New gs500- some questions (clutchless upshifting.. handling) (new pics posted!)

[Andy13186]

Its not alot of rust actually its a very small spot, just looks bad with a flash,i bet yours has rust too if you take a macro pic with flash of it.  The guy had multiple cruiser motorcycles of his own and was like 55 - 60 years old.

I live in FL too and bought it in FL (tampa bay area)

to me its a better than perfect repair job lol, i like gs500e's looks over the F's, and it keeps the oil cooler so thats an upgrade over a gs500e,  also the paint and lack of any markings like suzuki nice.. to me this repair job  is an upgrade

the rust would have been there even if it wasnt crashed

[mister]

Andy,

That thing on your fork is not a Screw. It's an Emblem signifying it was Made In Spain. The Plate should have Place of Manufacture as ESP.

Now that you see how the chain looks - and how it looks worse with a flash - you understand the advice to Lube The Chain, right?

The scratches are longitudinal. The bike was dropped at speed. The faring was totaled on that side. Less costly to remove the fairing all together and make it a naked bike. The exhaust cam would have been scratched too. The pic makes it look kinda yellowish instead of the silver it should be, both hinting it has been replaced. The forks have been replaced too I'd say (with forks from a GS not made in Spain) and most probably the handlebars as well.

This doesn't mean the bike is no good or anything. Just that, these are the things likely to have been replaced - as well as indicators and the like as they get scratched in a lay down real easy.

Michael

[yamahonkawazuki]

Andy

You don't change the oil because it might be old - even though That is a possibility. You change the oil because you don't know what it is. The oil in there is an Unknown Oil. Could be discarded vegetable cooking oil for all you know. Could be 20-50 oil and not 10-40. Could be car motor oil and not bike motor oil. Who knows? THAT is why you change it. So YOU know for 100% certain what oil is in it.

My service guy uses Motul 1000. I've heard of other Suzuki Dealers also using Motul 1000. And people have reported good stuff from Motul 5100 in their bikes. Some use different brands. But the No.1 concensus is... whatever brand you use for your oil, keep using that brand and do NOT change it. The additives the different brands put in can Clash.

Michael

Ive used car oil in it without any ill efects whatsoever. this vs moto oil is a matter of opinion, there is NOT any proof one is better than the other. BUT youre NOT sure what type is in it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO change it first and foremost. also tires, chain and brakes, easy to do on this bike, if you get frustrated talk to us well be glad to help

[lamahug]

Andy, welcome to the forum.  Since you are new to the GS500, here are two things to note.  OK, so you are riding along and things are perfectly fine and then all of a sudden your bike starts sputtering and you loose power.  Panic sets in and you are like what the heck is wrong with my bike?  Stay calm and switch the fuel petcock to RES and get your bike to the nearest gas station.  Yeah, when you open up the gas cap there will be gas in the tank.  Just fill the tank up, set the fuel petcock back to ON and you should be good to go.  Don't forget to set your trip odometer back to zero so that you know exactly how far you have gone between fill ups.  I go about 200 miles before its back to the gas station.

Pay attention to the ignition key position.  When you are ready to take the key out, make sure that the key isn't in the ACC position.  This leaves the turnsignal lights on and will drain your battery. 

Please Andy, ride safe.  The GS500 isn't a race bike.  Full protective gear is a must.  Real gloves, a good motorcycle jacket with protective padding, long pants, and good boots.  Try newenough.com, they have good stuff-cheap prices. 

Enjoy your new bike.  I hope that you will get many miles of enjoyment out of it.   

[Gary856]

Not sure why you all have a bad feeling about the bike, is it because the price seems too low to be true? The guy was a good guy .. he didnt lie about anything.. i just didnt ask specific questions.

I think most people just feel uneasy about the unknown and the lack of full disclosure up front, as in, what other surprises am I gonna get? Maybe you didn't ask, but if the guys did extensive repairs and passed it on as a minor drop, that's dishonest, and I don't know how I can trust a person like that.  

It's not to say that your bike was not fixed right - many people have the skills to do full restoration from the ground up. If the seller was up front and explained exactly what was done, priced the bike accordingly, and somehow you have confidence in his repair skills and still decided to purchase the bike, then it's a fair transaction.

With the new photos I see the color is a medium blue, not lavendar. Still not used to the painted barends, headlight and fork tubes. Without any graphics or emblems (like that shiny "S" on the tank), the bike looks a little unfinished. (just personal opinion; what you like for your bike is way more important than what I like.)  

[The Buddha]

Yup, rust has a part number ...

Anyway it looks good and I wont quite clutchless shift it. If you make a mistake it can kill your transmission in a hurry.
The rest - what they said.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Andy13186]

Thx everyone, i have a shoei x11 helmet and a tourmaster intake 2 jacket, very nice gear imo.. the jacket is very breatheable probably perfect for florida with the inside liners removed.

I allready ran out of gas once lol... just like one of you said it started sputtering etc, i learned about the prime and reserve positions in the MSF course so i switched that and it started right up and i went straight to the gas station.

[Roguesuzuki]

lol.. some funny stuff. I have that bike. It's been great. Yes, it takes a while to warm up. I'll use the choke and keep it under 3k rpm. After I get all my stuff on, I make sure its been about 5 minutes for the warm up if its cool outside.
Helmet cable, why someone didn't ask you; "Why dont you use the helmet lock under the seat?" is beyond me..  There is two hooks under the seat for helments.. lol
As far as gas goes, about 170-180 miles, I start cutting out and I switch to reserve. Since I know I have a gallon left, I'll run til about 200 miles then get gas. I clean my chain properly every 600 miles and change the oil every 2k with the filter change every 4k. I have nearly 12k on the bike now and its been flawless!

[Andy13186]

i knew it had those helmet latches under the but you cant fit a real good thick cable though there and still lock the seat, do you guys just put your helmet strap through there? someone could cut that i would think..

[mister]

i knew it had those helmet latches under the but you cant fit a real good thick cable though there and still lock the seat, do you guys just put your helmet strap through there? someone could cut that i would think..

They could cut the strap, yes. Could poor some sticky drink into your helmet too. Or fill it with mud. Or whatever. Plenty can be done to a helmet without stealing it.

Solution = carry your helmet with you. 

Michael

[Andy13186]

well i figured what would be the point on doing that stuff like pouring stuff into it or putting gum in it

the point in them cutting the strap is so they could steal it

with my lock it goes through the visor part so they couldnt steal it no matter what basically unless they totally destroyed it and made it worthless anyway

a helmet is a pretty bulky thing to carry around.  My MSF course teacher said the same thing as you though.. carry it.

[mister]

well i figured what would be the point on doing that stuff like pouring stuff into it or putting gum in it

What's the point of vandalism? Why break into a school and wreck the joint?

Same answer... the fukwit who does it gets a few seconds of joy. HA HA HA. Joke's on your. Fuked your helmet. very funny.

Hey. You think it's too big and bulky to carry around. Then don't. Chain it to your bike. Whatever floats your boat.

Me? I'll carry my Personal Protective Equipment with me thanks. It's designed to Protect Me. Be buggered if I'm leaving it out for all the assholes in the world to maybe use as their plaything.

Michael