Air Cleaner Element

[proudlom]

I was looking through my owner's manual today and noticed the maintanence chart says that the air cleaner element should be cleaned every 3000km.  Can anyone help me with this; I don't know where or what that is or how to clean it.

Also, how often should I get a professional tune-up if I don't know how to do it myself and would they clean this air cleaner?

So far the only maintanence I've done (or had done):
-First Service (~2000km)
-Oil Change (~5000km)
-Chain Lubings
Right now I'm just over 7000km on the odometer.

Am I forgetting anything besides the air cleaner element?  Any advise or input is appreciated.

Thanks

[Cal Price]

If I remember correcetly it actually tells you how to do it in the owners manual. I Think you get at it by unscrewing the two screws that secure the tank and GENTLY lift the tank from the back and you can get at it. The risk is pulling off the fuel line. I am sure it is on the general advice on this site, if not a search will reveal all. I am willing to bet a certain gent from Utah has a picture.

[Kerry]

the maintanence chart says that the air cleaner element should be cleaned every 3000km.  Can anyone help me with this; I don't know where or what that is or how to clean it.

The red arrow in this photo points at the inside of the air cleaner (or "air filter").  To remove it you will need to undo the bolts (1 on each side) that hold the fuel tank on, lift the back of the fuel tank, and undo the 4 air filter screws (1 at each corner).

My K&N Stock Replacement Air Filter page shows a picture of the stock, paper air filter.  You "clean" it by blowing compressed air along the outside of the cylinder shape, directed toward the inside.  I did this once at about 4,000 miles, then was too lazy to do it for the next 10,000 miles or so, and then replaced the stock filter with a truly cleanable / reusable K&N unit.  I installed the restrictor so I wouldn't have to rejet.  The K&N is supposed to go something like 50,000 miles between cleanings, and it only costs a little more than the stock paper unit from Suzuki.

Also, how often should I get a professional tune-up if I don't know how to do it myself and would they clean this air cleaner?

Dunno if they would clean the air filter -- probably.  But do yourself a favor: Get a repair/maintenance manual for ~$20 US and do all but the most heavy-duty stuff YOURSELF.  I recommend the Haynes manual for "beginners" like yourself - and like _I_ was when I bought my GS (first bike!) in the Spring of 2000 .

Am I forgetting anything besides the air cleaner element?

Go through the links on the GStwin-hosted Maintenance Schedule page.