Hello, yesterday I found a 94 GS500E for an irresistable price and took it home with me. Purple and 9500 miles. I'm a brand-new rider BTW.
I have a question for you guys, probably more later. The bike has a frozen choke cable that I need to get replaced, but even when warmed up I'll try and give it more than half throttle and it'll gag pretty badly with very little power. Spark plugs look pretty worn...again, replaced tomorrow. Is there anything else I can look at to 'fix the glitch'?
Aaaah, please don't say carb cleaning time.
Oh and what's a good tire for this bike? It still has the originals and are dry rotted, probably won't pass inspection.
Hey man, I just bought one and I'm a brand-new rider too. Mine is a black '93 with 14k...very similar to your bike :)
I had some trouble with my choke cable too, but we were able to adjust it and get it fixed. I don't have any experience on the choking at high RPMs, but I will tell ya that I'm going to get my carbs cleaned next week...I've heard it does wonders for these bikes, especially those that have been sitting a while like mine (and probably yours if you got an irresistable price). My bike revs really well (as we found out when the idle screw was set WAY wrong and it was idleing at 6k, lol) but it has new spark plugs and a new filter.
One other thing I thought of (Warning: Newbie advice ahead!): the fuel lines on my bike are new, maybe yours are clogged since it's old and may have been sitting a while? Might be getting fuel starved at higher RPMs.
I'm looking at replacing the tires on mine too since I have no idea what they've been through. Here's a good link I found: http://www.foreven.com/motorcycles/Tyres/SuGS500E.htm
By the way, what part of VA are you located in? I'm in northeastern TN, in Johnson City. If you're in the southern part of VA maybe we can plan a newbie ride on some of the roads in between us sometime :thumb:
WELCOME ! There is lots of info on the site and no lack of GS 500 nuts to lead you down the garden path of knowledge.I am sure once you get the bugs out you will have a nice ride . Sounds like you need a complete once over. Do not forget to check your brake padz.
Its either carb cleaning time. Or worse ... take your carbs off and rejet them time. Srinath may do it for like $40 and shipping (cleaning is free ... so parts and labor is $40) If you want to bring it to charlotte ... srinath will do it with you watching ... so you dont have to get afraid and worry about the next time. BTW Srinath will also show you valves and stuff on the motor he got sitting in his garage. All for the princely sum of $40 ... BTW he's gonna put you to work ... as in you do most of the work while he sits around drinking a beer - Yea ... OK you can have the beer too ...
Cool.
Srinath.
I got some Avon Tires on my rear..... I forget what the front is
Avon Tires: AVON AV46 - Azaro-ST Sport Touring - 140/80ZR17-1
(http://www.motorradonline.de/static/specials/ReifenSpezial/Reifentest2004/tourensport/img/Avon.jpg)
I put a 140 on the back, which is a little bit thicker than the stock 130. While not as wide as the more prevalent 150 and 160 tires you see on 600cc sportbikes... I can take a little bit of solace in the fact that it doesn't look quite as wimpy as itdid before. (I've seen a few sportbikes with 120 fronts... which makes a 130 rear downright embarassing!)
Welcome, chris (and jek!). Excellent choices in bikes, especially the PURPLE!!!! :icon_mrgreen:
Welcome Chris. :thumb:
OEM size tires are probably best for you for now, the latest of these are really good tires and much better than the OEM tires. I recently priced them at AMT online source and they are all priced about the same. Price per pair of 110/70 and 130/70, add about $20 shipping:
Pirelli Demons $164
Metzeler Lasertecs $167
Michelin Actives $161
http://www.americanmototire.com/
If your possible local source is a lot higher than this, you might want to order online and have them mounted and balanced locally. I used to mount my own but I pull the wheels and take them in now for mounting sometimes buying locally and sometimes online.
Tarzanboy <I can take a little bit of solace in the fact that it doesn't look quite as wimpy as it did before.>
Well that's a pretty silly reason for using a wider tire. ;) I'm running the Lasertecs now in 110/80 front and 150/70 rear. My 02 came with a fenderectomy and the 130/70 rear looked like a bicycle tire next to the 97 which has a 140/80 Avon radial on the back. :cheers:
Jek<http://www.foreven.com/motorcycles/Tyres/SuGS500E.htm>
That was a great source of info at one time but Martyn hasen't kept it up to date for years now. The best of the latest tires are not mentioned there and half the ones that are there are obsolete now.
Chris, a lot of people are runing radials on their GSs an I've had three sets myself, two sets of the Z4/Z2 combo and a set of the AV45/46 Avons and so far still think the Avons were the best all around tires I have worn out so far in over 100k miles on the GSs. I tried the Avon bias AM51/52 :dunno_white: this year and replaced them with the Lasertecs :thumb: final opinion on the Lasertecs next year after I wear them out but the performance seems close to the Avon ST radials in 2k miles so far.
<even when warmed up I'll try and give it more than half throttle and it'll gag pretty badly with very little power.>
This is the nature of the 89-00 GS500Es with standard jetting. When I bought the 97 I though it was a mistake till I learned to ride it and I had already worn out 4 Hondas. Gotta keep the revs above 4k to keep that bike happy. I greatly enjoyed my 97 for 80k miles in stock form, but since I bought the 02 I don't enjoy the 97 at all unless I ride it long enough to adjust to it again. The 01 and later GSs are much more flexible in stock form.
Welcome to both of ya!
First I suggest lubing the choke cable. Detach the cable at the handlebar and squirt some WD40 into the sheath, wait a while, squirt some more and then push/pull on the cable to work in the lube, squirt some more, repeat as necessary.
Carbs, or carb cleaning; try this - http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=14798.msg128215#msg128215 minus the oil in the cylinder. Or, search carb cleaning with username seshadri_srinath.
Tires: Either what GSJack said, or the Bridgestone Battlax BT-45's or the Avon AM45/46
Hi and welcome to the site,
This is the place to be for GS500 owners.
Here are my thoughts about tires, from an earlier thread and post:
I tried Dunlop Elites on my GS500E several years ago and was VERY unhappy because they didn't have 70 Series tires and I had to use 80 or 90 Series aspect ratios. Terrible handling, and the bike FELL into corners. Unnerving.
Then last spring I mounted a set of proper 70 Series Michelin Macadam 50/50E tires and they are GREAT!
http://two-wheels.michelin.com/2w/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=2092004104059&codePage=2092004104059_10092004111900&lang=EN
My bike handles great again, traction is excellent wet or dry, braking is phenomenal and my bike is much improved. I used stock sizes and am VERY pleased.
The full tire recommendation thread from last October is at:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=22069.0
Good luck and have fun!
Yours,
Todd
Good luck,
Todd
For tires a strong advocate of either Pilot Race's or Bridgestone BT014's. I wouldn't suggest straying from the stock sizing for now.
im wondering...did you get the bike off of craigslist from Fairfax...
im looking at that bike right now talking to a friend about calling tomorrow...how crazy.
looks good though and an awesome price.
good luck with it