Wiki FAQ Outline

[sanjay]

Please look over the following outline of articles and subjects that I thought would be useful to most GS owners.  Add, subtract, edit, or taunt - I'll take all the advice I can get.  This outline is NOT complete and needs your help.  And if you'd like to help with actually writing any of these articles, I'll soon be posting the actual site info once it's all up and running.

Also, sorry for the weird formatting - copy/paste doesn't like me.

1)    General
     i)       Fuel Type
     ii)       Expected Range
     iii)      Top Speed
     iv)     more FAQ-type questions
2)   Specs
     i)   Colors
          (a)   Color codes
               1.   Starwalt's stuff
          (b)   Tape sets
          (c)   Examples for each year/color
     ii)   Year-to-year model changes
     iii)   Technical details   
          (a)       Fuel
3)   Maintenance
     i)   Books (Clymer, Haynes)
          (a)   Link to Amazon to support GSTwins.com
     ii)      Parts
          (a)       OEM
          (b)       Aftermarket
          (c)       Compatibility with other bikes
     iii)   Regular schedule
     iv)   Routine
          (a)   Lube chain
          (b)   Valve check
               1.   Link to kit on forum
               2.   Link to Kerry's video on Google
          (c)   Change oil
          (d)   Adjust idle
          (e)   Adjust clutch
          (f)          Adjust chain tension
          (g)   Brake pads
          (h)   Tire pressure/condition
          (i)          Air filter
               1.   Link to upgrading
          (j)          Battery
               1.   Compatible replacements
          (k)   Spark plugs
          (l)          Headlight aim
          (m)   Check float height
          (n)   Sync carbs
               1.   Easy sync tool
          (o)   Drive chain guide
          (p)   Change brake fluid
          (q)   Change hoses
               1.   Hose routing diagram
     v)   Not so routine
          (a)   Rebuild carbs
          (b)   Remove CA emissions equipment
     vi)      Winterizing
4)   Upgrades
     i)   Appearance
          (a)   Fenderectomy
          (b)   Mirrors
          (c)   Fairings
          (d)   Windshields
          (e)   Paint
          (f)          Powdercoating
          (g)   Gauges
               1.     LED Lighting
          (h)   Cowl covers
          (i)   Pegs
          (j)   Tail light
          (k)   Hugger
          (l)       Wheels
          (m)     Headlights
     ii)   Comfort and Convenience
          (a)   Power Outlet
          (b)   Clock
          (c)   Gauges
          (d)   Seat
          (e)   Heated grips
     iii)   Performance
          (a)   Air filter
               1.   Uni
               2.   K&N drop-in
               3.   K&N lunchbox, pods
          (b)   Exhaust
               1.   V&H
               2.   Yosh
               3.   Jardine
               4.   Cobra
               5.   SV
          (c)   Rejetting
               1.   Why?
               2.   Matrix
          (d)   Sprocket
          (e)   Brake lines
          (f)          Ignition Advance
               1.   V&H
               2.   DIY
               3.   Bob Broussard
          (g)   Front Springs
               1.   Progressive
               2.   Racetech
               3.   Sonic
               4.   Best suppliers
          (h)   Handlebars
               1.   Clip-ons from '89
               2.   Suburban Machinery
          (i)   Petcock
               1.   Pingle
               2.   Inline fuel filter
          (j)   Tires
               1.   Best for given condition
               2.   Prices
          (k)   Rear shock

     iv)   Safety
          (a)   Crash bars
          (b)   Frame sliders

5)   Restoration
     i)   Repaint exhaust
     ii)   Repaint tank/plastics
     iii)   De-rust tank
     iv)   Tape sets and decals
          (a)       Removing old decals
     v)   Powdercoat frame
     vi)   Replace gaskets
     vii)   Interchangeable parts
     viii)   Broken bolts

6)   Troubleshooting
     i)   Bike won't start
     ii)   Fuel Starvation
     iii)   Squealing brakes
     iv)   Indicators
     v)   Oil leak
     vi)   Noises

7)    GS500 Community
      i)      Forum
      ii)      GSTwin.com
      iii)     Links to other sites

[Trwhouse]

Hi there,
What about a section for "Stupid Owner Tricks?"

