First post and a gear engaging problem

[cyrusyn]

Hi everone,
My name is Tyler and I am new to GS500 and this forum as I got myself a Suzuki GS500 recently.
Tonight, I was test driving my GS500 around my block and as I was riding for 5 minutes I felt that shifting into 1st gear and neutral gear was increasingly becoming difficult. Downshifting into neutral, gear pedal kept skipping neutral. Finally I was able to go into neutral after several tries and when I upshifted into 1st gear, engine stalled. From this point and on, as I squeeze clutch lever, whenever I engage 1st gear or 2nd gear, engine stalls.
What is causing this?
Your help is much appreciated.
Tyler

[fred]

There is a decent chance you clutch cable isn't adjusted correctly. This is a super easy thing to do and I'd check that first before doing anything else. Do a search and I'm sure you'll find a post describing the clutch cable adjusting procedure much better than I can right now... If the cable adjustment doesn't do the trick, try changing the oil. If you still have problems, there are a few other things to look at, but these are the easiest two....

[Berowra]

Tyler,

Is the bike jumping forward when you engage first or second gear before it stalls?

If not, you may have the sidestand down and the safety switch cuts the engine when you engage any gear.

If, in neutral, you pull the clutch and then wait a little time prior to engaging a gear could cause this.  Release and pull clutch back in and engage gear immediately.

Vince