Just bought my first bike, and after looking at your great site here I was more than comfortable with my choice to get a 1991 GS500.  I'm a student at Nebraska, and it belonged to a grad student who got a new toy for himself.  I could tell this bike was his baby just by how he showed it to me...obviously broke his heart to part with it.

I've ridden close to home a little (don't have insurance/license yet), and it seems to run like a real champ.  Questions are:

1.  It has 19,000 miles...is that a lot, and what should I be looking for maintenance-wise at this point?
2.  I keep reading a lot about jetting...is this something I should be in a rush to do, or is the factory set-up fine?
3.  1991 is pretty old...will this thing be all right at highway speeds (around 70-80 mph), and what kind of RPMs are normal (and healthy for the bike ) at those speeds?
4.  ANYTHING else you have to offer in the way of suggestions, comments, whatever, I'm new to motorcycles, let alone the GS.

Anyway, thanks a ton for the help already and setting my mind at ease with the GS500, I'll get a picture or two thrown up here in a few days.

Welcome, and EXCELLENT choice for a first bike!!!  

1. http://www.gstwin.com/maintenance_info.htm <---have you seen the maintenance page? It's great!
2. I'll let the others answer this one, cuz I think my bike may have already been re-jetted before I purchased him!
3. My bike is between 6k & 7k RPMs at highway speed (anywhere from 70-90 indicated, which would mean low 60's to low 80's actual)
4. You've picked a GREAT bike to start on. They're very forgiving, VERY tough, and maintenance is easy to learn, even for grly girls like moi who haven't grown up with their hands on motors!!  :mrgreen:

My bike is a '92 with 30,000 miles, and it still starts and runs GREAT!

My b.f. took it up to 100 mph a couple years ago, and right after that it started blowing oil all over my lower legs. Ick. I replaced the head gasket and now it's great - not a drop of oil leaking from anywhere. May have been an unrelated incident, but I still like to blame him for the head gasket replacement.  :lol:   So maybe keep the rpm's down a bit... 65-70 mph is a reasonable speed, no?  

If this is your first bike, I think you will be very happy with it.  

Quote from: grrlnextdoor65-70 mph is a reasonable speed, no?  

Not if you ride 280 in the SF bay area.  :lol:

Yippee!!! I get to tell the noob to use the "SEARCH" function on the site. :mrgreen:  

I"m not trying to be a jerk, but it is a good tool, and you will avoid asking questions that have been asked a bajillion times before.  I'm sure there is some incriminating evidence on old post as well, so watch out.

Congrats on the bike, enjoy it, and the GREAT mpg.  To all you SUCKAS out there driving gas hogs :nana:  :guns:    :nana:

Quote from: oppy00Yippee!!! I get to tell the noob to use the "SEARCH" function on the site. :mrgreen:  

I"m not trying to be a jerk, but it is a good tool, and you will avoid asking questions that have been asked a bajillion times before.  I'm sure there is some incriminating evidence on old post as well, so watch out.

Congrats on the bike, enjoy it, and the GREAT mpg.  To all you SUCKAS out there driving gas hogs :nana:  :guns:    :nana:

Well whaddyaknow...the search works great.  You guys have thought of everything.

Quote from: KoozControl3.  1991 is pretty old...will this thing be all right at highway speeds (around 70-80 mph), and what kind of RPMs are normal (and healthy for the bike ) at those speeds?

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: KoozControl3.  1991 is pretty old...will this thing be all right at highway speeds (around 70-80 mph), and what kind of RPMs are normal (and healthy for the bike ) at those speeds?

RG!!?? You're not telling us you SPEED, are you??? You've never gotten down to between 70-80 to be able to answer this??  

:lol:  :lol:

1991 bike will be fine to take as fast as it will go. go head wind it out to 130.
i did some work to the gearing so i get up to about 115 and she kinda tops out lol. but i ride mine 80-90-100 constant.

i have a 1991 gs500e. just do basic check ups on the bike and make sure its running strong and has some fun with it.

I'm sure Dave will pre-speed it for me.  

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Quote from: RoadstergalI'm sure Dave will pre-speed it for me.  

I'll do what to the who now?

Dave  

No, the other one.

Quote from: RoadstergalNo, the other one.

I know. I am too new to have a reputation or to be called by name. I was trying to rise from anonymity for a second.

Dave  

If you do what to who, you may have a very fast rise from anonymity indeed...

Well, thanks for your help already...and for bearing with some pretty blatant newbie questions :dunno:  Going to take the driving test at 1pm, then the road is mine!  Here are a couple of pictures of my new baby (including one with my other more gas-thirsty baby, which is up for sale, in the background).

Looks like it's already had a fenderectomy and a turn signal shortening (maybe the original owner is a member??).  I'd like to repaint it, I think a dark orange/copper color, and get rid of those white wheels, maybe a dark metallic charcoal for the wheels and frame??  Any thoughts, fire away.:guns:

Quote from: RoadstergalIf you do what to who, you may have a very fast rise from anonymity indeed...

I'll take two, please.


Dave  

If mine makes it up here, I'm going to paint it (along with as complete an overhaul as it ends up needing).  I figgered that would be a good time for making a step-by-step with pics.

I'd worry more about riding, getting used to the bike, and getting the maintenance up-to-date for the moment, though.

Wait to re-paint it until AFTER you've dropped it a few times.  You'll be less angry with yourself that way.

Whatever, purple is the new pink!