Modification Help....

[Method]

Right, as most of you know... i own a '94 GS500.

Now im not asking you people "How can i make it go faster"
"I want 150mph from it"
blah blah blah...

Basically im planning a few things for over the winter...

Handlebar conversion - bandit style bars / motox / supermoto style etc... you know the things, to replace those stupid clipon things i have at the moment...

Wheels - Either powder coating them, or purchasing some new ones - My current ones are heavily scratched and pitted and have grime and horrible stufff stuck in them that i cannot budge, what ever i try. Was thinking maybe black?

Rim Tape - for my new coloured wheels, would like a Bright Green.

Screen trim - For my kind of custom style front bikini fairing that i have fitted around my original headlight - I would like bright green again, but cannot find this anywhere?

Seat - My current one has a horrible ridge that realy gets in the way when taking pillions and luggage... would like one that looks kind of cool / stylish, but at the same time, does not have a ridge half way up seperating pillion from rider...

Random plastics - Maybe some new plastics around the bike? To make it look a touch more agressive... i have a belly pan atm, but maybe any other kind of plastics that i could add to the bike? (not a full fairing, they blow and look silly)

Cant think of anything else at the moment, but thats probably because im trying to hard to think... so please suggest other options...

What im asking, is if you guys could give me some idea of...
Cost
What items i can / should do myself, and what items i would be better of taking to a dealer / garage to do...
Where to go about getting these things from...
Other suggestions for items...

Please dont suggest "get a better bike", as this is a lame remark in my book, and i cant afford it

Cheers
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[colin1]

If you spend money on trying to make it look pretty I doubt you would get it back when you sell.

I dunno how much you have paid for it, but I have seen old cb600's go for about £500 on ebay and old vfr400's go for £400.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[froggy128]

take random bits off and get them chromed or powder coated sparklie colours!

[feef]

with a set of streetfighter bars, you liekly going to have to replace your top yoke to one with risers that takes those bars. Not something I've looked into in any detail, but I did spot a set for £130.

bars themselves are about £60 for Renthal ones

cheap plastic looks just that.. cheap.. but check out Pyramid plastics, or PowerBronze. Looking at £40 upwards for a bikini fairing with light (but looks kak imho)

replacement seats tend to be expensive. a set of Corbins for my 'ace came up on Ebay, second hand, and were sitting at over £250 when I last checked. might be possible to get your existing seat tweaked for less.

the other stuff isn't too bad.. but I know you can't afford a new bike.. but I would, if it was me.. put all this towards a new bike at some point and making do for now.

a
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[stinkwheel]

Depending on how the bars are fixed on, you can do a drag-bar conversion for £30-40, depending on the type of clamps you need.

Wheels, if they are that scabby, would it not be a better idea to get a newer set from a breakers. NB. Fitting wheels from a different bike is not as easy as it should be!

Bark busters are agressive and keep the wind off your hands (£25). Twin headlamps look mean (£60).

Rim tape, screen trim....ok, enough! You are a tart, buy a tin of matt black, get pished and paint the whole bike with it. Instant aggression survival bike stylee.

EDIT: Be an individual, see pic. (c/o www.ratbike.org)
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[zorgman]

powder coating round my way is £30 per whel inc blasting first. don't forget if you put wider bars on bike it may need new cables ie clutch and throttle also you may have to put a new front brake line on. loads of tacky plastics do just that they look tacky. before lashing out on rim tape take a long think as i think thats the height of tacky looks. bars can be got for £10-£15, chrome strips look nice in moderation tho check out halfords or similar and b&q for edging saves a lotof dosh using something else. seem to rember that theres chrome door edging which is cheap and easily shaped and cut.

[nick.h]

I have a few plans for my gs too.

Engine bars

HEL steel/titanium brake hoses

Scottoiler

Carbon Fibre rear hugger

Twin headlight conversion

Motrax Double Hard Barends

Motrax Double Hard Exhaust Guard
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[Chills]

Dunno if this helps but I always found it useful looking at bikepics.com to see what others have done for inspiration and to see which handlebars look better, which bodywork panels, etc...
Your bike and year is here https://www.bikepics.com/suzuki/gs500/94/pics.asp

Also a quick google showed this site:
https://gstwin.com/gs_mods.htm
Loadsa info on there and a link to a GS500 Forum which is bound to be full o' geeks only too keen to help with yer project.

G'luck!
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If at first you don't succeed.... you really shouldn't try skydiving!

[Method]

Yeah im a regular (kind of) on gs500e.co.uk ... ( membership card and everything ) and have seen both the mod sites on GS500e and GS twins.

I do like the look of those twin headlights though... just a bit common around these parts though, i like my bikini fairing... kind of got the front sorted... apart from the fact that the forks look long and skinny and a bit wierd...

Maybe an RGV front end is in order?
____________________
CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[Robby]

At the end of the day its a GS500, nothing is going to make it look fast or aggressive. For styling a big round chrome headlamp and a colour matched belly pan has a somewhat timeless appeal.

Are you wanting to change the bars for cosmetic reasons or for handling? Every bike I've ever ridden with non standard bars has felt worse than on standard ones.

Rim tape just seems to be this seasons neons, although obviosuly not quite so vulgar. Rim tape on a GS500 is trying too hard.

Corbin saddles can be better, but try before you buy. I know the corbin saddle for the VX800 is loved by some and hated by others, believe its there to fulfil the fat bloke with short legs niche, so isn't comfortable for others.

You could just put the money in the bank and ride the thing. Keep the cash for when it next needs tyres and buy some decent sticky ones.

[Biker-Kev]

Method, I remember a couple of months ago you were looking for a cheap way to clean your bike because you were skint. Have you won the lottery or something??

LOL

Kev
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[Method]

lol, nah just got a job finally


____________________
CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.