Suggy's REGISTERED GS500E

[Suggy]

Hey team, my name's Jon from Perth Western Australia and I recently purchased my first ever motorcycle, a black 97 GS500E. I picked it up cheap as it's currently not road-registered and have been slowly preparing it to pass an inspection.

It's in pretty good condition overall, just a  few minor things, most of which should be easy.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I'm not a mechanic or even close but have tinkered plenty with cars in the past, am usually able to summon good help and was able to manage an engine swap on my car, all bar the wiring which I happily left up to the professionals.

I don't have my motorcycle license yet, currently taking lessons. So the aim is to have the GS registered at around the same time I get my license! Then I can start modifying the thing, excited for that.

[Joolstacho]

Goodonya Jon, how does it run? -Looks pretty clean and original from here. You'll get plenty of help and advice on this forum, so enjoy.
Jools

[cbrfxr67]

Welcome!  Be interesting to read what you do with it and your experiences!  Keep posting!

[Golly]

Hey like mine...

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

[Suggy]

Seemed to run really well when I first got it, but the previous owner switched it to what he thought was reserve when bringing it to my house, was actually set to prime and that's how it sat for a good couple weeks at my house. There must be a carb issue because that then caused them to overflow with fuel. I had fuel going into the crank case and coming out the ignition rotor cover at the bottom and out the breather hose at the top of the carbs.

I found what seemed to be the answer in another thread that listed the exact same symptoms and cause, most likely stuck carb float(s).

I pulled the float bowls off the carbs and gave the whole float mechanism a good clean, made sure it was moving freely and adjusted the float height as per what it says in my Haynes manual (not 100% sure if I did the float height correctly, found the manual to be a little vague on that.) I drained the contaminated oil and put it all back together, set the bike to prime to test (If carbs functioning correctly shouldn't be a problem correct me if I'm wrong) but it still seems to be doing it, fuel coming out of the carb breather junction hose.

The current thing I'm struggling with is replacing the fork seals. I made a mistake in the order of things and removed the springs from the tubes before loosening the hex bolt on the bottom of the sliders. I need to put the springs back in there in order to put enough pressure on the inside of the fork so the whole thing doesn't just spin where I turn the bolt. Problem is however, one of the tubes has retracted down into the slider and won't come out, stuck hard!!

[Joolstacho]

You might be able to release the allen screw (I assume it's not a hex bolt) by using a length of wooden dowel to press down on the top of the damper to stop it spinning while unscrewing the allen screw. 4 hand job probably. An air tool or impact driver often will 'crack' the thing loose where turning an allen key may just spin the damper.

[Suggy]

After having said that, I go outside and pull on the tube and it came straight up haha, so now the springs and spacers are back and I'll be able to get the allen screw out by compressing the forks when I can get a seconds person to help.

[Golly]

Mm my seals gone too leaking oil on the shaft..might be time for a sonic upgrade for me if im going to fix it...

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

[Suggy]

Yeah I'm gonna put spacers in the forks while I'm in there, stiffen that front end up a bit.

Here's where I got my replacement seals on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290909944239?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

[Suggy]

Here is a quick photoshop mock-up of how I'd like the GS to look eventually. It'll involve painting the wheels white, shortening rear indicator stalks and minimalizing the rear fender, installing flat or drag handlebars with bar-end mirrors which will more likely be round, those are just the stock mirrors placed at bar's end haha. The tank could do with a respray so I'll re-decal that after painting. There'll also be an aftermarket exhaust (not pictured). I love sporty 80's vehicle styling, so that's the governing mentality I have towards modifying the bike.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Golly]

Nice vision

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

[Joolstacho]

Just a word of warning on those Pyramid Parts oil seals. I recently replaced fork seals on a CX Honda, and an RZ Yamaha using Pyramid seals. In both cases they leaked even though the installation was 'by the book'.
The rubber used for the seals seemed hard and 'plasticy'. I don't want to badmouth Pyramid Parts, but I have to put it out there.

[galaga72]

Nice bike! I've got one the same year, but green, and the old school OEM clip on bars.
Highly recommend sonic upgrade - I replaced the stock springs with 0.85 sonics (on advice from Sonic themselves - I'm 6' 2" and a lightweight 75kg) and the bike handles completely differently - no more diving under braking!
Also upgraded to R6 shock on the rear.
Good luck with your license too

[Suggy]

Thanks for all the advice!

Jools - noted! Bit of a worry that, might just install them and see how we go. If they turn out to be no good then I'll likely replace them with another brand and get some sonics in there at the same time.

[Suggy]

So the good news is my GS started up today for the first time in about 6 months, ran beautifully on the driveway too. The bad news is it wants to idle at 6000rpm, is that likely to be throttle cable adjustment?

[BockinBboy]

Throttle cable or air leak.  Do the rpms rise when you pull in the clutch?  If so, its probably throttle, if not probably an air leak.  Most common place for air leak is at the carb boots.

- Bboy

[jacob92icu]

Your vision seems oddly familiar

[Golly]

Hey dude my front suspension dived like a mutha mate under my 125kg weight. I put 20w new oil and rebuilt the forks with new seals and walaa! No more diving but soft enough to be comfortable

Sent from The Shire

[Suggy]

@ Jacob - I haven't seen that one before but yeah, almost spot on, that bike is gorgeous!

I didn't check what happens with the clutch yet but will do. I also wouldn't rule out an air leak at the carb boots as I found them to be a massive bastard to get together, wouldn't surprise me in the least if the was a gap somewhere.

Thanks dudes.

[Suggy]

Oh and Golly I had the seals replaced in my forks and I've got some spacers in there, plus I only weight 75kg so should be pretty alright.