I've been wanting to show this baby off but...she's been sick for the last month and a half with the most bizarre carburetor problems you can imagine.

At any rate..I've finally got her back and now it's time to tell my story!

Here's the story:

Found it on Craigslist - lady that owned it was originally asking $1800 - she was under the impression it would still run okay after sitting for almost 8 months (d'oh). When I realized it wasn't running correctly (as did she), I started haggling. I talked her down to $1500 and she was fine with that. I figured I'd be able to spend a few hours cleaning the carbs and I'd have a smokin' hot deal. Well, it didn't turn out so great when I got there. Turned out there was an error with the VIN on the title versus the bike (title had an extra "1"). I felt okay though because she obviously wasn't trying to pull anything over on anybody - she owned a Ferrari Testarossa and an 09 Mazda Miata - what does she need $1500 for if it's gained dishonestly? It WAS the original title for the bike and she also had a copy of the MSO which had the correct VIN on it. Anyway, I ended up talking her down to $1200. I felt it was fair because of the condition of the bike - with the exception of the one gouge in the contact cover and a small scrape on the corner of the fairing, she's flawless!

Since I had gotten $1500 for my '88 KLR650 (only paid $800 for it), I had some money to spend. Good thing too, because for some reason I was unable to get the carbs cleaned correctly. I tried three times to clean them and on the last run, it started leaking gas so I just gave up on it and took it to a mechanic. $160 later, I rode it home. Problem was, it started having idle problems and almost left me stranded twice. So, off to the shop for a second time she went. Took her in last Friday and then this past Monday (coincidentally my birthday - best birthday present ever, am I right? ) I got a call from the shop. I immediately called a friend and we both went over there in her car to get the bike.

I cannot imagine how it happened because I know I didn't do it, but, somebody had been a little heavy-handed the first time around with the mixture screws and broken the needle off inside the carburetor on the left side. Thankfully, they didn't charge me anything to replace it and now she runs like a screaming demon - with the exception of needing #40 pilot jets to run even better.

Enough of the story, enjoy some pics of my one owner, 1998 (really 97) GS500E with the Suzuki fairing and only 11k miles:

I haven't cleaned the bike since I got it and I doubt the PO had either because of all the little road particles on the motor, so, this is what it looked like when I bought it:


You can see the gouge in the cover here:




I know, I really should've given her a nice, gentle bath before taking pictures of her innards but hey...she won't mind, right?

DO NOT PAINT IT - I LOVE the color. Will trade for other colors you can paint if you want to paint it.
Got extra set of #40 pilots on the shelf.

Quote from: adidasguy on January 11, 2012, 12:21:54 PM
DO NOT PAINT IT - I LOVE the color. Will trade for other colors you can paint if you want to paint it.
Got extra set of #40 pilots on the shelf.

I WOULDN'T DREAM OF IT! I was going to paint my 07!!!

Have you checked the Manufacture Date on the tires?

Michael

Quote from: mister on January 11, 2012, 12:27:03 PM
Have you checked the Manufacture Date on the tires?

Michael

She said she put new ones on it last summer so...6 months or so? I'll go check that now though...guess I just trusted her?

SOOOO jealous!!!!! Orange is my favorite color! I do like my Yellow 99 though... I might paint mine one day. although, then I would have to buy new decals and Im too cheap for that. Anyway Great bike you have there 

Quote from: Kijona on January 11, 2012, 12:31:42 PM

Quote from: mister on January 11, 2012, 12:27:03 PM
Have you checked the Manufacture Date on the tires?

Michael

She said she put new ones on it last summer so...6 months or so? I'll go check that now though...guess I just trusted her?

Maybe I'm blind but I don't see any obvious manufactured date. They're Bridgestone Battlax tires - Made in Japan! I looked at every square inch of both sidewalls on the front and couldn't find it...?

Quote from: Flux Maven on January 11, 2012, 12:31:55 PM
SOOOO jealous!!!!! Orange is my favorite color! I do like my Yellow 99 though... I might paint mine one day. although, then I would have to buy new decals and Im too cheap for that. Anyway Great bike you have there 

Thank you! I love it too - it's rare that you see GS500's in this color - or any other motorcycle for that matter!

Quote from: Kijona on January 11, 2012, 12:35:28 PM

Quote from: Kijona on January 11, 2012, 12:31:42 PM

Quote from: mister on January 11, 2012, 12:27:03 PM
Have you checked the Manufacture Date on the tires?

