Hi everybody!
I just purchased my very first motorcycle 2 days ago, a 95' GS500E with 6k on it. Paid $1500 for it, hope it's a good deal.
It was my "dream bike" when I was in high school, and 10 years later!
Anyway, I have MANY questions about this bike.
First of all, what is the best plug-n-play option for a flyscreen? doing 60+ isn't that much fun!
Second, is it normal to see oil coming out from the top of the engine where the rubber gasket seats? I mean it's not pouring out, but I can see oil stained all around the rubber gasket and maybe a drip came out from the tach cable coupling after a 2 hour ride. How much should I expect to pay if it needs to be replaced at a shop?
Thanks!!!
I'm from Pottsville / Reading, PA area by the way.
congrats and welcome to the board.
QuoteFirst of all, what is the best plug-n-play option for a flyscreen? doing 60+ isn't that much fun!
there are a lot of options for a windscreen, you should check the top right hand side of the page for the wiki for all sorts of stuff like that.
QuoteSecond, is it normal to see oil coming out from the top of the engine where the rubber gasket seats? I mean it's not pouring out, but I can see oil stained all around the rubber gasket and maybe a drip came out from the tach cable coupling after a 2 hour ride. How much should I expect to pay if it needs to be replaced at a shop?
you have to be more specific here. where exactly are you referring to? are you talking about the carburator seats or the exhaust gaskets? in those cases the answer is no.
I have been asking about a screen. If you look at where I have been posting there are some recent posts on this. I am going to try a National Cycle F-18, mostly for the looks.
Personally, I think a little valve cover gasket oil leak is fine. But that's an opinion. And I drive an ugly bike.
Quote from: tripleb on June 25, 2009, 08:17:52 AM
congrats and welcome to the board.
QuoteFirst of all, what is the best plug-n-play option for a flyscreen? doing 60+ isn't that much fun!
there are a lot of options for a windscreen, you should check the top right hand side of the page for the wiki for all sorts of stuff like that.
QuoteSecond, is it normal to see oil coming out from the top of the engine where the rubber gasket seats? I mean it's not pouring out, but I can see oil stained all around the rubber gasket and maybe a drip came out from the tach cable coupling after a 2 hour ride. How much should I expect to pay if it needs to be replaced at a shop?
you have to be more specific here. where exactly are you referring to? are you talking about the carburator seats or the exhaust gaskets? in those cases the answer is no.
Welcome :cheers:
Welcome. It sounds like you got a good deal on your bike.
QuoteHow much should I expect to pay if it needs to be replaced at a shop?
Depending on which gasket, replacing gaskets is a DIY project.
Quotedrip came out from the tach cable coupling after a 2 hour ride.
Oil from there is not uncommon. My freinds bike leaks oil from where the cable connects to the engine. He just tightens the connection and its fine for awhile.
-Porkchop
If this is your first bike, I'd say give it a couple rides and I bet you'll learn to love that wind. I remember the first time I hit 85mph on my first bike, a 1983 yamaha 550 dual sport, I thought I was going to die. At one point I took my hand off the bars and held it with my palm facing the wind like you do when you're bored with a car window. I didn't think I would ever get it back on the bar, before I calmed down and realized I could just turn my hand sideways.
Anyway, I've had a couple since and have no intentions buying any other bikes with a windscreen. Just lean into it.
Aside from that, there are plenty of options, I'm not trying to talk you out of buying one. I just remember how easy it is to start spending every penny to your name when you keep seeing things you want for your new bike. Ebay might be a great place if you're not too picky and don't mine something used, you could probably get something for not too much money.
i just bought my first bike last friday :D
i love it. congrats.
Hi Doug,
I'm in Lancaster, just south of you.
It sounds like you have a valve cover gasket leak.
You also could have a leaky tach cable drive seal.
Both are easy fixes to replace.
If you are doing the valve cover gasket (VCG), you might as well check the valve adjustment. I have the right tools and can help you. Not a big deal.
I've been riding for 34 years and have owned my 1991 GS500 for 16 years. It's a great bike, very dependable, fun to ride, sporty, cheap to run and a BLAST!
Drop me an IM!
Let me know if I can help you with anything.
I use a small windshield on my bike that looks good and gives great protection. They're only about $100, too. See the picture and see what you think.
Take care,
Trwhouse
I have the National Cycle F-16 tour windshield. I think it's a good windshield. no issues with it so far. Went on a 1200 mile ride with it and didn't have one issue.
(http://uploads.silicontrance.com/brandon/motorcycle/IMG_0065.JPG)
(http://uploads.silicontrance.com/brandon/motorcycle/IMG_0066.JPG)
(http://uploads.silicontrance.com/brandon/motorcycle/IMG_0067.JPG)
Welcome to the Zoo the animals here are pretty nice! :whisper: The 'F' is waaay better :flipoff:
Mary
Welcome to the board! You should have posted a pic!
If the bike looks and runs good, you probably got a good deal, but I'm having trouble believing 5,000 miles because your valve cover gasket shouldn't be leaking yet.
