I took my girl friend for a sidecar ride a few weeks ago.  It rekindled her life long lust for a bike.  Last week we bought her a 1994 GS500e. 

I had a GS500 for a bit, so am (almost) familiar with them.  The bike needs some attention, but the price was silly  :

This one has about 8500 miles on it and has been alternately loved and neglected.  It has new tires and a new battery, a clean tank, some surface corrosion on the frame, and some minor ills.  The left carb is all gunky and somebody has been in there before me.  They didn't fix the problem.  I stripped the problem carb and found a bad bowl gasket and a bad O-ring. 

I've ordered a pair of carb rebuild kits.  I'll service both carbs, the chain, change the oil in the motor and forks, check the wheel bearings, and inspect the fuel petcock.  Anything else I should check out before turning girl friend loose on it?

(She will leave the bike along until she takes a MSF class in the spring, I'll have her read "Proficient Motorcycling" and lots of parking lot stuff before actually turning her loose)

Thanks!

I always check the valve clearance on new to me four strokes to document the clearance.

Yeah, if the bike's been neglected a valve adjustment is probably a good idea. Mine were out at 4K. Remember to check the oil level weekly; the things tend to burn some and get sort of explody when you let them run too low.

Valves seem to hold spec longer if you set the exhaust to .08-.13mm rather than the factory recommended .03-.08mm.

Thanks guys.

I'll get out the feeler gauges.