Hello,
A month or so ago I bought a GS500E as my first bike. I love it. Now I'm getting to the point that I want to start working on making it better. Not so much as to modify, but return it to it's former glory and mechanical condition. A few things I've noticed:
The plastics are scratched and cracked. Is there a site that I can order OEM plastics?
The bike seems to lose its pull around 3000rpm, but regain at 4k+. This is also the powerband that produces vibration.
The previous owner mentioned that the Tach may or may not be accurate. Is there a way to test this?
Where should I start if I want to "tune up" for lack of better jargon?
Thanks for the help,
Patrick
If you mean that it doesn't pull well under 4K+ RPM, I believe that's normal. 4k-7k is a good range when you want to get moving. Don't expect much at 3k.
If you mean that it stutters or doesn't run correctly at 3000, remove the carbs, disassemble, and clean.
You could probably clean the plastic parts or repaint them for far less than replacements will cost.
Don't know anything about tachometers, but your speedometer is definitely somewhat inaccurate. When mine says 45mph, it's really at 39 or 40.
If you want to tune up, I would:
- check and reshim valves if needed
- make sure oil is fresh, change it if you haven't since you bought it
- replace oil filter next time you change oil, or immediately if you haven't done it since you bought the bike
- lube cables
- clean or replace the air filter
- clean carbs if needed
- all lights working? battery topped up? no abraded or damaged wiring?
- replace tires if needed
- replace brake pads if needed
- lube various chassis elements
- lube your chain, check chain, sprockets for wear and replace if needed
Practical upgrades:
- everyone seems to like to replace the exhaust, but I like quiet OEM exhausts
- rejet carbs
- replace air filter with something less restrictive
- different fuel petcock
- upgrade front brake line to stainless
- replace the throttle body with one that has a shorter twist
- add an inline fuel filter
- change your sprocket gear ratio to your preference
- replace your fork oil with higher weight oil
- replace your springs with something more customized to your weight
Bought same last year, 97 with 30,000 miles.
Since, i have - cleaned once, lubed chain twice , clean up battery terminals, check hoses and nuts/bolts are torqued etc, touched up scratches/rust, head bearings done, brake pads done, checked forks, tried to remove exhaust to paint but gave up. Then rode rest of time. Left cam chain/carbs/rejet/suspension/mods/etc. If ain't broke, don't meddle. Not done oil/filter but recommended.
Fix when broke and use where a bike should be used - on the road :thumb:
Patrick:
You shouldn't really be spending much of any time in the 3k range. At that low down there is some engine lugging going on.
Try this for normal riding...
Shift up at 5,500rpm. So as you take off, shift to 2nd at 5,500. Then shift up to 3rd when you hit 5,500 again. And then into 4th at 5,500.
Avoid riding/cruising in any gear below 4,000. The engine starts to lug and is worse the higher up the gears you go - slowly motoring along in 4th gear at 3k is not as bad as 6th gear and 3k, for eg. You can be fine in 4th dropping below 4k. But 5th and 6th really do not like it much at all. This (lugging your engine) will probably do more harm to your engine than higher revs.
To check your tacho here are some speed and rpms...
4th gear, 4k is roughly 60kph (37.5mph)
6th gear, 5k is roughly 100kph (62.5mph)
6th gear 5.5k is roughly 110kph (69mph)
If your tacho is pretty close to those rpms and speeds, it's working fairly well.
To get the ball rolling on the Tune Up...
Clean and lube the chain. (If unsure on sprocket, post pic of)
Change the oil and oil filter.
Change the spark plugs.
Check tire pressure - cold, 33psi front, 36psi rear, advised pressures on BT45s that come with bike and as suggested in Owner's Manual - download from Wiki if you don't have one.
Check tire for degrading. Check manufacture date of tire so you know how old/new they are.
Post pictures of your bike so we can enjoy them. :icon_mrgreen:
Michael