Hey guys just wanted to introduce myself, I am new to motorcycles after being in the Honda world and building a car there.  I have always wanted a motorcycle just never had the funds to get one.  Well about a month ago a buddy of mine traded me a few things I had laying around the house for a 98 GS500E he had sitting in storage that he never rode anymore.  This being my first bike I was stoked to get it.  And of course sense I am a gear-head at heart I couldn't leave it stock lol.  So here is some pictures of it from when I got it to tonight when I put on the new clubman bars.  Also if I posted this in the wrong place I apologize, just couldn't find the newbie intro section.  Looking at the pictures I am 6'1" so the bike seems kinda small for me, but it fits my fiance perfect so after this season it will be hers and I will be moving on to something bigger.  Right now I am just waiting on the new pegs to come in and then next payday it will be time for the rear katana wheel and shock mod and a 15t front sprocket. Also some progressive springs as the front is definitely to soft for me.




After removing the rear fairing and putting in a tail light from an 06 R6


Taking her for a ride after painting


GARAGE IS A MESS JUST IGNORE THAT LOL

if you and the misses do nothing else.. sign up for a motorcycle safety course and attend it. enjoy your new bike and hope to hear more from you here!

Good to see another newbie make it into the GS fold. Not sure about the black paint tho. Looks really sharp in Orange. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the orange and it was pretty rough looking paint,  Also I am in the military so when I go to drill this weekend I have to sign up for the safety course per them anyways. lol

If you are passing the bike along to your gal, forget about the Katana shock and wheel for now. The shock will raise the seat height and may make the ride too harsh for a lighter and shorter rider. If you keep the bike long-term go with the Katana wheel if you want to satisfy your mod bug, but the GS doesn't really seem to benefit much from it. The OEM 'clipon' bars are somewhat de riguer for hardcore GSerati in my mind, and the Sonic springs guy is a member on the board here

Yea I liked it orange too.  THat first pic looks great to me.  Welcome on and good job on posting pics! 

The orange looks great. Don't go flay black. everyone does that for lack of creativity. Boring. Keep the orange. Repaint the faded front fender back to original. Clean and clear coat the plastics and tank. They will look like new again.

It looks great in flat black.  Don't let Addy jostle you, it's not that he doesn't like flat black, it's just that he doesn't like any color that isn't stock.   

You sir have received good karma from me.  Not only did you properly post pictures in your first post/thread: One of the pictures is of a female on a GS500        Way To Go!  We need more members like you   

Quote from: Slack on April 11, 2013, 12:35:02 PM
Don't let Addy jostle you, it's not that he doesn't like flat black, it's just that he doesn't like any color that isn't stock.   

Well, while not 100% correct, it does rank up there around 95%. That other 5% has to be really special.

Quote from: SAFE-T on April 11, 2013, 07:39:39 AM
If you are passing the bike along to your gal, forget about the Katana shock and wheel for now. The shock will raise the seat height and may make the ride too harsh for a lighter and shorter rider. If you keep the bike long-term go with the Katana wheel if you want to satisfy your mod bug, but the GS doesn't really seem to benefit much from it. The OEM 'clipon' bars are somewhat de riguer for hardcore GSerati in my mind, and the Sonic springs guy is a member on the board here

agreed! I am 6"2 and with the kat shock on you raise the bike a bit (couple inches Im guessing). I have done this both for my height and I got some yummy in the tummy  .... you could always swap shock again when you hand it off to her..not gonna put my input on the wheel bc I haven't gotten there yet but I am alot more comfortable with the new shock on

1 paycheck at a time 

RESERVIST! lol just messing with you, thanks for serving.
And I think the orange was pretty bitchin too

Quote from: m_melen on April 12, 2013, 01:00:51 AM
RESERVIST! lol just messing with you, thanks for serving.
And I think the orange was pretty bitchin too

Yeah I hate being a reservist lol, I did it 3 1/2 years ago because I was told it was the quickest way back to active duty, total lie.  Now I just do it because it is cheap insurance and it is easy money.  I originally wanted to paint the bike satin white but since I am eventually going to be handing this bike off to my fiance she wanted it black so that is what I went with.  Eventually it is going to be the bike my daughters learn on lol.

 Dunno if you like the clubmans like that, but you can actually tilt them more forward if you use a riser of some kind.

I actually do like the clubman bars sitting like that, but I am planning on getting risers so I can move them back for the fiance to ride it also.  She is almost a foot shorter than me so she really can't grab the bars now unless she is laying on the tank lol.

 A cheap riser that I used is simply the top caps for the handlebars but put upside down right under them. All you need is longer bolts and you're set. Saves you a ton of money.

I read about that somewhere, but thanks for the info. 

For all of you that do not like the black have no fear, the bike will be going under the paint knife within the next few weeks.  Hopefully the next color I have chosen will be of your liking. lol

lol dont worry about people not liking your bike they didnt buy it for you and they dont ride it.  Do with it as you please.   I say  Ill ride whatever bike/color/mods you like if you want to buy it for me.

Great looking bike there bud!

Don't listen to what some knuckleheads say about your ride! Remember, it belongs to you!!!

I got my wife to ride our GS with a Kat shock on it, and she's 5' nothing, so learning to ride with some height issues is manageable, but do take the MSF course. Besides, being military its free!!!

Well I got the new paint job and some more parts will post pics tomorrow.