Yours,
Todd

[mike_mike]

i'd change the front suspension bit not to be specific to progressive springs as some people are adding racetech springs now.

[sanjay]

Done and done... well not quite.  Stupid owner tricks?  What did you have in mind?  If you'd like to write it... 

[mike_mike]

I have a few top level categories to add.


- Community
- General Information
- Beginner Rider Appeal
- FAQ

[mike_mike]

under appearance.. some additional items

- Wheels
- Gauges
- Headlight

[sanjay]

Do you mean for FAQ to include all the information in the outline?  Or have a separate section for just questions and answers? 

Also, as far as Community and General Info and Rider Appeal, do you see this as a document to attract potential GS500 owners and new riders?  I was thinking of it more as a resource for current owners, who know about the forum and the bike.  What do you think?

[hmmmnz]

mabee a section with a list of compatible or nearly compatible parts

[average]

i'd change the front suspension bit not to be specific to progressive springs as some people are adding racetech springs now.

Dont forget the sonic springs   

[mike_mike]

Do you mean for FAQ to include all the information in the outline?  Or have a separate section for just questions and answers? 

Also, as far as Community and General Info and Rider Appeal, do you see this as a document to attract potential GS500 owners and new riders?  I was thinking of it more as a resource for current owners, who know about the forum and the bike.  What do you think?

faq - just for general questions that are often asked here... stuff like "how far will my GS go on a tank of gas?" "I crashed my GS, where do i find used parts?" "How fast will the GS go?" "What kind of fuel does the GS take?" etc.

community/general info blurbs are worth adding. We're talking about updating the wikipedia SG500 page or using the wikipedia engine to make our own wiki 'like' resource for gstwins?

[sanjay]

Think of it as a GS500-specific wikipedia.  The FAQ but more expansive.  Containing writeups, articles, general information, all consolidated from Pablo, Kerry, Mike, Starwalt, the GSTwin how-tos, the FAQ section of the forum, and the random write-ups scattered throughout the forum, as well as from other sites.  Also, there will be part numbers and suppliers for commonly ordered items, paint codes, etc.

The wikipedia article will remain as is, simply informing people about the GS500 - what it is, a little bit of info.  The proposed site is completely separate and will only contain GS-specific articles.

[tussey]

this is a damn good idea. I wish I would have thought of it.

IS gstwins gonna host it?

[sanjay]

Not at the moment.  I'm hosting it on my student webspace for free.  After that expires or if bandwidth limitations occur first, we'll move it to a more permanent home.   

[mike_mike]

is there any particular reason not to just update the wikipedia GS500 entry?

All of our information is centered around one item, so you're not going to have that many individual pages to branch out onto, unless you're looking to re-invent the wheel 

[sanjay]

Yeah, but there actually is a LOT of information to sort through.  The wikipedia article is meant to tell the general public about the GS500, not describe available fairings or how to perform maintenance to an owner. 

The wiki format is simply a way to allow group writing and maintenance, which in the long run will allow new members to update the collective body of GS500 knowledge and expertise. 

[fodder650]

I was going to ask about the Wikipedia entry as well. Go look at the EX500 entry and it pretty much tells you the names of the guys who built them. And what they had for lunch. Theres a lot of information on the GS as well. But its not nearly as exhaustive as the EX's entry. And the GS one needs updated pictures.

[sanjay]

True, but how much of that article is targeted towards current owners?  I agree that the GS500 article could use more info, but the wikipedia article and GS500 wiki site serve two different purposes.

Any other comments?  I can't believe that only 6 people had ANYTHING to say about this. 

[fodder650]

Actually shouldn't the WIkipedia entry be about the history of the bike anyway? More then a sales tool? There is a mention of how the engine came from the GS450. But nothing specific.

Just ideas

[tussey]

this project still alive and well?

[sanjay]

Yup, working on it.  I'm still sorting out site security, etc. because the website uses scripts and you can upload files.  Can't be too careful