Im 800 miles into my new 05 GS500. Wanted to ask a question. What is the most perpferred cruising RPM for the 6th gear highway streches. Pretty  much i want to know how fast the bike or the RPM's can go without putting unnessecary wear on the engine with its milage! 

The GS engine is basically bomb proof. I ran it at over 100 for quite a while on the interstate yesterday afternoon and have never noticed anything wrong with it. Even when I slowed down, it was only to 90 or so. All you have to do is make sure you keep your oil level up to spec because our engines tend to eat oil like crazy.

Also, if cruising at a higher rate of speed (roughly 80mph +), there is a common issue with fuel starvation, so to avoid it, you may want to run in prime. Or try to run in "on", and see if the bike stumbles/loses power/dies, then switch to prime, depending on how confident you are in your ability to reach down and switch to prime while riding.

The fuel starvation seems to only happen when you run 80mph for half and hour or more. It didn't happen to me on my trip back from San Antonio, so it might have been fixed with the '04 or something.

unfortunately after running at 110+ for about a 2mile stretch a few days in a row on the way home i notived the right side of my crankcase around the seal and a little on the fins of the block had some oil there.  Just enough to get the wet look, no dripping or anything.  I think I have a bad seal somewhere on that side.  It only happens under alot of stress for extended distances so I don't think it's that big of a deal really.  Rode normal all weekend and noticed nothing..  wierd really.

The GS, as with most air-cooled motos, tend to burn oil at high RPMs...

But, cruising in 6th is more likely to be based on your speed...  I try to keep it under 80, except when I'm trying to get to a new position on the freeway...  Mine will run at 90 for a while...  I haven't had a chance to have it faster than that for more than a mile or so...  Since I do most of my riding on busy roadways.

2002 and no fuel starvation.
Finally made it to 22,000 miles.
In sixth it's not how high to go but how low not to go.
I would keep it above 5,000 rpms.
Engine loves the revs.
In spirited riding it's between 6 and 8,000 rpms.
Get it up to 10,000 once in a while to let the engine breathe.
Rev it, give it Castrol GTX and it will reward you.
At 22,000 the engine is better than new.
Besides some minor oil leaks no issues.

my next oil change . ( in about a week) i'm gonna run amsoil i'd like to run motul but at 15 usd a court .. i dont think so ! . but i heard its the s*(&
*edit*oh i just found it online for 5.96 a qaurt bike possie gotta love it . but i'v heard this stuff is really good .. guy at work said your first oil change with this stuff will look like deisal oil (if you have never seen it then its just blacker then black ) and each time after that it looks better and better *end edit*

I have only been 95 in the gs but I think it could have done up to 100mph or more.  Once I ran out of gas and had to switch to prime but I was low on gas ne ways.

When i bought my 2002 gs500 in germany, i had to make it fast to the ferry. I had to do 375miles in 6 hours. Seemed esy enough, but after couple of stops to strech and running into some traffic jams, i found my self averaging 90mph second half of the way, and running flat out at 110mph for the last 60 miles. I didnt notice any kind of fuel starvation, never switched to prime. The bike ran like a dream, and that's why i love it so much.

My pipe changed color though, and my body felt numb from vibration but it was a nice first date with gs.

damn guys this site it sick. you guys dont sound stupid, its awesome.

this bike is a dream to ride. never owned a bike before, always wanted one, but im only 20 so i have time. Next thing i know my major traportation is this 05' GS500. I ushually cant help but carry a solid 90mph on my highway stretches. The I-8 in San Diego has some georgeous lengths to it in the East County. Some times i listen to my mp3 player in one ear and just float home. haha, anyway, i love the bike, and the warranty so it won't sieze like my last ride ('91 Q45).

The bike has seen 110mph a couple of times, but i do notice a little fuel starvation. I will try the switch to  prime, but it only seems to do it in the gallon of the regular tank.

rock on ruys these bikes are freakin amazing!

Quote from: kirbyQ45 on February 07, 2006, 10:02:20 PMyou guys dont sound stupid

Wait...  Who are you talking to?   

Quote from: RVertigo on February 06, 2006, 12:53:33 PM
The GS, as with most air-cooled motos, tend to burn oil at high RPMs...

But, cruising in 6th is more likely to be based on your speed...  I try to keep it under 80, except when I'm trying to get to a new position on the freeway...  Mine will run at 90 for a while...  I haven't had a chance to have it faster than that for more than a mile or so...  Since I do most of my riding on busy roadways.

Well this explains why our bike burned so much oil.  Anne beat the hell out of her GS

Quote from: kirbyQ45 on February 07, 2006, 10:02:20 PM
damn guys this site it sick. you guys dont sound stupid, its awesome.

GSTwins.com: We're not stupid. 

Quote from: kirbyQ45 on February 05, 2006, 11:56:09 PM
Im 800 miles into my new 05 GS500. Wanted to ask a question. What is the most perpferred cruising RPM for the 6th gear highway streches. Pretty  much i want to know how fast the bike or the RPM's can go without putting unnessecary wear on the engine with its milage! 

I can't argue with the assembled crowd's confessions, but the safest speed is the one I prefer.  I pace the majority of the cars on our byways -- not much faster or slower than the prevailing traffic.

I've also noticed that I get the best gas mileage if I cruse between 50-60 mph in 6th.  Believe the engine purrs at around 4300 RPM at 50 (versus 4500 for a 16T sprocket) to about 4700 RPM at 60 (that's 4900 using a 16T).  True, a pass requires a drop in gear but if my choice, 50-60 mph is my preferred cruising speed -- not too much wind and plenty of time to watch the world go by.

Quote from: kirbyQ45 on February 07, 2006, 10:02:20 PM.............how fast the bike or the RPM's can go without putting unnessecary wear on the engine with its milage! .............. I ushually cant help but carry a solid 90mph on my highway stretches. ...................The bike has seen 110mph a couple of times, ..........................

Sounds to me like you're asking about the break-in period.

Well, if you have been running at these speeds with only 800 miles then you may have blasted right through the break-in period.  Good luck!

According to my owner's manual, engine speed for the first 500 miles should be below 5000 rpm and kept below 8000 rpm for the next 500 miles.

when i got my 04 back in aug 05 it had only 1900 miles on it.
it now has over 10000 miles.
oil changes every 4000 miles
mobil 1 10w-40     this stuff is hard to find so i have in bulk
chain lube every 2 weeks or when the first sign of rust is there or looks dry
i now need my first rear tire we i really needed it back at 9000 but its so cold that the tire doent heat up as much and wear as much as far as i can tell.
this thing is a sweet ride.     every day i am on the I most over 75-85mph when i am on the back road 4 lane it 70 miles to my grand parents place, i run it at or over 100. i think that the rpm is around 7000 to 8500 rpm and seems to be fine