I have a BIG challenge ahead of me.

[Tiggerfoot]

is a "stay-at-home-mom" now.

[Dom]

If you havn't yet, buy a manual.  You can support this site by buying one from them.

You'll want to figure out the key thing first.  If you can't, then bite the bullet and hire a locksmith.  Make copies. :mrgreen:

Once you get the key you can pull the seat off and get at the fuel tank bolts.  Remove the tank and drain it.  Replace with fresh gas, 89 octane.

Do the same for the oil.  Any 10w-40 will do.

Buy some new spark plugs.  To remove them you need an 18mm deep socket.  Buy an oil can like the Tin Man had in The Wizard of Oz at an auto parts store and squirt some oil in the cylinder.  Those pistons havn't moved in a long time and there is no oil in the top end.  So enough oil to cover the pistons and seep down into the rings.  Rock the bike back and forth and side to side so the oil moves to the sides of the pistons.

Might also want to remove breather cover and squirt some oil on cam, lifters, cam chain, etc.

If you really want to make sure the bike is okay, and you don't mind getting your hands dirty, but a carburetor rebuild kit and rebuild the carbs.  
You are just replacing the O rings that may have gotten dry and cracked.  Once you start pumping fuel thru the system little chunks might fall off and foul everything up.

New tires.

Mirrors(it the law).  Get the movers to pay for them.

Headlight, I have an extra one, pm me for details.  Or you can do the Buell dual headlight modification which is pretty easy and you are halfway there.

[dgyver]

What part of SC are you in?

It will be close to impossible to tag the bike without a title. You should be able to file for a lost title, but you should contact the DMV about the details.

A locksmith can make a key. There is a way to bypass the ignition, which just so happens to be easily accessed behind the headlight.

When you change the oil, do not use an "energy conserving" type.

[callmelenny]

Go for it, you can handle it. I'm an AirForce brat, carolina boy, and a geek and I just recently resurrected a 98 GS from storage.

Everybody has covered the basics and will continue to be helpful. I only got my GS in September and feel right at home here.  I will add that you probably want to replace all the fuel and vacuum lines too. I had some pinhole vacuum leaks that drove me crazy. Stuff is cheap so just do it.

As far as the carbs go, if they weren't drained they are probably pretty varnished up and a good cleaning will vastly improve performance. Buy a manual and study a little (also read this site) and you should not have any problems. If you feel confident you might want to rejet the carbs while you have them taken apart. Alternatively, Srinath might still be doing carb work for slave wages.

The work is easier if you have some decent tools and a garage. Once you have the seat and air cleaner box off, you can pretty much access anything you need.

Have fun

[Rema1000]

I'd look into the title before putting too much work in.  If you have any way of contacting the Previous Owner, that's still your best bet.  Legally, if he never sent you the title, then he still owns the bike (even if you paid him the money).  Only the title holder (him) can file for replacement title.  You can try to help him file, but the replacement will get sent to him.  

That said, it's possible for you to claim that you found the bike abandoned on your property, and file for a salvage title.  If you live in a different state from where the bike was titled, then your DMV may not be able to locate the VIN in its database, and they should let you get a salvage title. However, getting a salvage title often requires an extra inspection, with an extra fee, and the bike will always have a salvage title from that point on (which reduces its resale value by quite a bit).

I'd be a bit curious about the missing headlight; that could be a sign that someone hotwired the bike while you were away.  I'd look for other signs of abuse: bent or crooked handlebars, and scratches on the round engine sidecovers (that say "Suzuki").

[callmelenny]

Rema's point on the title was a good one.

My bike's owner did not have a title (he said he did, but it turned out to be the receipt for the bike :x ) That was a PITA to deal with and he only lived 20 miles away. If you know where the bike was titled, you can call with the VIN and they might be able to help you get started. My bike was titled in Florida and there were several forms necessary to get the title reissued to the owner.

Your story reminds me that I need to get an extra key made!

[Rema1000]

You're not going to be able to do much, until you can get the tank open.  That means you need a key.  Maybe try to find that key again!  

Barring that, you can have a key made using the lock cylinder.  There are 3 cylinders on the bike: ignition, gas cap (not accessible) and seat latch.  The seat latch is the easy one to get at.  See this thread:
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10614
...for help getting the seat off.  Then take the side plastics off, and remove the lock and cable, and take to a locksmith.  This post:
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=44000#44000
...says that a Lowes may make you a cheap key to match the cylinder.

