new guys with some questions.. maybe he can get some help

[soon2briding]

well guys.. i just bought a 97 gs500e with 10k on it... came with frame sliders and a windscreen.. now i just have a few questions... where can i buy some aftermarket mirrors for my bike.. the ones i currently have are pretty weird shaped.. and i dont like them... also.. if i were to get another windscreen where would i be able to get one?... where can i buy an owners manual for this bike? when should i do my oil change? do they make bar end sliders for my bike? if they do where can i get some?... how long does it usually take for a bike to warm up on a warm day?... what are some things that i can do to my bike.. that will help me maintain it properly?... im open to all suggestions.. and any help i can get is cool... thanks

[CasiUSA]

Most of the aftermarket parts you mentioned should be pretty generic parts available at your local shop. You can get a Clymer manual on this site for around $20 it includes a basic breakdown of the bike and instructions on repairs, etc. Oil change varies depending on who you talk to. Ipersonally like to go every 2K Miles. I think most people would agree no longer than 3K Miles without doing one. Bike should warm up in less than a minute and a half on a warm day. Search through these forums, there is a TON of helpful information.


Welcome to the site & congrats on your new bike!

[soon2briding]

hey thanks for the welcome... as for the starting of the bike... i start my bike with the choke all the time... and the rpm's go really low... and without the choke... it idles out... so i dont know...maybe my bike has a problem? is there something i could do to check it out?... maybe its spark plugs?...

[GRU]

welcome

you can get bar end mirrors at any bike shop
you can buy a repair manual from this site, just click on the text "Buy a Repair Manual" and at the same time you will be helping this site
I would suggest changing the oil now because you don't know how long it's been since the las oil change...also change the oil every 3000 miles
if your bike is stock, then it take a while to warm it up...everyone here suggests rejetting the carbs becase they came with a 37.5 pilot jet which is the reason the bike takes so long to warm up...change the pilot with a 40 and it will take a lot less to warm up your bike...maybe 3 or 4 mins on a cold day

[soon2briding]

well i live in cali... and i went to my local shop and they didnt have any bar end sliders... and i didnt ask about the mirrors... also.. i have a service manual... but is the owners manual and the service manual the same?... im beginning to think it is... and also.. the changing of the pilot ... is that something i can do on my own? or do i have to get it done?... how much would it cost?... im new to bikes.. and riding... some help would be greatly appreciated...

[chimivee]

well i live in cali... and i went to my local shop and they didnt have any bar end sliders... and i didnt ask about the mirrors... also.. i have a service manual... but is the owners manual and the service manual the same?... im beginning to think it is... and also.. the changing of the pilot ... is that something i can do on my own? or do i have to get it done?... how much would it cost?... im new to bikes.. and riding... some help would be greatly appreciated...

I don't think the 97 bars will accept regular "plug" type bar-ends (I think that's what you meant by bar-end sliders?), because it has a threaded receptacle made from the stock screw-in bar-ends.

Bar end MIRRORS are a bicycle shop thing.  They either replace the bar end, or clamp onto the bar end.

The Clymer manual is a real book... an inch thick or so, and is different than the little booklet that comes w/ the bike.  Use the "Buy a Repair Manual" at the top of this site to get one.

Warm up can take several minutes.  When cold, RPM's will be low w/ full choke, but should climb after a bit.   Rejetting and adjusting the fuel mixture will speed this up.

If you have basic tools and patience, the pilot jets are easy to change.  The first time you pull the carbs, give yourself an afternoon.  Once you do it a couple of times, you can be in/out in under an hour.  Search the site for "rejetting" and there are some how-to's along w/ tons of other info.  On a stock bike, most go w/ size 40 pilot jets, 125 main jets, and raise the needles.

[pantablo]

welcome fellow californian!

what james said----------------------/\


also, rejetting is pretty easy if you are mechanically inclined. here's a couple links to "how-to's" done by members here:
good
http://electrovw.tripod.com/welcome/id17.html

better
http://www.angelfire.com/mt2/mikesgs500/rejetting/

for bar end sliders try wild hair accessories online (UK based). Here'sa  link to their gs500 page. if they dont have it it isnt available IMO.
http://www.whaccessories.com/GS500Accessories.htm

also, go to the home page here www.gstwin.com for links to some basic maintenance information including oil change how-to. much better than the manuals.

owners manual is tiny book about 1/4" think or less. clymers manual is a full repair manual. if you use the link above to buy it from amazon the site gets a dollar or so and that helps pay for the broadband.

check out my site as well for lots of useful information. Since you're local we'll have to get together sometime for a ride this summer. I occasionally organize a local canyon ride for the regional gstwin members...

welcome and enjoy!

[soon2briding]

thanks for all the tips.. ill be sure to read those links..

[fmikex]

i am putting together a dropped 89 gs500 and i have seen a ton of mirrors at Dennis Kirk  as cheap as $13 and up.lots of different styles just make sure there 10mm most all of them are.and remember you get what you pay for    also ebay has lots of stuff you just need to wait for it. the manual you should get here at GSTwins.com we need to support such a good and usefull site.

[scratch]

Also, sometimes, too much choke may make it too rich and so it'll idle (warm up) slowly. Back it off just a little bit.

