I have a new bike!!!

[pandy]

VERY nice job! 

[Yev]

Bike looks excellent!
Also, what kind of clip-ons are those?

[Villager]

I have no idea; I didn't realise they weren't stock.

It's nice to get a good response to what I've done: when you spend hour after hour on the small details I think you end up liking it by psychological necessity. Hopefully I've had a positive impact on the quality of the bike.

[ben2go]

I have no idea; I didn't realise they weren't stock.

It's nice to get a good response to what I've done: when you spend hour after hour on the small details I think you end up liking it by psychological necessity. Hopefully I've had a positive impact on the quality of the bike.

Those are stock clip ons for euro spec bikes.Only 89 got clip ons in the US.My 89 still has it's original clip ons.

[Domindart]

looks way better!!

[Yev]

I have no idea; I didn't realise they weren't stock.

It's nice to get a good response to what I've done: when you spend hour after hour on the small details I think you end up liking it by psychological necessity. Hopefully I've had a positive impact on the quality of the bike.

Those are stock clip ons for euro spec bikes.Only 89 got clip ons in the US.My 89 still has it's original clip ons.

I want them 

[bombadillo]

matte black FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I did mine the same, except bronze wheels.  Great bike.

[reminor]

I'd highly recommend treating innards of the tank with POR-15 to prevent rusting. Read in the Wiki - http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Restoration/TankRust
A pretty colored tank with mucho gunk inside will not get you very far (distance-wise) 

[surf.seppo]

Looks fantastic, mate! 

I absolutely love the gen1 SV650 mickey mouse mirrors. They look so darn good on the GS.

[Villager]

I have treated the tank innards - I wasn't going to bother, then I decided I would keep the bike for more than the short term, and went ahead and did it.

matte black FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I did mine the same, except bronze wheels.  Great bike.

FTW? I really wanted to use more imaginative colours, but I chickened out. I suppose it's not too late for the wheels - any suggestions? It wouldn't be a great hassle to repaint the frame if anyone has any great ideas to go with the matt black.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

After replacing tank etc, installing heated grips and 14 front sprocket, I took the bike for it's first run today. Here's what I found:

- Paint job added a perceived 6bhp - it just feels better to ride something you have some pride in.

- Heated grips are fecking ace. Why did I court frostbite for so long? Seriously worth the money - they get HOT!

- I was initially disappointed with the difference made by the 14t. I didn't feel it to be much stronger pulling away, barely noticeable. Where I was pleased though was in power delivery at higher rpms. It DOES feel like a different bike, and sounds a lot angrier too, which is lovely. It doesn't just sound like it's revving harder, it sounds different - can anyone explain?

- Put into practice the advice solicited regarding cornering - countersteering, looking through the corner, relaxing etc. All stuff which I knew, but had stopped (or never properly started) doing.

All of these things combined to produce my most enjoyable motorcycle ride to date. I'm cornering much more naturally, and feel a lot more comfortable on the bike. Thanks for all the advice.


HOWEVER

All is not well. I followed beRto's advice on fuel bleeding, and for the first 3/4 miles of my journey everything was hunky dory. Then it started spluttering, and died. I could only get it running again by switching to PRIME, and had to leave it on as when I returned it to normal it kept dieing. I didn't think it a good idea to run on PRIME for long, but I had to get to work. Is that harmful? What else can I do to purge the air - will it sort itself in time?

[spc]

Dude, people run their bikes on prime all the time.  Petcock diaphragms break, it's better than a chick's diaphragm breaking.  No harm outta running it in prime just remember to turn it off when you stop.

[Villager]

Oh dear - I have left it on prime, and I won't be able to get to it for a week now (I'm visiting my parents). Is it going to eat itself?

[Jay_wolf]

i think ur be fine , i think theres something to stop ur carbs filling to much

[beRto]

HOWEVER

All is not well. I followed beRto's advice on fuel bleeding, and for the first 3/4 miles of my journey everything was hunky dory. Then it started spluttering, and died. I could only get it running again by switching to PRIME, and had to leave it on as when I returned it to normal it kept dieing. I didn't think it a good idea to run on PRIME for long, but I had to get to work. Is that harmful? What else can I do to purge the air - will it sort itself in time?

Congratulations! You are now suffering from the dreaded fuel starvation ailment.    This is unrelated to failure to "bleed" the fuel lines.

As spcterry said, this problem usually results from a bad diaphragm in the frame-mounted petcock. I solved the same problem by replacing the petcock with a new OEM one. My bike is a '95, so the petcock was twelve years old when it went.

There are other solutions (search for "fuel starvation). Alternately, you can continue to run it on PRIme every time you ride. The risk with PRI is that if the carb float valves stick, the fuel can free flow and overflow the carbs. In the worst case, gasoline can run into the cylinder and cause hydrolock.

Personally, I replaced the petcock because I wasn't convinced I'd remember to turn it back to ON every time I finished the ride. Maybe you are more diligent... 

[Villager]

I barely remember to take the key out of the ignition!

I take it running in prime hurts mpg?

[beRto]

I barely remember to take the key out of the ignition!

Better get a new petcock then! 

I take it running in prime hurts mpg?

I doubt that PRI would have any effect on mpg. Fuel mileage depends on delivery of fuel from the carbs to the engine. The petcock just ensures that the carbs have fuel when they need it.

When working well, ON (or is it RUN?) and PRI should be the same when the bike is running. RUN requires vacuum from the engine to allow fuel to flow, PRI eliminates the need for vacuum.

[Villager]

Oh dear. 


So, I finally return to my house and attempt to start my bike that has been sitting with the petcock switched to PRIME for the past two weeks. It won't start. It makes a very feeble attempt to turn over, then alll I get is the fast clicking noise. What have I done to my bike?!

[Affschnozel]

Check battery voltage ,crank it without choke and with full throttle till it starts   

[The Antibody]

Yes, the clicking is tha battery being nearly dead. Charge it up.

  -Anti 

[scottpA_GS]

Looks good 

And the no start has nothing to do with being on prime  You need to charge your battery 

have you cleaned your carbs? I would suggest you take the petcock apart and clean it as well