I have been trolling these forums since I bought my 04 GS500F in 09. I had the best of plans to upgrade my bike to something fuel injected and makes girls ***cough*** tingle  ! BUT, instead of taking my cash and buying new, I paid of all my debt and the remaining cash is going into a custom build. I love my GS, put thousands of miles on it, but I ride year round and am tired of re-jetting for weather. I am having a hard time talking myself out of the phenomenal handling, get up, and especially gas mileage from my bike and putting my money and effort into a new different bike! cosmetically I am not a fan of the F, so my build is mostly cosmetic! I have the best plans to buy a seized motor this winter and bore it out, lobe the cams, all that fancy stuff I read about in my motorcycle magazine, but for this summer it is mostly the sexual appeal!  I have the ole stock GS500F, plus some new additions. Mostly scratches, dents, and some bugs I picked up on my ride this morning. I will be starting the project next week, and will take many many pictures before during and after!

As soon as I figure out how to post pictures on this fancy computer-ma-bob I will put some up. It's the blue design 04 GS500F though, very basic!

yesterday I ordered suburban machinery type 2 handlebars, new grips, and xenon replacement light for the headlight.

I just left the muffler shop for a custom fitted exhaust! We are going to route the pipe up through the fender well (after we heat shield the crap out of it of course) and the muffler will come out behind the bike directly under the tail light! I am torn between Yoshimura RS-5 Slip-On, Leo Vince LV-One Slip-On, and Vance & Hines CS One Slip-On. I think I am going to go with the Leo Vince LV just based on the size and look, but the reviews on it are top notch as well. I am re-jetting with a stage 1 simultaneously. We drew up plans for a license plate bracket that works, putting the plate directly under the exhaust!

I took the fairings off and am filling all the scratches and nicks, as well as the front turn signal cutout. I am putting in CBR flush mount LED turn signals, and GSXR turn signal mirrors. I am also putting in an integrated rear light, getting rid of the stick out signals in the back.

I have a buddy in the Air Guard with me who custom wraps vehicles with vinyl. We are doing a simple black and white plaid design over all the plastics. The background will be hurt your eyes neon white, and the plaid design will be solid black. I am having the windscreen tinted limo black, and then etched with a rooster, and the grooves of the etching will be filled in with a white epoxy( I am hoping this looks as BA in real life as it does in my mind).

The seat is coming off and we are putting a fancy gel that saves your  ! The passenger pad is going to be flat so my passenger stops sliding into me, with a little less of a slope on the driver part of the pad for me. The cloth covering the seat will have my motorcycle prayer on it
"Before my bike shall hit the street,
I pray my license I will keep.
should I crash fore I arrive,
I pray the lord keep me alive"

The Suzuki casing is coming off and being customized to say my name instead of the Suzuki S.

I am still trying to decide if I should put different springs in the forks, or put the tubes in to pre-load the stock springs to help the front end drop when braking!

Any input, advice, crass criticism is greatly appreciated!

I can't say I am a fan of your cosmetic 'upgrades' ~ the girls are more likely to be impressed by a mullet LOL.

As far as the undertail exhaust goes, have you considered using a stock muffler from something else like a CBR600RR or ZX636RR ? Might be less expensive and quieter, unless you like your bike to have that gronky dinosaur sound.

The GSXR mirror bases are the wrong angle for the GS500 ~ see if you can find something else that works better. And why do you need CBR flushmount signals if you have integrated signals out back and signal light mirrors up front ?

Don't overlook your suspension ~ the GS500 can be improved for cheap in this area with a set of Sonic fork springs and heavier weight fork oil, and an R6 shock out back.

But if you are just looking to impress people that don't know any better in the first place, I will remind you that the 'Starsky and Hutch' Gran Torino was once car-of-the-year, and coveted by young adult males across the nation...

Quote from: SAFE-T on April 12, 2012, 07:54:45 AM
The GSXR mirror bases are the wrong angle for the GS500 ~ see if you can find something else that works better. And why do you need CBR flushmount signals if you have integrated signals out back and signal light mirrors up front ?

