Rear brake doesn't work?

[ohgood]

You guys are a  huge help. I know you're not trying to discourage me, when it comes to trucks I tell people all the same stuff, I just don't know enough about the bikes yet. My buddy who's been riding for a few months is coming with me, and that's the closest I have to someone who's knowledgeable.

I also know that the bike will need some gauges. The more stuff that isn't "right" is more I can talk him down for so keep it coming! Do these GS's have any kind of sliders like I see on the bigger sport bikes?


And no, not in vikings territory... This is near Tampa, Florida. Red with the yellow wheels could be cool, or black and yellow.

florida = the chain is going to be shot too. that's a $3-400 bike, if it runs goooooood, has a brand new battery, 4 quarts of space shuttle shaZam! for oil, free filters, clymer manual, spare engine, helmet, boots, jacket, and gloves or a tug job thrown in for free..... a $100 bike if it doesn't.

[mustangGT90210]

New Tank = $200
New Gauges = $200
New Rear Brake system = $75
New Paint = $100 + lots of labor
Does not include issues you don't know about.

Something to think about...

New tank = not important until it starts leaking
Gauges = Thanks for the price there. I'm gonna start with the tach cause I can do that easy (if it all hooks up like a truck)
Paint = Gonna probably spray it myself. It's a under 900 dollar bike, there's no need to drop lots of money on the paint. I'm thinking about painting the tank and the plastic by the seat in black, leaving the frame purple (I do like purple...) and I don't know about the wheels yet.

I'm feeling a lot more comfortable about this whole deal, especially since the main thing I was worried about (back brake) isn't too expensive of a repair. I won't be riding the bike right away as I still need to take the MSF thing for my license, and find a leather jacket. I have a helmet already thankfully. It'll probably be 2 weeks after purchase until I'd be riding on the streets.

[mustangGT90210]

So I bought her, brought her home, rode her a bit. Rides extremely nice, nice power. Front brake isn't too grabby but it's gonna be fixed regardless. Here's Purple Haze and Fiona! Oh, and the final purchase price was $740.

[Kerry]

  AWESOME!   

[BockinBboy]

Congrats!
Now its time to get down to work to get her road worthy.  Aside from the cosmetic fixes/changes/upgrades you will want to do quickly, resist and put your money toward mechanical issues first.  Also, if you do not know other than by the POs word when the last time any item of general maintenance was done, do it anyway.  General maintenance things like oil changes are inexpensive compared to most work on your bike, and your bike will like it anyway... besides, the potential cost if you don't can easily mean a new motor (which is more than what you paid for the bike).  Check out the maintenance pages on the gstwins wiki site (link below), there is a schedule that shows what needs to be done after certain amount of time/age/miles.  Pick all of them that you think you can handle wrenching yourself and get them done before you spend much more time out on the bike, you'll be glad you did.  Doing these things will help you notice more things on your bike such as potential or existing problems you were not previously aware of.  One tip if you are a first timer at wrenching on a bike: Do one mechanical maintenance task at a time.   That way, if you do happen to make a mistake somewhere, you know exactly which procedure made things go wrong, and its much easier to troubleshoot/correct one thing rather than a list of 3 or 4 different things you tried to do at one time.

Have fun!

http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Main.Maintenance

- Bboy

[mustangGT90210]

Dang, this site just has everything, doesn't it? Here's what I think it needs right now to be road worthy, but I'll be doing all the maintenence first

Oil Change
Get the rear brake working
Put turn signals back on (Have them, just not connected)
Get a speedometer (the bike still has the factory plug ins on by the bars, and I like the factory gauges, any idea what those cost?)

[BockinBboy]

A decent set of gauges can be hard to get for $100, and can go upwards of $200.

- Bboy

[Worm]

There are some parts whores on here that may have some of the parts you need. Congrats on the bike!! Like everyone else has said...get the maintenance up to date then start tinkering! 

[jestercinti]

Dang, this site just has everything, doesn't it? Here's what I think it needs right now to be road worthy, but I'll be doing all the maintenence first

Oil Change
Get the rear brake working
Put turn signals back on (Have them, just not connected)
Get a speedometer (the bike still has the factory plug ins on by the bars, and I like the factory gauges, any idea what those cost?)

Yes it does.  We've all been there, that's for sure.  If there's a problem, someone has run into it most likely already.

[mustangGT90210]

Bled the rear brake today. There was a tiny air bubble in there. It works perfect now!

What color should the fluid be? Mine is yellow-orange in the back. Haven't look at the front yet

[speedfreek]

The GS I just finished restoring had frozen pistons in the front caliper.
It was actually fairly easy to overhaul once off the bike.

I wouldn't replace the break system unless you're talking about replacing
just the master cylinder because it has problems.

Caliper and hose problems are pretty doggone easy to fix..

TJ

[mustangGT90210]

The GS I just finished restoring had frozen pistons in the front caliper.
It was actually fairly easy to overhaul once off the bike.

I wouldn't replace the break system unless you're talking about replacing
just the master cylinder because it has problems.

Caliper and hose problems are pretty doggone easy to fix..

TJ

I don't need to worry about it any more, I bled the back brake today and it works flawlessly now. There was a small bubble in the line right at the caliper so it couldn't engage fully. Now I just wonder if yellow orange is a proper brake fluid color!

[speedfreek]

ATE super blue and you'll never have to change it again 

TJ

[BockinBboy]

I don't need to worry about it any more, I bled the back brake today and it works flawlessly now. There was a small bubble in the line right at the caliper so it couldn't engage fully. Now I just wonder if yellow orange is a proper brake fluid color!

Getting into orange color or darker is time to replace the fluid.  It should be done every two years regardless, and I would guess your bike is way overdue.  It is a simple procedure.  Check out BaltimoreGS' video linked below, it is a good one.  Biggest caution tip when bleeding/replacing fluid with new: Do NOT let the resevoir empty or let air in the lines, its much easier to KEEP it out than to GET it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu8e2-qki38&

- Bboy

[mustangGT90210]

Thanks for the answer to my question  Seems like everyone is so caught up in what to use in it they skimmed over if it was needing replaced lol

I've look at that how-to, and it does appear to be pretty straight forward. I've always dreaded bleeding the brakes on my truck, but I'm not afraid of it on the bike. Especially after yesterday!