Zethioth's 2005 GS500F

[Zethioth]

Well, I thought I'd let all you GS fans know that I acquired my first every bike. A 2005 GS500F.

Honestly, the bike is very rough for its age. But when you're new to riding and
don't have a lot of cash, a rough bike is what you get. I'm not much of a mechanic,
but I am trying my best to learn and get things going good with the bike. Any
advice you guys have to offer, let me know!
The bike has almost 42,000 miles. Yikes! But it runs, and I plan
on taking care of it and keeping it that way! 

It was dropped by previous owner, Only the ride side has any damage. He removed
all the fairing and made it naked. However, he wasn't concerned as much for
making it look good, naked. Enough talk, picture time. 

These are pictures I took when I went to look at the bike, so they are somewhat
in-depth and show all the bads. 


No, the tank bag and rear net wasn't included. 




Headlight is too low, one of the next things I'm going to do is move it closed to the gauge cluster.


Dat fender.


Should I be worried about the mileage? Any major maintenance I should do?


Damage from his wreck. I want to go aftermarket anyways. 


Might as well look for a slip on...


Trying to find this cover on ebay. Plan on replacing it.

The plan is to bring the bike back to having it's cowlings and fairings. I know, i know,
you all love being naked, but this is my first bike and I really long for the "sport" look.
Hate me all you want, but I've already acquired many of the pieces I need.

Let me now what you think! 

[weedahoe]

That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com

[codajastal]

I think you made a wise choice for your first ever bike but I would suggest you leave the fairings off for a while as most people come off their bike in the first 6 months of ownership and you would hate to damage your new fairings

[Zethioth]

That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com

Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.

I think you made a wise choice for your first ever bike but I would suggest you leave the fairings off for a while as most people come off their bike in the first 6 months of ownership and you would hate to damage your new fairings

Thanks, I'll take your advice. The fairings are still a project for me. Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.

[codajastal]

Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.

There are others better suited to answer this as I too have never done this but there are some great products on the market

[adidasguy]

Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.

There are others better suited to answer this as I too have never done this but there are some great products on the market

Its OK you have no fiberglass experience. The fairings are plastic.
They can be sanded and painted and plastic is easy to glue back together.

Used fairings in excellent condition show up on ebay all the time. Usually just one side (because the other side got trashed) so you probably would buy left side from one place and right from another.

[weedahoe]

That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com

Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.

LMK when you find one that looks better than what you have and is better priced.

[Zethioth]

Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.

there are some great products on the market

I keep coming across Urethane Supply Company products. I guess they make a little "Plastic Welder" (hehe  )
It's actually not that bad priced off eBay as I've looked. But right now I'm going to experiment with "PlastiFix" from
the same company. Looks pretty cool. 

Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.

There are others better suited to answer this as I too have never done this but there are some great products on the market

They can be sanded and painted and plastic is easy to glue back together.

Used fairings in excellent condition show up on ebay all the time.

I ended up getting the side I needed for $20 in good condition. I'm not a fan of glue because I don't see it as a permanent fix.
Hoping this "PlastiFix" works good.

Also, are you the guy on YouTube with some GS500 videos? I watched the exhaust and clutch video.

That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com

Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.

LMK when you find one that looks better than what you have and is better priced.

Hehe, I don't think you have trust in the almighty eBay.

[codajastal]

That would be adidasguys videos you speak of. Quite a few of us have videos up on YouTube.

[weedahoe]

I have a plastic welder and use it at least once a week. But with any welding, there is a skill needed and education. There are different plastics out there and was filler rod is made for a certain plastic. Not only that, but plastic welding puts off a deadly gas called dioxin. You should Google that.

The problem with the part you want to look like new and on ebay is that anyone who lays the bike down ALWAYS scratches that part first. That's why yours looks like that. Only guys with frame sliders or case protectors would keep the sides of the engine safe. All the engine parts on ebay are mainly engines parted out of wrecked bikes. If you did happen to come across NOS (new old stock) or OEM in the plastic, it's not going to be the price you want.

[Zethioth]

I have a plastic welder and use it at least once a week. But with any welding, there is a skill needed and education. There are different plastics out there and was filler rod is made for a certain plastic.

I could imagine all the things I could fix up with a plastic welder. Like my bumper, or my mothers old dashboard. Anytime I bring up that idea to someone that I want to buy one a lot of guys laugh at me like I'm crazy.  Hehe. I think you helped persuade me into purchasing one.  I thought I was gonna get ripped off.

All the engine parts on ebay are mainly engines parted out of wrecked bikes. If you did happen to come across NOS (new old stock) or OEM in the plastic, it's not going to be the price you want.

Good point.

[Snake2715]

The plastic will burn easy as well, so regardless if you burn or not sanding and painting will be needed to look good, unless your going for the fix only.

Harbor Freight sells some cheap ones but dont expect them to last.

Also as mentioned you need the correct type of raw plastic to fix it right, it may be good to get an extra part similar to yours for scrap plastic.

Beyond that google around its best to cut a channel along the crack to allow enough of the new material to meld the old plastic back together.. maybe a tear shaped bit on a dremel tool.

[Zethioth]

Yes, I've done some research. Tear drop shape? You're sounding a lot like the videos I've watched
by that one company who sells a plastic welder. I see a lot of good reviews, I'm considering
purchasing this one.

Reviews are good and it comes with filler material. 

I think I'll post some pictures later about how the bike currently stands.

[Snake2715]

Wow $165 for the kit.. will it include enough material?

Then you have time, sanding and painting.

Couldnt you find used parts that are not killed for less than the few hundred this will cost?

[SAFE-T]

That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com

Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.

So, $29 including shipping and handling as a non-damaged used part on eBay.

[Zethioth]

will it include enough material?

Couldnt you find used parts that are not killed for less than the few hundred this will cost?

15ft of ABS plastic is included, if you not you can buy more for much less than the price of the welder.

I've been looking, I've already got the pieces. One side fairing off eBay in good shape,
and one the owner gave me that is the only salvageable piece.

[weedahoe]

The plastic welder I have and use is one from Leister Triac

You can find good deals for them on ebay somtimes

Also look at Permatex 5min plastic welding 2 part epoxy. I use it in other parts of work

[Snake2715]

The plastic welder I have and use is one from Leister Triac

You can find good deals for them on ebay somtimes

Also look at Permatex 5min plastic welding 2 part epoxy. I use it in other parts of work

For off road (quads, etc) I have heard the epoxy is too brittle or doesn't allow enough flex and will snap with high wind or bumps.. again this is off road, but on road bikes get a fair amount of cross wind, etc..
Has that been your experience with epoxy? I have fixed areas with a good high temp hot glue gun (again off road, inside the fender fixes, etc.

[weedahoe]

Some of the work I do are for custom pieces on Baja trucks. I have people who order custom parts or send pieces in to me to be modified and I have never had any reports back saying any plastic welding or epoxy broke loose

You have to remember a GOOD weld will be BETTER that the original material. In fact, f it were to break, it would or should break somewhere else, not the weld itself. If the weld breaks, it wasnt a proper weld

[Zethioth]

Can someone tell me the proper operation of the choke? When I try to start my bike the choke has to be at max. Then after a minute it seems as if the choke has 3 settings MAX, ALMOST MAX, and NOTHING. 

Lol, I hate it being so loud trying to warm it up.