Homer's actually. A 1993 GS500, or a motorcycle that used to be a 1993 GS500. 





The carbs were all clogged up when I went down to check out the bike, Homer cleaned them out and popped in the 140 jets, which were too lean. So when I got the bike home I took the carbs off and cleaned them more thoroughly, cleaned out the 147.5 jets and put it all back together. She started and purred just fine, I set the idle to 1250ish and let it get nice and warm, I can rev it up gently just fine, but if I twist the throttle quickly it will still bog and almost stall.

The gas in it is old as crap, and the spark plugs are pretty tired looking, that will all change tomorrow and I'll see if that helps with the revving issue. Does anyone have any suggestions? It has a Yoshi full exhaust and K&N lunchbox, are the 147.5s too lean? I would imagine it would run alright with them.

I've got a rear brake line on the way, and I think I need to flush the fronts, the lever goes right to the grip pretty softly.

WOW how did Homer get the tail like that? Just remove the fairings? or was there some welding and stuff involved?

And of course... absolutely beautiful bike man. Out of all the ways I imagine customizing my GS, this is definitely in the top 3

He put on a Katana FE and had a custom subframe made. It mega awesome, but if I want to ride 2 up I think I'm going to have to have some underseat reinforcements added. The flex on the back of the rear seat is a little unnerving. But yeah, thats what sold me, he did an awesome job modding it. Now if I can just get it running right and I'll finish modding her. 

yeah I definitely wouldn't stick anyone you like on the back seat. It looks great though! The dual front brakes really help out the front end, and the seat looks pretty good. How'd the purchase go over with your dad and uncle?

As far as the jets/carbs, I've had my bike running perfect with the 135s that are in it, (V&H and K&N lunchbox), but recently it's running awful. The choke doesn't do anything helpful, it backfires constantly when I let off the gas, and when I actually twist the throttle a good bit you can hear it not actually caring. I'd just give it a good once over again and just make sure every little part of the carbs has been cleaned, that your air/fuel mix screws are set right, and whatever else before you assume it's the jets. If you have other jets though, there's no harm in trying them out. Make sure the air filter is clean too. Once you figure it out, let me know what the problem was so I can fix mine. 

A buddy of mine, that hand built this completely bitchin 1971 CB750 cafe racer thing, so when he talks I listen, said I didn't clean out the pilot jets well enough, and that's whats inhibiting the quick twist of the throttle from idle and making it almost stall, so I'm going to try that.

My dad and uncle are doing okay, holding their tongues at least. I got a good hard look when I said I was working on the brakes so it would be okay to ride though. 

Can you link me or explain how the air-fuel screw thing works? I don't know where they are or really understand them that well.

I don't know where a link is to describe them, but if you're holding your carbs in your hand, and you flip them so you're looking at the bottom of them, there are two screws, one on each carb, and they're recessed and need a skinny flathead screwdriver. They're not on the float bowls, but on the actual carb body directly under that round piece that rotates when you twist the throttle, the butterfly's maybe? Not sure what they're called. You screw the both all the way in, then turn them both out about 2.5 full turns, make sure you do the same on both. How much they need turned out can vary, most likely it's anywhere from 2-3 turns out, but I think most people say to try 2.5. Hopefully someone here can describe it all better than I am. Make sure you count when you screw them all the way in the first time just to see where they were.

My dad has a harley but he's never been too picky about what I rode. He started on an old dual sport, which is what he gave me for my first bike, so it's not like he's ingrained with Harley spirit to the point that he'd give me a hard time about riding something else. Either way he's got an 883 sportster, so the buell xb9 I'm looking at should be right up his alley, even though HD's official company stance on Buell is nothing more than pure hatred. Either way our bikes would have practically the same motor in them, only mine would make more than double the HP, and almost twice the torque. 

Those brakes were bled perfectly.  You and your buddy agreed when you test-drove it. 
Next time, maybe he'll listen to me about where to put the tie-down straps. 

That's a $90 GSXR-1000 master cylinder.  Radial.  And $100 SS braided lines.  Brand new HH pads.  Dual 4-pot calipers with fairly new rotors. 
I think I might know how to bleed brakes. 


And I warned you about the tail.  I told you specifically that I don't ride two-up, and never will.  And that the tail wouldn't stand it. 
You said it was fine. 


How much did you pay for it?  $1000?  And you still tried to talk me down lower? 

You're welcome. 

^When I saw it @ Ken's, I was trying to figure out what kind of MS that was! It really cleans up the handlebars! I might look into it, but 90 bones is a bit rich for me.

Quote from: Homer on June 09, 2010, 09:18:52 PM
Those brakes were bled perfectly.  You and your buddy agreed when you test-drove it.  
Next time, maybe he'll listen to me about where to put the tie-down straps.  

That's a $90 GSXR-1000 master cylinder.  Radial.  And $100 SS braided lines.  Brand new HH pads.  Dual 4-pot calipers with fairly new rotors.  
I think I might know how to bleed brakes.  


And I warned you about the tail.  I told you specifically that I don't ride two-up, and never will.  And that the tail wouldn't stand it.  
You said it was fine.  


