It's gone...

[cashmoves]

yea, its my first bike. i've heard great things about the gs500e, and wanted a naked bike. his was the nicest one ive seen, at least cosmetically. love the orange color. cannot believe they only used it one year... apart from pure looks, i admittedly do not know much about bikes yet, but i very much want to learn. he had a shop manual along with the manual that comes with the bike. i'm going to try to do all basic maintenance like oil changes, valve clearances, etc on this bike. i want it to be a learners bike for me both as a rider and a 'mechanic.' i really hope that basic maintenance is all i encounter, at least for the first few thousand miles... might need a new rear tire at some point somewhat soon, not sure.

i felt a little more comfortable with this bike because i went back and read the threads he'd created on it last year. he was also really helpful and seemed pretty knowledgeable about bikes in general. i had know idea what to check when you go to buy a used bike, and he gave me a few pointers.

there was another 2005 gs500f a mile from my house. still up on craigslist. only had 536 miles on it... owner said he had not really done any maintenance on it, but showed me the oil level... whatever thats worth. guy needed to sell and i could have got it for way under his asking price if i showed him the money. i felt more comfortable buying the 1998 with 12k miles from kijona who i thought i could trust and who was very helpful, over buying a newer bike that had been just sitting and sitting and had who knows what going on with it... everything is a learning experience.

unfortunately, i havent had a chance to ride it yet because its still parked at a friends place (see above photo, about an hour away in atlanta)... gotta get it this weekend when i have time.

[Kijona]

yea, its my first bike. i've heard great things about the gs500e, and wanted a naked bike. his was the nicest one ive seen, at least cosmetically. love the orange color. cannot believe they only used it one year... apart from pure looks, i admittedly do not know much about bikes yet, but i very much want to learn. he had a shop manual along with the manual that comes with the bike. i'm going to try to do all basic maintenance like oil changes, valve clearances, etc on this bike. i want it to be a learners bike for me both as a rider and a 'mechanic.' i really hope that basic maintenance is all i encounter, at least for the first few thousand miles... might need a new rear tire at some point somewhat soon, not sure.

i felt a little more comfortable with this bike because i went back and read the threads he'd created on it last year. he was also really helpful and seemed pretty knowledgeable about bikes in general. i had know idea what to check when you go to buy a used bike, and he gave me a few pointers.

there was another 2005 gs500f a mile from my house. still up on craigslist. only had 536 miles on it... owner said he had not really done any maintenance on it, but showed me the oil level... whatever thats worth. guy needed to sell and i could have got it for way under his asking price if i showed him the money. i felt more comfortable buying the 1998 with 12k miles from kijona who i thought i could trust and who was very helpful, over buying a newer bike that had been just sitting and sitting and had who knows what going on with it... everything is a learning experience.

unfortunately, i havent had a chance to ride it yet because its still parked at a friends place (see above photo, about an hour away in atlanta)... gotta get it this weekend when i have time.

Well it's all a learning experience my friend. I did a whole bunch of research on the GS500's, mainly came from here, before I ever even purchased one. You can find some of my first posts from way back when I was looking at some ragged out piece of junk, heh. I've come a long way since then.

Since this is easier than a text message, I'll tell you a few things you need to have when you go to change the oil. First thing is some M14 aluminum crush washers. You'll want to replace them each time you change the oil. Not only does it give you somewhat of a buffer from over-tightening the drain plug, it also is what mostly seals the head of the bolt to the oil pan. PepBoys and a few others carry a package of 4 for 3.99. I believe AutoZone has the same ones for the same price but don't quote me. You'll also want to remove the old one beforehand, which can be done a variety of ways but the best way I found was to set the bolt, head down, on the ground and use a medium flatblade screwdriver to cut through the washer to the head of the bolt. You just use a hammer or some other heavy implement and tap the butt of the screwdriver until it cuts through the aluminum. It's fairly soft so it shouldn't require too much effort. Then from there you can just peel it away. Just be sure you don't damage the threads on the bolt.

