When I was 18 (8 years ago) I got myself a 99 GS500E and a week after I got it, it crapped out on me. My brother in law ("master welder"), my cousin ("master mechanic"), and a few other people helped me try to fix it but I never did get it fixed. Then I lost my job and had to find a job go back to school blah blah blah.
My poor bike has been sitting for 5-7 years now (outside under a tarp) and I'm finally in a position to fix her up. However, I need a bunch of parts since it's been sitting so long. I did some looking around for a parts bike but am not finding much at all in my area. Can I use pretty much any GS500 from 89-02 as a parts bike for my 99 or is my range restricted to just a few years?
Depends what parts you need, actually. Tank rusted, seat ripped, plastics cracked up? Those changed starting in 2000 I believe. Everything else kinda mixes and matches, some parts are easier than others though.
Quote from: SomeDudeOnline on February 01, 2016, 05:34:37 AM
When I was 18 (8 years ago) I got myself a 99 GS500E and a week after I got it, it crapped out on me. My brother in law ("master welder"), my cousin ("master mechanic"), and a few other people helped me try to fix it but I never did get it fixed. Then I lost my job and had to find a job go back to school blah blah blah.
My poor bike has been sitting for 5-7 years now (outside under a tarp) and I'm finally in a position to fix her up. However, I need a bunch of parts since it's been sitting so long. I did some looking around for a parts bike but am not finding much at all in my area. Can I use pretty much any GS500 from 89-02 as a parts bike for my 99 or is my range restricted to just a few years?
Tires
Chain
Spockets*?
Replace the oil [yeah you'd think it would of turned to goop by now, but trust me, it will be easy coming out]
check the forks make sure the seals are good and they are springing back up quickly with no fork oil on the tubes.
maybe replace the fuel lines just for good measure.
crack open the carbs and give them a good risen down with some WD40 and a lintless towel.
replace air filter*
oh change the oil filter, buy one with an o-ring.
get a new battery.
U should be close to running if not running.. even a GS sitting, they're pretty hard to kill, all the stuff that does go bad is pretty easily replaced. only thing thats a real PITA on the GS, is those valve shims.
Quote from: Big Rich on February 01, 2016, 08:32:39 AM
Depends what parts you need, actually. Tank rusted, seat ripped, plastics cracked up? Those changed starting in 2000 I believe. Everything else kinda mixes and matches, some parts are easier than others though.
Thanks. Luckily the seat, tank, and fairings are okay (tank doesn't fit quite right though). What needs to be replaced is the chain & sprocket, rear tire, exhaust, forks need to be re-done, all the fuel lines, probably the brake lines, and maybe a few other small things. After further evaluation, I think I might just buy the parts individually from wherever I could find them. It would be nice to buy a parts bike but I actually can't find anything in my area or even within a couple hundred miles.
Do you think you could confirm for me that this is compatible with the 99 GS500? http://www.amazon.com/JT-Sprockets-JTSK3059-520X1R2-Sprocket/dp/B00QIVNOQW/ref=sr_1_7?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1454410317&sr=1-7&keywords=suzuki+gs+500e+chain+and+sprocket
I wouldn't trust that Amazon combo - the front sprocket changed throughout the years (iI can't tell you when though).
Sounds to me like you just need to get all the maintenance up to spec. Even if you did find a parts bike, it would probably need all the same items.
This is what I've been using so far to check parts compatability between years.
http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs500e-1994-r_model13454/partslist/
http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs500_model13447/
Quote from: TQM on February 02, 2016, 06:41:38 AM
This is what I've been using so far to check parts compatability between years.
http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs500e-1994-r_model13454/partslist/
http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs500_model13447/
That looks very helpful. Thank you :)
Other than the front sprocket, which has two version, all the parts you describe are compatible between years '89 - '09.
Things that changed are the electrics, tach, carbs, petcock, mount points on the frame for plastics, plastics themselves, tank, seat. Most of the mechanical bits are compatible between years. For example, the brakes and forks changed design but work fine for all years. The later forks have slightly stiffer springs.
Quote from: Bluesmudge on February 02, 2016, 10:54:06 AM
Other than the front sprocket, which has two version, all the parts you describe are compatible between years '89 - '09.
Things that changed are the electrics, tach, carbs, petcock, mount points on the frame for plastics, plastics themselves, tank, seat. Most of the mechanical bits are compatible between years. For example, the brakes and forks changed design but work fine for all years. The later forks have slightly stiffer springs.
Cool!