Michael

She said she put new ones on it last summer so...6 months or so? I'll go check that now though...guess I just trusted her?

Maybe I'm blind but I don't see any obvious manufactured date. They're Bridgestone Battlax tires - Made in Japan! I looked at every square inch of both sidewalls on the front and couldn't find it...?

Look again. Your looking for something like DOT and then a rounded rectangle with 3 or 4 digits in it...





The first two digits are the Week and the second two are the year. So the first pic the tire was made in the 51st week of 2007, second tire was made in the 42nd week of 2002. If you only have three digits the tire was made before 2000.

Brand new tires can be over a year old sometimes before they are put on the bike.

Michael

Oh jesus... If I'm reading it correctly it's 36th week of 01...

They look brand new though. I've seen old tires that are either dry rotted or cracked - these don't look like that. They also hold air just fine. Went over a month and lost no pressure.

Edit:

I've put almost 200 miles on them so far...they feel alright? Even on wet pavement.

If they were never used, haven't been through heat cycline, kept away from UV rays, and kept in good conditions... They may be allright until the rubber completely breaks down...

Rubbers a volatile compound, time will cause it to break down, if its taken care off, itll last longer...

Hell, mr.buddha rides on dryrotted tires with great success. I wasn't as lucky and had a blow out...

YMMV...But I wouldn't trust 10 year old tires.

You got a great deal, cleaning carbs is a 'zen' thing that one should learn to enjoy. (As long as no one minds me miss-using the term zen.)

I personally enjoy getting out the TV tray and a chair, and basking in the sun with the fumes of a set of carbs in need.


That bike is a beauty. I, and my homely 98 are jealous.

Quote from: Funderb on January 11, 2012, 01:25:37 PM
You got a great deal, cleaning carbs is a 'zen' thing that one should learn to enjoy. (As long as no one minds me miss-using the term zen.)

I personally enjoy getting out the TV tray and a chair, and basking in the sun with the fumes of a set of carbs in need.


That bike is a beauty. I, and my homely 98 are jealous.

It was like that the first, second, and almost 3rd time. Then...I almost took a hammer to the bike. I was SEETHING with rage. Glad I didn't, though.

I would not have even touched the bike if it wasn't as immaculate as it was. I feel like I got a great deal, even after having to pay a mechanic to fix it because my heart was breaking from not being able to ride it.

Here's a picture of yours truly:



I kind of like how the bike looks in that picture...almost white!

I noticed your back rotor looks pretty deeply scalloped, if so, mine is like that as well, but stops just fine, with no issues.

Are a lot of the rear rotors wavy like that?

Quote from: Funderb on January 11, 2012, 03:13:46 PM
I noticed your back rotor looks pretty deeply scalloped, if so, mine is like that as well, but stops just fine, with no issues.

Are a lot of the rear rotors wavy like that?

I don't know, it might've just been the shot settings I used that made it look like that - it doesn't look that bad in RL. But yeah, I can't feel any sort of feedback from the rear brake - I use it a lot though.

Quote from: xunedeinx on January 11, 2012, 01:10:20 PM
If they were never used, haven't been through heat cycline, kept away from UV rays, and kept in good conditions... They may be allright until the rubber completely breaks down...

Rubbers a volatile compound, time will cause it to break down, if its taken care off, itll last longer...

Hell, mr.buddha rides on dryrotted tires with great success. I wasn't as lucky and had a blow out...

YMMV...But I wouldn't trust 10 year old tires.

Well the bike was in a garage most of its life. I'm certain it's not the first set of tires that were on the bike...so I don't really know. These things look brand spanking new...still had the "chicken strips" on them.

Really, really nice bike man and you got a deal and a half. Love the color. What type of head light cowl is that???

Quote from: ghostrider_23 on January 11, 2012, 06:35:30 PM
Really, really nice bike man and you got a deal and a half. Love the color. What type of head light cowl is that???

Thank you!

It's a Suzuki fairing that was purchased by the owner as an "option". The windscreen on it is made by Mitsubishi. Go figure?

Christ, you have a '98! That was the ONLY year it came in orange and the first year for the grey engine. You have the hard-to-find cowl/windshield thing too! If it had the chin spoiler too, I would have flipped!

I had a '98 once and had to sell it to help pay for tuition :|
I miss it so. Yea, I have a '93 now...and the white wheels are nice, but I'll never forget "The Orange Crush"