First Bike

[TJDukit]

So I'm new here to the forum, I was referred to this site from someone on another site because I am picking up a '90 GS500 for my first bike.  Wow, I had no idea there would be such a large following of this bike, it's pretty cool.  I've already done a ton of reading on here and I know I have more to do.  I should be picking up the bike on Saturday after I get back to Salt Lake from Vegas.  I'm getting it from a friend for $500, it need fork seals for sure and has been sitting for over a year so I will need to drain all the fluids and pull the carbs and clean them out.  This is my first bike and it will be the first one I have worked on and so far this site has been very helpfull.  I already ordered my Clymer so once I get the bike and the parts I should be only a day from riding it if that.  I'm really looking forward to being a part of the motorcycle community and the GS community as well.

[black and silver twin]

you picked a good bike to start with and Welcome! The gs500 is easy to ride slow and fast. its also easy to work on, every thing is incredibly simple to remove and inspect. you will learn alot about riding and fixing, not that there are problems with the bike but stuff does ware out /break from time to time as is true with everything. also there are plenty of gofast/lookgood parts so you wont get "bored".

[mister]

Welcome TJ.... and remember... we wants pics of the bike once you've picked it up. 

Michael

[tt_four]

Might as well replace the fork oil while you're pulling things apart for the fork seals.

Sounds like a great deal though!

[psyber_0ptix]

hello and welcome!

[TJDukit]

There she is, I really can't wait to take her out.  I've only ever ridden three bikes, a 125 dirt bike I learned on a few months ago, my same friends Roadliner 1900(peer pressure is a Bi**h but that's why I'm getting this one), and the Nighthawk at the MSF class.  Luckily for me I've had no trouble on any of the bikes keeping my balance so riding just kind of came natural to me, now I just have to learn to really ride.

And when I change the fork seals I was thinking of putting some new springs in it while I've got it apart and of course new oil, I've read on here that it's not too expensive to do the springs and it makes a world of difference so I figure why not just start there.

EDIT: Put them up on photobucket.  Now I know and knowing is half the battle...haha and I haven't even watched the new GI Joe.

[mister]

Can't see the pics unless I log in to the other forum. 

Michael

[Cal Price]

Hello and welcome. All of the above too. There is a lot of help and information to be had here, using search and FAQs answers most things but don't worry about asking anything. The GS is a great bike and those of us who are ex-GS owners still feel the link.
Have fun, be safe, be SEEN, even if you have to dress up like banana man!

[TJDukit]

Can't see the pics unless I log in to the other forum. 

Michael

I'll have to figure something out and repost them but I don't have pictures anywhere online.

[jeremy_nash]

you can save them to your computer from the site, then upload them to a site like photobucket

[mister]

Ah, now see them. 

Nice. After the dust storm we had here yesterday, mine's looking dusty too.

Michael

[TJDukit]

I'll get some more pictures up once I pick it up and get it into the daylight and cleaned up some.  Hopefully it won't be difficult finding the fork seals and oil filter for it at a local shop so I can have it out on the road by sunday.

[Dj Hunny]

Looking very good. I bought my filter online, still looking for fork seals though..if you wouldn't mind letting me know how much it costs..so i can have a general idea. My local shop said they'd be about $190 or so.??  I'm trying to find a better deal online.

[Bluesmudge]

I know you can get the OEM oil seals for like $50. Aftermarket are a lot cheaper but I've never trusted anything but OEM for fork seals.

[Dj Hunny]

I know you can get the OEM oil seals for like $50. Aftermarket are a lot cheaper but I've never trusted anything but OEM for fork seals.

wow that's way cheaper then what the shop told me.

[TJDukit]

I know you can get the OEM oil seals for like $50. Aftermarket are a lot cheaper but I've never trusted anything but OEM for fork seals.

wow that's way cheaper then what the shop told me.

Are you sure the shop wasn't quoting you for you having them do it.  I've heard they can run about $75 to $90 to have a shop do it which I would never pay.  I'm going to hit up the bike shops on saturday and see what they can do as far as getting me the parts I need.

[TJDukit]

Picked up the bike on Monday.  When we got it to the house my friend Justin tried to start it and magically(not really) the thing fired right up.  I guess the previous owner hadn't ridden it in a very long time and had the choke in the wrong position to start.  So we drained all the gas and put some fresh stuff in and Justin took it for a ride.  I would have but I had a few beers that night.  Yesterday I changed out the fork seals and took her a for a ride.  She rides nice and smooth, serious lack of power at the low end though, I am waiting for my manual to tear apart the carbs and get them cleaned up.  I would get some pics up but it's raining and cold here.  Hopefully when I clean the carbs and get them synced it will run better.

[tt_four]

Cleaning out the carbs made a huge difference on my bike after I got it. There's still a little bit of a lack in low end power, but I think that's a GS problem, not a carb problem. It still pulls pretty well from 3k on though.

[TJDukit]

Well my tach is way off and it bounces around alot but when the tach reads about 8000 that's when I get power but right now I can lay into the throttle in first gear and it just kinda goes unless it's reved out pretty good.  My manual isn't going to be here until the 4th but I did pull the air box last night and sprayed out the carbs and that helped a little bit I think.  I'm going to get it warmed up and take her around the block a few times while it's not raining.  I think I may also need to re-jet, the bike has spent it's whole life in Texas and Italy so it might not be jetted for 5000 feet.

[Dj Hunny]

Picked up the bike on Monday.  When we got it to the house my friend Justin tried to start it and magically(not really) the thing fired right up.  I guess the previous owner hadn't ridden it in a very long time and had the choke in the wrong position to start.  So we drained all the gas and put some fresh stuff in and Justin took it for a ride.  I would have but I had a few beers that night.  Yesterday I changed out the fork seals and took her a for a ride.  She rides nice and smooth, serious lack of power at the low end though, I am waiting for my manual to tear apart the carbs and get them cleaned up.  I would get some pics up but it's raining and cold here.  Hopefully when I clean the carbs and get them synced it will run better.

Hey TJ,

I'm not much of a monkey wrench, but I do like to work on my bikes myself. I'm not sure if replacing the front fork seals would be an easy install...any advice, anyone? I noticed you just did yours so I was curious, I didn't want to pay so much for something that could easily be done.

My experience, i've mostly done bolt-on stuff, oil changes, i did do a motor swap on my ruckus myself, but something that small i'm not so scared off. I wouldn't want to do any serious damage to my GS.