Hey guys, after searching the net for the past 1-2 months, I've finally decided which bike to go for, you know it, the GS500, this will be my first 'proper' bike, as my previous bikes were a Derbi Senda 50, Honda CBR125RR and now the current Pulse Adrenaline 125.
As you guys will most likely know, the main contender bikes that are affordable 500s go something like this, the GS500, ER5, CB500 and the GPZ500. After a long debate on which to go for, I figured I should really just go for the best 'deal' at the time, I've always liked the GS500s looks for some reason, I just feel they look a little bit 'meaner' than the other picks and in some ways much easier to maintain as they are air cooled etc.
So I've been riding for just over 3 years and I finally found the time and money to do my A2 test, sadly I missed out on the old test rules, so I'll have to do another test in 2 years if I want a bigger bike, but I think 48bhp is plenty.... for now at least, hell, I sometimes think my 12bhp 125 is fast (up to 30) unless I've been on a bigger bike moments before like when I was learning to do my test (I learnt on a 2013 BMW GS650GS) the BMWs were quite nice bikes, but the difference was just out of this world in terms of acceleration, top speed etc, I just couldn't keep the smile off my face purely because just acceleration from 10-30mph is enough for me, not a huge fan of high speeds on bikes since the wind is too unpredictable here in England.
So now my life story is out of the way, I guess I should show you the bike that I have scoured the net for and found, which hopefully if all goes to plan, I'll be picking it up this Saturday!
The advert was pretty minimal, just telling that it was an X reg with a street fighter headlight (I love street fighters) and 6 months MOT and there was only one picture, but the seller is sending me some more prior to going, I've spoke to him on the phone and as far as I'm aware from what he says, there's just small scratches (its 15 years old, to be expected I guess) and a 'dink' on the exhaust, this brings me onto the exhaust, it looks from what I have seen, like an aftermarket exhaust but I could be wrong, maybe one of you guys know what can it is (if you do that'd be great, maybe YouTube could show me what it sounds like!).
So all in all, it sounds like a great bike and I love the look of it compared to the other GS's that I saw on the net.
I'll attach a picture of the bike below, what do you guys think?
Jayke
PS: This community kind of helped my decision to what bike to get, I love what you guys have here, it's really nice and I hope to get involved in the future as I've been hanging around for a few days and finally decided to make an account.
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It appears to have a Motad exhaust. Those are nice!
Tail looks like it was swapped with a 2001+ tail and seat.
Looks like someone did some quality work on it.
I dig the color scheme going on there. Can't tell for sure on my phone, but it seems the motor may have been repainted :dunno_black:
Wouldn't put it past someone who had repainted the rest of the bike anyway, especially considering some of the details that got painted such as the forks... just an observation.
Adidasguy would know best of mostly anyone here on that being a motad exhaust, as he has a couple on his bikes... but for what its worth, that was my first thought before I scrolled down and saw his comment. I don't know if it was a video from adidasguy I saw or just a random bit somewhere, but I heard the motad on a gs500 a few months back... it sounds a touch throatier than stock... maybe just enough to get rid of that sewing machine sound, but not much louder than stock. A quality upgrade from stock if you ask me... the kind that gets attention without stealing your attention by means such as loss of hearing.
- Bboy
Congrats.
Once you've made sure all maintenance is up to date, please set about adding some contrasting pinstriping to the logo on the frame and wheels, tint the silver on the engine emblems to match wheels/logo.
Obey my whims !
And welcome ;-)
Quote from: adidasguy on January 27, 2014, 07:04:34 PM
It appears to have a Motad exhaust. Those are nice!
Tail looks like it was swapped with a 2001+ tail and seat.
Looks like someone did some quality work on it.
That's good to hear, I'm sure whatever it may be, if it's not stock it'll sound multitudes better than my current 125 :) I watched your video earlier, adidiasguy, on the exhaust video. Sounded pretty nice! Obviously a camera will never do it justice but I could tell a difference for sure. Love your videos by the way, I'm sure they will come very handy to me in the future(hope not in a way lol!). Good to hear it looks like positive work though, reassuring :) I suppose time will tell, when I get the bike I'll have a thorough look through it to see of there's any bodge jobs done.
