@ Wayne: the lights came from lights4all.com, based in Germany.  Excellent quality, easy install, ultra fast delivery (even considering BE and GER are neighbouring countries)

@ Weedahoe: It's a 45 liter box (I've seen bigger  ).
But you're right, it does look a bit hefty on the GS.

I actually bought if for my Vespa-trip to Holland. (No Janx: no 'special herbs' or anything    I live next to the Dutch border, so a ride over to the closest 'coffee shop' will only take me 30 minutes.  Bringing back a casefull doesn't seem like a good idea though, as does getting high before getting on my bike...)

2 up and four days of riding meant quite a bit of luggage, so I went looking for a box.
Original Vespa cases were a) too small, b) waaay to expensive, c) not that safe, easy to break in to.
I went with this one because it could carry 2 full face helmets: nice when you're travelling to be able to leave your helmet with your bike in all circumstances.

I'm keeping it for now:  I got used to carrying a lot of stuff around (underseat storage in a Vespa GTS), so I have my rain gear (a must in Belgium), a big ass lock, some water, a towel, etc.
I might buy a smaller Monolock  case in the future, one that will carry only one helmet when I'm off and a small backpack when I'm on the bike.  But that's not anytime soon: other priorities in my budget.

What a cool license plate!   

I have many of the same upgrades.  I have the smoked signals and smoked LED tail light from lights4all.  The LED tail light looks SUPER good over stock, and it really stands out in traffic.  I also have the SW-Motech Alurack.  I really like how low profile it is. 

The only modification I would make to that rack is that the bottom of the rack's mounting bolts have the potential to scratch the tail fairings if it bounces around too much (and with a bigger case, there is a greater chance).  So I added some cut pieces of black rubber hose around those 4 bolts that come close to the tail plastic, so they if they do come into contact there won't be any scratches or missing paint. I think I used 5/16" OD hose, but I can't remember for sure.. it was some I had on the shelf from previous projects.

I have a 46L case by SHAD.  The mounting plate is a little different to Givi so I did have to make two extra holes in the Motech rack, but its a great fit otherwise.  I could have made an alternate plate to mount to the Motech rack, then that plate to the case so I didn't have to drill new holes, but I went the quicker route.

- Bboy

Cheers, Bboy, good tip on the bolts... 

My LEDs arrived in the mail today too.

Installed them right away...
The bright white on the dials looks great, and the indicators and neutral light are definitely more visible now.
I left the stock high beam bulb, as its brightness was just about right for me.

I did run into a problem with the oil-light.
I had to cut down the side of the red led to fit into the small wedge base.
Seems like I did something wrong there, because it just wouldn't fit properly. (worked fine for the two green lights)
In the end I decided to just put the stock bulb back in, but that also didn't work

Did I short out the socket?  Do I start looking for the fuses?
All help appreciated.

be nice if there was places in the us that sold gs500 aftermarket parts etc.

Rim stripes...



I'm thinking of taking the front fairings off this weekend to give the headers some TLC.
Don't know if I'll be using the WD40- approach or if I'm going with adidas' stove polish.

Depends on how the headers look, once I'm done cleaning / sanding.

Quote from: weedahoe on March 10, 2013, 09:07:38 PM
Bike looks great but DAMN thats a big box on the rear!

Picked up a smaller box today, wasn't really looking for one, but I noticed a model hanging on a display wall, labeled 'end of series'.  No pricetag.

Asked the nice lady behind the counter if she'd be willing to sell me the last one:
Got it for €30: the newer model (nearly the same: €70) 

Also bought a new front light: Philips X-treme vision.
Nice and bright, very white light.

I have the GS nearly a month now, did just over 1000km. Very happy with the bike overall.

I kind of wanted sliders for my f model, but just don't want to cut holes in the fairings i guess. Did you have to drill hole in frame to mount them?

Yes, the previous owner did.  Thing about the holes is: once the sliders are on, they don't really show... Took the slides off the other day to remove the fairing, then you really noticed them.
Once everything was back on, it just looked normal.

Ok, had the hazard lights installed tonight.
Drove over to the guy, he just rigged it up for me:  I could have done it myself, but he's just a lot faster (and cleaner) with a soldering iron.

The module he made switches on the hazard lights (4 turn signals blinking) when I quickly switch right, then left.
I can cancel them like I do normally when indicating.

The module has 4 wires that need to be connected:
switched power (tail light)
ground
left turn signal
right turn signal

I'll take a photograph of the setup tomorrow (too dark by the time I got back).  Not much to see, just a black project box and some wires...

I wanted to show you a short video of the lights working, but those who've seen my vlog-thread already know that I can be pretty stupid with camera's (had it mounted the wrong way today: all images were tilted  )
Tomorrow...

Should anyone be interested, here's the guy's website:  http://www.gelec.be/Motor%20cycle%20electronics.htm
He's really a great guy, and I love the simplicity of his product:
Counting the Vespas, this is my third motorcycle.  I had the module installed on all three.

You Sir, have my attention!! ... Hmmm... I shall investigate this and may just check around Aussieland.... If I ordered 10 .... I reckon I could shift them easy enough..... Lads??

I love simple and easy wire in modules... Like my Ignitor bike alarm (made in Aussie .. Not far from me... 2 wires and it shrieks like a banshee! ..

4 wires and no major bike pull apart!! ... Yeah boy!!!

Short vid, showing the module, wiring, use,...

The guy's website already says he'll ship overseas for 44€ all-in.
And that's just for one module.  I reckon he'll cut you a good deal if you order 10 or something.

Only one thing I was wondering about: I activate mine by quickly indicating right/left.
That would obviously have to be the other way around for all you backwards people 
Otherwise you'd have the hazards on every time you passed someone on the motorway.
Make sure you ask him about that.  If he hasn't thought of that already, I'm sure he'd be willing to make you a special batch.

Quote from: W79 on April 09, 2013, 08:27:05 AM
Only one thing I was wondering about: I activate mine by quickly indicating right/left.
That would obviously have to be the other way around for all you backwards people 
Otherwise you'd have the hazards on every time you passed someone on the motorway.
Make sure you ask him about that.  If he hasn't thought of that already, I'm sure he'd be willing to make you a special batch.

Or you could just wire it the other way around, I guess.  Think I need more sleep

cheers Wim, he does mention it in his site info... can be setup for either left/right or right/left ..

i'm in the process of asking around ride buddies with older bikes and also just around in general... there are other 'fixes' out there .. but most of them are hodge-podge ... i really like the 'plug and play' of this one!!.... plus i figure if you have installed on 3 bikes over the years and no complaints... its good!!..