Getting my first bike, and it's a GS500

[CCmatters]

Hello everyone. I am located on the East coast of the U.S.  I am going tomorrow morning to buy my first bike and its a 91 GS500E.  I did a ton of research and I was looking into buying a Katana or something like that but I found a GS500 with low miles that needed NOTHING and is in great shape for 1,050 USD.  I googled GS500 forums and this was the first to pop up so I joined!

[adidasguy]

Welcome.
This is a fum place. Many of us have an odd sense of humor. If you like cats, that helps a lot (you'll soon understand why).
If you don't have a place to post pictures, you can use gs500.net.
General rule: Pictures or it didn't happen.
Anxious to see pictures of your new ride.

[CCmatters]

Thanks a lot! And haha I do get on several car forums that I have been loyal to for years but I will def. be posting on both sites.  I am like a kid the night before christmas.  Like I was saying, it's the smart choice to get the GS500 because I am a newby at riding bikes and I will be commuting it as much as possible.  Pictures will be posted tomorrow after I get it!

I went out and bought a helmet yesterday.  Need more gear but need more money. Haha.

[Big Rich]

Welcome!

I think you'll find out soon that gear costs more than the bike..... My recommendation? Since you bought a new (hopefully) helmet, look for other gear on Craigslist. People sell old stuff pretty cheap.....

[CCmatters]

Yep I bought a brand new helmet that is DOT rated from a local bike shop.  And yeah craigslist is where it's at for stuff if you can be at the right place at the right time. haha.

[weedahoe]

Welcome to the site. I also love CL. I bought a new Galaxy Note 2 off a guy on CL today for the wife. Got a stupid sweet deal on it

Post some pics of the bike

[iclrag]

Pics or it didnt happen!!!
welcome to the best gs500 forum on the web  and dont mind us, we have interesting senses of humour around here 

[adidasguy]

Cats!


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[CCmatters]

Thanks a lot guys!  It looks like there is a decent bit of active users on here for sure!  And I am stuck at work for another hour until i can go pick it up.  I can't wait.  I will post pics as soon as I get home.

Like I said before I am on several other forums for cars.  I get the mod bug, even before i get something.  Anyone know of any good places to start, other than the obvious exhaust upgrade.  Pics or links would be appreciated as well!

[NjDan]

Thanks a lot guys!  It looks like there is a decent bit of active users on here for sure!  And I am stuck at work for another hour until i can go pick it up.  I can't wait.  I will post pics as soon as I get home.

Like I said before I am on several other forums for cars.  I get the mod bug, even before i get something.  Anyone know of any good places to start, other than the obvious exhaust upgrade.  Pics or links would be appreciated as well!

Welcome! Youll find this place great not only for mods but for maintenence. I dont know what the previous owners have done but your gonna want to change the fork springs and maybe even the rear shock depending on your prefrence. The springs are prob the only downsise to the gs they bottom out easuly and are extremely soft other than that you have your basic mods such as led in gauges, if your going to do exhaust put a k&n lunchbox air filter in there...oh right i forgot PICS OR IT DIDNT HAPPEN welcome and good luck

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[GSBRY]

Welcome to the forum!! 

[CCmatters]

Thanks a lot guys! I picked up the bike and it is officially in my name and sitting outside!  There was a freak snow storm and it was only 38 out today but the guy I bought it off of was nice enough to haul it to my house for me for only 50 dollars extra. 

And as for mods, the bike is completely stock.  When he bought the bike the tank was missing(he bought it as a project) and he bought a used tank(cover thingy) and had it powdercoated and put it on.  The bike isn't perfect. The plastics have scrapes, along with a little bit of the exhaust and headlight(the glass itself) but its a percectly WORKING bike.  I will probably eventually make it a project bike for asthetics and maybe a little performance but until I get riding down I'm not going to worry too much about all of that. It's not a bad looking bike by anymeans, if not a good looking bike so I'm in no hurry.

