Bought a 2005 GS500 with 350 miles on it, bike was stored away in a garage and started up nicely. But I want to drain the the tank before taking it home, don't want to take any chances with old gas clogging things up. Any suggestions how I should do the draining? Obviously I could just stick a plastic hose in the tank, suck on it, and drain into an old gas container, but is there a better way that doesn't involve the likelihood of gulping gas? Also, I assume I should put in some new gas, swirl it a couple of times and drain again, correct? Any advice warmly appreciated. 

Just put your bike on the side stand and remove the hose on the right hand side of the petcock.  I'm guessing your '05 is the same as my '09, that'll do it.  Just have an empty gas can or container handy and once you remove the clamp slide the hose off and drop it in.

Do you have any tools where the bike is? If you lift up the tank, turn off the petcock that's bolted to the bottom of the tank with a flathead screwdriver you can pull the hoses off at the tank, then just put your container under the tank and turn the petcock back on. That only works if you have something to hold the tank though, as you probably don't want to hold it by hand for that long. Otherwise you can turn it off at the same spot, disconnect the fuel likes at the petcock under the left side of the seat, spill some gas, then just put those lines into your container while the tank is still resting on the bike, and turn the petcock back on. Last option, which will take the longest, but is probably the easiest, is to get a thin hose on the carb float bowl drain, put the petcock on PRI, and start to unscrew the drain bolt on the bottom of the carb until the gas starts flowing. It'll drain the tank but I'd bring a magazine with you to kill the time.

Fraze's way is good, but you are very likely to spill a little fuel that way.  Which isn't a big deal, just know that as soon as you unplug the fuel line, fuel will come pouring out, as its gravity fed.

Siphoning isnt a bad idea if you get a clear PFE hose about 6 foot long.  When you begin to draw air out of the hose (with the other end submersed in fuel) it will begin to fill quickly.  And since its clear, you can remove the hose from your mouth and inset it into your gas can before you get it close to your mouth.  This way, you are unlikley to spill any.

But, in reality, both methods work.  And, honestly, I would be good to try both when you get a chance.

Best of luck, and be sure to check for rust in the areas of the tank that was not covered by fuel.  They could be rusty.

EDIT: ttfours way is good also.  Though he is right in that the carb drain tube will take a month.  

Quote from: OilSooner on May 12, 2010, 06:07:34 AM
Fraze's way is good, but you are very likely to spill a little fuel that way.  Which isn't a big deal, just know that as soon as you unplug the fuel line, fuel will come pouring out, as its gravity fed.

That is true  you can pinch the line with your fingers (or with some pliers like I did) as you gently slide it off...lay a rag underneath to so it catches any drips too.  Just be quick

Thanks a bunch.