Somehow I own a GS again.

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

I haven't had a running bike since 2012 when I was a regular on here.  A workmate had a high mileage '02 GS500E.  It's electrics died last year and he gave up on it and sold it to me cheap.  I have another abandoned GS project in bits to pull parts from, so hopefully I can fire this one up for some cheap work transport.




I'm thinking a lot of satin black Rustoleum on the frame, swingarm, triples and fork tubes.  I'll wrap the rusted headers and it should look alright.

Need to make it run first.

[ShowBizWolf]

Welcome back to the forum!!!

(January) 2012 was when I bought my GS and first started out in the world of motorcycles.

That frame rust is crazy... looks like it's only on the surface so that's good. Congrats on the great price and keep us posted on the progress if you can! Here's hoping you can get it running and give it a new life

[cbrfxr67]

kick a@@!  Can't wait to see what you do with it!

[Watcher]

Pictures are way massive, any way you can shrink 'em down a bit?

[qcbaker]

Pictures are way massive, any way you can shrink 'em down a bit?

large images can be made smaller by adding the width argument to the IMG tag. 800 pixels is a good starting point since most monitors are at least 720p:

Code Select Expand

[img width=800]https://example.com/picture.jpg[/img]

Makes OP's pics look like this:

[cbrfxr67]

thx qc

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Pictures are way massive, any way you can shrink 'em down a bit?

large images can be made smaller by adding the width argument to the IMG tag. 800 pixels is a good starting point since most monitors are at least 720p:

Thanks.  I haven't posted in here since the photobucket days.    Today I learned a thing.

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Little update.  I put in near dead battery and finally saw some dash lights.  Not even a click from the starter.  I hooked my diesel ute battery up and all the lights were super bright.  Still not a peep from the starter.  I ran a cable directly to the starter side of the relay and she turned over.  Lots of caughing on the choke, but eventually it held a healthy idle.  GS500s are a pain to warm up at the best of times, this ones been off the road for about a year.

Took it for a run around behind my house.  The engine pulls strong and everything seems to work.  I think with a new battery and either a starter switch or relay we're on a winner here.  This one's no show bike, I just want work transport.

[Andy73]

Wow. What a great fun looking project. I would love to resto a GS500 one day. Lucky you!

[cbrfxr67]

great update!  that's good stuff!  winning!

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Clutch switch wouldn't you know it?  I've put a temporary bypass in it, which will probably be permanent.  I have a bike that fires up when you hit the starter now.  Feelsgoodman 

[qcbaker]

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

So the bike runs fine, the only issue is you can pull the key out while its running.  I took it in for inspection and that was the only fail item.

So to be road legal I've gotta replace the ignition barrel.  I xan get one cheap off ebay but nothing with fast shipping to Australia. 

I've got an old GS500 I can pull the ignition off, but it looks a prick to remove.  I'm thinking there's a good chance I'll destroy the tiny bolt heads securing the barrel mount trying to remove it, with no replacement in a hurry.  Is it worth cracking the headstem and just swapping the triple across?

[Joolstacho]

Or easier, find a locksmith who can make you a new key that'll stay in -with luck it's just a worn key.

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

We looked at the key that came with the bike and it looked genuine and near new.  I think he sold it to me with the unused spare.

It was a quick enough job to pull the top triple off the other frame I have.  I'll ride it on my old bike's keys for now.  The inportant thing is to get it road legal ASAP, so I can move it under its own power.