The dead horse...just making sure...

[shundaroni]

Just bought my first bike...a beautiful 2001 GS500...from the local dealer at a good price since it hadn't left the sales floor and he had more bikes coming in. It had 1 mile on it and fired up fine once I got it home.

I rode it on Friday, March 26, and it rode perfectly...no troubles at all, smooth power delivery and all. After about 15 miles of putting around, I went up to an empty parking lot to practice my tight u-turns and slow-speed figure 8's. During one of the U-turns, I grabbed too much front brake and I dropped it on it's left side. Nothing was damaged, on a few small gravel marks on the engine cover.

The trouble really started when I got it upright. It took a good 5 minutes to start up again, but it did start and it rode fine the way home. I had to work both Saturday and Sunday, but today (Monday) I took it out for it's second ride. It started up fine and rode well for about 4 miles. Then, after stopping at a stop sign, I headed up a hill and it started bogging down...I was twisting the throttle hard to get any juice at all, and it would occasionally get a surge, only to bog back down. I tried taking it to lower gears, and the same thing occurred. Once I peaked the hill, it died, and I coasted down.

I tried starting it up to no avail, so I switched it to reserve thinking I was out of gas, and it fired right up, no trouble. I parked it, checked the gas, and it was still very full. I just tried to ride again a few minutes ago, and it started okay after a little choking, but sitting on our uphill driveway it started sputtering and died again. Wouldn't start until I put it on Prime or Reserve. I primed it for a second, switched back to normal, and it did fine, but I didn't trust it so I parked it for the night.

I have seen on here that the petcock tends to be a problem on these bikes, and I'm thinking that is likely my problem...or maybe a hose. Could that one drop have loosened a hose? If so, where should I check?

[GRU]

welcome

from what you wrote, it sounded like you were out of gas but you say it was full...if the bike runs perfect on res and pri, but turns off when you ride on ON then there is a problem with gas not geting to the top of the tank petcock...

about the bike losing power going up hill, many people had the same problem...i think the problem with their bikes was the float hight...it could be because the gas in the tank has been away from the top of the tank petcock

check your float hight using the U tube method...

[TheGoodGuy]

shaZam! this sounds like my 2001..

make sure your bike is warmed up right.. i found that was a problem on mine.. have the dealer check the jetting if its some concern..

i had the wrong jets on my 2001..

Anyway i doubt yours will have that issue mine had.. cause mine would randomly die, but if that does on yours have them check the jetting.

Anycase.. warm up properly.. good 5 minutes or more..and then ride.. on a cold day 1/4 step choke helps.

As for teh engine not starting on dropping its normal, its flooded, mine did it the few times i dropped it.. nothing big..

keep us updated.

[shundaroni]

Warming up has actually been a concern for me. I really didn't know how long to let it run before riding. Thanks for the input on that.

I'll try that first and see what happens.

After classes tomorrow I'm off work again...I'll update following my trial ride.

[BanannaMan]

Warming up has actually been a concern for me. I really didn't know how long to let it run before riding.

Until you can open the throttle with the choke off.
If the engine dies or stumbles....it's not warmed up.
As soon as it will take gas with the choke off .....she's ready to ride.

[Rema1000]

The trouble really started when I got it upright.

The carburettor float bowls can empty when it is on its side.  It helps to leave it on PRIme for a minute before you try to start.

Iit started bogging down...I was twisting the throttle hard to get any juice at all, and it would occasionally get a surge, only to bog back down.

Sounds like low on primary gas.

so I switched it to reserve thinking I was out of gas, and it fired right up, no trouble.

yep, low on primary gas.

I parked it, checked the gas, and it was still very full.

How full is "very full"?  On my bike, I have to switch to REServe when the bike is still about 1/3 full.  So if there were a couple of inches of gas left, then that's fine.  But on a full tank, you should get a couple of hours of riding before you have to switch to REServe.

If it was FULL full, like up to the top, then it's possible that the primary gas inlet is clogged so only the REServe inlet is working reliably.  

If it works on PRIme but not REServe, then look at the petcock and vacuum hoses.  But if it works on PRIme or REServe, but no ON, then the problem is probably not vacuum or the petcock. The problem would most likely be:

-not enough fuel in tank (sorry)
-clogged screen over the primary gas intake in the tank
-pinched primary fuel hose under the tank

[shundaroni]

There may not have been enough fuel. I just glanced down in it and it looked like there was plenty, but I haven't seen it completely empty yet, either...so I could have been mistaken. I think my problem lies in the fact that I thought the dealership filled it up before they delivered it...I'm starting to think they only put a bit in.

[Laura]

It sounds like you need to fill it up. When I first got my bike, I was surprised at how much fuel was still in the tank when I had to switch it to reserve. Considering how small the tank is, it looked like quite a bit of fuel, but then when I filled it up, my problems went away.

Laura

[pantablo]

... my problem lies in the fact that I thought the dealership filled it up before they delivered it...I'm starting to think they only put a bit in.

dealer usually only puts enough gas to get you to the nearest gas station from the dealership. gas costs them money.

these bikes are notorious for hitting "reserve" with 1/2 tank still left...I have a 2001 also. You should get about 150 (roughly) before you hit reserve then I've gone as far as 190 before filling up and havent run dry yet.

[Cal Price]

As usual I agree with the concensus of the board, for my two-pennyworth, always eliminate the simple things first (like gas) the dealers over here seem to put about 4 litres in the tank and tell you there's plenty, which is true ...plenty to get you to the forecourt.
Warming-up, my (Anglo-French) manual says. Start on full choke without throttle, if all is "normal" or thereabouts the engine should soon settle at about 3k rpm, let it run for 30 seconds then shove the choke back and revs should settle about 800/1000 and bike respond instantly to your right wrist. If this happens engage gear and go.
Good luck with it, have fun, be visible.

[shundaroni]

Filled 'er up, put her back on "Normal," and she's running fine. :lol:   Thanks

[The Buddha]

K cool... now go back to the D(st)ealer, kick his ass... and make him pay for the damage due to running out of gas - mid corner no less.
Cool.
Srinath.