How much did you pay for it?  $1000?  And you still tried to talk me down lower?  

You're welcome.  

That's life isn't it?
The only way to get some money back for a modded bike is to make mods reversible and sell the pieces off separately. No upgrades is likely to add value to a bike. Everyone wants an unfiddled bike in original condition including fenders to the ground and huge indicators..

Edit: Btw, really nice looking bike!

Quote from: average on June 09, 2010, 11:00:36 PM
^When I saw it @ Ken's, I was trying to figure out what kind of MS that was! It really cleans up the handlebars! I might look into it, but 90 bones is a bit rich for me.

Uses a lot less stroke, too, since it's a radial.  3/4" piston.  
Should get you one.  
Did a two-finger stoppie by accident, once.    

And you see Karl's $350 paintjob on the tank?  Looks nice, hunh?  Custom color... has a vintage cream tint.  It was my Christmas present last year.  Has 7 color coats, 3 clear.  He hand-sanded it for weeks.  


I'm not even gonna bother listing what he's got on that bike.
He's more concerned with the Beemer that Daddy bought him.    
And complaining cause his friend that "knows all about GS's" strapped it down by the master cylinder, in the back of Daddy's Ford.  


Those plugs aren't TIRED, you idiot.  They're NGK Iridiums with barely 600 miles on them.  
Not my fault you can't read spark plugs.  



As far as irreversible mods, I knew that when I built it. 
What gets my grits is that I knocked off $600 to sell it to him, sold it less than what I paid for it.
Even lined up a spare engine for him, from Buddha himself. 
I was even gonna pay the friggin' labor if that one broke. 
And he STILL tried to talk me down. 
I told him it was my bottom line before he even showed up, and he STILL tried to haggle me. 
I talked to this kid for days... told him every single thing wrong with it, every mod, every bolt... passed up Craigslist offers for much higher, specifically to support a forum member. 
Cleaned the carbs for him in less than 20 minutes, or Mr. Golf-Shirt was gonna walk away from it.   I should have let him. 

It's not the money.  It's the d@mn Beemer in the background. 

That's still my bike.  It always will be.  You're just the one farting on the seat, kid. 

Quote from: Homer on June 09, 2010, 09:18:52 PM
And I warned you about the tail.  I told you specifically that I don't ride two-up, and never will.  And that the tail wouldn't stand it. 
You said it was fine.  

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=52583.msg594184#msg594184 
If the above statement is true you better tell the other guy so he doesnt end up killing his self doing the tail mod you did jackass.

Quote from: Homer on May 26, 2010, 02:28:02 PM
You mean like this:


Holds my wife and I just fine. 

Jesus Christ dude calm down.

First of all, because this is a huge pet peeve, daddy didnt buy me my Bimmer or anything else, I bought it myself with the sweat off my back, so get that idea out of your head.

Second, of course I'm going to haggle, business is business, I figured it was a long shot, and I was more than happy with the $1000 price, but it never hurts to ask. Get over yourself and get over my car, read MY car, not my daddies or anyone elses, I can take a picture of the title and bill of sale if you want, its in my name, paid for with my money, insured, modded and maintained by me. You met me for an afternoon to hash out a deal on a bike, you don't know me.

I've got no beef with you, I don't know what your problem is. For the record, yes you were extremely fair in your description of the bike, and the fact that you spent so much time describing everything on it was the main reason I came down to look at it, but you neglected to mention it didn't start. Which still wasn't that big of a deal once we figured it out, its just scary to go look at a bike you think starts and runs, and have it not when you get there.

Sorry dude, its my bike now, and just in case you're worried, the money I gave you was mine, not my daddies.

I didn't see how my buddy was tying down the front, was is the left or the right side he was on something? I'll have to inspect it and see what he messed up.

Quote from: Homer on June 10, 2010, 01:09:32 AM

Quote from: average on June 09, 2010, 11:00:36 PM
^When I saw it @ Ken's, I was trying to figure out what kind of MS that was! It really cleans up the handlebars! I might look into it, but 90 bones is a bit rich for me.

Uses a lot less stroke, too, since it's a radial.  3/4" piston.  
Should get you one.  
Did a two-finger stoppie by accident, once.    

And you see Karl's $350 paintjob on the tank?  Looks nice, hunh?  Custom color... has a vintage cream tint.  It was my Christmas present last year.  Has 7 color coats, 3 clear.  He hand-sanded it for weeks.  


I'm not even gonna bother listing what he's got on that bike.
He's more concerned with the Beemer that Daddy bought him.    
And complaining cause his friend that "knows all about GS's" strapped it down by the master cylinder, in the back of Daddy's Ford.  


Those plugs aren't TIRED, you idiot.  They're NGK Iridiums with barely 600 miles on them.  
Not my fault you can't read spark plugs.  



