Intro and a ? or two

[dhgeyer]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Dave Geyer. I live in Merrimack, NH, USA. I have been riding for 3 years recently, and 6 years when I was young. I am 59. I have owned 8 bikes recently, and three when I was young. I have ridden about 45,000 miles in the last three years. Longest trip was from home to New Orleans and back last year, on a BMW K75SA.  I have had the MSF Basic Rider Course, Experienced Rider Course, and am about to take the training to become an MSF Rider Coach.

I just traded in one of my bikes for a 2001 Suzuki GS500. I will probably pick it up tomorrow, but did take it for 2 test rides today before I decided to go for it. The bike I am getting has 357 miles on it, so it has been mostly sitting for 4 or 5 years. I'm going to have them look at cleaning the carbs, but it seemed to be running well when I rode it today.

Anyway, I probably will not get an owner's manual with it right away, but the place I am getting it from always gets one for a customer at no charge if they are asked to do so. It will take a week or two. So I won't have one right away.

This leads to questions.

What is the suggested inflation pressure for the tires?

What does the manual say about octane rating? Not trying to start a thread on this topic, just want to know what the manual says about it.

Does the manual suggest a break in procedure? If so, what do they suggest?

What does the manual say about shifting points? Does it suggest an optimal rpm range?

Anything else I should know, or be aware of that is unique to this bike?

Thanks in advance!

Dave Geyer
New Hampshire

[davipu]

hi, welcome to the circus.  
tire pressure 32f 36r  solo  32f 41r two up
87 octane.
under 5000 rpm for the first 600 miles, and under 8 for the first 1000 i think.

[dhgeyer]

Thanks!  This is most helpful.

[pandy]

Welcome to GSTwin!! Our Baby G's have character! Congrats on working toward becoming a RiderCoach!!!!!!  

[scratch]

Welcome!

I thought the pressures were 33 front and 36 rear.

If the bike begins to hesitate on the freeway switch the petcock to PRIme, this is usually caused by too much of a fuel demand emptying the floatbowls, sometimes as the result of the petcock diaphragm. We're not sure what exactly happens and cannot replicate the problem repeatedly reliably to diagnose. I've had my bike two years and it has only happened to me twice. I think it's due to not enough vacuum being exerted on the diaphragm to keep it open (carb vacuum balance), but I have also had problems with crosswinds removing atmospheric pressure to my float bowls (very rare).