In short, my GS500F ended up on its side and the left fairing is jacked up.  Not going to go into the details because it'll just highlight my being an idiot.  The indicator is halfway through the fairing with a good bit of splintering around the crack, the upper and lower edges have nice deep scratches, and there is another crack in the middle of the fairing with splintering on both edges.

Haven't had the time to check out the rest of the damage but it's enough to need to repair/replace it.  It's killing me that my bike is in this condition - little bit of my OCD.  My research has indicated that the fairings for '02 through '09 are identical on the GS500F.  Is this true/false?

Expect an update to this with photos, etc. later this week.  Have searched eBay a number of times with no luck - lots of right fairings for sale but no left fairings.  Is dropping it onto the left just that common? 

Just finished listing a WTB on the forums so that's out of the way.  However, would any of you be kind enough to walk me through my other options for fixing this nightmare?  Also, what are the listings on eBay for 'inner fairings'?

- Wheeler

EDIT: FYI, it's the black and silver GS500F, not blue and white.

I'm almost certain that the fairings are interchangeable for all years. Adidasguy would know best though. As far as fixing it up you could try and use fiberglass. You would have to plan on repainting your whole bike though if you wanted to have it matching colors again.

Yeah, that's not the best option for me - it was a lot of work just to clean out the jets on my own.  Having never worked with fiberglass or even paint and decals, it's a big risk.  :\

It's been weighing on my mind the entire night; checking out part numbers the 'under cowling' is about $220 and each of the four decal kits are about $30 each ... now the option of forcing the splinters back together and ignoring the other damage isn't as bad in my mind - the bike itself was just $3K.

Hmmm. Well, your a new rider right? If so, it is best to just keep the stuff that is broken broken cause something similar will most likely happen again. You should wait to put a bunch of money into your bike to make it nicer looking. That being said, fiber glass is pretty cheap (60 dollars for resin and enough matting to do the job) and pretty easy to do. I just wrote up a memorandum for school on how to do it and I could send it to you if you'd like. Painting is rather simple too, and for the front fairings it would probably require 2 rattle cans of whatever color you want, one rattle can of paint, and about 50 dollars of decals that arent from online, just in store purchases. The whole fix would cost you about 150 dollars.

There are a set of black and silver fairings on ebay right now. Not cheap on the shipping IMO

Is this the listing you were referring to or another?  Would you be kind enough to link to it for me?

I didn't see that one but seen these. Either way, about the same cost

http://www.ebay.com/itm/04-09-Suzuki-GS500F-Left-Fairing-04-09-GS-500-USED-94481-01D00-GS-500-500F-/121056830645?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ASuzuki%7CModel%3AGS&hash=item1c2f8ca4b5&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/04-09-Suzuki-GS500F-Right-Fairing-USED-94471-01D00-GS-500-500F-/121056879811?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c2f8d64c3&vxp=mtr

Got it; thank you for helping with the search but my fairing isn't near as bad condition as the pair in that listing.  Expecting to have photos of the exact 'damage' later but so far other people's 'used' have me thinking my fairings are in good condition.

Your fairing is in one piece right? Just has road rash/small cracks?

I went out and bought some "QuickSteel" from Wal-Mart along with a few bondo spreaders. It seems like it will do a good job, I haven't gotten that far yet.

You should post some pics of the damage.

Well, since you're not up for the repairs yourself, I won't waste your time with how to fix them. But, I do the repairs myself as a secondary income to help pay bills while going for my engineering masters, and I just happened to finish a 05 GS500F that I'm selling now. Anyways, the point is, if you want, I can repair your current fairings damage and repaint your whole bike for $300. Obviously the issue would be how far away are we, and I'm in Starkville, MS. I can also paint just the one fairing to match the stock look exactly, but that would cost you about $200 because the stock paint is expensive, and so are the decals. The photo below is of my paintjob on my current GS500F for sale.

Hopefully this doesn't come across as a sales pitch. Other than this offer, as a ebay seller and parts buyer, I'd say just be patient and eventually you'll find a really good deal on what you're looking for. 

You can get a new one (stickers are extra) with stickers for under $300.
Not sure which year you have, but prices are same for all recent years.

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Suzuki/Motorcycle/2008/GS500F/UNDER+COWLING++%28GS500FK7%29/parts.html

If not 2008, then select your year, make and model.

Wow I had no idea that the GS500F's fairings were so cheap (in comparison to other models). Even my local dealer has them for under $300. Heck, I'd definitely go that way Wheeler if you're going to be spending the money anyways. Then I recommend getting some frame sliders to protect your fairings in the future. They actually look pretty good on most bikes.

Yep - sliders do look cool. I use the R&G sliders and R&G muffler guards along with R&G bar ends.


There's lots of add-ons here.
R&G sliders
R&G bar ends
R&G muffler guards
side marker.turn signals
smoke turn signal lenses
Harley fork reflectors
Denali fog lights
SW Motech mirror extenders
Lights4All LED rear brake light
Rear hugger
Stainles ssteel chain guard (painted black)
Front fender mud flap aka fender-extender
Zero gravity sport touring windshield
Probably other things I forgot to mention...

