I hate my gs500f at the moment **UPDATE**

[LOUiE]

how did you miss 2 tests on .6 of a mile?  after trying to start my bike twice I woulda just went... 'well shaZam!!!' and walked to school.   

[Pigeonroost]

Skeets;

Get a battery tender and use it regularly.  I dunno about the clutch issue.  The starting troubles you describe are classic for weak battery, but the one you have may recover enough with the tender.  Remember, the battery provides electric for the ignition as well as the starter.  If low, the spark will be weak and that is why you notice it seems to fire better when lean -- yet needs enrichment to stay lit.  Another classic symptom of a pratially discahrged battery is that the engine tends to fire just as you let off on the starter motor (voltage rises as the motor drain is cut off).  Thus, if battery is low and you gotta go, either push start or crank in very short bursts.  5-40 oil may help a tad, but nothing to write home about.  The tender, even the Jr model should help.

prs

[beRto]

**Update**

YOU SHOULD REALLY TAKE CARE OF YOUR BATTERY.

So since my bike didnt work I had to walk to school. Everything was fine and I got to school. If you didn't know I am 5"10 110lbs, and a senior in highschool. Well I had to walk home from school and while in the middle of almost being to my home, I was robbed at knife point for my cell phone. I'm fine, and I even got a new phone that day!

If I woulda had my bike, none of this would happened...but it did...soo now the good part

That's terrible news I'm really glad to hear that you were not hurt

I went to K-mart and got a battery tenderizer for motorcycles. I then took out my battery and put it on over night. Put it in the morning and BAM it started right up.

It's been working fine now, and I've been switching bikes with my brother (ninja250) because he has a long trip and it will charge my battery.

Thanks for all your help, you guys (and girls) are the best!

Great!  Now just keep it on the Tender everytime you park the bike and you should be good to go!

[Paulcet]

Sure, a motor draws peak current when stalled, but it's not infinite. 

Ok, you're right.  It's not infinite in the real world.  Just in theory. 

It draws a LOT of current when stalled.  In fact, the limiting factor is the battery's ability to deliver current.  It will try really hard:  Bad, bad!

[yamahonkawazuki]

Be sure it isn't the battery. It is very easy to check the battery, so you should start there first.

you start with an old soviet favourite. KGB ( Known Good Batter )