i just purchased a 2009 gs500f last weekend and already decided i wanted to remove the fairings after looking at other peoples pictures, the look just really caught my eye. i got the bike for about a grand under retail price because they dropped it at the shop, the only damage is a ding in the tank, the tail light is missing the lens and the rear fairing is temporarily held together with a couple zip ties. so far i have removed the plastics, added bar end mirrors, and painted the head light brackets. im waiting for the new turn signals and tail light to be delivered.

eventually i will:
get a new tank
get a new full tail fairing
upgrade both sets of foot pegs
maybe new handlebars
a better set of bar end mirrors
paint job, not quite sure on colors yet
possibly a different seat but i havent looked into them

i will post pictures as i go, before and after

the first photo is at the dealer ship, second is in my driveway next to my uncles r6

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1st photo stripped down
2nd with new headlight brackets
the rest of the photos will be how it looks at the moment

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ttt

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Nice to see some new pictures of that mod.

Now will the light hit the fender on spring compression? Thats the question as I have heard it does.

Looks good.

I say ride it a bit before you paint. I wouldnt paint it personally. Looks good as is.

unfortunately it does hit the fender, i have done it once already pulling into my driveway. i pushed the light up as far as possible, there is little room between the light and the gauges. the more i look at it the more i like the blue but once i get a new gas tank it will need to be painted unless i catch a break and find a blue one. brand new ones are running about $800 on the one site i saw

on the light hitting fender question... those clamps you have are common enough .. but only go out a certain length .. i had the same ones but using the twin bug eye lights .. while i had the fairing away for repair... and the bug eye lights dont project downwards like the fairing unit.....

however .. was thinking .. if you wanted to gain height to clear the fender... what about something like this

Chose blue because you said you liked blue ..

and with the twin bolts on the steel part of the clamp ... that would give you a nice solid 2 point axis to run out a couple of maybe polished alloy? arms .. and attach to the headlight ..

the clamps could be mounted up higher (just under the main handlebar plate) .. and the arms could come forward enough so the rear of the headlight 'just' clears the gauges?? .... only thing i dont know if this would then look a bit 'gangly' .. ??

just a thought eh?

If you are interested in selling those fairings, Im sure someone here will take them off your hands for the right price.

The Dennis Kirk light mounts that I bought are alright but they won't stay locked in so I just cranked the bolts down tight and am hoping they won't move. Those clamps you posted seem alright but do they have holes to mount arms or would some holes need to be drilled or maybe even weld something on?

Weedahoe, I posted everything in the for sale section, I asked adidasguy what I should ask for them so I assume the prices are fair

With the clamps ... I was thinking if you used a flat bar with appropriate holes in it ... And put the bar between the bolt heads and the plate, so you get a twin fixing point along the axis of the mount bar ?
This should minimise any flex or vibration I hope....

Don't know if there is any 'spare' bolt length to allow this ... But I figure that a longer bolt could always be used ... Main thing you need is to have a secure clamp that you can add a mounting bar to.... Unless Dennis Kirk makes those style ones but with at least twice as much extension? Roughly ...

the dennis kirk brackets seem to be holding the headlight still so for now i am going to leave as is. i do need to figure out my bar end mirrors though

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTORCYCLE-3-ROUND-BLACK-7-8-HANDLE-BAR-END-MIRRORS-CAFE-RACER-BOBBER-CLUBMAN-/110946456694?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19d4ec9476&vxp=mtr

i bought these bar end mirrors and although they look great... they are less than favorable. they fit loosely into my stock handle bars and they tighten like shiznit. you are supposed to tighten the hex bolt and it will suck in the nut on the back which then spreads the collets. unfortunately when you tighten the bolt.. everything spins so in reality it doesnt tighten. so i had to take vise grips and hold the nut still then tap the piece into the handlebars with a rubber mallet. the left side one moves in the wind and i cant tighten them any more. any better bar end mirrors or ideas? i like the small round ones, this set up is just awful

Remove the collets... Take the rubbers off your old bar ends ... Switch them over? ....

Or ... Add some gaff tape to the collets? .. Just a little ... To thicken them .... Sould still be enough give in the tape to allow a little expansion .. And then tightness... 

i think i may look for another set with a better way to tighten them. for easy installation and removal. any suggestions? because this $20 set is awful.

That actually looks really good. Reminds me of a Ducati monster which is pretty much my favourite bike.

I planned on doing that look. I came across.the d-axis bar end mirrors. They would compliment that like so well, similar angular look.

I found them at www.ofdracing.com.

My short experience with OFD seems great.

Page 1 of their PDF catalog