Bike shuts off without choke ''ON'' and it dies after shifting in 1.st gear

[Petar]

Hello guys,

i just bought 2003. GS500 and I'm having 2 problems.
1.When i start bike,it shuts off after 3-4 seconds.If I use choke it will run until i turn choke off,then it shuts off.
2.When i try to shift gear from neutral to first bike ''twitches'' and dies.

I have zero mechanical experience and i don't want to take it to service,so if there's simple solution,please tell me.
I must note that bike hasn't been ridden for a while,so i think it needs carb cleaning.

PS
seller told me i need to push SideStand Switch Bypass,but it's has spring inside,so there is no way to turn push it-could this been problem?

Every and i mean every help is more then welcome.

[mr72]

Hello guys,

i just bought 2003. GS500 and I'm having 2 problems.
1.When i start bike,it shuts off after 3-4 seconds.If I use choke it will run until i turn choke off,then it shuts off.

This is probably normal. You usually have to run it with choke on for about 30-60 seconds when you first start it cold or it will die. Question is will it run correctly when warmed up without choke. That is, leave the choke on for 30-60 seconds, it should rev to like 3-5K rpm while running on choke, then reduce choke to about 1/2, go ride. Ride for 3-5 minutes, then turn choke all the way off. Should run and idle ok if low idle.

2.When i try to shift gear from neutral to first bike ''twitches'' and dies.

I have zero mechanical experience and i don't want to take it to service,so if there's simple solution,please tell me.
I must note that bike hasn't been ridden for a while,so i think it needs carb cleaning.

You're going to need to develop some mechanical skills or get friendly with a mechanic.

Se here: https://joshkarnes.blogspot.com/2017/09/fixing-common-gs500-carburetor-issues.html

PS
seller told me i need to push SideStand Switch Bypass,but it's has spring inside,so there is no way to turn push it-could this been problem?

Every and i mean every help is more then welcome.

If the side stand switch is faulty or not installed correctly then it will die if you take it out of neutral or release the clutch. The idea here is to keep you from riding with the side stand down, which is very dangerous. It's fairly common to bypass the side stand switch by jumpering the wires together. You can just unplug the switch and probably whip up a jumper using spade connectors and wire and make it work. Do a search on this forum, it's probably written up in detail in a dozen places.

This will of course allow the bike to run, in gear, with the clutch out, with the side stand down. The side stand switch is a safety feature. Mine is bypassed but bear in mind not only will it allow you to do something dumb and maybe crash, but it will also allow the bike to inadvertently lurch while parked and potentially knock it over, like if you stop and put down the side stand and let the clutch out when it's not in neutral, it'll lurch forward, knock itself off the side stand and fall. Ask me how I know

So best to try and fix the side stand switch problem. But there are alternatives. You're going to be reading a lot on this forum and getting your hands dirty.

[Petar]

Hello guys,

i just bought 2003. GS500 and I'm having 2 problems.
1.When i start bike,it shuts off after 3-4 seconds.If I use choke it will run until i turn choke off,then it shuts off.

This is probably normal. You usually have to run it with choke on for about 30-60 seconds when you first start it cold or it will die. Question is will it run correctly when warmed up without choke. That is, leave the choke on for 30-60 seconds, it should rev to like 3-5K rpm while running on choke, then reduce choke to about 1/2, go ride. Ride for 3-5 minutes, then turn choke all the way off. Should run and idle ok if low idle.

2.When i try to shift gear from neutral to first bike ''twitches'' and dies.

I have zero mechanical experience and i don't want to take it to service,so if there's simple solution,please tell me.
I must note that bike hasn't been ridden for a while,so i think it needs carb cleaning.

You're going to need to develop some mechanical skills or get friendly with a mechanic.

Se here: https://joshkarnes.blogspot.com/2017/09/fixing-common-gs500-carburetor-issues.html

PS
seller told me i need to push SideStand Switch Bypass,but it's has spring inside,so there is no way to turn push it-could this been problem?

Every and i mean every help is more then welcome.

If the side stand switch is faulty or not installed correctly then it will die if you take it out of neutral or release the clutch. The idea here is to keep you from riding with the side stand down, which is very dangerous. It's fairly common to bypass the side stand switch by jumpering the wires together. You can just unplug the switch and probably whip up a jumper using spade connectors and wire and make it work. Do a search on this forum, it's probably written up in detail in a dozen places.

