I just filled my gas tank today—57mpg although when I ride in the mountains it is closer to 51mpg. I changed the oil 1,000 miles ago and have not burned an appreciable amount. The engine starts up immediately, hot or cold. It warms up rapidly, and I do not have to ride more than a minute or two with the choke on. The engine makes very little mechanical noise, and the carbs do not leak. The bike handles great with a little extra spring pressure in the front end and an R6 rear shock. It is good to own a GS500.
You can't say all that and not post a pic! :dunno_black:
Agreed!!! :D Haha and I'm super glad for you ajensen... I love my GS too... it has always been good to me :kiss3:
Same here. Once I got it sorted, mine's been a treat. I only work on it if I want to.
Now I need to go ride.
@ajensen,
I often think the same thing especially as my first real bike was a harley 350 single AKA aermachi, got it in '73 and it literally reduced me to tears, continually. Sometimes I'd be out there trying to kick it over for an hour before is would start. I'd have to pull the plugs dry them off and go again.
I get 480km on a full tank, starts instantly in any weather, warms up in 30 seconds at most, uses no oil except for one time when I rode for an hour or so at 150km/hour at between 7 and 8,000rpm. Went an entire oil change over 6000km using no oil maybe an ounce or two.
How many miles are on your GS, ajensen?
My GS has had a lot of trouble over the years but every so often I go 10,000 or 15,000 miles without trouble.
feeling guilty is not allowed ( not with bikes anyways ;) )
Aaron
Quote from: Bluesmudge on September 15, 2017, 08:55:31 AM
but every so often I go 10,000 or 15,000 miles without trouble.
lmao the GS500 in a nutshell.
You should not feel guilty! There are plenty of GS500's on the road that run (mostly) flawlessly. I've had a couple of minor issues with mine in the almost 2 years that I've owned it, but they've been great learning experiences. Outside of that, I've enjoyed many miles of riding on my GS!
since there still aren't any pics,.... :cry:
watch out for rhinos,....
(https://media.giphy.com/media/upzU5mvNIP2xO/giphy-downsized-large.gif)
watch out for trailers,....
(https://media.giphy.com/media/VokZTcci1VHCo/giphy.gif)
and cars,...
(http://funny-pictures-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/funny-pictures-meme-gif/2014/08/Close-Call-Car-vs.-Motorcycle-GIF.gif)
birds are cool though,...
(https://media.giphy.com/media/WcKRuPadbCr72/giphy.gif)
I wish my interactions with birds while on my bike were as cool as that last gif... The only two times I've come close to birds while riding, they have basically tried to fly directly into my helmet. Luckily I havent done one of these just yet:
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--aMftFrYl--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/1479704666051838123.gif)
Amazing
I was just on vacation in spain and italy. Saw many many many bone stock GS500s being used as daily drivers. Most had at least 40,000 km on the clock.
I think the GS500 is a reliable bike if you, A. DO NOT MODIFY IT, B. DONT'T LET IT SIT, and C. DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Well said, Bluesmudge!!
go blue! :bstar: :bstar: :bstar:
Quote from: Bluesmudge on September 21, 2017, 10:33:45 AM
I was just on vacation in spain and italy. Saw many many many bone stock GS500s being used as daily drivers. Most had at least 40,000 km on the clock.
I think the GS500 is a reliable bike if you, A. DO NOT MODIFY IT, B. DONT'T LET IT SIT, and C. DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Bingo!!!
Ridden a few of these bikes over 150k....amazing never left me stranded.
Even when something goes wrong, the bike usually won't leave you stranded and easy to work on.
Never had issues with stock carbs requiring complete tear down/cleaning. If not left to sit, only need to change out float seats & needles and maybe top diaphragm once in a while.
Quote from: ajensen on September 14, 2017, 08:39:51 AM
I just filled my gas tank today—57mpg although when I ride in the mountains it is closer to 51mpg. I changed the oil 1,000 miles ago and have not burned an appreciable amount. The engine starts up immediately, hot or cold. It warms up rapidly, and I do not have to ride more than a minute or two with the choke on. The engine makes very little mechanical noise, and the carbs do not leak. The bike handles great with a little extra spring pressure in the front end and an R6 rear shock. It is good to own a GS500.
Not Bad!
I too regularly feel guilty, especially considering what I paid. I bought my near flawless 2007 GSF 7 months ago with 8660mi on the clock...I've added about 1,500 to that with no issues. Oil consumption is very minimal, if any at all. Choke is used just to get her started when cold and never more than a minute thereafter. Filled up last night to the tune of 56mpg's.
Only "real" maintenance to date was to top of the battery cells two weeks ago.
:thumb:
(Disclosure: I may need to adjust my choke cable as it behaved a bit odd this morning for the first time :dunno_black:)
I was asked to give some photos of my wonderful GS. I am really ignorant about how to post photos. The best I can do is put in a link and hope it works:
https://postimg.org/gallery/2lnnykad6/
Wow! at least the link works.
The first picture is my first bike--a 1962 BSA Bantam 125, bought new from Long's Cycle in Miami.
#2 My 750 trackmaster Triumph twin--forty something years ago.
#3 The 1978 SR 500 that I had for 38 years.
#4 and 5 What will probably be my last motorcycle--at least that is what I told my wife. The left side was scabbed up by a previous owner. I hope to make the fairing look new again if I can. I don't know about the muffler.
sweet pics,...suzy looking good left and right!