[Ringo]

Hello everybody

I bought a GS500E '95 today and I got some newbie questions too, so I thought I'd put it in this topic.

1. Rather embarrasing question, but I'm a beginner.. How do you lock the bike? I've never really noticed how the lock is locked onto a bike!  
I'd appreciate if anyone could post a pick of their locked bike or someting  

2. What does the E in GS500E stand for?

3. About how far will the bike run with a full tank (preferably in kilometers please)?


That's all I could think of for now. Might return with more questions later. Thanks in advance!

[Turkina]

Hello everybody

I bought a GS500E '95 today and I got some newbie questions too, so I thought I'd put it in this topic.

1. Rather embarrasing question, but I'm a beginner.. How do you lock the bike? I've never really noticed how the lock is locked onto a bike!  
I'd appreciate if anyone could post a pick of their locked bike or someting  

2. What does the E in GS500E stand for?

3. About how far will the bike run with a full tank (preferably in kilometers please)?


That's all I could think of for now. Might return with more questions later. Thanks in advance!

First question... do you mean the ignition lock or one of those U-shaped rotor locks?  For the ignition lock, put the bike on the sidestand, turn the handlebars all the way to the left, and I think you need to push the key in a little as you turn it anti-clockwise.  Make sure you don't put it in parking light mode or else you'll drain the battery!  As for buying a rotor lock, the U-shaped ones go through one of the circular holes on the brake rotor and out another.  At least the Kryptonite locks aren't big enough to put it through one of the holes and around the outside edge of the rotor.

Second question... what does the E stand for?  I know the F in GS500F means Faired or Fairing, but the E... Economy?  Excellent?  Exceptional?  Years and years ago there were GS bikes without the E at the end... and then Suzuki came out with a differently styled bike with the same type of engine and called it the GS500E.  :dunno:

Bike on a full tank... If you search for range or fuel mileage in the archives, you can come up with a good estimate.  Currently I'm running my bike until I hit reserve for my own knowlege, and right now at 265 km or so.  I'd estimate maybe 280-290 until you hit reserve, then switch over and maybe get another 60-70 km out of the tank...  But each bike is different, depending on air filter, how clean the carbs are, and other factors... gotta check for yourself!

[dmp221]

Hi:

1.  The best way to lock a bike is with chain or a strong cable passed thru the frame and around something immoveable.  If there's nothing to lock the bike to, if you're with another rider, chain or cable the bikes to each other.  
Lots of riders like disc locks as well, but you have to remember to remove them before you take off.  I usually carry a cable AND a disc lock.  The whole idea is to make your bike more difficult to steal than the next one.
(This is sort of like you and your friend running away from a hungry bear in the woods.  You don't have to outrun the bear...you just have to outrun your friend.)

2.  Its' a model designation and I don't think anyone's really certain what the E stands for.  I asked once and got over a dozen different answers.  Don't be misled.  There is not a whole line of GS-500's, all with different letters.  The 500-E, the 500, and now the 500-F are in all major regards the same bike.  The year is more important than the letter (carbs changed in '01 and several changes in '04)

3.  I have an '01 and go over 200 mi (330k?) on a tankful...but the '01 fuel tank holds 5.3 gal (20L) and before '01 I think the tanks were a little smaller.  Anyway, you should get 15-16 k/l.

Good luck, safe riding.

Don

[mjm]

I don't think anyone's really certain what the E stands for.  

Back before the earth cooled (and many of the people on this board were born) Suzuki used to produce varients on many models.  With the 1980 GS450 (I owned an "E" model) came out there were three varients.  The "S" stood for sport - basically the standard version with a quarter fairing.  The "E" was the standard model and the "L" was the cruiser version - it had a different stepped seat and slightly lower pegs - not sure if it was lower or not - soemtimes the "L" versions had different wheels to look more like a special and sometimes the "S" versions had slightly lower pegs -  I believe that there were also "A" versions which were "L" models with an auto transmission.  Some bikes (the GS1000 for example) came in "G" or shaft drive versions in addition to S, E and L versions.

[manofthefield]

I'm like soon2briding on the no owner's manual.  I think we just have to keep our eyes on ebay.  I got a clymer with my bike, but no owners manual, so I guess I'll just have to buy a stylish gstwin decal to support the site

[Ringo]

Thanks for the replies! I didn't get an owner's manual with my bike either, but I'm gonna order a repair manual. Is there any way to check the oil (like on a car where you just pull the oil stick out)? I don't know how long it's been since the last oil change on my bike, so I'll probably change the oil soon.

[Turkina]

Check oil?  Put the bike on the centerstand or stand the bike level, and the little oil dipstick is on the top of the right hand engine side cover (it says 10w40).  I didn't get a manual with my bike either, but you're not going to break things by poking at it a little

[scratch]

Welcome!

Don't screw the dipstick in at all when checking oil level. Do check your oil level weekly, after a ride, if you ride daily.

[Turkina]

Welcome!

Don't screw the dipstick in at all when checking oil level. Do check your oil level weekly, after a ride, if you ride daily.

Really?  I did not know that you checked with the dipstick unscrewed    hmm, I might be a tiny bit low... nothing too serious.