Oh, yea, custom seat

Quote from: adidasguy on January 28, 2013, 01:46:28 AM
There's lots of add-ons here.
R&G sliders
R&G bar ends
R&G muffler guards
side marker.turn signals
smoke turn signal lenses
Harley fork reflectors
Denali fog lights
SW Motech mirror extenders
Lights4All LED rear brake light
Rear hugger
Stainles ssteel chain guard (painted black)
Front fender mud flap aka fender-extender
Zero gravity sport touring windshield
Probably other things I forgot to mention...

Oh, yea, custom seat

+ SW-Motech Alu-Rack, and cortech? top bag
+ White Rim Stripes

...also, did you paint the kickplates black?

- Bboy

+1 on the rack. Bag is Bags Connection. Bought as a set from Twisted Throttle.
+1 Heel guards painted black.
Rims had tape. Now have NOS OEM white 1989 rims with decorative tape.

also blue chain and 15t front sprocket
Euro type-1 clip-ons.
Stem mounted clock from Clocks for Bikes.
Helmet locks on license plate mount.
Sonic springs 0.85
LSL levers
Roaring Toyz quick release gas cap in blue
A couple super big ass neodymium magnets inside the fairing bottom to trip traffic signals
Garmin GPS mount wired in and RAM mount on right control mirror mount spot (because we don't have handle bar mounted mirrors)
MosFet regulator
LiFe Shorai 14ah battery
All LED indicator and gauge lights
White LEDs inside thefairing so it glows like a f**king christmas tree at night
Hugger and front mud flap are real carbon fiber - not the imitation stuff.
RAM Camera mount on left mirror and left handle bar. Mirror mount vibrates too much. Handle bar mount is OK but looks through windshield.
Painted those plastic swing arm bolt caps black. No idea why they are silver on a black frame.

I guess that's why people come up to me and say "Nice bike!"

I believe it is the attention to detail and all the little things that make Suzi look so good. Nothing radical to chop her up was done in an attempt to make a bike that would "impress the quids". I get complements from liter bikers and Harley dudes as well as foot traffic. I was never out to impress anyone - just to make a really nice bike I could be proud of and enjoy.

Here are the photos of the damage - it's bad but not as bad as expected, no missing chunks or large gaps.  It's clear now that my recollection was exaggerated - though, to be fair this happened at night.  Plus, it was dark, I tripped, and I hurt my knee ... it was smoky, too.  Bonus for the people that recognize the quote. 

Now, with the damage extending from the side to the front fairing ... replacement of both pieces just isn't an option ($650+); my local dealers have the fairings for $275 but that's not including the 3-4 sticker kits and each runs upwards of $40.  Instead, my thought is to just re-set the plastic, reinforce it with epoxy or another solution from the inside and ignore it.  The back fastener just needs a nice "Suzuki" sticker over it - like this.

   

   

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Zethioth, how did things go with the QuickSteel and Bondo?

You have my thanks for the repair option, mcg2000.  However, thinking about having a go at it on my own - even have a few ideas drafted up for painting it after checking out your handiwork.  However, that's an idea for later.  Do you have any tips or tricks for repairs?

Out of the inspiration that was adidasguy's incredible ride, the sliders are on my list of enhancements.  However, hole exists for any kind of peg or shaft.  How do I go about adding the sliders to my bike in the future?  Just drill it out?

You drill a hole. Instructions come with the sliders.
First, locate the center of the engine bolt. Drill a tiny hole. if not right, drill another and another until you know you have the exact center location. Then use the larger hole saw or forstner bit to drill the big hole.
My set came with a pointy bolt. You remove fairings. Install new engine bolt and base of sliders. Put on the pointy bolt with some paint on it. Put fairing back and see where the pointy thing marked the fairing. Drill there.

Plastic repair:Look up PLASTEX. It works GREAT. You can even use it to build missing pieces. a friend repaired his CBR fairings with it. I've repaired some and built up missing tabs.

My coworker had hinted at searching eBay for 'cheap-ish Chinese knock-off fairings for Suzuki'.  Do any of you have a clue about this or recommendations for/against it as another option?

Quote from: wheeler32 on January 29, 2013, 04:27:58 PM
My coworker had hinted at searching eBay for 'cheap-ish Chinese knock-off fairings for Suzuki'.  Do any of you have a clue about this or recommendations for/against it as another option?

There are none for the GS500.

Quote from: wheeler32 on January 28, 2013, 05:43:44 PM
   

   

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Zethioth, how did things go with the QuickSteel and Bondo?

Looking at your picks, the best way and only way (in my opinion) to fix those cracks would be to Plastic Weld them with a Welder/Soldering Iron.

After more research, I decided against the use of QuickSteel and Bondo. My fairings are just road rashed, I hear Bondo is not a good option because it doesn't flex.

So, If I need just a filler for the plastic, what are my options guys? Do they make Bondo for plastics? Is that fiberglass?