Finally, after negotiating for weeks I got my new to me 1990 GS500E.  It's red with the white wheels and only 9K miles on it.  I've already rode it an entire 2 feet and didn't stall (don't laugh, 1st time ever on a bike).  Signed up for the MSP in June.  Can't wait to start riding, I'll post pics when I can. 


EDIT - I have a question.  Which way should the reserve switch be pointing when the bike it off and on the sidestand?  I'm hoping up.  Thanks a lot. 

The arrow should point to ON.  It should not point to PRI, as you risk draining out all of your gas if your float valve sticks.

Thanks for the reply but what if there is no "on" label.  Does any have a '90 that knows how it should be set when storing?  Thanks in advance.

Alyn

the little arrow on the lever should point up. Majority of the lever at the bottom. 90 degrees different is reserve, 180 degrees (arrow pointing down) is prime.

Perfect.  Thanks!

Congrats! I've only had mine a week or so now and I've got 300 miles on it. I'm sure you'll love it. The MSF course really does help!

Quote from: solaron on April 03, 2006, 11:03:22 AM
Congrats! I've only had mine a week or so now and I've got 300 miles on it. I'm sure you'll love it. The MSF course really does help!

I can't wait to ride that much.  The only problem is here in sunny pennsylvania, it's going to snow tomorrow and wednesday.  It was 65-70 yesterday, I hate this weather.   

Congradulations!

During this 'downtime' familiarize yourself with the various controls (close your eyes and finger/thumb the turnsignal switch, horn), and adjust the controls, including the handlebar (unless it's already where you want it), to fit your hands, while sitting on the bike.  Mirrors, too.  Play footsies with the gearshift and rear brake levers, also.

my wife calls it " being a dork on the bike".

She is still learning. for training before she starts out. I have her "being a dork on the bike"  for a minute or two.

Familarize yourself and be happy.

June is pretty far away. be careful until then.  and wear your gear. 

be safe.

Congrats I just got mine 11 days ago and have 1000 miles on her, they are a blast to ride

11 days and 1Kmiles.

I like THAT GUY

Ok, while I appreciate the help, I think I have a problem.  The arrow was pointing up all day while I was at work, which was pointing directly at PRI.  The arrow needs to be pointing down. 

I went out to start it up and practice my clutch work this evening and it kept stalling out before I even got a chance to put it into 1st.  I think it's because gas leaked into the oil or something like that because the arrow was pointing at PRI for 9 hours while I was at work when it should have been pointing down.  So now it starts but dies after about 10 seconds.  Can someone help me figure out how to fix this?  I want to practice my starting and stopping and it's tough when the bike only runs for 10 second intervals.  Thanks guys (and girls)! 

Alyn

Congrats... I too have the 1990 gs500e.  The majority of the lever on my petcock has to point up.. dunno why.. also make sure your kickstand is up before you try shifting into gear lol, or the bike will die due to the killswitch.

- Jordan

is it cold where you are.. she needs to warm up some, make sure you let it warm up before you try to start going or it will try to stall on you.. also you can adjust the idle level with a little knob that is under your carbs.. maybe your bike is idling too low.. that could by why it is stalling.

- Jordan

Quote from: JoChan23 on April 03, 2006, 06:41:52 PM
Congrats... I too have the 1990 gs500e.  The majority of the lever on my petcock has to point up.. dunno why.. also make sure your kickstand is up before you try shifting into gear lol, or the bike will die due to the killswitch.

- Jordan

Thanks for the reply.  The majority of the level needs to be pointing up on my 90 as well, the problem is the arrow points correspondingly with the minorty of the switch.  I don't even have enough time to try to put the bike into gear before it stalls.  I literally have it in neutral with the clutch in and hit the start switch.  It starts up fine then dies in 3-5 seconds.  Do you or anyone else know what I'd need to do if I had the petcock (i think that's the switch) pointing the wrong way for 9 hrs?  Thanks.

Do you have the choke on??  Unlesss your bike is rejetted then the choke is almost always a must in cold weather.  My next suggestion is to change the oil if you think gas got in there.

Quote from: ajgs500 on April 03, 2006, 07:03:26 PM
Do you have the choke on??  Unlesss your bike is rejetted then the choke is almost always a must in cold weather.  My next suggestion is to change the oil if you think gas got in there.

Where would I find the choke?   

On the left handlebar just to the right of the turn signal and horn buttons.... it a little lever usually black pull ot toward you as you are sitting on the bike to turn it on...... as your bike warms up and the revs go higher above 4000 rpms slowly push it back until the bike idles at 1.5 rpms when the bike idles at 1.5 rpms with the lever all the way pushed back away from you the bike should be all the way warm..... this may take a couple of blocks riding it to fully warm it all the way up

I'm an idiot.  

Thanks aj, it was the choke.