I just bought a 2006 GS500 that only has 1058 miles on it. When I bought it the battery was bad but started right up when jumped with a car. I went to pick it up. It started right up. I drove two blocks then it died when I came to a stop light. Towed it home and have had the same problem ever since.
So far....I have put in a new battery, air filter, spark plugs, cleaned the carbs, bypassed the kick stand switch, & checked the vacuum connections. All of those items appear to be fine.
The bike starts up with relative ease every time with the choke on. It revs up to 4-5 rpms and stays running after warming up and the choke backed all the way off. I can put it in first gear with out it shutting off while its at a stand still but when I ride it a few blocks I come to a stop sign, it shuts off and takes 15 min or so to start back up and then keeps shutting back off once I come to a stop! WTF!! :dunno_black: I'd like to ride this bike further than past my neighbors house! Please HELP!
BTW: This is my first bike and I have little mechanical experience other than the work I listed above
This seems to be a common problem lately.......
Have you checked the coils? When they get hot, it will shut down the bike. Get a multimeter and check the resistance on the primary and secondary windings.
Thanks for the quick response Big...
I'm new to working on bikes. You'll have to forgive my ignorance. Are the coils under the tank attached to the frame that run to the spark plugs?
I have a multimeter. What should the resistance be measuring on the windings?
Yup, that's them. And don't apologize. I have yet to see anybody born with a wrench in hand.......
The specs are in the manual (which I don't have). It could also be a blocked vacuum line either in the tank or from the carbs.
I'll check those and see if that helps.
I have a manual that I downloaded that goes up to 2002 for the GS500. I was told that the bike hasn't changed much mechanically. Can I use this manual or should I get a new one?
I haven't checked the vacuum line that runs out of the bottom of the tank. Someone recommended that if it stalls again to open the gas cap and try to start it and if it starts right up then the problem is the seal on the gas cap. Is that pure BS or should I try that?
Not the seal per se but there's a vent with check valve built into the gas cap that can get plugged. The vacume can build in the tank not allowing gas to fall to the carbs.