New Bike & New to the Forums! Where to start?

[DaMuffinMan]

You can start by clicking this link and purchasing a repair manual:


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892878339/ref=nosim/gstwincom

Not only does it support this site, it makes everything easier and you're bike will love you for it! 

[DaMuffinMan]

Hey adidas, his next question is gonna be that the manual only goes up to 2002. You wanna explain it short and sweet?

[bluerocket_gs500f]

Hey adidas, his next question is gonna be that the manual only goes up to 2002. You wanna explain it short and sweet?

I'm going to go ahead and assume that the 2002 manual is good for a 2005? Perhaps there aren't many changes from the 2002 model onwards / they stopped iterating on the bike thereafter? 

[adidasguy]

The electrical and ignition system is different.
Timing rotor and engine timing setup is different (dual timing pick ups 8989-2002 and single 2004+) so setting timing if you ever take  the cams off will be a little different. With a different timing rotor, all instructions that refer to that will cause confusion.

Basic mechanicals of the engine are the same.

I suggest you get a Haynes manual for at least through 2004. Not much of a difference from 2004 to present other than change in right handle bar control to route headlight through the start button. $20 or so used from Amazon or elsewhere.

Oh, yea, carbs have all kinds of added emissions stuff and a throttle position sensor. 2002 book won't mention it and seeing all that will drive you crazy without the right manual.

Oh, and engine has oil cooler that did not exist prior to 2004.

Buy something that covers a minimum of 2004.

[mister]

If you haven't started the bike for a few days, turn the frame petcock to PRI first, wait a few seconds, then try starting.

When you do, do not touch the throttle until After it starts.

If the bike is warm and you are starting it, then give a small twist on the throttle, and hold it, before and during the start button press.

Hard to get into 1st, no need to try to walk it a foot. A small forward nudge with a little pressure on the gear selector and she'll pop into gear fine. without getting into too much detail, the oil you use has a part to play in gear smoothness and false neutrals.

[bluerocket_gs500f]

Great advice, thanks again guys. I'll pick up the manual as suggested. Cheers 

[renzane]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forums, I just got my first bike after completing the Pro-Ride safety training course here in Vancouver. I learned on a GS500 so that's what I ended up getting! Here's the bike!



I don't really know anything about bikes, and I'm trying to make sure I learn as much as I can properly - very Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance (if you've read it).

Anyway, I'm looking for any pointers about where to start and what I should do first now that I have the wheels. I hasn't been checked out by anyone yet, should I take it in to get a once over? That kind of thing. I'm going to scour the forums in the meantime.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the Forum, Blue Rocket! 
Like you, I completed my course at Pro-Ride last year. I bought a new 2009 GS500F at Orca Bay in Port Coquitlam and soon thereafter learned I would be transferred to Toronto.  I was a bit disappointed to leave BC, but last May, with some urging from my wife, I rode my GS from Vancouver across the country.  It was a great learning experience, a lot of fun (went through the U.S. route) and gave me tons of confidence on this bike. I'm very satisfied with it.  It's hard to wait out the winter in the East.  Have fun and ride safe !   

[bluerocket_gs500f]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forums, I just got my first bike after completing the Pro-Ride safety training course here in Vancouver. I learned on a GS500 so that's what I ended up getting! Here's the bike!



I don't really know anything about bikes, and I'm trying to make sure I learn as much as I can properly - very Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance (if you've read it).

Anyway, I'm looking for any pointers about where to start and what I should do first now that I have the wheels. I hasn't been checked out by anyone yet, should I take it in to get a once over? That kind of thing. I'm going to scour the forums in the meantime.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the Forum, Blue Rocket! 
Like you, I completed my course at Pro-Ride last year. I bought a new 2009 GS500F at Orca Bay in Port Coquitlam and soon thereafter learned I would be transferred to Toronto.  I was a bit disappointed to leave BC, but last May, with some urging from my wife, I rode my GS from Vancouver across the country.  It was a great learning experience, a lot of fun (went through the U.S. route) and gave me tons of confidence on this bike. I'm very satisfied with it.  It's hard to wait out the winter in the East.  Have fun and ride safe !   

Right on! That's fantastic, I actually moved out here from Toronto a few years ago, and may move back at some point. I've often thought about making that very same trip on my own GS, I'd love to hear more about it sometime.

[Higgins13]

Nice bike, exact same color scheme as mine so im definitely partial to it. Im in Ontario.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62193.0

[Worm]

Welcome to the forums and nice bike! I have the same year and paint scheme as well! Right down to the road grime on the chin fairing! Everyone else has clued you in on what you need to research and take care of. I'm telling you though, this place will become your first resort when you have questions and/or trouble! Keep it shiny side up!

Nice gear BTW!

[mustangGT90210]

On the neutral - motorcycle transmissions are made to be shifted with the front sprocket spinning. Next time it doesn't wanna go into first, roll it forward or backward a step or two and it will drop right in

Take's a while to start - It's normal. Being carb'd, it needs to be started frequently (every few days) to retain good start time. Leave it for a while and you'll have to crank it more. Why, I'm not sure, but it's just how it is

Oil burning - air cooled motors burn oil by design. Oil is used to internally cool the engine, so when you run at high revs for a long time like on the expressway, that's when it burns oil. Keep it around town and it doesn't seem to burn any in my experience.

Oil level - keep it topped off for piece of mind, but as long as it's in the cross hatched area you'll be perfectly fine with no risk of damage. Just check the level everytime you get gas, if it burns through the whole dipstick of oil, you've got bigger issues!

And as a side note, HOW CAN YOU NOT RIDE FOR OVER A WEEK AT A TIME?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 

Already I'm learning an incredible about from you guys, thank you!

As for not riding for a week at a time, I know what you mean, it really sucks! To be honest you could ride year around here, but I've already had one close call (too fast approaching a yellow in the rain, almost bailed) riding in conditions I wasn't ready for, so I'm taking it easy right now as it can be icy / rainy here. Although, today was beautiful and man did I miss being on the road.

Ah gotcha. I live in Florida... so it's always riding weather  Close calls are never any fun. Were you scared or did you bust out laughing when you came to a stop? That's what I did when my back tire blew out hitting an on ramp at a good pace. I couldn't believe I saved it

[jacob92icu]

Hahaha that reminds me of the time I low sided on a crf230f and got up laughing