Got a new GS500f today!

[BigAl6747]

Hey guys,

Got a new GS500f this morning and found this website...looks like the place for me to be.  I am 18-years-old and this will be my second year of street riding- I did the whole MSF thing and started with a Yamaha Virago 250 last year, and decided that i wanted to move up for my second season.  The bike i purchased was a leftover 2004 model, so we got a pretty good deal on it (plus i think the 2004 color scheme looks much better!).  I am looking forward to a fun year with the GS...only one problem.  The bike started fine when we loaded it up at the dealer, but when we got home and went to start it, it just clicked like the battery was dead.  I am guessing that it is a combination of the bike just sitting on the dealer floor for so long and the cold weather (I live in Michigan).  So right now i have a charger hooked up and am hoping that it will start soon so that i can take my new baby for a ride!

-Alex

[weaselnoze]

welcome to THE site!

[scratch]

Welcome!

[luke1645]

Welcome!

its nice to see other young kids like myself making a good decision for a first or second bike.

[girlracer]

welcome, nice to see that your working your way up in the world of motorcycles for being 18 years old. i have a friend that 19 thats convinced he should get an R6 when he comes back from afghanistan because the other army guys he's with tell him he'll be ok if he takes it easy he has only ridden dirt bikes a few times.

so let's ask; which one yellow or blue?

[TM_Dearborn]

Welcome fellow Michigan resident!  I have a 2004 I purchased in August.  Let's hope for warm weather soon.

[TOMIMOTO]

NICE!!! I'm 18 too and I got my bike in July.

Get it running yet? I thought bike's had dry cell batteries that are charged at the dealer after you buy it. That's odd that it doesn't work.

[TheGoodGuy]

welcome to the site..

keep the rubber side down.

[Rema1000]

Basic stuff with the battery:

When you lock the bike, it is easy to turn the key one click too far, to "park".  This will leave one tail-light running, even with no key in the ignition, and will wear down the battery.

Also, check the water level in the battery, and top-up any low cells.  You need to pull the seat off to get to the battery; and it's easiest to check if you pull the battery all the way out.  Once you get the hang of it, you can check the battery cells' water level with the battery still in the bike, but only if the lighting is really good.

Most car charges will charge a bike battery too fast.  If you only have a charger which is 2A or faster, then you will probably want to buy a smaller charger for the bike.  A 750mA trickle charger, up to a 1.1A charger is good for a bike battery.  Many motorcyclists recommend the Battery Tender or Battery Tender Jr.

[Dima26]

so lets ask; which one yellow or blue?

Welcome to the site

Double that question. Which one, the faster (blue) or the cooler (yellow)

[weaselnoze]

im gonna top off my battery tomorrow.  is there any specific instructions or will i figure it out?

[Kerry]

im gonna top off my battery tomorrow.  is there any specific instructions or will i figure it out?

For some hopefully useful info and a good laugh, check out the I assume battery failure, so... thread.

[weaselnoze]

and useful it was!  however, what do i do if i dont have a 'clear' battery?  is it possible to put too much water in?  also for the distilled water..  i used to have fish and would fill up a jug w/ tap water and let it sit uncapped for 24 hours.  that would allow the chemicals to evaporate but could that be considered distilled?

[Dima26]

Nope, it couldn't
Distilled means no chemicals, salts, etc.
When it just sits open, you don't get rid of these.

[BigAl6747]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!  Well I took the battery out and took it down to a local gas station and had them charge it.  I picked it up this afternoon and put it back in the bike, and what happens when i try to start it?  The exact same thing!  The bike just make that clicking noise like a dead battery!  What is going on?  Am i doing something wrong trying to start it or what?  Assuming that the gas station did charge it, what else could be going on here?  Thanks for all the help...oh and by the way i got the blue one!

-alex

[Dima26]

Have you checked for loose conectors? I would try to check the voltage on the starter (I don't really know where it is located on the bike).

Are you sure you are starting in neutral with clutch pulled in? Is your green light on when you crank it? I have the same 2004 F model and never had such problems with it (knock on wood).

[TOMIMOTO]

I would find a way to get it back to the dealer. It should definately be working.

[BigAl6747]

Yeah I guess I'll take it back to the dealer next weekend and have them look at it.  Oh well, at least with 4 inches of fresh snow on the ground I'm not missing out on any riding time..

[weaselnoze]

i topped off my bat today and damn it was difficult to see the levels through that thick 'clear' plastic.  so hard.

[BigAl6747]

well guys, my gs problems have been solved!  After finding the battery still didnt work after picking it up from the gas station, I decided to be on the safe side and hook up a small motorcycle charger i found to it--just to make sure that it was indeed charged.  Well, after a couple of hours i went out in the garage and tried to start it, and to my amazement the bike started right up!  Apparently the gas station didn't do a thing to the battery!  Man i'm so happy...now only if all that damn snow would melt i'd be all set..