Finding owner's or operator's manuals

[geekonabike]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but I have not been able to find an owner's or operator's manual for the GS500E.  I have a Haynes manual on cdrom (next time I'll go paper!) which has helped here and there, but there are issues that come up now and then that I think would be covered in an owner's manual.  For some recent examples:

(1) how best to pull the bike on to the center stand (maybe I'm weak but it's usually a struggle),
(2) what are good shift points,
(3) proper warm-up procedure,
and so on.  I haven't read the Haynes exhaustively but it does not seem to have that kind of information, at least not smacking me in the face.

Anyhow, if anyone either knows where to get one or has one for sale I'd appreciate it.  Heck, I'm beginning to think there is no such manual, or maybe it's just called something I'm not thinking of.

--Mike D.

PS:  I admit that I didn't read all the posts on the for sale exhaustively.  Dial-up can get you down that way.  I did do a search.

[Pam G]

I think the owner's manuals are sold at dealerships for around $10, but they probably have to ordr it & you probably have to wait 2 weeks (at least that was my experience.)

The topics that you are looking for, at least the first 2, may not be in the owner's manual anyway.  Just do some searches on the forum here & you should find a few otf the topics, like the centerstand & shifting.

[Cal Price]

We have had loads and loads of threads about centre stand use, use the search facility and all will be revealed, for my two-pennyworth avoid trying to put it on the stand with a full tank until you are totaly confident, also for your first try try and get a buddy to stand on the other side of the bike as insurance.

Shift points are also well covered, it's mainly experience, shifting up comes pretty quick, downshifting is the real art. (Search again)

Warm-up, according to my manual, start using choke, regulate the choke to get her at 3000 rpm and keep that for about 30 seconds then return choke to normal position and she should idle 800-1200 somewhere in that area and respond instantly to tweaks on the throttle. She's ready.

[straightforward]

Mike,

there is a download link for the owner's manual available at the German GS-Site's FAQs... it is in 4 languages but not in English... IMHO it's pretty much useless after all, _very_ shallow, you did not miss a thing.

Center stand, works best for me when placing ALL my weight with my foot on that lever on the left side, AND simulatneously pulling upwards at the frame, somewhere next to the pillion seat.

Shifting points: with my '98 I can describe the situation as follows:

if I am in absolutely no hurry and do not see any need for acceleration whatsoever, I might go as low as 2.500 rpm... at 3.000 the engine runs reasonably smooth, so that would be my normal 'sailing' having plenty of peace of mind.

In town with traffic all around, I would normally not go below 4.000, but when I am preparing for overtaking, I may stay around 5-6.000?

So, and finally, if I am really on the go (open road or mountains, overtaking) - why not hit the red line from time to time if there are 10 serious reason justifying it?

Warming up - as has been said, full choke (no gas) to start, the engine will then quickly be at some 4.000 rpm or slightly more, so I take it back to 2.500-3.000, walk back to close the garage door and take off right away, and usually close the choke after the first turn. I've never used the stopwatch, but 30 seconds sounds reasonable to me.

[john]

I grab the passenger peg bracket to get the bike on the centerstand.  I find it easiest.

I let all my bikes warm up for a couple minutes before going.

The manual is useless for shift points.  They were the same for the GS500 as for the GSXR600.  I say for moderate riding it's fine to kick it up around 6k or 7k.  If trying to chase a GSXR..... forget it, red line isn't enough.

[indestructibleman]

i stand on the left side of the bike facing towards the bike.  i put my left hand on the handgrip and my right hand on the grab rail.
i then put my foot on the tab for the centerstand and rock the bike back onto the stand.
it's a balance thing.  if you're straining muscles, you're not doing it right.

cheers,
will

[geekonabike]

Thanks to all for the answers to my post.

I went to an old Triumph dealer for laughs and found that they just started carrying Suzuki too.  I ordered a manual, for a little over $12 after OK sales tax.  (Funny how bikes like Rune and Rocket III seem smaller than you imagine them when you see them up close.  S40--formerly Savage--still looks good to me, but I digress....)

Your quick answers on the other points will be very helpful.  Particularly that if the centerstand is so tough I must be doing it wrong, but I'll take all the posts to heart.

Sorry I didn't research those particular questions  much before I put up the post.  Those were mainly for examples.  With the manual being so cheap, I guess maybe I should not expect much from it.  Instead I'm sure I'll be continually grateful for this forum.  And I'll do a better job of using the Search.  Anyhow, you got my first $10.

--Mike D.