I'll add a slew of pictures in a little, but suffice to say most everything will be changed. From the wiring harness, to the cluster, handlebars/controls, windscreen, lighting (front and back), motobatt battery, jets, airbox delete, exhaust, and valves. A few more things likely to get thrown in, like a new rear tire, or sonic springs for the front (the fork seals definitely leak, and I figure why not improve the bike while I'm at it). The only things really remaining will be the frame, engine, suspension, and wheels.

I was hoping to get some feedback, like if the bars will work well or not. I'm just going on reviews, and my bars need replacing, lol. Here's what I've already purchased

OEM Wiring harness
OEM Brake light
MotoBatt battery   
6.75" 55W black headlight & ears to mount them
Bikemaster Daytona bars
TrailTech Vapor cluster & dashboard
Slipstreamer spitfire S-06C windshield

I know some don't see the GS as worth putting so much money into, but I need something bulletproof to take me through college and maybe a few years of work. I got into quite the accident and lost my only other transportation XD.

I'd say almost everybody here thinks the GS is an awesome bike to spend money on, take time with, and give lots of TLC to 

Looking forward to the pics and good luck with the project! 

Sorry, I can't be bothered to deal with Photobucket at the moment, so here's a youtube video of me finally starting this bike again, after nearly two years with a dead battery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdPffvakajo&feature=youtu.be

How on earth do you embed youtube on this forum?

When you reply, there is a YouTube button, click that and insert the appropiate YouTube link between the HTML. That should do it.

My opinion: photobucket is trash in this day and age, try imgur. It's muuuch more user friendly. Just a suggestion 

Now, I'm ready to see your progress

I have mocked up the headlight, handlebars, and windscreen, which all look and work great, but I need some help with regards to the forks. I'm led to believe from another thread that this tool is needed in order to change the seals:

Is that so? if yes, where can I get one? A better question, is anyone in the western US interested in repairing my leaky forks? Haha 

I think that is a tool for earlier models and the 04+ use a home made tool made from a broom handle whittled down to size.


If I were you I would upgrade the suspension and brakes too with all that work your doing else where: That's where it pays off the most on these bikes. Front springs and Cartridge Emulators with an R6 shock and HH pads will be night and day.

The 89-02 GS forks have a hex down in the bottom that can be held with a tool made from bolts like this one my son JP made:



The 04 and later forks use a tool like OP posted above and some have fashioned ones out of a broom stick like Slack shows.

Agree with Slack. Changed my fork springs and put on an R6 shock... and WOW!

Still on the fence about the emulator myself, however.

Budget is getting ever tighter, and I've cut the exhaust and airbox, as it would only cost more to jet and really who needs it to be louder. Mine already screams when i slap her   

I always considered sonic springs, but replacing the rear end is out, at least for now  I guess there's no reason not to do the springs, since the forks will be apart anyways. Makes sense, right? O.o

Right, so sonic springs. What else will I need? I'm sure it can't be a straight-swap, so what're we looking for?

EDIT: Oh, and I went for some ebc HH sintered brakes, found here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Y0S2GI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
yes? I'm essentially completely reliant on your opinions before I take her out for another ride. Before starting, I took it around the property and she is really falling into corners. Seems like too much. maybe the tires being flat, or my rear tire kind of squared... I'll figure it out soon enough though.

Those are the pads I bought for Eleanor, put about 800+ miles on them so far. They work nicely. Good stopping, good stopping feel. Doesn't grab violently, it's linear feeling. It's good, imo.

Tires being flat will make it fall into corners slower. Had low air tires on Eleanor and put them to proper pressure and the fall-in/handling was much snappier/improved.

Could be old fork springs and thin/old fork spring oil. Might wanna measure your sag on your rear, too and adjust the preload if needed.  Make sure your forks are set properly. If they're higher up in the triple that changes the bias to front and makes the bike fall in.

I'm rambling, ZZzz

Those are very good brake pads! Make sure to flush the system with high quality brake fluid as well.
You'll need sonic springs and a quart of 15w fork oil. That's it.
Why no rear shock? a used R6 shock is cheaper then the sonic springs and makes as much of a difference.
I agree: no need for an aftermarket exhaust unless you want to wast money making your bike sound like a big lawn mower   

sonics and 15w... not bad! I've been scrounging to pay for this and thus lost a bit of weight idiotically, but normally im probably 145. IDK the spring rate formula off the top of my head but its like 75mm/kg or something. I know there's a 75 in there XD I'll be e-mailing someone at Sonic to make sure I'm fitting the right one.

Is the r6 shock really so cheap? damn... You tempt me. 

I weigh about the same (5-10 lbs more) and have been using .75 Racetechs for a few years now. I absolutely love them.
You won't regret the R6 shock (06-08 R6R if I remember right). Once tuned right (4 way adjustable) your bike will be on rails.

Quote from: Slack on April 21, 2015, 03:36:10 PM
I weigh about the same (5-10 lbs more) and have been using .75 Racetechs for a few years now. I absolutely love them.
You won't regret the R6 shock (06-08 R6R if I remember right). Once tuned right (4 way adjustable) your bike will be on rails.

its interesting you say that, because however I sit, in tight mid speed corners like on-ramps it's always tried to lowside on me.

The stock rear squats BAD without pushing it that hard

Yeah, you've got a worn out suspension for sure. I had that same feeling before I replaced mine. No confidence in turns because I always had the feeling that the bike wasn't quite keeping contact with the road as well as it could.

Always felt like the bike was going to low slide, especially at lowish speed turns.

To think this bike still feels 'new' in some ways, but it has 11k miles. Time for a service, oh yes. I forget it was built a decade ago in Spain 

Well, the suspension is probably fine. It's just a known common issue with the GS that the suspension is very soft for any reasonably sized person.

Nah, you were right the first time. Right seal had leaked oil down the fork and front wheel fender