fasten on 2 points so if the 2 points are not in the right place, they won't fit.
Some sliders have a different diameter bolt or different threads - again a bolt change would be needed or you drill out the center of the slider to a larger diameter.

Not a big deal - just know what side you need and make it fit.

Engine bars are easy to get - either Renntec or SW Motec are available in the US. Since the squids in the US are into liter bikes, you just don't find as much in after market parts for anything less than a 750. Even though things might fit, they don't want to waste their time advertising for a bike which people don't buy many after market parts for.

Given what a couple US distributors charge, I find it cheaper to order direct from R&G or M and P in the UK.

Another example: LSL makes adjustable levers for all Suzuki bikes (even the GS500). However, their only distributor in the US (Speigler) does not carry ANY of the LSL levers for ANY model Suzuki. I order direct from Hesa Motorsport in Germany.

Quote from: adidasguy on September 02, 2011, 02:00:24 PM
...
Engine bars are easy to get - either Renntec or SW Motec are available in the US. Since the squids in the US are into liter bikes, you just don't find as much in after market parts for anything less than a 750. Even though things might fit, they don't want to waste their time advertising for a bike which people don't buy many after market parts for.

Yeeesh. "Advertising" is one thing. But it costs them virtually nothing to just mark it "compatible with"...
grmblegrmble...

Quote from: Phil B on September 02, 2011, 03:35:35 PM

Yeeesh. "Advertising" is one thing. But it costs them virtually nothing to just mark it "compatible with"...
grmblegrmble...

They do need to get a bike, put them on and be sure they fit. So compatibility is not free. I've been frustrated buying "compatible with...." only to find it doesn't fit exactly right and I have to fiddle with it to get it on or grind & drill to make it fit.

Pretty sure T-Rex is a US based company that makes sliders for the GS.

http://www.t-rex-racing.com/

Want the best? Drop in here:

http://www.promotomelb.com/indexmain.html

OK, OK, know it's an Ozzie company but if we can yump around in Afganistan together, we can sure share our frame sliders too 

Yup, we don't call 'em frame sliders down here, we call them Oggy Knobs - after one particular brand - even if they are not that brand.

Michael

Quote from: Twisted on September 02, 2011, 08:51:06 PM
Pretty sure T-Rex is a US based company that makes sliders for the GS.

http://www.t-rex-racing.com/

ooooo... yup
they need to do some search engine optimization

http://t-rex-racing.com/catalog.php?item=253

thanks
(although I dont see pictures, so wondering if they are as good as the R&G ones, placement wise)

the t-rex website says they're for the 500f, but is there a reason why they wouldn't work on a 500e?  it looks like they mount around the engine block and don't have anything to do with the fairing.  anyone know?

Search for eBay seller motorcyclecrashprotection 38 quid for crash bobbins for gs500

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T-Rex-Suzuki-04-on-GS500F-Frame-Sliders-No-Cut-UHMW-PE-/300604401466?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item45fd6b273a

Quote from: aussiegs on November 08, 2011, 02:19:09 AM
Search for eBay seller motorcyclecrashprotection 38 quid for crash bobbins for gs500

couldnt find him on either US or AU ebay

Found it.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/260851649901

Cool. They should show them on a bike though.

My opinions on frame sliders are pretty well known.

With that said, any of the engine mounted GS500F frame sliders should work just fine on a GS500E. Frame and engine haven't changed significantly.

Some of the GS500F frame sliders are designed to mount to the brackets that support the F series fairings. You absolutely do not want these sliders, whether you have an F or not - they *will* damage your fairings in a tip-over.

Quote from: burning1 on November 08, 2011, 10:58:31 PM
...
Some of the GS500F frame sliders are designed to mount to the brackets that support the F series fairings. You absolutely do not want these sliders, whether you have an F or not - they *will* damage your fairings in a tip-over.

well... in a HARD tipover.

In a "ahh, no, I stopped at a lean, its' not balancing it's going over, nooooooo!" tipover, they are still useful
The dinky ones kept my 'F' clean for multiple of those, until I had a "real" off.
But then, yeah, fairing bracket snapped off because of them.

Kinda had to laff at the T-Rex sliders pic. The bike has been dropped on the left side.

Quote from: aussiegs on November 08, 2011, 02:19:09 AM
Search for eBay seller motorcyclecrashprotection 38 quid for crash bobbins for gs500

Just purchased a set of these and should have them in a couple weeks.  The only question is whether, as a yank, I should refer to them as bobbins or sliders.

I'll take a picture and post as soon as I have them mounted so people can see what they look like on the bike.

Bobbins = bike fell over and was not moving.

Sliders = bike moving when fell over hence the bike "slid" on the "sliders"

Quote from: SAFE-T on November 10, 2011, 10:25:39 AM
Kinda had to laff at the T-Rex sliders pic. The bike has been dropped on the left side.

Look carefully - dropped on both sides.
I would not trust something mounted with the tiny engine case bolts. One of those ripping out or cracking the case = new engine block.
I prefer the ones mounted to the real engine mounts. The hole in the fairing doesn't bother me and I think looks kinds cool.