First Time Rider, Noob Questions Ahead

[2y4life]

Hello fellow GS riders,

I just purchased my first bike and have a question, oh yea it's a 2007 GS500F. The bike looks to be in great condition but as soon as I start the bike and get it into first gear, I can't shift back to Neutral, what's the reason for that? I have to turn off the engine and then it goes into Neutral easily.

PS, it is at 10,900 miles, should I take it in for a tune up, get the valves looked at etc just for the sake of getting it done? Thanks ahead of time fellas

[GS4me]

Hey.  Welcome to the forum.

Are  you saying if you go out and take the bike for a spin, you can go from 1st, up through neutral into 2nd , 3rd, 4th etc and then back down through the gears - downshifting back down to 2nd - but then can't get past (or into Neutral)?

Or....

If you are just sitting with the bike running, not moving etc, and you are in first (Clutch in of course ) can you kick it up to 2nd gear (through neutral) into 2nd ?  If you can't get it back down into neutral (at a stand still) from 2nd gear or If you can't get in into neutral from first gear (from a stand still), try rolling the bike forward a bit while you try to go into neutral.  Sometimes you are just engaged in a gear and you need a bit of movement to get it back to Neutral.

It's possible it could just be a clutch cable adjustment (maybe not releasing completely) but I would hold off an any adjustment until you see how it shifts while running / driving.

I would say @ 10K miles you could be ready for a new set of plugs but I'd remove them and see what they look like.  If they are nice and tan, I'd finish out the rest of the season, see how the bike runs and do the maintenance following the maintenance schedule during the Winter and you should be all set to go.

Since you haven't owned the bike for a long time: You may want to check things like Steering, Tires, any fluid leaks , Brake Fluid, BRAKE PADS and ROTORS - a must , Chain Tension - a must , Fork Seals etc.  Just to be on the safe side.