My Bike Gets REALLY hot (Solved) New Tail Lightss!!!!!!

[Skeets]

Hi guys, I have a 2007 gs500f. It has about 4400 miles on it. I have noticed that my bike gets really hot. Like HOT HOT. When my bike gets HOT I hear a ticking noise, and then the shifter gets harder to shift down. I use Rotella 15/40 oil. I understand that the bike is air cooled, but man it gets so hot it burns my legs through my riding pants!

I just need to know if this is my bike only or does this happen to everyone? This usually happens during a 85 degree day in mild traffic.

Oh and I will keep this thread open as I will have many questions with my bike, seeing how I have ordered about 10 parts for it. Please feel free to bump it if you don't know the answer.


Thanks,
Skeets

[DoD#i]

Yank the plugs, take a picture, and post it.

[Skeets]

Please be more specific. What plugs? Spark?

[bobthebiker]

yes.  spark plugs.  it sounds to me like you have an overheating issue of some variety.   how is the oil level in the bike? check it lately?  remember these bikes DO burn oil, even new ones.

[Skeets]

Yes I checked the oil today. it was a little above low. I filled it up back to High. I think it might be the Rotella....I was using Castrol GTX before and didn't have the shifter problems, but it was still hot.

I will try to pull the spark plugs tommorow.

Thanks.

[The Buddha]

Hot and starts ticking ... maybe the crappy design strikes again ... oil thins and rod bearings start losing their oil film strength ... rotella is great, but go back to castrol and see if it happens, then go to synthetic, then I dunno, just pray ... and it blows, warrantee it.
Cool.
Buddha.

[bobthebiker]

this motor MUST be a relative of the EX500.  both of em are crappy motors IMO.  dont ask me to elaborate unless you've got days.

[The Buddha]

Oh yea bobthebuilder 
Except the GS started out decent and crapped out after 96, then even worse after 01 and then more worse after 04. That oil cooler is a huge design flaw.
EX started out crappy and stayed crappy.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Skeets]

What synthetic should I use? I'm going to change my oil today. Even though I changed it 700 miles ago.

[bobthebiker]

You're completely right Buddha.

The GS is actually a semi decent bike.  my complaint really is that it still needs to have the cam chain on a SIDE to make the motor flex less,  and the big issue I have with it is that its only got 2 valves per cylinder. 

otherwise, its not a half bad engineered motor.   I'd love to see it fuel injected though.

[Skeets]

Changed the oil back to Castrol. Bike still gets hot and ticks. Not a loud tick...like a tapping of a metal object.  Better though.. Here are some pics of my bike, and some pics of the integrated tail signals and my own fenderectomy.

My Lights

How it was done

How I mounted the license plate

[The Buddha]

Light shallow tapping comming form top of motor prolly is a valve being at the higher end of spec. If its lower than that top 1/3 of the motor ... its a rod bearings knock ... wait till it all gets shot to hell, then warantee it.
Cool.
Buddha.

[DoD#i]

Would still be a good idea to pull the spark plugs and look at them and post a picture if it's not immediately obvious to you what that means. If you are really running abnormally hot (which is hard to tell over the internet...), you may be running lean, and that can be a Bad Thing. They start jetted a bit lean form the factory, and if you've "improved" the intake or exhaust in any way without rejetting the carburetors, that can add to the problem.

Pull after riding, not after idling in the driveway.

[Skeets]

I'm going to try to pull them tonight. Is there a TUT on how to do this?

[theGrinch]

I'm going to try to pull them tonight. Is there a TUT on how to do this?

1) Get rid of the fairing
2) pull wires on the spark plugs off
3) use the spark plug tool from the tools under your seat and a 17mm (?) spanner/nut to get the plugs out
4) take photos
5) screw plugs back in, using your hand only! (engine has to be cold b4 you screw 'em back in)
6) add 1/12 to 1/8 turn (30 - 45°) with the aforementioned tools
7) push wires back onto the plugs
8) stick fairing on ebay

[nascarkeith]

Pulling plugs are easy.  Good luck with fixing the tapping.

The integrator and fenderectomy look great now get you some flushmounts for the front and finish up the slicked out look.

[Skeets]

Pulling plugs are easy.  Good luck with fixing the tapping.

The integrator and fenderectomy look great now get you some flushmounts for the front and finish up the slicked out look.

They are already ordered, slow shipping. I ordered them 5 days ago , hope they will arrive soon. I also ordered a new windscreen.

On another note, I wasn't able to check the spark plugs because I was too scared of messing with the engine. I decided to call my mechanic and he said he will tell me whats wrong for a small fee.

[DoD#i]

You managed to change the oil. Pulling the plugs is like that, only without all the messy oil. Yank a wire, unscrew the spark plug, don't drop anything in the hole, look at or take picture of plug, put back in hole, snug up per grinch's detailed instructions (I like step .

It's also a Good Thing to know how to do, and to have a spare plug or two under your seat along with the toolkit so that you can swap them if you have a roadside issue.

[Skeets]

I understand that it's rather easy, but I just don't comfortable messing with the engine. I will however learn from the mechanic. I hope I don't come off as an @$$hole. Yes I do change my own oil and do all my mods, but when it comes to the engine, I prefer a qualified technician looks at it. I don't know if you know I am 16 years old. Go ahead and flame me for being so young and having a motorcycle. I'm not a stunter or poser, or dare devil. I enjoy riding like everyone else.

The other problem is that I have had problems with a neighbor (I live in a condo with my parents). He constantly leaves notes on my bike saying that I'm not allowed to park, etc etc... I am allowed to park by the way, but anyways.

Sorry for the lengthened post.

[DoD#i]

No flambé needed.

Hadn't noticed (or even looked to see if you put that in your profile - I don't, though I'll admit to having graduated college before you were born) your age, but whether 8 or 80, it's till a good thing to know. So go learn from your mechanic, and we'll hope you have a decent one - one reason a LOT of folk end up learning to work on their own bikes is that GOOD mechanics are few and far between, and good motorcycle mechanics are fewer and farther between, and you have less margin of error on a bike than a car for dumb stuff like "wheel fell off".

I can do most of the mechanical work on my truck. I usually pay someone else to at this point. The constant fight with crap that should come apart and doesn't, the filth, the rust, it's all tiresome, and I have a pretty good (but not cheap) mechanic.

I have a bike that's been off the road for a LONG time because I don't have a motorcycle mechanic I can trust, and I don't have a lot of time for working on it.

As for the jerk neighbor, either ignore the foolishness, or sit down and talk with the guy, and then ignore the foolishness if it keeps up after that.