Hello folks!  My name is Jonathan and I just bought my first bike, a '99 GS500E.  I did not pay too very much for it.  I finished my MSF course today and have ridden the GS 20 miles so far.

Here are my problems.

1) The tach backlighting is out.
2) The only dash light that works is oil pressure.
3) It stumbles when you twist the throttle abruptly.
4) The tires are in need of replacement.
5) The tach acts all lazy.  Like it doesn't show revs as quickly as it should and in the lower rev range it doesn't fall back off quickly enough.

I will be hanging around and asking questions.  Maybe someday I can answer one.  I am very excited.  After a lot of research the nekked GS is what I decided that I wanted and now I have one.  If you have any suggestions for me regarding my bike's issues then by all means chime in.

Cheers,
RC

welcome to one of the best motorcycle model specific forums there is-

cool, you already completed the MSF !

you can replace the bulbs fairly cheaply for the TACH/SPEEDO but I don't have the numbers off hand. auto zone carries them for $3 a pair i believe.

#3 could be your error (too low an rpm and too much throttle) or could be your jets are too rich... or sticky slides... let's just let it be for a while before you get frustrated.... and take care of #4

motorcycle superstore or MAWonline usually have good prices for BT-45 tires, which are stock rubber for the gs. they are long-wearing, good handling, rain-permissive, and cheap!

you can mount the tires yourself, or pay a shop to order/install if you like. it's not black magic or anything. $230-250 is a fair price for a no-touch set of kicks installed on your bike. anything more is a rip off.

ride safe !

Quote from: Rough Customer on December 11, 2011, 03:22:50 PM
Hello folks!  My name is Jonathan and I just bought my first bike, a '99 GS500E.  I did not pay too very much for it.  I finished my MSF course today and have ridden the GS 20 miles so far.

Here are my problems.

1) The tach backlighting is out.
2) The only dash light that works is oil pressure.
3) It stumbles when you twist the throttle abruptly.
4) The tires are in need of replacement.

I will be hanging around and asking questions.  Maybe someday I can answer one.  I am very excited.  After a lot of research the nekked GS is what I decided that I wanted and now I have one.  If you have any suggestions for me regarding my bike's issues then by all means chime in.

Cheers,
RC

Well the good thing is you know the O/P light isn't blown so if it ever comes on you know something's wrong. As far as stumbling...do you mean if you apply a large amount of throttle from idle it pops or backfires or just doesn't want to go up?

I agree with above post...get new tires immediately. That's priority #1.

Shell Rotella is made for diesel engines not motorcycles, very different application. If you must use shell oil I am sure they make motorcycle oil. One of the big differences is the engine and transmission sharing the oil as well as the wet clutch.

Moto Guzzi and BMW are special cases with dry clutches and separate oil for the engine and transmission. I still don't see why you would use diesel engine oil. Personally I avoid Shell for a variety of reasons. Either way no matter what brand you choose you need to use the proper kind of lubricant.

Check other threads on LED lights. If replacing your gauge lights and indicators, go LED and never worry about them again.

This thread has a lot. Most current information towards the end

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23589.0

Some info here, too, near the end:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58454.0

I appreciate the suggestion of LED conversion but replacing with AutoZoners was just too easy for now.  I will file that under next time.  I am glad to say that it was just an issue of bulbs being out.  I replaced all of them (even the good ones).

The stumbling is not user error.  I will try to describe it better after I ride a bit more.  I can ride around it for now.  I will get some fresh tires next paycheck.   

Just went for a ride.  Of course I couldn't fix something without breaking something else.   

Now the tach is acting all lazy.  I pulled the cable out and fired it up.  It seems to be spinning freely enough, although I am not sure how fast it should be going.

SWEET!  After really blowing the cobwebs out of the bike it is running like a dream.     No stumble whatsoever, just smooth clean power.  So it seems that once payday hits and I can get some new tires the bike will be in top shape.  Total investment: less than the nitrous kit on my Mustang.  Or the differential.  Less than a third of what I have in the Mustang's transmission.  Less than the Mustang's wheels and tires.  About the same as the Mustang's suspension.

This is some very cheap fun.

Quote from: agave248 on December 11, 2011, 10:27:56 PM
Shell Rotella is made for diesel engines not motorcycles, very different application. If you must use shell oil I am sure they make motorcycle oil. One of the big differences is the engine and transmission sharing the oil as well as the wet clutch.

Moto Guzzi and BMW are special cases with dry clutches and separate oil for the engine and transmission. I still don't see why you would use diesel engine oil. Personally I avoid Shell for a variety of reasons. Either way no matter what brand you choose you need to use the proper kind of lubricant.

I just saw this. Shell Rotella oil has all the correct properties to be used in motorcycles (more specifically, the JASO-MA designation). It is cheaper than cycle oil because its sold in bulk, is available at a LOT of places (especially ones that don't sell motorcycle specific oil), and has high zinc levels which engines benefit from.