Proud New Owner

[Mustang64p]

Hello Everyone,

   I am the proud new owner of a 2009 GS500 with 3900 miles. I picked it up for $2500 and it is in nearly perfect condition with the exception of a small scratch on the side. The PO also added a smoked rear tail light with integrated blinkers (removed the factory rear blinkers). Now besides wanting to announce my official intro to the club I had a few questions about the bike. I pick it up Tuesday and was wondering if there is any special maintenance or inspections that you recommend I should do during this first week. Secondly I'm interested in frame sliders as I'd like to keep the bike looking as nice as possible for as long as possible. My question is it seems like the ones that you must cut the fairing is the most popular option. What does it look like when you take them out? Is it a pretty noticeable/ glaring defect? This is my first bike and I'm a new rider so any other tips would also be appreciated.

And of course I threw out some pictures for the group. BTW no that is not my Porche in the background these are the pics from the sellers ad.

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[codajastal]

nice buy

[jdoorn14]

Looks great! Congrats on the purchase, and welcome.

R&G sliders (the ones you have to cut the fairing to install), if removed permanently, will leave holes in the fairing. How bad the holes look depends on a couple things....how well you cut the holes in the first place and how anal-retentive you are about holes in the fairings. That said, most people who put them on leave them on unless they are doing work that requires the fairings come off. Even then the are reinstalled along with the fairings.

[mustangGT90210]

Download a service manual, clean/lube chain every 600-1000 miles, and ride safe! GS is very low maintenance for a motorcycle.

And where abouts in FL are you? I'm in the Sarasota area

[Mustang64p]

thanks for the info jdoorn. So frame sliders aren't simply perceived as training wheels for new guys? Good to know, now obviously i am new and personally im not too concerned what people think of them i just didnt know if at some point I would want to take them off once my confidence level gets up because they may get in the way or something to that effect.

Thanks for the advice mustang, I live in Milton just east of pensacola, Do i need to adjust the valves or anything like that? I thought I read something about 4000 miles.

[weedahoe]

Nice bike, great buy and welcome to the site

[mustangGT90210]

thanks for the info jdoorn. So frame sliders aren't simply perceived as training wheels for new guys? Good to know, now obviously i am new and personally im not too concerned what people think of them i just didnt know if at some point I would want to take them off once my confidence level gets up because they may get in the way or something to that effect.

Thanks for the advice mustang, I live in Milton just east of pensacola, Do i need to adjust the valves or anything like that? I thought I read something about 4000 miles.

Frame sliders - install, and don't ride without after you have them on. They aren't training wheels, or a crutch! Would you ride in a wife beater, gym shorts, and flip flops, after you have 5 years experience? If the answer is yes, skip the sliders because saving the bike is irrelevant when you're badly hurt when fit hits the shan!

Valve adjustment - You're probably still good. Checking is as simple as taking your tank off (2 bolts) and taking off the cylinder head cover (6 bolts). Slide feeler gauges and measure clearance between the shim and the cam. On youtube, there is a great How-To by BaltimoreGS on valve check/adjustment. I would say do it yourself, save LOTS of money!

[Slack]

Great buy.  That's one of the few stock paint schemes I like 

Once you purchase frame sliders you'll want to leave them on.  If you haven't looked at them there are sliders out there that you don't have to cut the fairings for (I think T-Rex).  I don't have any personal experience, but looking at the design, they seem more likely to bend / break in a crash vs typical sliders.  The only advantages are a) you don't have to cut or drill holes in your fairings (if that makes you nervous) and b) you can sell the sliders separately from the bike when the time comes (regular sliders would have to stay with the bike to fill in the holes) so you might make a little more money back when selling.

Welcome to the crew 

[The Antibody]

Congrats, love the car too.

  -Anthony