Well, I thought I'd let all you GS fans know that I acquired my first every bike. A 2005 GS500F.
Honestly, the bike is very rough for its age. But when you're new to riding and
don't have a lot of cash, a rough bike is what you get. I'm not much of a mechanic,
but I am trying my best to learn and get things going good with the bike. Any
advice you guys have to offer, let me know!
The bike has almost 42,000 miles. Yikes! But it runs, and I plan
on taking care of it and keeping it that way! :thumb:
It was dropped by previous owner, Only the ride side has any damage. He removed
all the fairing and made it naked. However, he wasn't concerned as much for
making it look good, naked. Enough talk, picture time. :woohoo:
These are pictures I took when I went to look at the bike, so they are somewhat
in-depth and show all the bads. :technical:
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003161414_zps2131cbd1.jpg)
No, the tank bag and rear net wasn't included. :sad:
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003161444_zps07c11adf.jpg)
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003161456_zps92b4bc2d.jpg)
Headlight is too low, one of the next things I'm going to do is move it closed to the gauge cluster.
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003161431_zpse1388330.jpg)
Dat fender.
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003155504_zpsa8d58a70.jpg)
Should I be worried about the mileage? Any major maintenance I should do?
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003155510_zpsa8f491d7.jpg)
Damage from his wreck. I want to go aftermarket anyways. ;)
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003155527_zpsdbaa81cf.jpg)
:sad: Might as well look for a slip on...
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/1003155537_zpsa5c59219.jpg)
Trying to find this cover on ebay. Plan on replacing it.
The plan is to bring the bike back to having it's cowlings and fairings. I know, i know,
you all love being naked, but this is my first bike and I really long for the "sport" look.
Hate me all you want, but I've already acquired many of the pieces I need. :P
Let me now what you think! O0
That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com
I think you made a wise choice for your first ever bike but I would suggest you leave the fairings off for a while as most people come off their bike in the first 6 months of ownership and you would hate to damage your new fairings :thumb:
Quote from: weedahoe on December 22, 2012, 07:37:58 AM
That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com
Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.
Quote from: codajastal on December 22, 2012, 04:28:39 PM
I think you made a wise choice for your first ever bike but I would suggest you leave the fairings off for a while as most people come off their bike in the first 6 months of ownership and you would hate to damage your new fairings :thumb:
Thanks, I'll take your advice. The fairings are still a project for me. Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.
There are others better suited to answer this as I too have never done this but there are some great products on the market :thumb:
Quote from: codajastal on December 22, 2012, 04:38:40 PM
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.
There are others better suited to answer this as I too have never done this but there are some great products on the market :thumb:
Its OK you have no fiberglass experience. The fairings are plastic.
They can be sanded and painted and plastic is easy to glue back together.
Used fairings in excellent condition show up on ebay all the time. Usually just one side (because the other side got trashed) so you probably would buy left side from one place and right from another.
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on December 22, 2012, 07:37:58 AM
That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com
Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.
LMK when you find one that looks better than what you have and is better priced.
Quote from: codajastal on December 22, 2012, 04:38:40 PM
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.
there are some great products on the market :thumb:
I keep coming across Urethane Supply Company products. I guess they make a little "Plastic Welder" (hehe :laugh:)
It's actually not that bad priced off eBay as I've looked. But right now I'm going to experiment with "PlastiFix" from
the same company. Looks pretty cool. :cool:
Quote from: adidasguy on December 22, 2012, 05:43:20 PM
Quote from: codajastal on December 22, 2012, 04:38:40 PM
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Trying to find a good way to fix them. Any suggestions? I have no experience with fiberglass.
There are others better suited to answer this as I too have never done this but there are some great products on the market :thumb:
They can be sanded and painted and plastic is easy to glue back together.
Used fairings in excellent condition show up on ebay all the time.
I ended up getting the side I needed for $20 in good condition. I'm not a fan of glue because I don't see it as a permanent fix.
Hoping this "PlastiFix" works good.
Also, are you the guy on YouTube with some GS500 videos? I watched the exhaust and clutch video.
Quote from: weedahoe on December 22, 2012, 08:40:25 PM
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on December 22, 2012, 07:37:58 AM
That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com
Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.
LMK when you find one that looks better than what you have and is better priced.
Hehe, I don't think you have trust in the almighty eBay. ;)
That would be adidasguys videos you speak of. Quite a few of us have videos up on YouTube.
I have a plastic welder and use it at least once a week. But with any welding, there is a skill needed and education. There are different plastics out there and was filler rod is made for a certain plastic. Not only that, but plastic welding puts off a deadly gas called dioxin. You should Google that.
