Hello everyone,
     I am new to the GStwin.com messageboard.  I have had my GS500e (99) since May of last year and I love the bike.  But because of the crappy weather here in Ohio, most of the time I was rained out and only have rode about 2500 miles.  Also I just completed the MSF Basic Rider course and I highly recommend it.  

I just have a few basic questions about my GS.  First, I'm wondering if anyone has seen the front fender melt towards the back part facing the headers.  I had some idling problems at the end of the summer, and perhaps because I needed to keep the choke on to keep the bike running it may have run hotter.  I am wondering if it was because of that or if the paint or the actual fender was defective.  (Since then I had the bike serviced at a local garage mechanic; cleaned the carbs & replaced the plugs and it runs fine).  But more importantly I was wondering what I should do about the bike/fender.

***My main question though is:  Can anyone tell me the correct official torque spec settings for the front axle and nut???  I just replaced my tire and am re-installing my wheel and I don't have an owner's manual.  It's finally a nice day and I want to go riding!   But of course I want to be safe.

Thanks to all that read this post and for your answers

Where in Ohio are you, it is freaking cold where I'm at

I'm a college student in Columbus.  Here it's warming up to about 50, but more sunshine than I've seen all week.  I visit regularly to Mantua (near Aurora/Streetsboro) though.  That's not too far from Stow I think.

Front axle nut 32 Ftlb
Pinch bolt 16.5 Ftlb

It seems typical for the fender is get distorted from the heat. Idling too long without much air flow can cause this. Also, running lean will increase engine heat. If you have to have the bike idling while working on it, have a fan blowing over the engine.

The front axle nut torque is 36-52 Nm (27-38 ft-pounds)

From the Haynes Manual Page 6.2:

Front Axle Nut
Nut with split pin (US Models)  36 to 52 Nm

Front Axle clamp bolt  18 to 28 Nm

Welcome to the group! I was in Ohio for 8 weeks last year and found your support for the motorsport to be super! You have the lowest price for the MSF course I have heard of yet.

I hope the spec information was helpful. Here is the profile of another GSTwinner in Ohio, John Bates - click

MSF is cheap, but impossible to get into, they were all filled in my area first day of registration, so till next year i'm stuck going to hudson every tuesday and take my chances on the lotto

Been riding all winter here in NE Ohio but just missed a couple days due to one more blast of winter weather.  Much cold, wind, and inches of snow in the area.  Our streets here in Willoughby are now clear and I'll be back out again this afternoon.  Expecting a balmy day with temps near 50F and even the posibility of a peek at the sun later in the afternoon.  Seems to be a few of us here in Ohio.    

Good to see the Ohioans   Yeah, the MSF is like only $25 here and you get a skills test waiver after completion, but in order to get into a class before they fill up is luck of the draw.  I was extremely fortunate b/c I called to find out when registration started and it opened up a couple of days before my inquiry so I immediately sent my registration form in.  Even though I sent it in early and I hoped to get in the first class of the year (March), I was pushed back 3 weeks later (mid-April) so it fills up superquick.


Thanks for all the useful comments and torque info!

Quote from: gsJack... Seems to be a few of us here in Ohio.    

OMG! I forgot about gsJack! Please accept my apologies! As a matter of fact I was running around Willoughby, staying in Mentor, etc. while in the area last year. Went to visit a friend in Medina (terrible traffic for a small town) who has a three-wheeler car using a Hurricane engine in it.  You will find a link to Alex's Vortex page here. I am collecting parts for the same project.

With all of these people from ohio, could any of them give me any help getting access to the msf course?  I would pay a dealer course fee if it was msf certified, I can't get into the local one i live a bit north of Akron

The only thing that I could suggest is trying to walk-in on the local sessions every week and hope someone doesn't show up.  If there is another class that is fairly close but in a more rural area there usually won't be many ppl trying to walk-in (i.e. better odds in the lottery drawing for who gets to fill the no-show spots).  If you end up having to wait til next year, I suggest calling the MSF Ohio number starting about mid-February to find out when they will start accepting registration and filling classes.  Then you can have your info all filled out and ready to send in to ensure a spot.

Quote from: gazingwaWith all of these people from ohio, could any of them give me any help getting access to the msf course?  I would pay a dealer course fee if it was msf certified, I can't get into the local one i live a bit north of Akron

Here is a list of the locations that offer the course with links to their schedule.
They are probably all full by now, but you can walk in and with the luck of the draw get a seat from a no-show.  I did that last year.  Out of twelve seats there were three no-shows.  Eight walk-ins pulled numbers out of a hat to fill the three seats.  I was one of the three  lucky ones to win a seat.  It can happen.

I see that Kent State has many classes.  Go one half hour early the first day and you may get lucky.  Also if you don't get a seat the first day you may be able to sit in on the first day and get a seat the second day because people drop out after the first class day.  Talk to the instructor to see what you can work out.


Hey Ohio riders, don't let our lousy weather hold you back.  Saturday on I71 north of Columbus I saw two riders in the snow, rain, sleet, hail, wind, cold.   :dunno:

Quote from: starwalt

Quote from: gsJack... Seems to be a few of us here in Ohio.    

OMG! I forgot about gsJack! Please accept my apologies! As a matter of fact I was running around Willoughby, staying in Mentor, etc. while in the area last year. Went to visit a friend in Medina (terrible traffic for a small town) who has a three-wheeler car using a Hurricane engine in it.  You will find a link to Alex's Vortex page here. I am collecting parts for the same project.

Hey starwalt, if you get back to this area again and come thru Willoughby in the evening, look for a line of bikes parked on Erie St (RT 20) the main drag thru town.  If you see a GS500 parked in the middle of a long line of Willie G's finest overchromed monstrosities, stop and say hello.  (can't help what my friends ride, but the overwhelming majority of bikers in this area seem to like cruisers)   :dunno:      

Quote from: gazingwaWith all of these people from ohio, could any of them give me any help getting access to the msf course?  I would pay a dealer course fee if it was msf certified, I can't get into the local one i live a bit north of Akron

Came close to you last week, one of my favorite rides alone is to the north edge of Akron just west of you by taking the parks most of the way.  I hit the Emerald necklace in Willoughby Hills and follow it down thru the Bedford Reservation and jog over to Riverview Rd and down thru the Cuyahoga Valley Nat. Rec. Area.  I jog over to Akron Pensinula Rd at Pensinula and on down to the shopping area near Portage Park Rd where I loop around and head back up Riverview towards home.

It is hard to get into the MSF course here without a long wait.  I never took the course myself when I started 20 years ago, just got a learners permit and rode till I was ready to take the state test.  Always think it's best to take the MSF if you can, but if it were me starting today I'd get the permit and start riding till I could take the course.

I've already started riding... a whopping 200 miles under my belt so I still have a good bit to learn.  I hope you don't stop by that stealer on Akron-peninsula rd, they screwed me 3 times 2 weeks ago, so I went up to mentor and found a 96gs and I'm much happier.
I'm looking forward to the warm weather again to go out and practice more