The '98 GS500E I own is my first bike and I am still trying to learning as I go, so please forgive my ignorance!

My bike is doing pretty well with a couple of exceptions. I took my first extended ride of the year the other day and noticed the bike is working MUCH harder at 6,000 RPM's than before - with sound and vibration being different than before. I now test it a bit and rev the bike while it's warming up and right around 6,000 RPM's it sounds like a few more RPM's and it won't be able to take it.
I had a mechanic clean the carburetors right before storing it last winter. Could that be an issue? Would poor Carb cleaning/maintenance lead to a 13,000 RPM redline engine being unable to easily hit 6,500 RPM's? It didn't have this problem last summer.

Also, I've been pretty disappointed with the gas mileage lately. Where it used to get 50-53 MPG it now gets between 40-45 MPG.  I thought the newly cleaned carbs would help that out.

I should add that this is a bike that just passed 9,000 miles and hasn't been ridden hard at all.

Thanks for the help!

10% ethanol in fuel.  It f%$king kills lower compression vehicles.

no issues with my gs, or grandpa, ( my 89 celebrity) or sanford ( my 65 chevy c10)

Quote from: jcovey on April 27, 2008, 10:33:59 PM
The '98 GS500E I own is my first bike and I am still trying to learning as I go, so please forgive my ignorance!

My bike is doing pretty well with a couple of exceptions. I took my first extended ride of the year the other day and noticed the bike is working MUCH harder at 6,000 RPM's than before - with sound and vibration being different than before. I now test it a bit and rev the bike while it's warming up and right around 6,000 RPM's it sounds like a few more RPM's and it won't be able to take it.
I had a mechanic clean the carburetors right before storing it last winter. Could that be an issue? Would poor Carb cleaning/maintenance lead to a 13,000 RPM redline engine being unable to easily hit 6,500 RPM's? It didn't have this problem last summer.

Also, I've been pretty disappointed with the gas mileage lately. Where it used to get 50-53 MPG it now gets between 40-45 MPG.  I thought the newly cleaned carbs would help that out.

I should add that this is a bike that just passed 9,000 miles and hasn't been ridden hard at all.

Thanks for the help!

I would suggest a valve clearance check and carburetor balancing. Assuming this hasn't been done before, you are well over due at 9000 miles. Keep us posted!

I strongly agree with beRto.Check and adjust the valves first,balance the carbs,and change the spark plugs in that order.

Yep, sounds like tight valves to me.

Quote from: GeeP on April 28, 2008, 10:16:32 AM
Yep, sounds like tight valves to me.

Probably exhaust valves from running lean.Bad jetting causes that.

i find my gsf "sounds" like it is running at higher rpm at 6k but at about 6.5k it goes back to normal.  it may be a threshhold in the power band

Thanks guys!  I'll get on it and let you know.