The problem with the part you want to look like new and on ebay is that anyone who lays the bike down ALWAYS scratches that part first. That's why yours looks like that. Only guys with frame sliders or case protectors would keep the sides of the engine safe. All the engine parts on ebay are mainly engines parted out of wrecked bikes. If you did happen to come across NOS (new old stock) or OEM in the plastic, it's not going to be the price you want.
Quote from: weedahoe on December 23, 2012, 07:20:00 AM
I have a plastic welder and use it at least once a week. But with any welding, there is a skill needed and education. There are different plastics out there and was filler rod is made for a certain plastic.
I could imagine all the things I could fix up with a plastic welder. Like my bumper, or my mothers old dashboard. Anytime I bring up that idea to someone that I want to buy one a lot of guys laugh at me like I'm crazy. :cookoo: Hehe. I think you helped persuade me into purchasing one. :cheers: I thought I was gonna get ripped off.
Quote from: weedahoe on December 23, 2012, 07:20:00 AM
All the engine parts on ebay are mainly engines parted out of wrecked bikes. If you did happen to come across NOS (new old stock) or OEM in the plastic, it's not going to be the price you want.
Good point.
The plastic will burn easy as well, so regardless if you burn or not sanding and painting will be needed to look good, unless your going for the fix only.
Harbor Freight sells some cheap ones but dont expect them to last.
Also as mentioned you need the correct type of raw plastic to fix it right, it may be good to get an extra part similar to yours for scrap plastic.
Beyond that google around its best to cut a channel along the crack to allow enough of the new material to meld the old plastic back together.. maybe a tear shaped bit on a dremel tool.
Yes, I've done some research. Tear drop shape? You're sounding a lot like the videos I've watched
by that one company who sells a plastic welder. :tongue2: I see a lot of good reviews, I'm considering
purchasing this one (http://www.amazon.com/Urethane-Supply-Company-Mini-Weld-Airless/dp/B001DIHDHG/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356335754&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=plastic+welder+urethanbe).
Reviews are good and it comes with filler material. :woohoo:
I think I'll post some pictures later about how the bike currently stands.
Wow $165 for the kit.. will it include enough material?
Then you have time, sanding and painting.
Couldnt you find used parts that are not killed for less than the few hundred this will cost?
Quote from: Zethioth on December 22, 2012, 04:35:32 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on December 22, 2012, 07:37:58 AM
That cover new from a site like below doesnt cost very much really.
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com
Hm, about $58 after shipping and handling. I'll wait and look on ebay.
Quote from: codajastal on December 22, 2012, 04:28:39 PM
So, $29 including shipping and handling as a non-damaged used part on eBay.
Quote from: Snake2715 on December 24, 2012, 10:29:31 AM
will it include enough material?
Couldnt you find used parts that are not killed for less than the few hundred this will cost?
15ft of ABS plastic is included, if you not you can buy more for much less than the price of the welder.
I've been looking, I've already got the pieces. One side fairing off eBay in good shape,
and one the owner gave me that is the only salvageable piece.
The plastic welder I have and use is one from Leister Triac
You can find good deals for them on ebay somtimes
Also look at Permatex 5min plastic welding 2 part epoxy. I use it in other parts of work
Quote from: weedahoe on December 24, 2012, 04:56:30 PM
The plastic welder I have and use is one from Leister Triac
You can find good deals for them on ebay somtimes
Also look at Permatex 5min plastic welding 2 part epoxy. I use it in other parts of work
For off road (quads, etc) I have heard the epoxy is too brittle or doesn't allow enough flex and will snap with high wind or bumps.. again this is off road, but on road bikes get a fair amount of cross wind, etc..
Has that been your experience with epoxy? I have fixed areas with a good high temp hot glue gun (again off road, inside the fender fixes, etc.
Some of the work I do are for custom pieces on Baja trucks. I have people who order custom parts or send pieces in to me to be modified and I have never had any reports back saying any plastic welding or epoxy broke loose
You have to remember a GOOD weld will be BETTER that the original material. In fact, f it were to break, it would or should break somewhere else, not the weld itself. If the weld breaks, it wasnt a proper weld
Can someone tell me the proper operation of the choke? When I try to start my bike the choke has to be at max. Then after a minute it seems as if the choke has 3 settings MAX, ALMOST MAX, and NOTHING. :confused:
Lol, I hate it being so loud trying to warm it up. :oops:
You carb settings, valve clearances, type plugs, ambient temps all depend on how much (if any) choke you need. On my bike, I can hit the started with no choke and it will fire right up
But to answer your question, you engage the choke and try to start it.
I'm more worried about warming it up, my bike needs choke to start and to stay started until it's warm.