This will of course allow the bike to run, in gear, with the clutch out, with the side stand down. The side stand switch is a safety feature. Mine is bypassed but bear in mind not only will it allow you to do something dumb and maybe crash, but it will also allow the bike to inadvertently lurch while parked and potentially knock it over, like if you stop and put down the side stand and let the clutch out when it's not in neutral, it'll lurch forward, knock itself off the side stand and fall. Ask me how I know

So best to try and fix the side stand switch problem. But there are alternatives. You're going to be reading a lot on this forum and getting your hands dirty.

Wow,thanks for great explanation and help!
I ride my bikes in early morning (4am because of my work)so I'm always afraid i will woke up neighbors so i turned choke 2/3 on and let it sit for 15 seconds,and then tried to ride.
Now i know i need at least 30 seconds or more.However i didn't know i can ride while choke is ON,and that's because i was told in another forum.
Anyway,do you know why does the bike dies once i shift it to first gear?
It just twitches me once and hard,and then it dies?
Thank you very much once again.

[mr72]

Anyway,do you know why does the bike dies once i shift it to first gear?
It just twitches me once and hard,and then it dies?

Yes, that's probably the side stand switch. It "thinks" the side stand is down so it kills the engine once you go into gear. That's my guess. Could be other things but I'd start there.

[J_Walker]

"twitches and dies" along with "can't run without choke" is pointing me towards improper idle adjustment, and maybe a improperly adjusted clutch cable?

Of course it could be the side stand switch, that's easy to check though, pull the plug and shove a piece of bare wire gaping the two sides. if it goes away great, inspect that and replace it, if it doesn't than refer to above.

[Petar]

Hey guys,it's me again...
I tried to start bike but the lights and electronics(speedometer,tachometer,lights that show oil,neutral,beam,and turning lights) just work,and by work i mean glow only a bit.
Also i can't start it because of that,and i think it may be battery,but i would like to hear your opinions.
Kind regards.

[mr72]

Yes the battery is dead.

If you start it a bunch of times then it dies a few seconds later then it never recharges.

A good/full battery on a GS500 has about a dozen good starts in it before it is dead if you don't recharge between.

You may have other issues too. 

[Petar]

Yes the battery is dead.

If you start it a bunch of times then it dies a few seconds later then it never recharges.

A good/full battery on a GS500 has about a dozen good starts in it before it is dead if you don't recharge between.

You may have other issues too. 

A little update...
I bought battery charger and i charged battery and now the bike starts.
However i still haven't fixed issue regarding kickstand switch.
I tried and unplug it under seat (right side) but then the bike won't start?
And you guessed it...i have another issue
That issue is-neutral light won't turn on,while the bike is in neutral.
I tried to pull kickstand,but it still won't turn on...
Any advice?

[mr72]

Get the wiring diagram, begin tracing the circuit.

The neutral switch may be disconnected. It's a blue wire IIRC with a 1/4" connector midway through. The bulb may be out. Socket may be unplugged under the dash.

You have an old motorcycle. It's going to need some occasional (or frequent, or constant in some cases) troubleshooting and repair. In my case the PO neglected and screwed up the bike so badly that it required a lot of work and has been extremely reliable and almost trouble-free since then. I think a lot of beginners own these bikes and don't know how to work on them, or that they even need to, or maybe they can't afford to get them fixed right. Anyway almost all of them I see for sale have a long list of neglected or improperly repaired issues that need to be sorted before the bike can be used reliably. Half the time I think these owners know there's a pile of problems and are dumping the bike to try to get rid of the problems. Other half of the time I think they are oblivious, don't know there's a dozen things wrong.

[Bluesmudge]

Is it just the neutral light that won't turn on or will the bike not shift into neutral? Could just be a dead bulb for the neutral light. The original incandescent indicator bulbs don't last forever. You can replace with green LED if you want.

You can't just pull the wiring for the side stand ignition cut off. You have to short it so the bike thinks the kickstand is up. Sounds like the previous owner knew the side stand switch was bad? Or are you just trying to put the bike in gear with the stand still down?