My first bike - GS500

[tomstevo15]

Hi,

I'm new on here. I don't know how many of you are from the UK?

I wanted to ask a few things about my GS500. Firstly here's some background.

I'm 24 and I've just got my full UK motorcycle license (I passed yesterday - first time  ). I always wanted a motorbike, but due to financial constraints whilst at university I've only just been able to get one, that along with UK driving laws which state you can't get straight on a 'big bike' until you're 24. I would have been able to get the GS500 earlier but thought I might as well wait until I'm 24 and get the full shabang!

So..... I knew that I wanted a motorbike but had no idea what to get. I have 2 very close friends with Suzuki's. One has a GSXR1000 2007 and the other has a 2001 SV650S. The one with a GSXR had a GS500 as his first big bike and recommended it. Luckily my next door neighbour is a keen motorcyclist also. He has 3 motorcycles. He has a Honda CBR750 1995, an old Yamaha and a GS500. The GS500 was bought for his wife who started to learn but hated it and therefore has not been ridden in 5years!!!

So the stars aligned and I have bought the bike, 2001 year, with 13,000 miles on the clock for £600 (just shy of $1000).

The bike has had 2 previous owners, the first being a riding school and the second being my neighbour who hasn't used it. My neighbours are great and has allowed me to keep using his garage for storage (mine is in disrepair) and has helped me get the bike working.

We first had to replace the battery as it was completely dead. Then we have stripped the carbs (seized due to not being used) cleaned and rebuilt them. The bike fired up, but was struggling to maintain a constant RPM. We then balanced the carbs. This improved the issue but it was still varying by around 500RPM. So, I changed air filter, oil filter and changed oil. This has helped. With the Choke on the bike runs fine above 2000RPM. HOWEVER, when idle the bike still struggles and after a few seconds cuts out.

So my questions are, is this a normal issue or a big problem? Will the bike run better when idle after I give it a good run out? If not, what else can I do?

I'm yet to actually get the bike on the road. Firstly I only passed my test yesterday, today I was about to take it for its MOT (to check its road legal) BUT was gutted to find that the bike had started to leak oil.    We changed oil on Friday and to be honest the Sump plug didn't feel right coming out. This is where the leak has come from. It seems the previous, previous owner was very lazy when changing oil and never swapped the Copper washer out. The old one was mashed to bits and as a result they ahd compensated by over tightening the plug and destroying the thread. I have this issue in hand - a helicoil has been ordered and should solve this. However, I was devasted! Supposed to be my first day on the road but the rug was whipped from under my feet!

Finally, so many of the post here have already been a massive help so thanks. Any feedback would be great! 

[tomstevo15]

I wanted to upload images but the site won't let me! 

Error message says - The upload folder is full. Please try smaller file and/or contact the administrator.

The file is already small only about 200KB.

I'll post them as soon as I can.

[Janx101]

You need to host photos in a photobucket or imgur or similar site and link them in..  it works fairly easy!

[jjmaine]

Congrats on the new bike!  Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in but I had this same problem a few years ago with my Ninja.  It sounds like your pilot jets are clogged.  It doesn't take much to clog those tiny passages.  Since you are able to get the bike running maybe try running some fuel system cleaner through it and see if it improves before taking the carbs back off?

[tomstevo15]

Thanks regards images.

And yeah, good idea regarding fuel cleaner. I'll give it a go

[tomstevo15]

[ShowBizWolf]

Hi tomstevo15 and welcome to the site!!!

Awesome intro thread, no doubt    Loved reading the story of how you found your GS... congrats!!!

Nice to see you got the pics to work!  Keep 'em coming... and good luck with all you do to your bike 

[78530i]

Looks like mine only nicer.

[Big Rich]

When were the valves done last?

[The Buddha]

Wont run under 2k ? does it act up worse when cold and work better when hot. Then its a tight valve.
But if its that way all the time, and you have plugs burning white, that = lean as a MOFO. Dont worry, most of these end up being lean.
Anyway +1 jetting all around will do it if that's the case.
Cool.
Buddha.

[smokestack]

I wanted to upload images but the site won't let me! 

Error message says - The upload folder is full. Please try smaller file and/or contact the administrator.

The file is already small only about 200KB.

I'll post them as soon as I can.

Maybe someone should notify TGG before June 25