Everything else about changing the oil, checking the valves, etc. is covered many times over by several members here. Videos/pictures/text, the whole nine yards.

Edit: Or you might get lucky and the old crush washer is just loosely on there and you can unscrew it. Or it might just fall right off...I don't know what you'll end up with with the washer I used. Hard to say.

[Funderb]

dammit man, you should have sold that fairing to me!

[Kijona]

dammit man, you should have sold that fairing to me!

Sorry Charley...I don't think the bike is nearly as appealing without it.

[cashmoves]

yea, the fairing makes the bike as far as im concerned...

[bombsquad83]

Depends what you want to do yourself.

For valve clearance adjustments, I highly recommend one of these tools:
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0017

You will also need a full set of metric sockets and box end wrenches.

I'm sure the list goes on and on...

[cashmoves]

Depends what you want to do yourself.

For valve clearance adjustments, I highly recommend one of these tools:
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0017

You will also need a full set of metric sockets and box end wrenches.

I'm sure the list goes on and on...

great, thank you!

[Kijona]

Well I took a look under the tank on the SV today...whew.

Somebody has neglected this bike pretty bad. Looks like it sat out in the rain at least once. It also looks like somebody might've taken it off-road. There was all kind of mud and crap on the airbox. Airfilter was filthy. Thankfully there was nothing inside the airbox.

I've got some work to do.

Bryan, FYI there's a very decent set of sockets from Autozone that carry a lifetime warranty. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Duralast-50-pcs-3-8-in-drive-SAE-and-metric-ratchet-and-socket-set/_/N-25k6Z1z141xg?itemIdentifier=914104_0_0_

It's a tad expensive but the quality of the tools is on par with Craftsman so it's not a bad deal. The deep-well sockets will come in handy.

[Kijona]

Bryan, let me know when you want to change the oil on the GS. I'll make a trip down there and give you a hand. Might even let you ride my SV!

In other news...encountered a new problem. The chain on the SV was in pretty rough shape when I was looking at it but then I realized it's the original chain AND I think somebody cut links out of it because it was so stretched out. The front sprocket was dry as a bone...not a drop of lube anywhere on it, and the teeth are all mangled. Uggghhhh...people don't need to own bikes if they can't even do a simple job like lubing the chain every few hundred miles.

[cashmoves]

Bryan, let me know when you want to change the oil on the GS. I'll make a trip down there and give you a hand. Might even let you ride my SV!

In other news...encountered a new problem. The chain on the SV was in pretty rough shape when I was looking at it but then I realized it's the original chain AND I think somebody cut links out of it because it was so stretched out. The front sprocket was dry as a bone...not a drop of lube anywhere on it, and the teeth are all mangled. Uggghhhh...people don't need to own bikes if they can't even do a simple job like lubing the chain every few hundred miles.

will do! i would definitely appreciate a helping hand with that kind of stuff. i think when i finally get the bike back here, im just going to clean and lube the chain, check the battery, tire pressure... just kind of go through the basic inspection stuff. might want to change the oil to 20w50 in a couple weeks...

as for the SV yikes! 17k miles and chain so stretched they cut links out? is that a sign that they probably rode it really hard while also not keeping chain maintenance up? are you gonna have to buy and install an all new chain? looks like you can buy kits for ~ $160.

[Kijona]

Bryan, let me know when you want to change the oil on the GS. I'll make a trip down there and give you a hand. Might even let you ride my SV!

In other news...encountered a new problem. The chain on the SV was in pretty rough shape when I was looking at it but then I realized it's the original chain AND I think somebody cut links out of it because it was so stretched out. The front sprocket was dry as a bone...not a drop of lube anywhere on it, and the teeth are all mangled. Uggghhhh...people don't need to own bikes if they can't even do a simple job like lubing the chain every few hundred miles.

will do! i would definitely appreciate a helping hand with that kind of stuff. i think when i finally get the bike back here, im just going to clean and lube the chain, check the battery, tire pressure... just kind of go through the basic inspection stuff. might want to change the oil to 20w50 in a couple weeks...

as for the SV yikes! 17k miles and chain so stretched they cut links out? is that a sign that they probably rode it really hard while also not keeping chain maintenance up? are you gonna have to buy and install an all new chain? looks like you can buy kits for ~ $160.

