Streetfighter Project-GS500F

[BLINGMW]

Dang, I wanna hear more about what you did to track prep it and all that stuff. That's honestly my entire reason for getting into motorcycles in the first place. From what I've read gs500's aren't really... competive against some other smaller sized bikes, but they still seem to have a pretty devout following.

The katana rear shock is pretty popular as is the r6 one too from what I've seen. Thoughts on which is better?

if I remember correctly, getting the r6 to fit required some more work, which I am adverse to. :wink:

It isn't competitive, but that's irrelevant. You'll be in the minority, you'll find a couple other 250s or a 500 to make friends with, but most are on 600+. I think those people are crazy <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7869">viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7869</a><!-- l -->

:lol: a classic from my newbie days: <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4666">viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4666</a><!-- l -->

From what I remember, here's all I ended up doing to get the bike track ready:

Tires are all you HAVE to do. Not many choices, I used a couple sets of Pirelli Sport Demons which were fine, but the BT003RS were the way to go.
New front pads.
Case sliders. hopefully there's something available, I had to get some made <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=51044.0">http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=51044.0</a><!-- m -->
Then I did the Kat rear shock, and some Sonic Springs in the front (I used .85 since I'm ~200lb with gear) with new oil, that was all it needed.
I ran some moto specific synthetic oil.
Took off the center stand and safety wired the oil drain plug.

IMHO, going/spending further is kind of silly with this bike.

I did track it a couple times on the stock suspension, which was *ok*, you just have to be pretty gentle. It's easy to bottom to the stops, then it kind of lurches back at you in an unsettling fashion. Partially responsible for the only time I went down (most of it being the rider).


As Rex mentioned, filter, exhaust and rejet is pretty popular. I just did the filter, stock exhaust and jetted for that since I didn't want it to be loud. Intake noise I like a lot though and I'm sure it added nearly as much HP as my MM sticker. My brother still has the bike so I get to ride it and hear it now and then. *I* still think it's pretty cool. :thumbup:

Good luck!

*edit*, some more thoughts and my favorite video on the topic:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=47814">http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=47814</a><!-- m -->