Yay, a newbie question!

[MarlboroMan]

Well, I'm really really really new to riding, so of course, I don't know if this is normal, a problem with my technique, or a problem with the bike:

How do you handle taking off on the bike from a stop?  It seems like I can't even get going very fast - the bike bogs a bit in between 1500-2500RPM while I'm slowly letting out the clutch.  Am I doing something wrong?  Should I be going to 4KRPM and popping the clutch?  Help?

[GRU]

if your bike is stock, then it's kind of normal that it doesn't have power on the low rpm....if you're trying to accelerate then rev to about 2500 and let the clutch out a little then twist the throttle a little more and let out the clutch all the way...basicly don't let out the clutch all the way out untill you are moving more than 5 mph or faster...

[gsJack]

<< Should I be going to 4KRPM and popping the clutch? >>

No, if it's a 2000 or older GS500 rev to about 4k and slip the clutch till the bike speed catches up to the engine speed.   :lol:

Rejetting will help and a 15T front sprocket will help, but my stock 97 doesn't pull worth a darn below 4k rpm.  I just slip the clutch to get it going and it's still on the original clutch and has almost 80k miles on it now.

My 02 is much better.  Very little clutch slipage required to start and it is much more flexible all around.  Different carbs have made a big improvement in the 01 and later GS's, especially when cold.