Slack's Sport Touring Build

[Slack]

I've never kept a build thread going on any of my other vehicles, so I thought I'd start one for my bike, since I'm still in the beginning.  It's a 2005 500F.  When I picked it up it was bone stock.  My plans are to turn it into a comfortable sport tourer / long distance commuter.
So far I have installed a sport-touring windscreen and a set of bar risers - 1"up 1"back.  I'm currently in the middle of installing a 2006 R6 rear shock, just waiting on some sleeve bushing material to bolt it all up.
My rear tire is nearing the end so I picked up a rear wheel and brake from a 2001 Katana.  When the tire is done I'll get a new set, 110/150, not sure which brand yet.  Is the Katana front wheel a direct swap?  I'm not sure I want to change it out just to match the rear, but it's on my mind.
I'm also planning on putting in some Race Tech springs and Emulators in the near future.  Any good threads to read up on for emulator installation?
Saddle bags, tail bag, and tank bag should be here soon.
I'm considering putting on heated grips.  Any thoughts on ones built into the grip vs ones that go under your stock/aftermarket grips?
Since there don't seem to be any aftermarket seats I'm thinking of picking up one of these gel inserts for cruiser guys and seeing if I can get it to work on our seat http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/14/145/21510/ITEM/Saddlemen-Saddlegel-Raw-Gel-Pad.aspx

Here's a quick pic

[steezin_and_wheezin]

sw VA eh? welcome! bike looks familiar w/ the white side fairing, d'you get it off craig?

looks like you got a solid plan for the bike. not sure on emulator installation write up, i'd be interested if you find one!

we'll have to go for a cruise sometime

[Slack]

Yep, it sat on craigs list for about 3 weeks before I noticed it.
I'm about an hour from Radford, we'll have to do some riding one weekend.

[adidasguy]

After market seats from France, with gel and a heater as options:

http://www.topsellerie.com/en-us/SUZUKI-GS-500-seats-petrol-tank-covers-tank-bags-motorbike_7_156.html

Seats without heater are available from Germany. I have these

[Slack]

Those seats look nice.  But at a little over $700 shipped to my door for one with heat and gel I'm not sure I'll be getting one right away.  Do you have a link to the one you have from Germany?

I've made conversion sleeves from 10mm to 12mm for the R6 shock and started grinding the swing arm.  I need to clearance it a touch more before everything will clear, I was asked to stop early to let my fiance take a nap 

[cbrfxr67]

can't wait to see what you do with it,...!

[Slack]

Got the R6 Shock mounted.  I haven't gotten to ride the bike yet.  Hopefully I can go out for a few hours this weekend and get it dialed in.

I also decided to take a pic of the bar risers to add to the thread.

And I signed up for a fork brace from Reload's second batch.

[ghostrider_23]

How do you like the bar extenders???

[adidasguy]

Here's a link for the seats.
He can do the new style seat if that's what you need.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270684519477&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Don't you need a stainless steel chain guard? I know where you can order one 

[Slack]

Thanks for the link to the German seats, those are priced a bit more in my ball park, although heat sure would be nice.

I just got back from my first ride with the bar risers and the R6 shock.  Had to bundle up -mid 30's- but it was a nice day and it had been too long since I had been riding.
I love these bar risers.  I'm fairly short at 5'7" and they make all the difference.  I rode for 2.5 hours before pulling over for a late lunch, I still felt great I was just hungry.  Had a quick bite and hopped back on for another 1.5 hours to finish my loop home.  My wrists feel great, back is perfect, I feel like I could ride all day long day after day with these things.  And that's what I'm shooting for.
The R6 shock is stiff.  I didn't mess with any of the settings, I just wanted to ride, but I'll definitely need to soften things up a bit.  Anyone have any good advise on a home made tool for adjusting the preload?  Or even a picture of the factory Yamaha tool?

Adidasguy I've checked out your chain guards, but I'm planning on painting the bike flat black soon and don't think it would look good unless I painted it black too.  At that point you don't notice it anymore, so there's really no point.

[Slack]

I took all the plastics off this afternoon.  I've removed all the remaining decals and started scuffing the fairings for fresh paint.  Hopefully I can get a few coats on some of them tomorrow.  I can't paint them all at once because my spray booth isn't very big.

After my ride yesterday I ordered some heated grips.  They have 4 different heat settings.  I'll post some pics of those once they come in.

