Noob

Steve-O · February 23, 2005, 08:28:50 AM

Greetings, my name is Steve and I am looking for a bike for my wife. We have determined the GS500 to be a hot prospect for her. I have a line on a '91 GS500e and was wondering what the 'e' designation means. Also, how many miles are these engines capable of doing (maintenance and condition I know are factors). The reason I ask is the bike I am looking at has 30k miles, I figure it has plenty of good miles left in it, but thought I would check with the experts. Any particular things I should be looking for when I check the bike out?

I have been referred to this board from Sport-Touring.net, I am relatively new to the motorcycling lifestyle and I thank you all for your assistance in advance.

Steve

geekonabike · February 23, 2005, 08:55:16 AM

My understanding is that the "E" just means what range of years it was made. When it came back in '04 it became the "F." On the other stuff, you can peruse the messages here and see what to look out for. Just one word of warning: a lot of folks are here asking how to fix a problem that cropped up, so it can be like going to a hospital and coming out thinking half the world is sick. It's a good bike, but like all bikes it does need care and maintenance.

If you can have an independent mech check a few things, like all the rubber (can eyeball that yourself), the frame alignment, forks, chain and sprockets (can somewhat eyeball those yourself) and especially more invasive things like plugs and compression, you'll have a pretty good idea if you have a healthy specimen. You can ask about if it leaks oil, but with age these often just do and (GASP) sellers lie about it anyhow. It's one way to gauge if they seem honest!

If you want a demonstration of the bike, ask that it be stone cold when you come to look. Be sure it really is, by feeling the engine fins and exhaust pipes. Knowing how it warms up can help get an idea. Does it start and idle well from warm up? If a seller knows you're coming, you have to be adamant about seeing the bike cold. Maybe check it out first thing in the morning.

Good luck, and ask away!
--Mike D.

se7enty7 · February 23, 2005, 08:55:56 AM

30k is getting up there. I wouldn't pay any more than about $1100 for it. the gs500's are all the same up to 2001. Whether you buy an 89 or a 2000 you are getting the same bike.

E is just part of the model name.

geekonabike · February 23, 2005, 09:01:20 AM

Oh and one more thing (now that I look at your message again), don't pay too much or expect a lot of life from a bike with 30K miles. Now some of us, unfortunately, take a real long time to put even 1000 miles on a bike, so maybe if it's cheap it will be a good bike to just get started on. If a bike has 30K miles, I want to know about every one of them.

Have a look at the for sale/trade forum. You'll find some good specimens on good deals there. Now if you know the owner and they rode the bike consistently for those miles it might be OK. I wouldn't pay much (if any) more than $1000 for it, and even that's assuming everything looks good and runs well at least superficially and you trust the seller.

A '91 with 3000 miles that sat months at a time with stale oil, etc., might be worse than one with 30,000 miles that was ridden consistently for 10 miles at a time and had good maintenance.

FWIW,
Mike D.

Steve-O · February 23, 2005, 09:20:14 AM

Thanks for the quick replies guys. The guy wants $1500 obo for the bike, which I figured was pretty optomistic. The guy said he dropped the bike once at low speed, and there is minor cosmetic damage. Also he is the second owner, and has put less than 500 of those miles on the bike.

Worst thing is, he is about a 4.5 hour round trip away from me, so even checking the bike out is going to be inconvenient. I think I will pass, I really appreciate the insights gents.

Steve

geekonabike · February 23, 2005, 09:43:34 AM

No problemo. Hopefully we didn't all just dis someone from the forum.

--Mike D.

weaselnoze · February 23, 2005, 09:58:59 AM

if this bike doesnt fit ur needs, just wait. patience pays off. who knows, u might find a better deal tomorrow!

Steve-O · February 23, 2005, 10:45:59 AM

Actually, I just might have found a better deal today. A '97 for $2k obo, looks good from the pics, awaiting response for mileage, etc. Keep you posted.

Steve

gsJack · February 23, 2005, 11:10:18 AM

Quote from: Steve-OActually, I just might have found a better deal today. A '97 for $2k obo, looks good from the pics, awaiting response for mileage, etc. Keep you posted.

Steve

Steve, I've got a 97 GS500E that I bought new in Mar 99. It has about 80k miles on the clock now and has had no mechanical problems at all. Just depends how they were treated by the previous owners when you buy used.

Bought a used 02 with about about 4k on it in Sept 03 and now have about 22k on it and likewise no problems. It had a couple minor cosmetic blemishes on it, but I got it for $2600.

Saw your post over on http://www.sport-touring.net/ but someone else had already steered you to this forum. Good luck with the GS hunt.

Steve-O · February 23, 2005, 11:29:21 AM

Right on Jack, it's good to hear that with proper treatment these bikes are capable of some serious mileage. Nice to see another ST-N'er around.

Steve

starwalt · February 23, 2005, 01:13:59 PM

Welcome to GStwin! The letter designations for 1989 to 2002 are E followed by another letter, K-( I think) W or V for the year. The Haynes service book is very explicit on what years have letters and features although it seems to lean more toward the UK data and mentions the US bikes as a side.

The 2004 GS is designated GS500F. Don't know if it is followed by another letter or not.

Regardless, do shop around unless you are buying low price and plan to wrench a lot. My coworker picked up a 1990 E-L for $900. About 15K miles and not totally abused like my project. I picked mine up, non running, for $416 via ebay. See my thread "Just picked up my GS 500 project" for the continuing story.

Again, welcome!

Kerry · February 23, 2005, 01:21:14 PM

Follow Up: See this post.

What it doesn't show is which years are designated by 'E'. But you can find this out by clicking on the

this Ron Ayers page.

se7enty7 · February 23, 2005, 01:31:28 PM

also as a comparison, I paid $700 for my 89 with 13k miles... it needed a little bit of mechanical work... (I didn't know about it at the time or I probably wouldn't have bought it...)

end result... these are CHEAP bikes....

Rema1000 · February 23, 2005, 07:53:53 PM

Quote from: gsJackI've got a 97 GS500E that I bought new in Mar 99. It has about 80k miles on the clock now
<...>
Bought a used 02 with about about 4k on it in Sept 03 and now have about 22k on it

...so that's about 98k "personal GS-miles" for you and your GSes!

You'll have to let us know when you get another 2k miles, so we can celebrate the first "GS Century".

What a great bike. I think I'll go raise a toast to my GS in the garage...

TheGoodGuy · February 24, 2005, 02:43:54 AM

Quote from: Rema1000
Quote from: gsJackI've got a 97 GS500E that I bought new in Mar 99. It has about 80k miles on the clock now
<...>
Bought a used 02 with about about 4k on it in Sept 03 and now have about 22k on it

...so that's about 98k "personal GS-miles" for you and your GSes! You'll have to let us know when you get another 2k miles, so we can celebrate the first "GS Century".

What a great bike. I think I'll go raise a toast to my GS in the garage...

yup then we can get Jack something for this century.

News:

Noob

gsJack