As far as irreversible mods, I knew that when I built it. 
What gets my grits is that I knocked off $600 to sell it to him, sold it less than what I paid for it.
Even lined up a spare engine for him, from Buddha himself. 
I was even gonna pay the friggin' labor if that one broke. 
And he STILL tried to talk me down. 
I told him it was my bottom line before he even showed up, and he STILL tried to haggle me. 
I talked to this kid for days... told him every single thing wrong with it, every mod, every bolt... passed up Craigslist offers for much higher, specifically to support a forum member. 
Cleaned the carbs for him in less than 20 minutes, or Mr. Golf-Shirt was gonna walk away from it.   I should have let him. 

It's not the money.  It's the d@mn Beemer in the background. 

That's still my bike.  It always will be.  You're just the one farting on the seat, kid. 

Don't worry about it Homer is struggling with Troll syndrome but he's been making tons of progress. 

haha, uh oh, we've been having a couple outbursts here lately between this one and the one on Jeremy's post about getting his new bike.

Homer: I can understand how you'd take it if you were already annoyed before he even posted that, but I didn't take his questions as him complaining about the bike and the sale. They came across as general questions about getting his bike running well from an outsiders perspective

I can also understand getting pretty annoyed if someone tried to haggle me down on the price of a motorcycle when they showed up in a bmw though, as I'd feel like they obviously don't need to be haggling things in the first place, but over time you'll realize the people that make the most money are usually the ones who are never willing to spend it, so I guess that's just the way life is.

What kinda golfing shirt are we talking about? haha, I wear iron maiden t shirts about 90% of the time, I'm even wearing one under the polo shirt I have on at work now, haha, but still, when I go to meet someone new for stuff like that, I figure it doesn't hurt to have a nicer shirt on. Things go smoother sometimes when general society doesn't think you're a slob, just because everyone can't appreciate the best band of the past couple decades, so I can't really assume he's got a problem just because he may dress like an abercrombie model. I'm sticking to my percieved notion that people in BMWs can't drive though!

Yeah, I meant no harm with the questions, I'm not upset about any of it, I'm just working to get it in ship shape. I didn't show up in a bmw, I borrowed my dads truck to take it home.

He's upset about the car in my picture. I bought that car last year for $7k and worked my ass off cleaning it up and getting in good condition all yearm dumping an ungodly amount of money in it. It represents a lot of my time and effort and emotions and it really pisses me off when someone brushes it aside as something I was given. I use it in motorsport events, the reason I bought it, I use it as a dd because I can't afford another car.

Also, for the record, I don't make easy moeny, I've worked full time every summer since I was 13,  for the past two I've worked 50-60 hour weeks. I've also held down countless part time jobs, I currently work nights at school. I spend money on this to keep me alive anf get me through school, and on things with engines. That's it. What I need and what I love, that's how I acomplish it so young. Anyone that tells me different, without even knowing me, can piss off.

Oh, my golf shirt was a ralph lauren polo I bought on clearance for $20.

Homer, yu said it was still your bike, I just fart on the seat, so ill lay a big wet one on it tonight for you. Please don't ever tell me something about my life again, how dare you tell me what I have and haven't worked for.



Anyway, back to the bike, should the throttle snap closed, or should it kinda hang open a little bit? Its hanging open, and it seems to be the cable, because when the carbs are off the throttle snaps right closed

Lubricate it, if that doesn't work, replace it.

I think the most important part of this post is the word "golf".  Has anyone found time to hit the greens this season?  I am sad to say I haven't and it is killing me.

As to this post, keep the dirty sentiments outside of the forum.  We like to see people happy and not confrontational about sales.  If you all have beef use pm's. 

I'll try lubricating the throttle.

I apologize for my behavior, I felt obligated to defend myself publically where I was attacked publically. I've said my piece, from now on my posts will be about the motorcycle only. I'd appreciate it if Homer would do the same in the interest of the thread.

Nothing I say about the bike is intended to attack or offend you, I'm sorry if I bother you as a person. What's done is done, now my focus is getting the motorcycle running healthy and reliable, so I can enjoy the beautiful machine she is.

Wow, you're getting "snotty" over a 15ish year old BMW?  Don't get me wrong, Slim has a nice looking car, they are decent on fuel, have good power and are quite a bit of fun to drive...but expensive...?? 

You probably wouldn't think twice about a guy pulling up in a 3/4 ton diesel that is a couple of years old, but if you check the prices...well, trucks aint cheap...


Just don't get "bent" over someone having a nice car...you don't know how long they saved to get that car (or truck)...they could have been driving a complete jalopy up to very recently...

The bike does look pretty cool...very hooligan!

I just bought a GS500 a month ago myself...only mod that I have noticed is the fenderectomy...

Quote from: O.C.D. on June 10, 2010, 08:37:59 AM
I think the most important part of this post is the word "golf".  Has anyone found time to hit the greens this season?  I am sad to say I haven't and it is killing me.

As to this post, keep the dirty sentiments outside of the forum.  We like to see people happy and not confrontational about sales.  If you all have beef use pm's. 

I have been able to get out twice this year to go golfing so far but that is not nearly enough.  I am gonna try going out this saturday weather permitting.

To the original poster of this thread.  You will find that money will go alot further for modifying a bike than it will for a car.