But I can't seem to find a good warm up speed. It's either 4,000RPM+ (very loud) or nothing.
Thats how the choke works.......... 4k or idle
If its doing that then its fine.
Quote from: weedahoe on December 24, 2012, 11:39:45 PM
Thats how the choke works.......... 4k or idle
If its doing that then its fine.
Really? Thank you for clearing that up.
For the side cover have a look in the For Sale section of this website. Here, found it for you http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59323.0
I don't know if it is an illusion or not but your front forks look bent. There also seems to be a large dark grease/dirty oil ring on them, which usually means leaking seals. You'll also want a front fender. And some mirrors by the look.
Good luck with your project.
Thanks for that link and suggestions. I've messaged two people about the side covers.
I'm just waiting for responses.
Do they really look bent? Can I get a second opinion on that picture? It may be the camera,
I'm waiting on better weather.
I do have the new seals. I've read a few threads on doing it yourself, I need the courage
on tearing it all a part. :icon_confused: More importantly, I need a really good tutorial
on making a "tool". I'm very confused when I read the threads on making a tool.
I purchased an eBay fender, it is installed, waiting on better weather for pics. The bike has bar end
mirrors, might be hard to see in the pics.
Here are a few pics after I got her home.
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/58838_10151295518729122_904329273_n_zpsf5e3ca2b.jpg)
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/223652_10151295519469122_1124549068_n_zps832266ce.jpg)
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/377414_10151295519059122_244898276_n_zps00830bd1.jpg)
Yes I know, the headlight sits low and looks funky. I didn't put it on. Until I get
the fairings fixed, I'm going to raise it closer to the gauges.
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/557567_10151295519219122_1107294024_n_zps026f896e.jpg)
Look at that longgggg fender. ;)
Yeah, pics can make forks look like the top and bottom are at different angles. If it looks fine to your eye from the side it is probably ok :thumb:
Wanted to ride today but she wouldn't start no matter how hard I tried. Just put in a
new battery but no matter how much I cranked, even with choke and prime on, nothing. :technical:
The cold weather only made it worse.
I think it's time to pull the carbs and give them a good clean, with the amount of miles,
I'm considering rebuilding and replacing the jets, just to be on the safe side. :thumb:
Also going to invest in new (better) plugs and a new (better) air filter.
Small update.
Was able to take the tank off and get a look at everything. It seems like water got into the airbox.
Bike still won't start, tried everything, she just cranks. :sad:
I don't have the space to take things apart where she currently sits. Waiting on that and some more
tools before I can do some serious maintenance.
Think water got into the carbs, worse, the engine? Am I screwed? :dunno_white:
Personally in my opinion don't start to change air intake and jets till you know she runs good.. That sounds lime a headache to me. Clean carbs, replace bad orings, leave it stock. Buy a non hiflo, just standard air filter (or clean yours good) put it back together, check valves, change oil and go. After you had it a bit and know the bike fun monkey with it.
She runs! :woohoo:
After a lot of cranking, spark plug adjusting, and starting fluid (It was the last resort) :dunno_white:
The bike is just a really really really hard starter. A solid carburetor overhaul is necessary, imo. I'm
also ordering new plugs, air filter, and oil filter. She needs a lot of TLC.
I like the NGK Platinum's, and the K&N Oil and Air Filter, (not the lunchbox, I wanna keep the stock
housing)
I hear the spark plugs wires are pretty tough and last forever, do you guys recommend changing them?
Hm, not much going on. I don't have much room to take things a part. I need my own garage, or a shed. But I did get two things done today!
New Iridium plugs are in the bike!
New K&N Air filter is in the bike! (w/ restrictor on)
I finally got a good tool set for Christmas.
Bike is starting better now, I make sure to start it every day even if I don't ride. This is keeping everything flowing.
I still have some new carburetor parts to put in. Waiting to order new jets before I take them apart. Where is the best place to buy carburetor jets?
I hear the GS doesn't like oil additives, is this true with SeaFoam?
Not expecting to update this thread every day, but once in a long while.
Do you still have the old plugs? A photo of them posted here could get you some advice on how the engine is running.
My camera couldn't quite focus and pick up the details. After I uploaded I found this one was the only one recognizable.
The plugs look normal in my opinion, but I am no expert.
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/Zethioth/DSCI0037_zpsedae0ab6.jpg)
Nice pic but a better place be would be to see the other end where the spark is at
Quote from: weedahoe on January 26, 2013, 02:58:24 PM
Nice pic but a better place be would be to see the other end where the spark is at
Tried, camera is crap, this is the only one that came out good. I'll post a different one soon.
I am sure you know but a macro setting will help focus on a close item. Even most phones have that now.