Hey guys!
I found a 1991 GS500 with ~30,000 miles on it relatively close by. It sounds like the bike's beat up pretty badly (couple tears in the seat, needs paint, etc.), but the biggest issue is that it apparently fried a ring. The best thing about it is the price -- ~300 bucks. I believe that the fork seals need replacing too, as well as the front tire.

What's the general opinion on the bike? I can do the paint work, and most likely whatever body work is required. I'm also pretty handy with tools, machining, and engines, so I might be able to rebuild the engine as well. Does this sound like a reasonable fixer-upper, or is this something I should stay away from?

Also, I've been looking around for engines / rebuild kits, and I haven't found much. Is there a good place to find parts for these motors?

Thanks!
Manolis

you would have to tear down the engine to see, never take the word of someone you dont know, or they were "told it was...."  keep it in mind, but take with grain of salt, the top end could be good, just needs valve adjustment, or could be totaly trashed.   Many Moons ago back when i was a young padawan.   a friend of mine bought an old 750GPZ, the person drove it to my friend's house, my friend got on it and took it for a test drive (before it was shut down) and paid the guy 500$ for it. it was alittle weak and the guy said needed carb work and valve adjustment that it sat for sometime. we believed him.  until the next day when it wouldnt start.   called him and he said, you heard it run, you rode it, and you bought it do the carbs and valves, so we did,  4 X. finnaly, i did a compression check  60/45/40/50   barrowed a friends leakdown tester  100% all 4 cyl.   upon pulling the head we found the problem, the pistons wobbled in the bores, valve seats had big cracks and 2 valves had chunks missing.  the engine was trashed,  truth betold dont know how it ran at all.  called him up again, basicly told us you bought it as is, pound sand.  found out via the grape vine about a month later, he got it to start with either and turned the idle way up to keep it from stalling. once it was hot things sealed enough to maintain the 10 min ride to get the bike across town. once it cooled down it wouldnt start unaided.   long story short, he ended up buying another engine for 300$  IF you buy the bike keep in mind your gonna replace/rebiuld the engine.  300 isnt too bad providing the rest of the bike is safely functional.  goodluck

If you can do the engine and mechanical work yourself [handy with a repair manual?] then it sounds like a good deal. Worse case you buy a replacement used engine from someone here for another few hundred. Spray paint it black and you're good to go. Fork seals are fairly straighforward to replace [I've heard].

I bought a project GS in March.  As for your decison, it should depend on how mechanically inclined you are, and how much you want to learn.  I'm not a gifted mechanic by any stretch, but I've learned alot about repair and the workings of a bike through my GS.  Also, this board is a great for the inevitable technicle assistance questions that will come up.

It's cheep enough, I'm with Pantablo. If you have someone around who knows a bit about the job, that's great and will do your confidence no harm. if you get into a "project" try not to get too impatient to get on the road, it's worth doing well.

Hey wait a sec...
Good bike (nice body panels, decent vinyl, no rust... I mean none) and trashed motor are worth 300. Just IMHO. There are ones for 1000-1200 that dont have a thing wrong with them and have low miles to boot. Dont see why 300 is a bargain on this.
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: seshadri_srinathHey wait a sec...
Good bike (nice body panels, decent vinyl, no rust... I mean none) and trashed motor are worth 300. Just IMHO. There are ones for 1000-1200 that dont have a thing wrong with them and have low miles to boot. Dont see why 300 is a bargain on this.
Cool.
Srinath.

I tend to agree with you Srinath.  All in all he would put alot more into the bike than 1000-1200(including man hours).  I spent 60 for mine and so far have put about 200 into it so far.  I am looking at putting about another 400 into it before it is ride worthy.  Do I think it was worth it, yes.  But the engine is not trashed either(not that I know of).  From the sound of it, it could be a project bike, but it sounds like more of a project than mine is.  If you do decide to get it Good luck and have fun with it.  

Quote from: seshadri_srinathHey wait a sec...
Good bike (nice body panels, decent vinyl, no rust... I mean none) and trashed motor are worth 300. Just IMHO. There are ones for 1000-1200 that dont have a thing wrong with them and have low miles to boot. Dont see why 300 is a bargain on this.
Cool.
Srinath.

i agree. i see ones about that old and with less miles going for about $1500, give or take. if the bike were mint with a bad engine,it would be worth it, or if the bike were trashed with a good engine it would be worth it, but with a bad engine and a trashed bike, it's just not worth it.

It should be free or 20-40 bucks... but I dont know how bad its trashed. You have to buy 3-4 parts from a wrecker for it and you are over market value. Tank, dash, forks if they are rusty and a side panel or 2 and you spent more on it than you'll get out of it. Buying it here you'd probably come out ok but the motor will kill your expense list.
Cool.
Srinath.

yea, i thought i was getting a good deal when i paid $500 for a '97 with 10,798 miles on it. i knew it had issues, but so far i've paid about $2000, including a new engine. that is also including modifications i didn't really need (like $140 SM bars, exhaust, jets). but i love my bike and i doubt i will EVER get rid of it, it's like a wounded animal that you bring back to good health. plus, at least you have the braging rights of knowing it inside and out. i really don't like people who just hop in a car or a bike and drive not knowing or understanding the machine itself.  but it's all up to you.  

Why your bike had a bad motor?? at 10K... Odd... You bought it that way???
Cool.
Srinath.

yea, it was stolen back in early 2001 and recovered earlier this year. damn thieves!!! it was my bf bike but she could not afford the repairs and was going to throw it on ebay for $500, so i was like f#$k it, it'll give me something to do. i'm not so strapped for cash, so i can have fun hobbies like rebuilding crap. plus i'm going to MMI in march so i wanted to have a little bit of motorcycle theory under my belt, and one to park in the parking lot. (couldn't imagine going to MOTORCYCLE school in a TRUCK!) buwahahahaha, that'd be funny, plus i'm a GIRL!!!! i'm going to be ridiculed enough, no need to make it worse!  :lol:

ridiculed?  i would marry a girl who could work on motorcycles.  not ridicule her.  best of luck with MMI!

i paid $600 for my bike, (frankenbike) eng. had 3319 mi. on it, what you've got to figure is can you get it into road-worthy shape for a reas. amt. of money? ive got close to $1100 in mine now, tires forks, etc.etc.etc., ive still more to do, fender, instrument dash. a couple of body pieces etc. so if you are willing to handle the gruntwork, / labor yourself, id say go for it. but remember, plan on the worst, hope for the best.  

thanks!  

(but there's always those select FEW who think we should be 'barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen' )  :nana:


maybe we should do a poll...  :lol:

I couldn't leave this one alone..

I think what would be really cool would be a "barefoot and pregnant woman sitting in the kitchen working on her GS500.. "

I probably should have kept my mouth shut.. but it's nice to dream..  

I grew up with a living room that had a christmas tree in one corner and a 77 yamaha xs750 full dress sitting in the other corner..    There was too much crap in the garage, plus..  the bike was damn near prettier than the furniture.

QuoteBillWheelerJr
Local Club Racer


Joined: 14 Mar 2003
Posts: 12
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2003 1:55 am  

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I couldn't leave this one alone..

I think what would be really cool would be a "barefoot and pregnant woman sitting in the kitchen working on her GS500.. "

I probably should have kept my mouth shut.. but it's nice to dream..

hmmm. kinda kinky :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:       or the barefoot pregnant woman posing on that yamaha dresser :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen: okay, time to climb outta the gutter