New GS owner, new rider, new wrencher says hello

[Billy Sastard]

Hello from Australia!

Recently bought an '09 GS500 (e), she's covered a fair bit of distance but looking great.
Went with the GS mostly after trawling through this forum and discovering how easy it was to work on. Thought that would be handy and looked forward to doing a spot of bike maintenance.
My wish was granted much sooner than I anticipated!

Took the bike to a test centre to get a roadworthy, came back with a fail and the following list of defects:
- Rear tyre tread low, replace (I knew about this one to be fair)
- Front brake rotor wear below spec (3.8mm), replace
- Brake fluid front and rear contaminated, replace
- Left hand PASS switch faulty, replace (this turned out to be utter bollocks)
- Hi beam indicator light (or idiot light) not working, replace
- Left hand crankcase oil leak, inspect (along with the usual ridiculous cost)

So, I built up my tool collection, bled the brakes and replenished with Dot 4, bought a secondhand front rotor (perfect condition, no warping and 4.8mm thickness) which is now fitted, the crankcase leak was in fact crud build up in the sprocket cover - you could eat your dinner out of it now!
I also took the time to carry out an oil and filter change.
The rear wheel was removed the other day in order to receive its new Pirelli Sport Demon, just as soon as the shop takes delivery.
The PASS switch works completely fine so all I have left to do is buy a replacement bulb for the idiot light.
In fact, why not replace all the lights with LED since I have to remove the dash anyway?
Or so I thought. An accidental nudge to the wiring loom from the LHS assy while the bike was running and I saw an unfamiliar sight - an illuminated hi beam indicator light! Now to figure out just why the damn thing is so temperamental!

So, in summary, it's been an eye opening introduction to the hobby. Truth be told, when I saw the quote from the garage to put everything right I was half tempted to douse the damn thing in petrol and set it alight.
I'm glad I resisted the urge as there are few better feelings in this life than standing back and admiring your work after spending half a day on the tools with a cold beer in your oily hand.

Hope you enjoyed reading about the journey so far, look forward to chatting more and you can expect more technical questions from me to follow!

[Sporty]

Seems as your well on the way !

[ShowBizWolf]

Hello and welcome from Western PA!

Awesome intro and it sounds to me like that GS found itself a good home.

+1 about that beer    This is one gal who loves her beers 

[peteGS]

Welcome from sunny Brissie! Yeah, it's actually sunny this morning 

I see by your other thread you're down south, glad you guys are getting to start escaping restrictions now too 

[Billy Sastard]

Thanks all for the welcome.

Welcome from sunny Brissie! Yeah, it's actually sunny this morning 

I see by your other thread you're down south, glad you guys are getting to start escaping restrictions now too 

Thanks Pete, it's been a hard slog but it's paid off! Hope you're enjoying the fine weather up there.

[/quote]

Hello and welcome from Western PA!

Awesome intro and it sounds to me like that GS found itself a good home.

+1 about that beer    This is one gal who loves her beers 

Cheers showbiz! Where might I find pictures of your ride by the way, it sounds badass!

[ShowBizWolf]

Awe thank you! Idk about the badass part but... I sure like it.

This page of my project thread has some good pics of how it is currently. I haven't updated in a while because I got it where I like it finally... but that doesn't mean I won't be adding to it sometime in the future !!
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php/topic,70880.480.html

[peteGS]

Well a project's never really "done" right Showbiz? 

Yup Billy, enjoying the weather alright! Worst case I get to ride to work and back every day, but the local Katana guys get out every Saturday morning and I join them generally once a fortnight which is always a good morning out.