I know I know, pictures.  I will upload some tonight.  The only camera I have is on my Droid and I don't have service where I live atm. (I live in the booneys)

[adidasguy]

Can you plug the phone into your USB port and download the pictures to your computer?

[CCmatters]

Possibly.  I just took it out for it's first ride for me and oh man it was a lot more intimidating than i expected. hahaha.  And my hand muscles are def going to need to condition for it.  But it was fun!

I don't know if it's just because I dont know what to look for but it seemed to take a looong time to warm up.  When I first turned it on I put the choke up full and it was still around or below 2k RPMs.  And also I dont know if it's because i'm so used to a car being able to be shifted at like 2.5-3k RPMs but it seemed to put when i was around 2-2.5k.  Is all this normal and I just have to get used to it some more?

I am going to get a bite to eat and going to try to take it to a spot to get some pics.  Wish me luck getting there! hahaha.

[Paulcet]

Yes, shift later.

[mister]

Go for a ride (any excuse) so you get service, then email the pics to your email, then use your computer to extract them from your email and load them up that way 

[CCmatters]

I went and picked it up this morning after working a 12 hour 3rd shift and have only slept 45 minutes today because of it.  It isn't perfect but it needs absolutely NOTHING.  The brakes, air filter, front tire, spark plugs, gas cap, turn signals, oil, were all just changed including the carbs being cleaned(and a fresh inspection sticker).  I will make progress thread eventually I am sure for repairing some of the cosmetics(a few scrapes, dings, etc) but my priority now is to learn and get better at riding it! 

Here is my new, old 91 Suzuki GS500E:









(I didn't make to take this picture of my crotch area but I kinda liked it for some reason. Haha.)



My ferrets loves the fact that I got the bike because they have a new box to play in!

I took more pics than this but my cell didn't save them for some reason sadly because I got some real nice ones and it was the perfect time of the day to take them.  More will come soon!  (sorry if some of this is a repeat but I had to copy and paste it from another forum bc my browser crapped out on me! haha)

[dmoore]

Welcome, CCMatters. I'm new myself over the last few months. It's a great forum. The guys on here are really helpful and understanding. Nice looking GS. I like the blue. You'll have a ton of fun on this bike. They are great all around machines for any kind of riding. Be careful. Take your time. Remember that most bike accidents are NOT the rider's fault, so beware of everything around you. The cell phone is the worst thing that has bappened to riders-EVER. Keep your eyes open for cell phone users and stay clear from them. My son was rear-ended waiting to make a turn by a girl takling on a cell phone. He was tremendously lucky that no cars were in the oncoming lane where he ended up after being thown over the handlebars. Good luck and have fun!

[Phil B]

Remember that most bike accidents are NOT the rider's fault, so beware of everything around you.

Err.. lets put that another way. I know what you mean, but it's wrong on two levels.

1. MOST bike accidents are single vehicle (ie: bike only) accidents. Therefore, 100% the rider's fault

2. of the 30% that remain.. while they may be a result of someone else doing something wrong/crazy/illegal, they are almost all avoidable by a rider who is driving with awareness and caution. So in a way, all bike accidents are the rider's fault to some degree or another. Lets keep that in mind.


My sympathies on your son's accident. Let's all remember though, that we need to keep awareness of what's BEHIND us, as well as just what's in front of us.

[CCmatters]

Thanks and I like the color as well! 

And yes I have seen that the number 1 reason why ppl wreck is actually from thinking they are taking turns too sharp, are taking turns too sharp, or dont know how to take a turn as quickly as they are going, and then they lock the brakes and straighten up and go into the other lane or just panic.  BUT I understand what you are saying.  Some other ppl just simply don't know how to drive.  Haha.

Ok so I have another question guys... I don't know if its just becasue i'm not used to the gear ratios(yet again) but it feels like once she hits 55-60 MPH she gets a little wimpy.  I would like to commute this bike via the highways eventually where the speed limit is between 55-70 MPH.  Should it be able to handle it?  Or should I just worry less about the RPMs being around 4.5-5k?  I am trying to put it in the highest gear possible to save fuel and to just cruise when I am cruising around where I live.