Chains stretch over time regardless. What tears up the sprockets is the chain being too tight, not enough lube, incorrect lube, etc. The chain had started "fretting" as I've heard it called which is where a sort-of red dust, presumably rust, begins to form on the chain from being neglected.

What's scary is the adjuster is all the way to the front and the rear sprocket is smaller than stock. Meaning the overall chain length has been shortened drastically. It must have been stretched way far out of spec. Either that or the numbskull that cut the lengths cut one too many out.

[dropitlow88]

One link really makes a huge difference.

[Kijona]

One link really makes a huge difference.

True, but I think they took more than one out. I haven't counted the links yet but the adjuster is ALL the way forward, and it's still a little tight, and it even has a smaller rear sprocket.

I figured out another thing they did...replaced the sprocket recently but did not replace the chain NOR the other sprocket. So now I have a relatively new sprocket that's all beat to hell, a front sprocket that looks like it went through the "warp" effect on Photoshop, and a chain that's about to break. UGH!

[dropitlow88]

One link really makes a huge difference.

True, but I think they took more than one out. I haven't counted the links yet but the adjuster is ALL the way forward, and it's still a little tight, and it even has a smaller rear sprocket.

I figured out another thing they did...replaced the sprocket recently but did not replace the chain NOR the other sprocket. So now I have a relatively new sprocket that's all beat to hell, a front sprocket that looks like it went through the "warp" effect on Photoshop, and a chain that's about to break. UGH!

lol, i'm going through the exact same thing on my gs. Poor PO maintenance...

[Kijona]

One link really makes a huge difference.

True, but I think they took more than one out. I haven't counted the links yet but the adjuster is ALL the way forward, and it's still a little tight, and it even has a smaller rear sprocket.

I figured out another thing they did...replaced the sprocket recently but did not replace the chain NOR the other sprocket. So now I have a relatively new sprocket that's all beat to hell, a front sprocket that looks like it went through the "warp" effect on Photoshop, and a chain that's about to break. UGH!

lol, i'm going through the exact same thing on my gs. Poor PO maintenance...

It makes me wonder whether people know that bikes aren't like cars - they require a lot of maintenance. Do they know and just don't care or are they just ignorant?

[dropitlow88]

I think it's a combination of both. Mine will be fixed soon, partial thanks to adidas for my rear sprocket. I found a lightly used DID chain on ebay for $25 shipped! What a huge differance. No more drivetrain backlash lol

[Kijona]

I think it's a combination of both. Mine will be fixed soon, partial thanks to adidas for my rear sprocket. I found a lightly used DID chain on ebay for $25 shipped! What a huge differance. No more drivetrain backlash lol

I got a deal on a Bikemaster O-Ring chain and two JT Sprockets from eBay for $100.

I replaced the "Made in China" no-name chain that came on my GS with a bikemaster chain...very high quality from what I can tell, and made in Japan not CHINA!

[codajastal]

It makes me wonder whether people know that bikes aren't like cars - they require a lot of maintenance. Do they know and just don't care or are they just ignorant?

I think its a little from column A and a little from column B

[average]

I wanted to but there was no way I was going to ride all the way to Washington It's just not comfortable enough, for me, to do that.

I have an OEM gel seat in storage. I'd have loaned that to you for the ride 

What year? Pre or post? Wait...is that Kat talk? 

[Kijona]

I wanted to but there was no way I was going to ride all the way to Washington It's just not comfortable enough, for me, to do that.

I have an OEM gel seat in storage. I'd have loaned that to you for the ride 

What year? Pre or post? Wait...is that Kat talk? 

Lol, Adidas wanted me to ride my little 97 all the way from Atlanta to WA so he could buy it from me.