Comment on my '93 Mods and Problems

[ejl10]

Hi all,

I've got a '93 GS with just under 9K that I'm going to put up for sale soon.  I've done a number of modificatiosn to it, and it has a few problems.  I'd like to hear everyone's comments about both the modifications and the problems.  That way, I can point potential buyers to this thread to give them the best information I can.  I want to make sure that my buyer is well informed, as I'm a firm believer in customer satisfaction.  Therefore, I'd like to get both positive and negative opinions... just let the buyer know if the modifications are things he/she would want on a GS, and if the problems merit serious concern.

That said, here's a list of the modifications I've made.
1) Progressive springs with 15wt fork oil and .75" spacers
2) '93 Katana 600 rear shock and linkage
3) New OEM gel seat
4) EBC green stuff front brake pads (stock rear)
5) AZ Motorsports chrome drag bar and chrome bar end mirrors, ProGrips gel sport grips
6) Uni pod air filters
7) K&N jet kit with 135 Mains/40 pilots/2 washers
8 ) Inline fuel filter
9) New Sprocket Specialists 15 tooth front and 39 rear, RK chain
10) New BT45 tires (110 and 140/70)
11) Do-It-Yourself ignition advancer at ~4 degrees
12) Fenderectomy, reflectorectomy, and shortened signal stalks

Now for the problems.
1) I haven't gotten the jetting just right yet.  I get the occasional backfire (maybe once a ride), and it doesn't feel like it's pulling 100% at highway speeds.  At the low end, though, it's bliss!
2) It looks like a small leak developed over the winter in the gas tank.  The tank was rusty and leaky when I bought the bike 3 summers ago, but I Kreemed it and it had been perfect ever since.  Looks like the gas finally found a way through.  However, it lost very little over the course of the winter... maybe two teaspoons.  
3) The right front fork seal has a small leak.  I've seen much worse on other bikes, but by all rights, the seal should be replaced and the fork oil replaced (it's a bit low right now).  By the way, I have the new seal, just never installed it.  
4) It needs it's spring oil change and a tune up.  I've done all the work on it since the day I bought it, so it's probably time that a mechanic gave it a check up.  For one thing, I've never checked the valves, so they might need adjusting.
5) The bike has 2 keys- one for the ignition and one for the tank/trunk.  It came this way, so I have no idea why.  The CT DMV told me there was no history of any theft on the VIN number, so I'm simply lost on this.  It has actually come in pretty handy for me, as I've been able to open the tank/trunk while the bike was still warming up... a nice feature.

A couple of other things.  I've got the OEM shop manual and the Clymer manual, as well as a cargo net that will all go with it.  The bike started right up this spring without so much as a hiccup (I trickle-charged the battery all winter).  It runs very well, and has a perfectly clear title.  It has been dropped a couple of times in the driveway (by myself and the previous owner), but it has never been down while moving.  I've never tried a wheelie or other stunt, and never even scraped a peg.  Nevertheless, the bike isn't perfect.  It has some light scuffs and scrapes.  I've tried to touch some of them up, but it didn't help a whole lot.  There's also local surface rust in a few spots.  Overall, though, it looks good for an 11 year old bike.  I've been really happy with it, and I'm looking forward to my new '02 SV650S.  It has a similar reputation to the GS, so I know I'm going to love it.

Pictures of my GS are available here.

Thanks to eveyone for helping out.  I'm sure the buyer of my bike will appreciate it, too.  Enjoy the GS, and ride safe!
Emmett Lyman

[scratch]

Sorry to hear you're sellin'.

1) Progressive springs with 15wt fork oil and .75" spacers
2) '93 Katana 600 rear shock and linkage

Good

3) New OEM gel seat

Ok, but do you have the original?

4) EBC green stuff front brake pads (stock rear)

Good

5) AZ Motorsports chrome drag bar and chrome bar end mirrors, ProGrips gel sport grips

This is left up to the opinion and tastes of the buyer.

6) Uni pod air filters
7) K&N jet kit with 135 Mains/40 pilots/2 washers
8 ) Inline fuel filter
9) New Sprocket Specialists 15 tooth front and 39 rear, RK chain

Ok

10) New BT45 tires (110 and 140/70)

Good

11) Do-It-Yourself ignition advancer at ~4 degrees

dunno (no actual experience with), but due to info on this website it must be a good thing.

12) Fenderectomy, reflectorectomy, and shortened signal stalks

No longer stock, but it may have been done anyway.

Now for the problems.
1) I haven't gotten the jetting just right yet.  I get the occasional backfire (maybe once a ride), and it doesn't feel like it's pulling 100% at highway speeds.  At the low end, though, it's bliss!

Give ya something to do and might be fun.

2) It looks like a small leak developed over the winter in the gas tank.  The tank was rusty and leaky when I bought the bike 3 summers ago, but I Kreemed it and it had been perfect ever since.  Looks like the gas finally found a way through.  However, it lost very little over the course of the winter... maybe two teaspoons.

Not good. Replace tank (my opinion though).
 
3) The right front fork seal has a small leak.  I've seen much worse on other bikes, but by all rights, the seal should be replaced and the fork oil replaced (it's a bit low right now).  By the way, I have the new seal, just never installed it.

If it was me, I'd do it myself.
 
4) It needs it's spring oil change and a tune up.  I've done all the work on it since the day I bought it, so it's probably time that a mechanic gave it a check up.  For one thing, I've never checked the valves, so they might need adjusting.

Again, if it was me, I'd do it myself, but it's not me.

5) The bike has 2 keys- one for the ignition and one for the tank/trunk.  It came this way, so I have no idea why.  The CT DMV told me there was no history of any theft on the VIN number, so I'm simply lost on this.  It has actually come in pretty handy for me, as I've been able to open the tank/trunk while the bike was still warming up... a nice feature.

A couple of other things.  I've got the OEM shop manual and the Clymer manual, as well as a cargo net that will all go with it.  The bike started right up this spring without so much as a hiccup (I trickle-charged the battery all winter).  It runs very well, and has a perfectly clear title.  It has been dropped a couple of times in the driveway (by myself and the previous owner), but it has never been down while moving.  I've never tried a wheelie or other stunt, and never even scraped a peg.  Nevertheless, the bike isn't perfect.  It has some light scuffs and scrapes.  I've tried to touch some of them up, but it didn't help a whole lot.  There's also local surface rust in a few spots.  Overall, though, it looks good for an 11 year old bike.  I've been really happy with it, and I'm looking forward to my new '02 SV650S.

Good and honest.