EDIT: Just out of interest, if it is the motad exhaust, does that exhaust happen to have a removable baffle? And would I need to rejet? Because I'm not so good with carb work, not my fortay :P
Quote from: BockinBboy on January 27, 2014, 07:40:29 PM
I dig the color scheme going on there. Can't tell for sure on my phone, but it seems the motor may have been repainted :dunno_black:
Wouldn't put it past someone who had repainted the rest of the bike anyway, especially considering some of the details that got painted such as the forks... just an observation.
Adidasguy would know best of mostly anyone here on that being a motad exhaust, as he has a couple on his bikes... but for what its worth, that was my first thought before I scrolled down and saw his comment. I don't know if it was a video from adidasguy I saw or just a random bit somewhere, but I heard the motad on a gs500 a few months back... it sounds a touch throatier than stock... maybe just enough to get rid of that sewing machine sound, but not much louder than stock. A quality upgrade from stock if you ask me... the kind that gets attention without stealing your attention by means such as loss of hearing.
- Bboy
Thanks for the reply, I love the colour scheme too, hadn't seen any actually in these colours when I had been looking so I guess it's more unique. When I get the bike I'll no doubt be making videos on it, as the amount of videos I've seen on YouTube that are recorded with toasters is just crazy! :P
Quote from: cWj on January 27, 2014, 08:13:54 PM
Congrats.
Once you've made sure all maintenance is up to date, please set about adding some contrasting pinstriping to the logo on the frame and wheels, tint the silver on the engine emblems to match wheels/logo.
Obey my whims !
And welcome ;-)
Thanks for giving me some ideas, will definitely keep me busy over the coming snow that we will most likely get in a week or so!
Whether I can put those ideas and do them justice is another thing, better get practicing :P
EDIT: I'm paying about £800 for the bike, hopefully I can knock him down a little, but even if I can't, and everything is true to what he says, I won't mind at all paying that. Theres 22k miles on the clock, too.
Motad is a direct replacement. Sounds deeper and better but still meets the UK noise standards. No changes required.
Motad is welded shut - nothing to remove.
Since Motad is UK company and you appear to be in the UK I'd bet it is a Motad. Looks like the one in my video. I have 3 Motad's.
Oh, looks like a good quality after market seat. Definitely not an OEM seat.
Quote from: adidasguy on January 27, 2014, 08:53:36 PM
Motad is a direct replacement. Sounds deeper and better but still meets the UK noise standards. No changes required.
Ohhh fantastic so no jetting issues to have to deal with (hopefully), though I have seen some people changing the jetting to solve some low down power issue or something, not 100% sure, someone on here though!
Any ideas on if it has a removable baffle? I assume it doesn't from looking at a few pictures of it online, just can't find any place it says for sure.
Thanks!
Quote from: Jayke on January 27, 2014, 08:58:17 PM
Quote from: adidasguy on January 27, 2014, 08:53:36 PM
Motad is a direct replacement. Sounds deeper and better but still meets the UK noise standards. No changes required.
Ohhh fantastic so no jetting issues to have to deal with (hopefully), though I have seen some people changing the jetting to solve some low down power issue or something, not 100% sure, someone on here though!
Any ideas on if it has a removable baffle? I assume it doesn't from looking at a few pictures of it online, just can't find any place it says for sure.
Thanks!
Motad is welded so nothing to take out.
Quote from: adidasguy on January 27, 2014, 08:59:39 PM
Quote from: Jayke on January 27, 2014, 08:58:17 PM
Quote from: adidasguy on January 27, 2014, 08:53:36 PM
Motad is a direct replacement. Sounds deeper and better but still meets the UK noise standards. No changes required.
Ohhh fantastic so no jetting issues to have to deal with (hopefully), though I have seen some people changing the jetting to solve some low down power issue or something, not 100% sure, someone on here though!
