New GS500F (looking for sympathy!)

[TinaMarieF]

Yesterday, I bought a GS500F from a local shop.  2005, 361 miles.  My second bike - I have 4000 miles and a year on a Buell Blast.

I picked it up today, and rode it the 2 miles home.  Much fun was had.

Until I got to the entrance to my street, where the road is torn up and graveled.  A woman in an SUV was taking up the entire road, and the combination of turning, stopping, and gravel resulted in me and the bike hitting the ground.

I was wearing gear, nearly stopped, so I didn't even get a scratch.  The bike was nearly as lucky - I popped the little grommit for the right turnsignal through the fairing, I broke the tip off the front brake handle, and I broke the tip (a balancer, the parts sheet seems to call it) off the end of the throttle.  That looks like about $50 in parts.  I'm probably going to try to hit the local dealership and see if they have them in stock, but I'm guessing they're pretty commonly replaced, so they should.

Is there any reason I can't ride it for a day or two without the tip on the throttle?  It doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and the parts manual seems to say it's  held on with a screw, not by the balancer, but it's hard to tell.  Or do I just need to park it until I find the parts?

I'll figure out how to upload a picture to the album, but here's a link for now (before it was dropped!): http://pictures.tinastoys.org/ShowPicture.php?id=148

[pandy]

Welcome to the board, TinaMarieF! 

I'm sorry to hear about your getoff.  I'm glad that you made it through unscathed and that your new baby didn't make out too badly. By balancer, are you referring to the bar end? Or something different? I rode my SVS without his bar end for about a week, and then replaced it. The only thing that came of it was a bit more vibration through the throttle grip.

For posting pics, you need to host the pic on a third-party site, such as photobucket.com, and then you can insert the image here.

Again, welcome, and I hope you get everything fixed up fast! 

[arcsecond]

Well, I don't know what a balancer is or if it's necessary, but I'm sure someone who does will be along soon. Otherwise I say be grateful you got your first drop over with early and with such little damage to you and the bike. Now the bike has "character". Was there anything you could have done to prevent the crash?

Oh wait, just reread your post. Is what you call a balancer at the end of the bar? Sort of cylindrical rounded black rubbery thingy? bar end weight? That's not really necessary to ride I don't think. I'm pretty sure people ride without them. And I know for a fact lots of people ride without the little ball ends on their brake and clutch levers. Only thing to watch out for is it's another thing to puncture you should you really go down bad.

And welcome to the nuthouse. :-7

-James

[Yankee Punker]

 That's one more the Super Unnecessary Vehicle, I'm sure she was in the center of the road because she was afraid that she might actually get to close to driving that thing off the side of the road, and we don't really want someone to have to drive their SUV off-road now would we, that would just not be civilized.  

Glad to hear your OK, and Greetings, you'll be fine with out the balancer until you can get it replaced, what about the turn signal.  

[Jarrett]

How does the GS feel compared to the Blast?  Have you gotten enough riding in to compare the difference? 
+1 on not needing the bar end weight.  You can ride it to the dealer to pick one up or ebay it. The throtlte is held in place so it's not going anywhere.  Make sure all your bolts and screws are torqued down properly.   When they're new like that you'll often look down and find stuff missing after a ride.  It's even more important to check after a drop.  Same thing with the license plate bracket.  Don't ask me how I know.  Flush mounts are a nice alternative for busted turn signals if the signal got pushed throught the cowling.  you can pick them up at cycle gear for about $20.  Welcome to the site, and congrats on the GS.

[simonyau]

Sorry to hear that you dropped your bike, but the important thing is that you're okay. 

Just like others said, you shouldn't worry too much about the bar end.   The brake lever shouldn't be a big issue too, as long as it brakes properly.  Remember to check if the brake still functions properly before taking it for a ride.

Welcome to the board and congratulations on getting a GS.

Simon

[TragicImage]

you can pop your Turn Signal back through.  Just be careful not to crack the plastic.  A New rider that I was helping had the same problem, I just slowly worked it back through, and now its good as new.


The "Balancer" that you're talking about, is just like a large heavy metal plug that has a little rubber gromment that has a screw passing through it?  You can repair that, you don't have to replace it.  If the screw is bent, just go down to your local hardware store, and tell them you need a replacement screw/bolt.  Bring the whole peice with you, they'll be very helpful.


The only thing you should have to replace, if you want to is the brake lever, and should be able to find that for fairly cheap.


Please, feel free to holler if you have any problems.

[pantablo]

welcome TinaMarieF!
+1 what tragic said...

[Turd Ferguson]

My 2005 GS has been bar-end free for three months.  Meh, who needs em?  Actually, today I took a rather "spirited" ride after adding a new muffler, and the vibrations through the bars at the high RPM's started to bother me after a while.

No rush replacing the bar-end.  Welcome to GSTwins.com!!!

-Turd.

[TinaMarieF]

Was there anything you could have done to prevent the crash?

Well, there's always something you could have done.  I knew the gravel was there, and I'd slowed down a lot so it wouldn't be a problem, but probably not enough to compensate for the extra weight of the bigger bike. Then the SUV showed up, after I'd already started the turn, and I was rapidly running out of options.  I suspect I actually locked the front brake - I'm having trouble getting used to the position of the rear brake, since it was much higher on the Buell, and I may not have gotten enough rear braking, and unconsciously over-braked the front to compensate.   Honestly, it happened too fast to know for sure.

I was actually rather pleased with myself - an ex of mine badly broke his leg when he exited the road on his Valkyrie, then tried to put a foot down to keep the bike from falling over.  I did have enough time to think to keep all my limbs where they were, and just let the bike fall instead of trying to put a foot down to stop it. 

Also amusingly - the Buell blew a head gasket, and is parked in my shop until I get it fixed.  Some of my gear is there, like my gloves.  I nearly rode home without gloves, but I figured I could use a pair of winter gloves anyway, so I stopped and bought a pair before I picked up the bike.  I'd have really torn my hands up if I'd have blown off that stop...

[blue05twin]

Sorry to hear about the drop, glad your not hurt.  I've replaced everything you liste when I did my highside, and again when my sister in law droped my GS.  Easy fixes and not very expensive.

Oh and welcome to GSTWins. 

[Egaeus]

I would definitely replace the lever.  Those little balls on the end serve a purpose.  They help prevent the relatively sharp lever from impaling your hand in an accident.

[dgyver]

[....
I suspect I actually locked the front brake - I'm having trouble getting used to the position of the rear brake, since it was much higher on the Buell, and I may not have gotten enough rear braking, and unconsciously over-braked the front to compensate.   
....

The rear brake pedal does have some height adjustment.