I am looking to learn how to ride, and it seems like the GS500 is the perfect bike to learn on.  I really prefer naked bikes, but I know that Suzuki stopped making the bike without fairings.  If I were to buy a GS500F, how difficult would it be to make it naked?  The gauges are not part of the fairing, right?  Are the front turn signals part of the fairing?  From what I can tell, I would just need to remove the fairings and mount a new headlamp.  Thanks for the help.

This should help  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=21212.0

thanks

Some have used their GSF headlight on GSE model.

I always loved that look, sort of transformer esk.  What brakets did you use to mount the GSF headlight?

When I had the stock F headlight on my naked bike, I used the Drag Specialties universal side mount headlight brackets from Dennis Kirk. Looked like this:


They need to be bent to fit the F headlight, and massaged with a mallet to fit the fork tubes though. Eventually I went to the E model round light.

Quote from: CapsFanBen on April 04, 2012, 08:22:52 AM
I am looking to learn how to ride, and it seems like the GS500 is the perfect bike to learn on.  I really prefer naked bikes, but I know that Suzuki stopped making the bike without fairings.  If I were to buy a GS500F, how difficult would it be to make it naked?  The gauges are not part of the fairing, right?  Are the front turn signals part of the fairing?  From what I can tell, I would just need to remove the fairings and mount a new headlamp.  Thanks for the help.

Seems like it would be cheaper/easier to just buy an earlier, naked model?? Keep in mind, virtually everybody drops or crashes their first bike, so there's a lot to be said for starting out on an older bike

Quote from: k.rollin on April 05, 2012, 02:46:17 PM
When I had the stock F headlight on my naked bike, I used the Drag Specialties universal side mount headlight brackets from Dennis Kirk. Looked like this:


They need to be bent to fit the F headlight, and massaged with a mallet to fit the fork tubes though. Eventually I went to the E model round light.

Hhhhmmmm, that's kinda cool lookin

I used a universal headlight bracket off of ebay. (sorry about the shitty cell pic)

Here is my naked bike conversion:

I like it Jessebeetle!

So question then.......how come when people convert an F to naked.....the don't remove that silly sticker from the tank? I know that there might be some sun damage, but you could always buff the tank out or paint the tank and tail. 

I still have a fully stock F, but someday, I just may buy an E so I could have one of each! 

Quote from: zute72 on April 08, 2012, 10:32:36 AM
So question then.......how come when people convert an F to naked.....the don't remove that silly sticker from the tank? I know that there might be some sun damage, but you could always buff the tank out or paint the tank and tail. 

I still have a fully stock F, but someday, I just may buy an E so I could have one of each! 

It's painted onto the tank

Mine actually is a decal/sticker that has been "painted on" with clear coat protection. So is that what you are meaning by "painted on?" Because it's definitely a decal/sticker.