Need advice please

[Paul66]

Hi everyone   Just joined and wondering if I could ask for some advice.

There's a '96 GS500 for sale but it requires some work. Here's what it needs:

- battery needs to be replaced
- front brake pad needs replacement
- carb cleaning required
- handle bar is slightly bent
- exhaust leak (one-piece pipe needs to be replaced)
- major engine work required! need to be rebuilt - low-end knocking

Bike is running but how much would these repairs cost me? Thanks for your help.

P.S. Any upgrades I should do while rebuilding engine? Can it be done? Should I bother getting this bike?

[GRU]

welcome

the first 5 are easy if you're mechanicly inclined but the 6th one (engine rebuilding) is a little complicated...

how much is the bike selling for? if it's really cheap then buy it and give the engine to a mechanic to rebuild but you can find a good '96 gs for $2000 or less

[hehehemann]

My bike is a 96 GS too, paid $1700 which included the seller delivering it to my house. The bike is in excellent condition, no work needed other than a rejet to sync it up.

[JLKasper]

I'd prefer to buy a bike that needs routine things, and adjust the price accordingly.  That way I start fresh with the quality of parts I decided on.  As to the last matter...  You might get lucky and the problem is only in the counterbalancer bearings.  This'll still require you to split the cases, but isn't a terribly expensive fix.  It's a little involved, but doable with a little mechganical aptitude, patience, and a clean place to work on it.   Perhaps if you describe the noise a bit more (rev range, occurence when applying throttle or backing off, approximate source of noise, etc., some of the more knowledgeable members who've overhauled theirs can help with a suggestion...

[MarkusN]

Last issue is probably one of the bearings in the case. (I hear left connection rod is a candidate). If you catch that before it has caused subsequent damage the motor is good to go. If it already has worn out the crankshaft, though, you need a quite expensive spare.

One thing's sure, though: you won't be spared splitting the case.