Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Is it reasonably possible (ie. relatively cheap) to convert a GS500F to liquid-cooled?

What all would be involved?

Thanks,
Dave

Not worth it.

I agree with Sev.

Also: What's the point?

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BlueBomber wrote:What's the point?

I'm just worried about it overheating while in unmovable-traffic here in the HOT-AS-HELL-WITH-ITS-HEATER-ON Phoenix Summer. But after I posted this, I've been reading some posts that say it's no big deal.

What do the valley-riders think?

just get some good computer fans and mount them before your cooling fins, a fun project and would look really good with accent lights on it.
computers are 12 volt so you are good to go!


then just have a switch somewhere when you think the engine might be gettin toasty
And you would want to get at least a 120mm size fan, or 2.

Logitech105 wrote:just get some good computer fans and mount them before your cooling fins, a fun project and would look really good with accent lights on it.
computers are 12 volt so you are good to go!


then just have a switch somewhere when you think the engine might be gettin toasty
And you would want to get at least a 120mm size fan, or 2.

You cannot be serious....

Jadien wrote:I'm just worried about it overheating while in unmovable-traffic here in the HOT-AS-HELL-WITH-ITS-HEATER-ON Phoenix Summer. But after I posted this, I've been reading some posts that say it's no big deal.

What do the valley-riders think?

I've been riding air-cooled bikes in Phoenix for about 25 yrs. I've only overheated twice. Once when I was stuck in a traffic jam on a 2 -lane road for over an hour (I should have just shut it off). The other time was standing in the emissions testing line for 45 min. in mid-June. I couldn't turn off the bike because the battery was weak. Waste of time anyway. An overheated bike will not pass an emissions test.

So, twice in 25 yrs. and both times I could've avoided it. I wouldn't worry about it.

As mentioned, air-cooled bikes have been running around Arizona (and every other hot place on Earth) since bikes began. I'd be willing to bet that more than a couple of then have been GS-500's. If the bike is moving, it's cooling. You'll be fine.

And converting to liquid cooling.... let's see.... you need to wrap the jugs with some sort of waterjacket (not easy to do at all), create passages within that waterjacket to allow coolant to flow, plumb in a waterpump, drive that pump, and mount a rad. Basically, there is no way to easily convert any air-cooled bike to water cooling without a machine shop and an engineer or 2. And even with those things, cheap will not be part of the equation.

Ride your bike and enjoy it. It's fine the way it is.

It would be cheaper to find a liquid cooled 500cc engine that does not fit into the bike and make it fit.

bikehunt wrote:You would not could have liked the result.

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