Need some help with newbie questions

[mpi]

I just got a used 92 GS500 and it is my first bike.  I need to figure out if I am doing something wrong or if the bike has a legit problem that I need to have looked at.  

This is the problem:  It wants to die at low idle speeds.  After the bike has been ridden for a while (maybe 10-20 minutes) and I come to a stop the idle sits fine for 30 seconds (~1K) or so but then starts to sound like it is going to die out and putters until I crank the throttle. this seems to fix it for a bit but then it goes back.  Do I just need to stay on the throttle at lights?

This brings me to some basic riding questions:

First off how long do you let the bike warm up for?  I generally start the bike and then put my gear on then take off.  Total time from start to take off is ~5 minutes.  Its also 85-90 outside right now in chicago.  Could the idle problem be because it is running too hot?

Next is a choke question:  From my understanding of choke it is only used to start the bike from a cold start.  Is there any situation that you would ride around with the choke still on a little?

Thanks for any help that you can be

Mike

[vfrocket]

That is somwhat normal, if you set the idle screw after you first start the bike it will be different after you have ridden a few miles.

yes the choke is for starting only.

Next time you ride, start as usual, then ride a few miles. Pull into a gas station or somewhere and then adjust the idle.

It may have a low idle when started, even after left running for 5 minutes but after you really warm it up by putting some load on it, it should idle fine.. I believe 1000-1500 rpm is normal idle.

hope that helps.

[JAZZY045]

Hey, I'm from Chicago, too. How the hell do u deal with riding in the city, especially during rush hour? I just started riding like a month ago and it's come to the point where I don't bring my bike out unless it's super early in the morning or late at nite. Had too many close calls already. Chicago traffic sucks big time.

[ukchickenlover]

Your idle is too low, it needs to be about 1300K. There is a big knob under the carbs to adjust this. You are correct about the choke it is just for cold starts. When the engine is cold less of the petrol will vapourise so you need a higher petrol ratio. Once engine is hot you switch off the choke.

[knowlsey]

sinc you are talking about the choke , make sure the choke slider is releasing ok, this could be enriching it causing it to cut out after a while, you can see if its to rich when you take the plugs out. The chokes have a habit of sticking on with either a bad cable a gunged up slider.

[pandy]

Hi Jazzy:

At only a month out, it's best to avoid rush-hour traffic. It's too much too soon. I'm almost a year out, and I probably started getting comfortable with heavy traffic about a month or two ago.

Stay safe!!

pandy

Hey, I'm from Chicago, too. How the hell do u deal with riding in the city, especially during rush hour? I just started riding like a month ago and it's come to the point where I don't bring my bike out unless it's super early in the morning or late at nite. Had too many close calls already. Chicago traffic sucks big time.

[conflicttheorist]

Hey, I'm from Chicago, too. How the hell do u deal with riding in the city, especially during rush hour? I just started riding like a month ago and it's come to the point where I don't bring my bike out unless it's super early in the morning or late at nite. Had too many close calls already. Chicago traffic sucks big time.

Chicago has some of the most dangerous driving conditions you are right to avoid heavy traffic until you are better at it.  Memorize all the potholes on lakeshore.  Never gun it from a light.  Never ride behind a bus.  Never ride beside a taxi.  Never lanesplit on city streets (chicagoans have a hard time staying between the lines).  Never park anywhere that says lincoln towing.  Also, make sure you wear at least gloves, a jacket, jeans, and a helmet unlike all of the weekend warrior squids out there.

[Roadstergal]

I was back visiting my dad for a while about a month ago, and I guess I never paid attention to motorcyclists when I was living in Chicago, but - jeezus, I have never seen such an undergeared pack of jackasses.  The best-geared person I saw all weekend was still wearing jeans and street boots.  Most folk were just out in a T-shirt, shorts, and flipflops, no helmet.  The one that took the cake was the Harley rider waiting in line for Ravinia with chickybabe on the back of the bike - both were in shorts and tanks, no helmets, and he had an open beer bottle in his throttle hand.

[mpi]

Thanks -

I'm going to try adjusting the idle and I'll check the slider and the plugs (checking to see if they're fouled right?).   If those things don't work, does anyone in chicago know of any good mechanics?  I took it to champion cycle on western for a tune up, but it seemed to be a bit expensive and took forever.  I would love try fixing it myself, but it living in the city doesn't leave me much workspace.

I haven't found riding in the city to be too terrible yet but I ride to/from work after the rush hour and I avoid 90/94 and anywhere else that might be congested altogether.  LSD does get a bit hairy thru the city (its a bit easier if there's traffic and its slow/stop and go), but once you pass roosevelt it's wide open.

Again thanks for your suggestions, I'll let you know how it turns out

[conflicttheorist]

There's a member on this board who can fix anything on your bike for free and can do it better than anyone else.  You're in luck, too, he happens to live in chicago.  That person is YOU.
You can fix it on the street, noone will bother you.  Go to the "buy a repair manual" link above.