1st time noob with questions

[pirudamu]

Well I decided that I want to learn to ride a bike so I started looking around. My wife wanted me to go buy brand new but never riding a motorcycle before, I said no. I wanted an older but good bike to learn on. I found an old man on craigslist that had a 1991 GS500e for sale. By this time I have already went to look at dozens of bikes...all with problems...but when I found this GS500...it was in good condition and the man was up front with me. It needed front left turn signal, and a rear tire...but overall it's in good condition. I paid $700 for it. Only question I have is I dropped it on foot brake side..I got it back up right away. That was about 3 days ago. Now it kinda makes a puttering sound when idling at a stop light or something...could it just not be warm yet? The farthest I've drove it is less than 1/4 mile...it has 7,235 miles on it... I'm sorry I can't go into further detail but I don't know anything about bikes...plan on learning as much as I can though

[acid]

Calculate roughly 10 miles for the engine to get warm. If there's still that noise, check the pipes and muffler for damage and check, if it's still properly mounted at the engine. Those sometimes get loose even while driving.

[pirudamu]

Ok, thank you very much. Where do is the best places to find aftermarket parts for a bike that old? I would like to put a new exhaust and a new gas tank but nothing on eBay..I've googled it too. Are there parts from other bikes that will fit directly on my bike?

[tt_four]

Don't worry about dropping it, it'll probably happen again. Good choice on buying a used bike. A wife that encourages you to buy a new bike is something special though.

You sure it wasn't making the noise before and you just never noticed? It's not hard to pick up on noises you never noticed before after something happens. Is it a noise coming from the motor, or is it making a puttering noise from the exhaust? Mine makes a noise similar to that, but that's just because the engine is spinning so slow at idle that the air coming out of the exhaust isn't really consistent yet.

[acid]

Ok, thank you very much. Where do is the best places to find aftermarket parts for a bike that old? I would like to put a new exhaust and a new gas tank but nothing on eBay..I've googled it too. Are there parts from other bikes that will fit directly on my bike?

You're doing something wrong there

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200419447977
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310159595521
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370377225117

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Vance-Hines-Supersport-Exhaust-Suzuki-GS500-GS-500-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a5251c936QQitemZ250489194806QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[pirudamu]

Don't worry about dropping it, it'll probably happen again. Good choice on buying a used bike. A wife that encourages you to buy a new bike is something special though.

You sure it wasn't making the noise before and you just never noticed? It's not hard to pick up on noises you never noticed before after something happens. Is it a noise coming from the motor, or is it making a puttering noise from the exhaust? Mine makes a noise similar to that, but that's just because the engine is spinning so slow at idle that the air coming out of the exhaust isn't really consistent yet.

to be honest, I really can't be sure. I think is coming from the motor though. Could it be that since I've had it it hasn't been rode enought to get warm?
Ya my wife is bad about buying things and not thinking about it..I've thought about it alot and had an idea of want I wanted. Never riding a bike...the dumbest thing I could do is go buy brand new..I think this buy too after looking at about 10 ninja's...I hardly had balls left after the ninja rides...this bike is comfortable

[pirudamu]

Thanx for the links bro. I thought it had a stock exhaust but I guess not. The exhaust muffler says Vance & Hines on it lol

Stupid question...are turn singles supposed to blink like a cars? I just replaced all turn signal housing & bulb with brand new. When I push turn signal none blink.

[Toogoofy317]

Do they just all come on or nothing? If nothing at all you may have blown the fuse which is on the right side just under the rear fairing. The first fuse you see is not the one to be changed it is an extra if one is there. You gotta remove the rubber cover to change it out!

Mary

[mister]

The bike has to be On for the blinkers to blink.

Michael

[pirudamu]

Do they just all come on or nothing? If nothing at all you may have blown the fuse which is on the right side just under the rear fairing. The first fuse you see is not the one to be changed it is an extra if one is there. You gotta remove the rubber cover to change it out!

Mary

they all come on. Even if the bike is started, they don't blink. The just all come on...I'll be sure to check the fuse in the morning and I will let you know. I just tried to start my bike and the battery is dead I live in indiana and it's about 40 degrees right now..I don't know if that has any effect on startin when cold out but I heard it does?

[Toogoofy317]

Check your flasher relay. Sounds like it is dead. It is also around the area of the fuse. Think the stock one is square can't remember. But, you can pick one up at autozone or discount for under $5.

Mary

[Toledo Jim]

Does the dash indicator also light up?

Did you replace the bulbs with led's?

If you replace the flasher, get an electronic flasher, not the mechanical flasher.

Check the following thread. (1 of many about similar problems.)
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=51865.0

[Worm]

I can guarantee that it's not the fuse, because my bike had a blown one and you get NO power to anything when that happens. But it might be the flasher that's right next to the starter relay on the right side of the bike, under the rear fairing.

[pirudamu]

Maybe this will help, when sitting on the bike, the front flasher to the right doesn't even light up...I've checked the wiring, replaced bulbs, checked fuses, ugh. To top it off, I go out this morning and the f'ing battery is dead. I jump it. Let it run a little bit, then I drive it around for about 15 min..come back shut it off, try to start it again and guess what...DEAD. I think this battery isn't the right one. It just looks too tiny and the is a piece of wood stuck in between the battery and the battery housing..which also makes me think it's the wrong size. All of the lights light up on the gauge cluster that's supposed to. Should have listened to my wife and bought a brand new bike lol. Regardless i'm going to keep it. I hate when ppl ghetto rig stuff

[pirudamu]

Well the Autozone here has very few parts for my bike

[Paulcet]

Well the Autozone here has very few parts for my bike

I think the only thing you will find there that will be specifically for your bike will be oil and filter.  Then there are other things that will work on your bike, such as bulbs, oil, flasher relays, paint, wax, rubber-vinyl-leather conditioner...  All with varying levels of prudence required in their use.