Grammar/spelling Warning.

Hay first time posting here in the forum, i am finding A LOT of helpful things and way to many for my bank account to handle

My Problem is down at the bottom in bold, if you don't want to read my story of trial and fail!



I have a 2001 GS500, my first bike (at least its not a 1200cc Supersport) and i am having a lot of fun on it, even with the fun speed wobble at anything past 140Kph  , (first time hitting a pothole on a long turn after the winter at those speeds, my legs slaps the tank like a drum about 10 times, as i drifted 2 lanes over just 5inchs away from the wall... only to recover and clean my pants) Still have yet to put the spacers in the front forks as i have a feeling that is where the issue is with that, hearing that SMASH as i pull into my driveway does make me feel sick every time lol.  (the wobble is there without the potholes, but manageable)

After breaking down the bike 3 times already, had to rebuild the carbs, one cylinder was only firing when i got it, my uneducated ear seemed to miss it for a while until i put my hands on the engine on a cold day and realized... "HOLY S**T, i think this is bad" ya... got that worked out, nice dirt filled carb was the problem.  

next was cleaning all the oil off the damn engine... i mean who rides a bike with all that crap on there, after a long cleaning i found out why such amounts of oil would be on the OUTSIDE... and i learned quick that oil and just oil makes for a bad valve cover gasket... looks like someone did not use a  torch wrench!!  (was a nice big hole in it) over compressed Gasket.  (I made the same mistake on the replacement!!!  its ok i got an extra!)

Then i decided i wanted to replace ALL vacuum lines and fuel lines, i have done this in my cars so i made quick work of it looks better.. looks like someone else did it and made them go all over the place for no reason, so now they look cleaner at least.  

Next was cleaning the chain... i mean really, the thing had more oil on it then the inside of the engine (also learned Black chain oil.... YA it sucks... it sucks really bad)  so after cleaning it a second time, i found a really good clear brand that is sticky as hell and does not cover my back tire with oil this time...

So i payed 2500$  for this bike, its got 30,000km on it and really the only problems where poor upkeep, things that should have never happen but looks like buddy who owned it before was just ignorant like me but never bothered to learn how to fix it the right way, you think someone would learn such things after 3years of owning it and putting 10k on it..   This year i am taking it cross country... going down to SD for the big rally in August spending a crap load of money getting all the gear i need, tank bag, tail bags, touring windscreen and all, i figure i just need to get out there and start getting my moneys worth out of it, but the bike will be doing over 1,500km a day for a few days so i need it to be in tip top shape, (learning how to check the valve clearance with the help of these forums, will do that before i go)

So there is a little back story to my first bike and learning the hard way, but i do enjoy the good times much more and even tho breaking down the bike and taking off the gas tank is a pain i still rather do that then go to work.




Where i am at now is a bad tach or cable not sure what one but i suspect the cable as the tach only gets bouncy like after its up to running temp seems like the cable it stretching or something, so a got a new order one coming in, also finding out the 2001 model is one hell of a year to find parts for as it seems it has some stuff from the older models and newer models, still not sure what carbs i got on it (old or new) could be both for this year i hear, want to rejet some day seeing as i have a vary open Yamaha muffler on it right now.

What i am wanting to know is i want to put as aftermarket tach in it, something a little more then just stock but something easy to install... but i'm not sure how to go about finding what ones that work with my bike, and also what brands are known for quality over just looks.  I found this site that has a few nice ones i would like to put in but i am still not sure what i am looking for  (http://motorcycleonlinestore.com/pro_1__shindy__drag_tachometers)  Any help i would greatly appreciate!


PS: anyone seen or know what bike this muffler comes off of? i can't make out the numbers on it, it is a slip on at least it is on this bike, and it has an adjustment bolt on the pipe right before the muffler itself on the pipe, you can open the sucker to make it a super annoying.. like no baffle at all, and close it to where my Neighbors don't hate my in the morning.  (old pick before new windscreen)





I should have checked the valve clearance when i did this huh  







ok.... i think that is it i got nothing else to type. Thanks!  

Save your money, buy better gear.