Since its a gsf, if he removed the front turn signals there would be holes in the fairings.  Thats why he needs the flushmounts, but the gixxer mirrors are probably just for more bling since he is pimping it out.  I am interested to see how the undertail exhaust comes out. I personally prefer to have standard side mounted pipes, but It's always cool to see how people do things.

need picts!

But he is removing the front signals, filling in the holes, then putting flushmounts on to replace the signal lights he removed, then adding mirrors with signal lights as well...

   

He might also add a set of bar end signal lights, and remote-activated chevrons on the backside of the mirrors facing traffic behind, plus a pair on his helmet

This way he would have 300% more signal lights on his one horned one eyed plaid people eater

Quote from: SAFE-T on April 12, 2012, 10:40:48 AM
He might also add a set of bar end signal lights, and remote-activated chevrons on the backside of the mirrors facing traffic behind, plus a pair on his helmet

This way he would have 300% more signal lights on his one horned one eyed plaid people eater

Seems like overkill, yet people still don't seem to see the turn signal! I bought the mirrors since I think the stock mirrors look shrek-ish. Then decided on  flush mount. Might replace with shorter mirors with no signals.

I am leaning towards the LV one Evo II slip on exhuast for the bike, I am ordering the 05CBR pipe so it is in the horizontal position, it is more for look than performance. I don't mind the growl sound of a track bike, but I'm not excited about having the local cops follow me around town either.

I have been putting together a list of how to improve the uspension. Been looking at R6 shocks, and have been internally arguing over to go with a new spring or put the preload tube in ... I have 15 weight in the forks already. I am interested in more than cosmetic, but improving the bike performance and mechanics is a winter project. I can't be without my baby when the weather is this nice

Quote from: SAFE-T on April 12, 2012, 07:50:45 AM
I can't say I am a fan of your cosmetic 'upgrades' ~ the girls are more likely to be impressed by a mullet LOL.

I like it better than going the vampire with feelings route.


How do attach pics, I am a mechanic not a computerist! <--- real word

Quote from: SAFE-T on April 12, 2012, 07:54:45 AM
The GSXR mirror bases are the wrong angle for the GS500 ~ see if you can find something else that works better. And why do you need CBR flushmount signals if you have integrated signals out back and signal light mirrors up front ?

I am handy with fiberglass and plastifix. I was thinking of custom mounting the gsxr mirrors. I haven't been able to locate any talk or replacement mirrors that don't stick out 5 feet. Know of anywhere I can find some info on this?

A set of $85 springs is going to outperform a set of $0.85 pvc spacers

Got the K&N filter and jet kit! Is it worth the money to rejet and dyno, or old school it and buy a million spark plugs and look at the color after changing the jets a million times?

You bought a jet kit? Use it and the jetting info in the Wiki. Then report back here and let us know what you think.

I've never used more than a couple sets of plugs - even then I hold the old ones for later use.

I'll give the Wiki a look tonight, my SM Type II handlebars just came in the mail. Was gonna put them on but we are having a huge storm tonight and I have no garage. I'll throw those on tomorrow and put up some pics.

Just put on the new Suburban Machinery Type II handle bars. There is a huge difference in handling and position. It's a committed forward position but not track committed, still comfortable enough for longer rides it feels like. Took a 10 minute ride to test the bike, handling is a lot more aggresive than stock. You can feel every bump and dip in the road, wasn't hard to maintain proper riding control, you can just feel it. I read a lot of reviews that complained about vibration. I road 5-80 M.P.H. and felt no vibration, I haven't put in the bar weights yet, just ran them straight handlebars. I really enjoy the look of the new bars and love the new control and feel of the bars. I have pictures, still can't figure out how to post them. I have searched throughout the help, and forums, still can't figure out how to post pictures. Any help with that?

Do you have a photobucket account?

Quote from: Big Rich on April 14, 2012, 01:29:39 PM
Do you have a photobucket account?

No should I make one?

It's free, and easy to use IMO. After uploading pics, just copy and paste the "IMG" code underneath them.