New to the GS community!

[Eisenfaust]

Well, it looks as if I'm going to be picking up my first motorcycle, a 91 GS500 on Saturday morning... she's bright (and glossy!) blue, and in quite good shape for her age, not even showing much rust.

While trying to decide what kind of bike I wanted to start on (pretty much a  toss up between EX250, EX500, and GS500), I came across this site, and its been a lot of help in learning things about the bike.

Anyway, I have a few questions that I cant seem to find answers to elsewhere. The bike I'm purchasing is in generally good mechanical shape, she starts instantly, idles smoothly, revs quickly and smoothly, the clutch and brakes all operate smoothly... very good.

She does, however, require new fork seals... if not immediately, sometime soon. I've looked up the part (though most GS parts sites seem to be based in the UK, so shipping is an issue), but seals seem to be pretty inexpensive (on the order of 15 bucks or so). I'm a fairly adept mechanic (I've done engine swaps, transmission work, suspension work, brakes, exhaust, etc, etc, etc on cars), but I dont think I'm ready to tackle this one on my own, simply because I dont know how to do it. My first question is: how much can I expect to pay, labor wise, to have my seals replaced?

Her other mechanical issue is her chain. Its not horrible, but could probably stand to be replaced. I know chains stretch, and on some bikes, theres a way to take up the slack generated (dont know about the GS in this regard).... but I didnt check to see if that was something I could adjust.  If its not, naturally, I'd like to get a new chain. Do I need to replace the sprocket(s) along with the chain (makes sense to me), how much does a chain cost, and can I do it myself in an afternoon with common hand tools. If not, what kind of labor am I talking about?

Anyway,  im very excited to be getting my first bike... of course I hope to move up in the world of bikes, eventually (performance wise), but the GS seems like a great place to start I'll post some pictures once I get her home this weekend!

[tdan553527]

Welcome to the site, lots of knowledgable people here. Alot of people change the fork seal themselves, don't know how much labor would cost you to have it done. Labor here is $65/hr. As for the chain, you can adjust it, it should last around 15000 to 20000 miles, it is recommended that you change the sprockets at the same time if the chain needs to be replaced. Congrats on your new bike, you'll love it.

check http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/default.asp for the seals and other parts, I believe they are located in CA.

Recommend to buy a Clymer Manual from the link on this site, it helps support the site and the manual is great.

[scratch]

Welcome! And, cangradulations!

Since, you're in the city, I would suggest MotoJava or Scuderia West for buying and installing the fork seals. Call 'em up and ask them.

[Kerry]

She does, however, require new fork seals... if not immediately, sometime soon. [...] I'm a fairly adept mechanic (I've done engine swaps, transmission work, suspension work, brakes, exhaust, etc, etc, etc on cars), but I dont think I'm ready to tackle this one on my own, simply because I dont know how to do it. My first question is: how much can I expect to pay, labor wise, to have my seals replaced?

If richard and I can do it, so can you!   Here are a couple links that should help you out:

alexey's Changing Fork Seals blow-by-blow procedure

IF you have trouble loosening the damper bolt at the bottom of each fork slider, see the Bad Day Wrenching on the GS thread for various inexpensive DIY tool ideas.[/list:u]
You can get the seals at your dealer, or BikeBandit.com (as mentioned)  or RonAyers.com -- I recently received some that I bought from PartsNMore.com.

[Eisenfaust]

Welcome! And, cangradulations!

Since, you're in the city, I would suggest MotoJava or Scuderia West for buying and installing the fork seals. Call 'em up and ask them.

Heh, I really like the guys at Scuderia, very nice people. I think I'll take the bike in there this sunday and see what I cant do about getting those seals done.

Thanks for the parts and DIY links... that helps quite a bit with figuring out what I need to do. The bike has 19000 miles, so I figure its probably on its original chain, and getting close to the end of the line on that one.

[Ed_in_Az]

Another welcome to you too. I'd add that if your GS has the stock fork springs, you really should replace them with a set of progressive springs. They are relatively cheap, you'll have the forks apart anyway for the seal work, and they work GREAT! The difference is like night and day, compared to the weak stock springs.

You can do a search on progressive springs here on the GSTWIN messages to find plenty of informaiton on them if you like.

[Eisenfaust]

Another welcome to you too. I'd add that if your GS has the stock fork springs, you really should replace them with a set of progressive springs. They are relatively cheap, you'll have the forks apart anyway for the seal work, and they work GREAT! The difference is like night and day, compared to the weak stock springs.

You can do a search on progressive springs here on the GSTWIN messages to find plenty of informaiton on them if you like.

Thats been my plan since I found out about the springs.

I live on Treasure Island in SF... if you know anything about the geography of the city, I'm basically on a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco bay.. the only way into the city is via the suspension span of the Bay Bridge... IE, a 5 lane freeway. I have my permit, but I'm not going to be able to take MSF until early october (full classes )... so I'm planning on tooling around the island (we have an abandoned helipad and tons of open lots... used to be a navy base), getting a handle on controlling the bike... and *not* taking it into the city until I pass MSF. In the meantime I think I'm going to save up and get those fork springs, maybe a GSX-R rear shock... things like that.. so when I ass MSF I can take the bike to a shop and get the work done.

Of course, I may get bored and just do the work myself. -_-

[Ed_in_Az]

I live on Treasure Island in SF... if you know anything about the geography of the city, I'm basically on a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco bay.. the only way into the city is via the suspension span of the Bay Bridge... IE, a 5 lane freeway. I have my permit, but I'm not going to be able to take MSF until early october (full classes )... so I'm planning on tooling around the island (we have an abandoned helipad and tons of open lots... used to be a navy base), getting a handle on controlling the bike... and *not* taking it into the city until I pass MSF. In the meantime I think I'm going to save up and get those fork springs, maybe a GSX-R rear shock... things like that.. so when I ass MSF I can take the bike to a shop and get the work done.

Of course, I may get bored and just do the work myself. -_-

I would suggest doing the springs first. I installed my own. Doing the seals is more involved than the springs. You might find you don't need the shock changed. I left mine alone at it's OK even riding two up. I can now take speed bumps at 25mph(solo ) with no problem.

[Eisenfaust]

Well, if I'm taking the bike into the shop to have them do the seals, I may as well give them the new springs, and tell the mechanic to install them whilst doing the seals.'

If not, I can probably manage it myself.  

[70 Cam Guy]

Hey another bay area local

Welcome to the site!  Ugh Treasure Island... that's a scary on ramp

[Eisenfaust]

Hey another bay area local

Welcome to the site!  Ugh Treasure Island... that's a scary on ramp

Heh, yeah, it is. I've done it passenger on a GSX-R 600 numerous times... but with only a third the horsepower im sure it will be interesting. I'm sure I'll be terrified the first time I do it. -_-