Any ideas on if it has a removable baffle? I assume it doesn't from looking at a few pictures of it online, just can't find any place it says for sure.
Thanks!
Motad is welded so nothing to take out.
Okay cool, I've seen a few people saying it sounds much better, including yourself, I'm sure I will love it just as much, from what I see the stock exhaust kinda sounds way better than my current bike lol!
Thanks alot for the help and quick replies, much appreciated!
EDIT: Sorry about asking you twice, didn't notice that you edited your post! My bad!
Had another chat with him yesterday, all is going well and I'm going to fetch it tomorrow! Really excited, can't wait to see the beauty. :)
Hope you got the bike.
Quote from: BockinBboy on January 27, 2014, 07:40:29 PM
I dig the color scheme going on there. Can't tell for sure on my phone, but it seems the motor may have been repainted :dunno_black:
Wouldn't put it past someone who had repainted the rest of the bike anyway, especially considering some of the details that got painted such as the forks... just an observation.
Adidasguy would know best of mostly anyone here on that being a motad exhaust, as he has a couple on his bikes... but for what its worth, that was my first thought before I scrolled down and saw his comment. I don't know if it was a video from adidasguy I saw or just a random bit somewhere, but I heard the motad on a gs500 a few months back... it sounds a touch throatier than stock... maybe just enough to get rid of that sewing machine sound, but not much louder than stock. A quality upgrade from stock if you ask me... the kind that gets attention without stealing your attention by means such as loss of hearing.
- Bboy
being a 99, the bikes engine should be silver. is this a replacement engine?
Got the bike, all went well other than a few niggles, one being that it was sunny all the drive there, then 0.3 miles away it started raining heavy!
The engine seems to have been painted. I believe this is mostly a custom job as the bike was originally blue. They have done quite a nice job though!
Needs a little bit of tlc, though. A few things need touching up here and there and theres small bits of rust, but it's a 15 year old bike in rainy England!
First thing I did when I got her was change the spark plugs to some lovely ngk iridium plugs. The plugs in the bike seemed to have literally never been changed in the wholee 22k miles on the bike. Runs a whole lot nicer now.
Tomorrow I'll be doing a full oil change and cleaning her up nicely. She drives really quite nice, power (after plug change) is smooth all across the Rev range, and the bogging was fixed too with the plugs.
There's only one issue I have really, and I'm sure I've had it before. When idling every few seconds the bike makes a small knock, and kind of a small 'judd' and you can feel it. I think I just might be a mis aligned chain and the sprocket is moving slightly causing the judd. Which I'll be checking in a few hours and reporting back!
EDIT: Thought I should ask, sometimes after revving it, the revs dont seem to drop straight away, they stay at about 4k rpm and then drop a sec or two later, I feel dodgy throttle cable which I'm going to check, but any ideas other than that? :)
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Good choice mate, it's a beauty.
So...... X reg 2000 with 6 months MOT tax unknown....non standard paint and parts....tatty.....no history.......running rough.... hanging idle.....needs oil.....camshaft float..........and you paid £800 for it?
Way too much if ask me. I would have said £300-400 tops.......the seller must be laughing his nads off.
Did you check out any others before buying it?
Bit late now but here are the rough values.
http://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/index.jsp?guide=prices&page=used_bikes&no=2&make=Suzuki&bikeid=758&yearplate=2000%2FX&x=43&y=4
Quote from: sledge on February 02, 2014, 03:52:42 AM
So...... X reg 2000 with 6 months MOT tax unknown....non standard paint and parts....tatty.....no history.......running rough.... hanging idle.....needs oil.....camshaft float..........and you paid £800 for it?
Way too much if ask me. I would have said £300-400 tops.......the seller must be laughing his nads off.
Did you check out any others before buying it?