WARNING: I seem to recall a post some time ago, by someone saying that they had a key made off the tank or seat cylinders, but that the new key wouldn't work in the ignition.  Can anyone confirm this?  If that's the case, then you'll have to remove the top triple-clamp, with the ignition cylinder.

[Dom]

Yeah, ignition is housed in the top triple tree, but I think it's riveted in, intentionally made difficult to remove and rekey.

Tank cylinder is impossible to remove without key even if you try to unbolt it.  Cap will stay attached to tank.

I don't know about the seat lock.

[acoder]

This info is from my saleman, and I haven't confirmed it yet.  On the ignition there is a 3 or 4 digit id, with that id a dealership can cut or order a key.  I'm assuming that key would then work in all the locks.  Only downside is my dealership chargers $25-$30 for this new key.  So good luck in finding your original key.

[Dom]

Would the dealer require some form of ownership?  They should, otherwise there is alot of money to be made shipping bikes off to Russia.  That's where alot of the stolen vehicles in the Seattle area go to.

[starwalt]

Dygver and myself are in the upstate. If the tigger in your name is a clue, you may be too!  This is a great place to be and a wealth of knowledge as you have seen so far. My GS came with a clean title but is inop. You can see some photos of it at  http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&ext=1&groupid=41309&ck=  (hope the link works - I'm new at this) look under the photo album for some early shots.

I am about to dig into the engine so if you want to see some anatomy in Anderson, contact me. I hope to see Dygver soon enough. Heck he's only 30 minutes away.

[gorgeousgabe]

Ya generally for most bikes there are codes either engraved or has a sticker with the key code on the back of the ignition.  You might even be able to look under without taking off everything.  Most motorcycle stores do require ownership before they cut the key that way.  

Ya I think you will need:

1.Battery
2.Carbs cleaning - I would probably get somebody to do that for you though.  Guys that replied earlier are rigth!  All GS500's run lean, if you take it to someone that knows what they are doing, they will rich it up for you, jet it and clean it at the same time.  Just remember that you don't need a jet kit to jet the bike.
3.Check if your forks are straight.  Hopfully those moves didn't drop or crash the bike into something....  Checking never hurt...
4.Tires are a good idea.

That's just what I would do....

Also, remember just have fun with learning and don't rush finishing!  Take your time to enjoy!

[werase643]

1  Suzuki key codes are on a little tag on the original key ring....since the mid to late 80's???

2  Get the title before you spend a penny....it might have a lean on it and a finance CO might be looking for it....after you fix it...they take it.....
find the P.O. search your little heart for them....a lost title is 10bucks (usually) the other way will be more

3  the seat lock doesn't have all the tumblers.....a seat key will not normally work the tank and ig.
if you make the key for the ig it will work all the locks....remove the top tripple and take it to a locksmith.

[Tiggerfoot]

t's going on..

Thanks Again everyone!!

[Tiggerfoot]

C YA!!

[ktrim]

I have an 89,   I bought it it had been stored with gas in the tank for about 7 years.  I replaced the battery,  shot some oil into the cylinders,  changed the oil,  then turned it over for a few seconds with the spark plugs out (to get the oilmoving again).  then another shot of oil ,  turned it over a few times again then reinstalled the plugs.   I disassembled the carbs and cleaned (took along time as all the air passages were clogged)  replaced the jets (couldn'tget all the gunk out of the pilots) the fired it up.  treated like it was brand new for about 300 miles (keep the rpms down,  baby it) then changed the oil.  after that it was fine,  no leaks no strange noises no problems at all.  its been 3 years of trouble free riding  (have a few problems this year but nothing big.   hardest partsgonna be getting the carbs clean.  also check the tnk for rust

[Tiggerfoot]

The best thing I have going for me is that my neighbor has offered to help  me fix the bike because he use to be a mechanic in the military and is a "stay-at-home-mom" now.[/quote]

[scottpA_GS]

I lived in Sumter for 2 years!!!! Ahhh!! it sucks there I was @ Shaw for the first year there as well

[knowlsey]

nearly put a helpfull reply, till i noticed the thread date

[vfrocket]

too bad... I was stationed at CHS last year, I would come over and help if I could, but I live in Dallas now.