Just saying hi - new GS500E owner.

[O.C.D.]

Hello all,

My name is Jon.  I am new to street riding but not motorcycles.  I have been wanting to street ride for a while so I found my "new to me" bike last week.

Last Sunday while at work and heading home, I spotted a very pretty red motorcycle in the parking lot of the Safeway near where I live.  The bike was a 1992 Suzuki GS500e.  It was bright red with white wheels.  It was almost flawless and had an full Vance and Hines exhaust system on it, rejetted, new tires, new plugs, new battery,  fresh oil,  K&N Lunchbox, 10,000 miles on the odometer, and crash bars for keeping it safe if tipped over.

$1500 was the asking price which is not high at all (the bike in that condition Blue Books for $1450 and that would be without modification).  Needless to say I called immediately.

The owner was a really nice guy and we talked for a few minutes but he was coming to test drive the bike for some kid.  I was already sad as I had "the feeling".  I know the feeling well as it was present when I purchased the Jeep over 4 years ago.  I wanted this bike.  We left and went home.

The next day I get the money and I call my good buddy Joe and tell him to be at my house in an hour so he can test drive it for me.  (I did not receive my full license until today so I couldn't test ride the bike at the time.)

We get to the owners house and immediately can tell this guy likes bikes.  He had a Harley and a GSXR1100 in the garage also.  The stock exhaust and air intake box were sitting next to the GS500.  Again, I have "the feeling".  We talk and Joe takes her out for a spin.  When he comes back I am elated to hear that he is impressed.  We talk a little more and I hand over the cash.  He sings the title and it is mine!!!

Joe loads her up and we take her to my house.  About 3 seconds after she is off the truck I am ready for my first ride on the bike.  I grab Joe's helmet and take her out.  Wow, I am impressed!  The bike has enough power to be confident, but not too much as to where I will be overpowered.

So as you can tell, I am happy.  This last weekend I shortened the turn signal stocks all around and relocated the reflectors.  Thanks to this site I learned how to do that stuff.  But the fronts I had to figure out on my own. 

Here is what she looked like when I brought her home:

[drincruz]

welcome!

cheers,
~drin

[O.C.D.]

Thanks.

I forgot to ask if I got a good deal?  I read up on these a bit and for the condition/mods/price I feel I did really well on the purchase.

Jon

[NF11624]

Personally, I feel that as long as you're happy, who cares how much you paid (within reason of course ).

Seems like a good deal from reading other threads about bikes in similar condition.

[tripleb]

Nice looking bike.  I think for the condition you got it in it was a good deal.  You probably could've talked him down a couple hundred, but not a bad deal IMO.

[The Buddha]

Thanks.

I forgot to ask if I got a good deal?  I read up on these a bit and for the condition/mods/price I feel I did really well on the purchase.

Jon

Not bad at all if you're looking to ride instead of wrench ... spring time, spring prices in effect ... and trust me a GS at this time ready to run is like cash.
Cool.
Buddha.

[O.C.D.]

Thanks.

I forgot to ask if I got a good deal?  I read up on these a bit and for the condition/mods/price I feel I did really well on the purchase.

Jon

Not bad at all if you're looking to ride instead of wrench ... spring time, spring prices in effect ... and trust me a GS at this time ready to run is like cash.
Cool.
Buddha.

I did try and talk him down but he was very firm.  T be honest I feel it was a great deal.  I am in no way opposed to wrenching on my rides, but to have it already installed I was happy.

To add what was done would have cost more than lowering the price a couple of hundred bucks.

Besides, I have seen many same year bikes in way worse condition and more miles go for about the same.  I did my research fairly quickly but also fairly well.

This weekend I am ordering a 15T for the front and maybe a 40/41 for the rear.  That and I need an owner's manual.

So far I love the bike!  Not too fast but not too slow either.  Great place to start before the 750 or R1 purchase in the future.

[utgunslinger13]

Good deal bro!  Looks to be in great condition, and thats not a bad price this time of the year!

[scottpA_GS]

Welcome! 

I agree... Good price, nice GS 

[commuterdude]

I've never seen a GS that old as clean.   I think you did well.  Ride safe.

[fred]

Welcome! That is an amazingly clean GS. Very well done. Around here, I'd consider that bike a good deal if it ran at all, the fact that you got one so clean and so well taken care of means you got a most excellent deal. It looks like all you're going to have to ever put into the bike is a little care and basic maintenance and you'll be able to ride it pretty much forever. My '94 has been abused pretty badly at times and it has over 90,000 miles on it, so you should be good for a long while...

[Toogoofy317]

Welcome! You got a good deal but the "F" are waaaaay better  . My '04 already has 10,000 on it and half of that is by me in less than a year and a half. Do you know if it has sat alot etc. I'd change the oil and make sure the fuel is good.

Mary

[O.C.D.]

I am glad you all can tell how clean it is.  That is what mainly caught my eye when I saw how old it was.  The owner took great care of it. 

It was ridden lately as the owner had to move it to sell.  It was mainly garaged I am betting.  But, he changed the oil and also gave me some to use.  When I get my owners manual soon I am doing the new rotors all around and new pads as well as oil.  For me it is the tinkering and wrenching that i love about vehicles.  Now that I have a bike it adds to the fun!

I also have to add that I got my first long ride in last night.  Although not the fastest bike I have ridden it gets up and goes pretty good.  Damn thing is soooo loud with the V and H exhaust.  Still needs to be re-geared though.

Speaking of which, I have read a lot on that topic - re-gearing.  I understand going down to a 15 or even 14.  I think I will do 15 as I don't want to stress the chain too much.  But changing the rear to a larger tooth doesn't that negate the lower front change?  I would think it gives it the same ratio but I am not sure.  Can someone please explain without saying search, lol.  I have been doing that a lot.

Oh, and are there Suzuki sprockets to be had or are they all aftermarket ones?

Thanks all.

[bassmechanicsz]

actually going up 3 teeth on the rear sprocket is the same as going down 1 tooth in the front so going up in the rear and down in the front is essentially the same.  Their is a sprocket page on the wiki that has a all the information about the sprockets and how many link chain is recommended depending on what combination you use of sprockets.