Bit late now but here are the rough values.
http://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/index.jsp?guide=prices&page=used_bikes&no=2&make=Suzuki&bikeid=758&yearplate=2000%2FX&x=43&y=4
Just general tlc, there are much bigger messes for over a grand. I consider it quite a bargain, as I would of had to spend over £500 to get a standard one which would of cost me £1400 ish for a semi decent looking one.
Shopped around for about a month to find the right one, to say I've payed much more for Chinese bikes and my Honda, this is great pricing, don't forget I was also held by mileage, so I couldn't get a bike that was too far away either as I'd have no way of fetching it.
Anyway, runs really nice now it's had new oil and spark plugs, aswell as the chain re-tensioned. Cleaned it up aswell.
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Quote from: Jayke on February 02, 2014, 07:32:46 AM
this is great pricing, don't forget I was also held by mileage,
A great price??........I think this one offers far better value and more appeal for around the same price
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/suzuki-gs500/1045397914
But if you are happy with the deal that's all that matters :dunno_black:
Unless you have all the old MOTs I wouldn't pay to much attention to the indicated mileage. One of the disadvantages (or advantages if you are that way inclined) the old GS5 has is that the speedo,
along with the odo` can be replaced and refitted in minutes.......see where I am coming from? :D
If that is a yr2000 engine it should be silver so when you get the V5C back check the frame and engine numbers match........ something tells me you probably didn't before stumping up.
Congrats Jayke! I like the color scheme of your bike. I've never had to touch my carbs so I don't have any words of wisdom for you on the idle issue, but I'm sure there are several people on the this forum who will be able to help you sort that out.
I would suggest you check the valve clearances ASAP. Given the condition of those plugs I would guess the valves haven't been checked in quite sometime. I would also recommend bleeding the brakes, and replacing the fuel lines.
Enjoy your new ride!
Quote from: sledge on February 02, 2014, 09:39:37 AM
Quote from: Jayke on February 02, 2014, 07:32:46 AM
this is great pricing, don't forget I was also held by mileage,
A great price??........I think this one offers far better value and more appeal for around the same price
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/suzuki-gs500/1045397914
But if you are happy with the deal that's all that matters :dunno_black:
Unless you have all the old MOTs I wouldn't pay to much attention to the indicated mileage. One of the disadvantages (or advantages if you are that way inclined) the old GS5 has is that the speedo, along with the odo` can be replaced and refitted in minutes.......see where I am coming from? :D
If that is a yr2000 engine it should be silver so when you get the V5C back check the frame and engine numbers match........ something tells me you probably didn't before stumping up.
I know exactly what you mean. I saw that too, but it's 220 miles from me and my dad (who was giving me the lift) said he would drive 50miles max.
This bike came with a full motad system and the streetfighter lights, which would of set me back approx £400 I guess, these are jobs I would have definitely done.
I see exactly what you mean. I will go and check now. The mot has odometer reading and history.
04/06/2013 (last mot) 21542
31/03/2012: 19845
25/03/2011: 17039
31/10/2009: 15439
So I can only hope that's true. But as is buying vehicles. You never know I guess.
As far as I am aware, the engine is painted. Not the best job, I kind of wish they hadn't of done it lol. Thinking of getting it all off at some point.
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Quote from: Falcon01 on February 02, 2014, 10:51:39 AM
Congrats Jayke! I like the color scheme of your bike. I've never had to touch my carbs so I don't have any words of wisdom for you on the idle issue, but I'm sure there are several people on the this forum who will be able to help you sort that out.
I would suggest you check the valve clearances ASAP. Given the condition of those plugs I would guess the valves haven't been checked in quite sometime. I would also recommend bleeding the brakes, and replacing the fuel lines.
Enjoy your new ride!
Thank you very much :)
I'm going to have them checked this week hopefully. I can imagine they are off horribly lol, and I will also do them, thanks for the ideas :)
I'm not the most technical person when it comes to bikes, however I've ordered a Haynes manual, won it on eBay for £5.25 shipped so quite happy about that.
As for the idling, from looking around it could be dirty carbs or a vacuum leak, luckily my dad knows about about bikes, so we're going to have a look tomorrow!
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