As for oil from the tach cable, it can very well be just oil that leaks down and out the cable sheath after oiling the cable from the top. If you oiled the cable when you bought it, I'll bet that's it. If it's leaking from the engine, that's proof you have a lot more than 5,000 miles. You'll know in a few days. If it stops leaking, it's cable lube. If it doesn't, it's coming from the engine, and it's an easy fix. Just an O-ring needed.
Quote from: TurkeyChicken on June 25, 2009, 04:06:40 PM
I have the National Cycle F-16 tour windshield. I think it's a good windshield. no issues with it so far. Went on a 1200 mile ride with it and didn't have one issue.
How have you found the wind getting directed into your helmet?
An crosswind things we should know about?
Michael
Quote from: dougwo on June 24, 2009, 07:46:53 PM
a 95' GS500E with 6k on it............... oil coming out from the top of the engine where the rubber gasket seats..............drip came out from the tach cable coupling after a 2 hour ride.
Quote from: bill14224 on June 25, 2009, 08:01:59 PM
I'm having trouble believing 5,000 miles because your valve cover gasket shouldn't be leaking yet.
I was starting to think the same thing Bill until I stopped to think about it. I've put 150k miles on 2 GS500s and they've required valve cover gaskets at approx 30k mile intervals and I replaced the tach drive seal once on each at about 50k miles. Bought the 97 new in 99 and bought the 02 used with 4k miles on it in Sept 03.
Everyone thinks a very low milage older bike is a great buy and I still think they are good buys but have to remenber the seals are drying out and getting hard all those years the bike just sits around unused. Leaking seals are common on older low milage bikes.
I bought a 81 CM400A around 1990 with only 2k miles and it needed new head gaskets within a year or so, the rubber oil seals dried out and began leaking oil. The only bikes I've put new sreering head bearings in were that CM400A and a 85 CB650SC that had only 10k miles on it when I bought it around1996. The grease dries out in those bearings when they sit unused for so many years.
I still prefer buying older slightly used bikes since they usually turn out to be real bargains compared to new ones but I expect to have to replace a dried out seal or two or a bearing or 2 that has dried out grease in it.
Assuming the seal dried/wore itself out, the bike likely has more than 5000 miles on it. On the other hand, if you assume the previous owner was as good at working on motorcycles as I was when I first started, the bike could be barely used and still be leaking oil. I used to ruin every gasket I ever touched. He might have just been checking the valves and pinched it.
While we're on the topic of parts that have been sitting. What's the best way to clean up and re-lube a chain that's sat for about 4 years? It had only been used lightly a year before I stored the bike, so I don't want to replace it yet. There's no rust or stuck links and still has a coating of wax on it, but I feel as though they could move a little easier than they do now. They might be fine and I'm just used to bicycle chains that move without any resistance. Any opinions on that one?
Hi again,
Here's my info from a previous post when someone asked about windscreens:
I have a National Cycle F-15 Tour shield on my 1991 GS 500E.
I love it.
A photo:
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/trwhouse/NationalCycleF15shieldSPSUMN2522SV6.jpg)
Description:
http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/N2522?mv_session_id=I36bFynp&search_model=su-022%22
It offers good coverage, is pretty and it works well.
I still think it would be great to try the National Cycle Plexifairing GT model, with its larger coverage and sexy lines, but I'm not sure it will fit our GS500 bikes. I keep asking if anyone has tried one but have received no replies.
And here's a photo of the F-15 on my GS500E:
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/trwhouse/GS500ESept307atClaySChool.jpg)
Good luck.
I've posted it on this subject before so do a search of the site and my posts for more info on these windshields.
Good luck,
Trwhouse
Thank you so much for all the input!! I "google" a little bit, it is the valve gasket that is leaking. It seems like wherever there is a cable/pipe coming from the engine, there is a very slow leak. I guess you guys are right, most gaskets(at least those I can see from the outside) seem to be dried out or something from sitting. I am not mechanically inclined what so ever! So I probably going to get ripped off at a shop instead of risking it. :(
From what I was told from the seller, it was his wife first bike and she brought it from another lady, and that lady brought it from her neighbor. So, the bike has been sitting quite sometime between the 1st and 2nd owner. But the tank looks almost perfect inside and out, no rust, and everything shines.
I put 350miles on it already in 3 days! Max at 90mph and still got a lot more left in it to go but the wind stopped me. It runs great but it's a little harder to turn/lean than my honda reflex 250cc scooter! (YES! I LEAN my scooter with the stand scrapping the road!!) :laugh: I also always got stuck in neutral when I down shift at a stop! (Never had to shift on my little scooter)
I know I should save up for a new bike when I grow out of this bike but I will probably repaint it gloss black, replaced all the baskets, lower handle bar, and a flyscreen (F16 maybe, even though I want the OEM).
Is there any GS rider in PA/NJ that I can ride with sometimes????
Thank you so much!!!
If you plan on doing lots of freeways I have to agree the F is by far better. The wind protection is just amazing. On the F instead of fairings purely for aerodynamics it's there also for wind protection, the fat fairings do a great job of shielding your legs from wind too.
Yo Dougwo,
As I mentioned earlier, I'm in Lancaster and would love to say hi.
Riding would be great.
And I can help you with working on the bike if you need help.
PM me man! :)
Best wishes,
Trwhouse