Possible new purchase 1989 GS500E

[Old Mechanic]

I  should be picking this one up tomorrow. White with blue stripes. 9800 miles, recent battery and carburetor cleaning, tires are good, ready to ride, $850. I have owned many bikes over the last 40 something years. My 1994 is, as far as I am concerned, just about the perfect bike. The 1989 model, depending on the production date, should qualify as an antique in my home state, which means no property taxes, permanent registration as well as permanent tags. The 89 even has lower miles than my 94 which is at 11.2K as of today.

regards
Mech

[jacob92icu]

Make sure to post some pictures when you pick it up! 

[cbrfxr67]

can't wait for pics

[Snake2715]

Here it is!!:




No NO thats my bomber 89. I cant wait to see what a clean specimen looks like! (the other side of mine is purple.. I guess his dog chewed the original sides up!

[Old Mechanic]

Lets see if this works, my 1994 GS and my 71 CB350. The 89 GS looks exactly like the one in snake's post.

regards
Mech

[codajastal]

http://www.imghst.org/uploads/0vk2bj9nwoci.JPG





Lets see if this works, my 1994 GS. Well the pic requires you to follow the link  . I'll get my 71 CB350 pic. or at least the link to the pic.

regards
Mech

[Old Mechanic]

Thanks, I figured it out just takes a while to get through my granite cranium.

regards
Mech

[Snake2715]

I like the copper or burnt orange color! 

[Old Mechanic]

The CB is all original except the tires and mufflers. I replaced the points and condenser and cleaned the tank with granite gravel (4 hours shaking the tank, should have used a concrete mixer). It sat from 1983 until 2011 when I bought it from the widow of the original owner who was a good friend. I have the original bill of sale, the paint is original. It's never had a single light bulb replaced. Still the original chain. It has 6200 miles on it now, it was 4718 when I got it in April of 2011.

regards
Mech

[Snake2715]

Mech,

Great story. So a true "barn find" or was it.stored somewhere else? I have to imagine inside to have maintained so well. Has the suspension been rebuilt or anything on it?

[Old Mechanic]

It was parked in the same garage for 40 years. Fork seals are original. If it had been in a barn in this humidity it would have been trashed. Funny thing is I got a 1977 recall done on the fuel tank latch. The originals were push button. which in a wreck could easily be hit and opened with gas pouring all over the rider. The recall was a lock cylinder latch that needed a key to be released. Got it done for free since recalls stay with the manufacturer forever. I just took them the tank and the serial number.

The address on the original bill of sale is the same address as the garage it was sitting in when I bought it.
Sale date was Oct 16, 1971 so it was originally titled as a 1972 but I had that changed when I got the new title.

regards
Mech

[Kerry]

Interesting to compare your '71 CB350 ...

...with the '64 Honda Superhawk CB77 (305cc engine) that Robert Pirsig rode ... on the trip that provided the background for his book [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance]:

 


Some things changed in 7 years ... some stayed pretty much the same. 

[Old Mechanic]

Some photos. Left side of the tank has a dent from the handlebar when the bike was dropped. Small dent in right side just in front of the seat. New battery, runs and drives. Last tag was 2007. I spent hours today cleaning the accumulated debris from 7 years. Tires are good. Fork seals are shot. Needs front brake lever, clutch adjustment screw and locking collar, and a left front turn signal. Found everything for just over $50. I can fix the dents, made a tool out of a tire iron for pushing them out, Tires were very low on air and brakes were dragging. A little air and some fiddling and everything seems to be working out fine.

Production date was 3-89, so next March it is a legal antique in Virginia.

Owner was asking $1000. He accepted my offer of $850 and threw in two HJC helmets and saddlebags. I think I did well for $850. I can scrounge around my friends body shop paint inventory and probably come up with the paint I need to fix everything. I am thinking I will try to keep it in original configuration. The battery is brand new, my trickle charger topped it up in 20 minutes.

regards
Mech

[Kerry]

Woo Hoo! I agree; you did very well for $850. 


Question: Is the rear half of the front fender really black?

[Old Mechanic]

Seller also said carbs were just rebuilt. It would be nice if they were done right.

regards
Mech

[Old Mechanic]

Yes the rear half is black and I would bet it is original. The seller bought the bike in 2002 with 7800 miles on the odometer. He owned it for 11 years, rode it until 2007 then probably stopped riding when he dropped it on the left side.

regards
Mech

[Snake2715]

Woo Hoo! I agree; you did very well for $850. 


Question: Is the rear half of the front fender really black?

not to threadjack. mine I just got 1989 (posted above) is that way as well.. I saw that and thought, cool that's original. I figured mine was painted over when I first got it... seeing this one the same means its likely they were this way from factory...

maybe someone can enlighten us.

[Old Mechanic]

I think the front fender was black before it was painted. They just painted the front half of the fender and left the rear au natural. It's a one piece fender just like my 1994, but the 1994 is completely painted while the 89 is not.

regards
Mech

[Old Mechanic]

Got her on the road today.
Fork seals and dust boots, did them myself, glass bead blasted the lowers and put clear wheel paint on them, look great and easy touch up.
Replaced left turn signal with used.
Replaced clutch handlebar adjustment screw, locknut, and plastic cover, NOS Suzuki, I think they were 12 bucks.
Stripped and repainted both bar ends.
NOS brake lever EBAY.
Glass bead blasted front wheel and repainted with Rustoleum epoxy applince paint. We'll see how that holds up.
Flushed both brake systems.
Rear brake lever was frozen at the pivot, freed that up.
Tires are old but have plenty of tread, I'll ride them for a while.
Compressed all brake calipers to get them freed up from sitting, last tag on bike was 2007. Rear inner still a little stiff, will keep plugging away at it until it gives up.

Drained the old gas out and put it in the wifes Sorento. Fresh Premium fuel and a few ounces of seafoam, seems to run fine after 20 miles. I adjusted the chain a little too tight so I backed it off 1/4 turn of each adjuster today.

Still have a lot of detail work to do over this winter, but I think I'll pull the carbs off the 94 and go through them fairly soon. After riding the 89 I can tell the 94 is still not quite there in low to mid range power.

1 years insurance $108. I can put antique tags on the bike anytime, since it's 25 model years old with the 2014 models out.

regards
Mech

[Wagoneer]

1 years insurance $108.

That is amazing. I'm paying more than 10x that amount just for liability, clean record. I hate Ontario...