what do i need to rejet a 1997 gs500?  It sounds like my bike really needs it from problems others had that rejetting solved.  Help is much appreciated.

Do you have an aftermarket exaust or filter?  If you do, it makes a difference.  If not, you should need: (everyone else, please correct me if I'm wrong)

2x Size 40 pilot jets, Sudco part number 004-609
2x Size 125 main jets, Sudco part number 004-763
2x Number 4 washer (from Home Depot or the like) to shim the needles.

I'm not sure if i have an aftermarket or stock air filter..the exaust is stock.  If it helps if i can remember from cleaning it, the filter is a red foam??
Where do I get these parts? and how much does it cost?

If your air filter is in an airbox, it's probably stock (or a direct replacement).  If it looks like this, it's a lunch box filter, and you probably shouldn't be running it with a stock exhaust.  I'm not sure what the jetting would be, then.

As for where to get the parts, you can get the jets from Sudco.  They don't have any online ordering, so you'll have to call them up with the part numbers I gave you.  They may ask for your account number, just tell them it's a retail order.  I think it's like $5.50 per jet, so $22 for all the jets, plus about $10 shipping.

You can get the washers at pretty much any hardware store.

i just had that same question (i too have a 97 gs500)...here's the info i got (if your bike is all stock)

125 mains and 40 pilots, and 3 turns and 1 #4 washer

hope it helps.

Only US bikes had 37.5 pilots. The whole rest of the world got 40's. Some euro bikes even had 125's and adjustable needles. Foam air filter = UNI = Not totally stock, but flows close to stock. So if you have 40/125, basically just life needles up and open air screws ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Check out the wiki:

http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500

Upgrades->Performance->Air Filter will tell you about the different kinds available for the GS

Upgrades->Performance->Rejetting will show you the rejetting matrix, also available from the FAQ

Yea ... its now a wiki - pantablo's whatever that was called site is out ... booya ...  ...
Cool.
Srinath.

  But look at it this way, you don't have to work on srinath.com anymore. 

Anyway, pantablo's stuff isn't on the wiki yet, so make you sure you check his site out.