It's coming along   

[ben2go]

Your question went unanwsered.The Kat straight spoke front wheel will fit but it is 3.5 inches wide instead of the GS 3.0.I don't think a 110 front tire would be recommended for a 3.5 rim width.No matter.I run 120-60 and 160-60 tires.

[Slack]

Your question went unanwsered.The Kat straight spoke front wheel will fit but it is 3.5 inches wide instead of the GS 3.0.I don't think a 110 front tire would be recommended for a 3.5 rim width.No matter.I run 120-60 and 160-60 tires.

I assume the axle spacing is the same as the GS though, so you just have to change the front wheel?  What about the brakes?  Do you run just one side?  Do you use the GS rotor or the Katana?  Caliper?  Does the 120/60 clear the stock fender?  I'd love to have a 120 up there.  Which tires do you use and how do you like them?

[ben2go]

Your question went unanwsered.The Kat straight spoke front wheel will fit but it is 3.5 inches wide instead of the GS 3.0.I don't think a 110 front tire would be recommended for a 3.5 rim width.No matter.I run 120-60 and 160-60 tires.

I assume the axle spacing is the same as the GS though, so you just have to change the front wheel?  What about the brakes?  Do you run just one side?  Do you use the GS rotor or the Katana?  Caliper?  Does the 120/60 clear the stock fender?  I'd love to have a 120 up there.  Which tires do you use and how do you like them?

The center is the same as the GS/early Kat.In the GS forks you would use the GS rotor and caliper.I'm not 100% sure but I believe the 120 will clear the GS fender.I run bandit 400 fender on my Katana front end.A Bandit flat top fender or a Kat fender will clear.I run Shinko 005 Advanced.I really like them.I have almost 3000 miles on them and they only show signs of being scuffed in.They seem to preform well in the wet, but I don't ride in the rain unless I get caught in it.I ride very carefully in the wet.I've never felt like I was loosing traction, like I did with the cheapo Kendas that came on my bike when I first bought it.

[Slack]

Well the heated grips fell through.  They were on close out and I was just a little too late, they just hadn't updated the web page yet.  So I'll be looking for another set sometime.

Got 4 coats of flat black on the plastics today.  Maybe I'll have some time to wet sand them next weekend, probably not though.  I'm still prepping the gas tank, I'll take care of that and the front fender when I install my Reload Fork Brace, which should be on it's way tomorrow.  I'm shooting to have it finished by mid January.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

looks like its coming along well!!

i see a couple longies hanging around, we'll definitely have to roll the GS's over to a good mountain bombers and make some turns! no longboard here, but i've been pushing the freebord for around 5 years now

[Slack]

I always wanted to try a free board.  I ordered one once and ended up cancelling the order before it shipped after losing my job the next day.  I've been making boards for a while now.  The one with pink wheels is for a friend, the small one is for sale, and the black one in the back ground with the sharp angles will be once I finish it.  I've probably built 30 or 35.






We'll definitely need to do some 2 wheeled riding soon and some 4/6 wheeled riding when it's warm and the roads are free of sand/salt/gravel.

[Slack]

The painting is coming along.  I've sprayed the tank and am 1/2 way through wet sanding everything.  I should finish that up today and start spraying clear tonight or tomorrow.  I've also got all sorts of other parts sitting waiting to go on: Oxford heated grips, Race Tech front fork springs and emulators, Reload's fork brace, and some Cortech luggage.  Just concentrating on getting the paint done right now though.

[bikeneil]

What sport touring windscreen do you have? Do you like it & does it cause any wind noise or buffeting? I am looking at a Zero Gravity sport touring shield.
Thanks.

[Slack]

I have the zero gravity screen.  It helps, but it doesn't keep you completely out of the wind.  I have to tuck just a little bit to get completely in the wind bubble.

I've finished the painting.  4 coats of paint on the tail, 5 coats on the sides and nose, 6 coats on the tank, 7 coats of clear everywhere, wet sanded to 1000 grit and with a fresh coat of wax.  It's a flat black paint with a satin clear coat.  I was thinking about painting the bolts that hold the side plastics in place, but I don't think I'm going too.  I like the look.





I still need to paint the lower fork tubes and the front fender, I'll do that when I have them off the bike installing the springs, emulators, and brace.  I was thinking about painting the fork brace, but I think I'll probably leave it natural, like the faring bolts.