New to GS and Forum, Tire and spring advice please?

[pandy]

YeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone who talks more than *I* do! I  bet NO ONE ever thought they'd witness THAT! 

I *LOVELOVELOVE* the colour of your bike! GORGEOUS! 

[Teek]

Hi pandy,
Isn't that what people do who are madly in love, just gush and sigh and rattle on and make everyone else just sick with the "blahblahblah"?    (I still have to stop and look every time I go to the garage, it must be tru luv). 

Happy to oblige. 
Thanks for the compliments! 

[skynxnex]

I'd say you got a pretty good deal. I just bought a 2001, same color, with 19k for $1800. Not nearly as clean, but I still love it so far. It did come with fabric saddle bags and a nice cover, so I'd like to think I got an alright deal. Enjoy.

[Teek]

Hi skynxnex,

I understand the engine can last for a loooong time, as long as you don't let the oil run low! So your bike is probably just broken in  Extras always count, still sounds like a good deal.   
By the time we get the fork springs in and new tire on, plus decide if we want anyone messing with the carbs (maybe they have been, we haven't looked yet, it has so many other mods), and find a chin fairing, it will cost much more, sigh.

[Teek]

WELL! We have determined the "new" rear tire has a PLUG. Poo!
I don't want a plugged rear tire!    Any experience or opinion,  anyone, with safety? I don't trust it on a two wheeler.

Methinks it's a good excuse to move along or hopefully return the brand new Battlax and get the Metzelers.  I'm going to call in the a.m.


If they say no I'll offer it here for cost plus ship OBO, it was like $73. w/o ship and is a O.E. version front tire.

Then there's the dead battery @ another $100. buckos???! I found it down to the plates, topped it off, put a trickle charger on it, need to go get a new tester... It did start right up today after 1 night of charging.

Let's see, 2 or possibly 3 tires, springs, battery... clean the carbs and re-jet TOO???! Maybe not such a good deal, the tire plug really twists my britches, I hate being lied to! 

I'm not looking fwd: to dealing with the local stealership either... 


BUT, I'm still crazy about the bike!   

[gsJack]

OEM battery for the GS500 is a 10L-B2 which has the vent on the right side, I get the 10L-A2 which has the vent on the left and is otherwise identical.  Just reroute the vent hose first time, it's a much more common and less costly battery and I get mine at the Walmart or local auto parts store $30-35.

Didn't put my Progressive springs in until I had over 50k miles on my 97 GS and was replacing the fork seals.  Personally I believe carbs will clean themselves if there are no blocked passages with the fuel injection cleaner they put in gas now.  I've never felt my 02 GS500 needed rejetted with the 3 circuit carbs that replaced the 2 circuit ones starting in 01.  My 97 GS was never rejetted either, but it was nasty in cold weather here in NE OH, wouldn't have been a problem in SoCal.  Only time I think the 01 and later GSs need rejetting is when the loud obnoxious free flowing pipes are put on   

Now for the biggie, tire plugging.  I've plugged a few in my 23 years and 360k miles of riding and then used them up.  Never was a problem for me but I plugged my own, never rode on one plugged by someone else.  Since I started doing 400 mile Interstate days at 75-80 mph indicated in 01-04 to go to the Adirondac and Smoky mtns to play with literbikes I haven't plugged a tire except one that went flat near home and it's replacement was on the way.  Your bike, your life, your choice as I always say. 

[Teek]

Hi gsJack,

Thanks so much for the battery info, that is certainly my preferred route, I have always put my own batteries in everything I owned for the last 30 years, except maybe once on my F-150, I can't remember why though. I really appreciate the inclusion of the parts #s! 

Thanks also for the carb advice; like I noted, with a strong battery and a warm day, she started right up, was idling fine off the choke in two minutes or less, I think just a little carb cleaner in the gas would be a good thing to try. I did learn here about the 3 circuit carb starting in 2001, so I have been hopeful that cleaning things up would help. Not really considering a new pipe, the stock is fine by me. I want good rubber and a bike that runs reliably, with everything up to spec. I WOULD still like a chin spoiler, however..   Hubby says she's not naked with that mini cowl, that's a "bikini top" and that she needs a matching bottom...


I decided to order the tires, a pair of Metzeler Lasertecs (re your rec, I believe!). I think it's worth it to add any amount of potential safety. As you so wisely pointed out, if I had plugged it, that would be different. I would have patched it over a plug, and at that point with the tire off and having to be rebalanced, etc., I'd have just put a new one on anyway. It probably is a new tire, it just picked up a nail and got plugged, why tell the buyer??? (A car I would not mind, there are three other tires there!) Any advice on the size for the rear tire?  It looks on the site (TiresUnlimited) like I can only get the stock 130/70/17 for the back. No 140/70s offered. They do have a 150/70. I read the thread here on that size, figure probably stock is better on the stock wheel...

Again, thanks for the answer and the help!!!   

[richreid]

I am in lust with that windscreen.

That is ~exactly~ what I have been looking for.

If anyone knows precisely what that is, and where I might get my meaty paws on one, please tell

[Teek]

Yeah, I like it too!    From what I've been told here, it's one that Suzuki made as an option, and it is painted to match on this bike, and does fit like it was made for it. Says "Mitsubishi" on it, however!   
Someone else will have to tell you how long they were made and how to get one, it does seem to make the bike very comfortable re: buffeting. Not much in other words.