I've been busy over the last week and I'll still be busy with this stuff next week....

DONE:
-Oil changed
-Chain cleaned
-Took apart my carbs for the first time (and they were surprisingly clean)
-Checked my valve clearances (I'm pretty sure the PO never checked them and I'm over 17k miles. All 4 were .032 or less)
-Ordered shims to fix the valve clearances
-Ordered a jet kit from Buddha to get rid of the cold-bloodedness
-Sent my ignition rotor to Bob for ignition advance mod
-Ordered Sonic Springs for the forks
-Replaced some fuel lines that weren't in great shape


TO DO (hopefully in the next week):
-Rejet
-Change shims
-Reinstall ignition rotor
-Install new springs
-Reassemble
-Wait for warm(er) weather

Flick Starts 

More testing to follow this afternoon!

Mary

Installed front fender mud flap & Zero Gravity sport touring windshield on my 06 GS500F. Mud flap was easy, I took a hint from adidasguy and made a template & drilled the holes from the outside, worked great.
Now the windshield was another story, not hard but just time consuming ( about 1 hour total ) Didn't realize I had to remove all the fairing to get to the screws to remove windshield. (maybe there is another way??? ) My brother helped so it was easier to hold on to everything when unbolting.
You would think they could just design it to remove the screws from the front of the windshield.
I rode 100 miles today with the windshield, 35 degrees in southern Ohio, did block alot more air but did add some noise around my helmet.

Windshield can be changed without removing the fairing. I remember when I changed mine and did it in front of my office when the ZG came in. You remove the screws then gently pry the inner and outer apart a 1/4" because of the plastic pins that hold the windshield in place.

Perfect weather in SoCal today, so I rode 150 miles, more to come

Quote from: Kirya on January 24, 2012, 08:32:25 PM
Perfect weather in SoCal today, so I rode 150 miles, more to come

I put my bike back together! http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58903.0

Fired the bike up last night to since it was 30+ degrees out and it would actually start! I think I need to rebuild my carbs as it revs up high with the choke on but then immediately dies as soon as soon a I push the choke off because the idle goes too low.

Any recommendations for Carb rebuild kits? 

Quote from: Tronspeed3 on January 26, 2012, 08:58:16 AM
Fired the bike up last night to since it was 30+ degrees out and it would actually start! I think I need to rebuild my carbs as it revs up high with the choke on but then immediately dies as soon as soon a I push the choke off because the idle goes too low.

Any recommendations for Carb rebuild kits?

Yeah, GS500s do that when it's near freezing. They rev high with the choke on and die if you turn the choke all the way off - unless they have warmed up sufficiently.

This is my start routine in any season...

1 - Put choke all the way on
2 - Start bike and let it rev to whatever it wants to
3 - put bag on bike, don jacket
4 - Lightly tap choke down until the bike is revving around 2000
5 - Put on helmet, put on gloves
6 - ride off sedately
7 - after a couple of clicks turn off choke

Sounds to me like there is nothing wrong with your bike, you are working it wrong

Michael

Quote from: Tronspeed3 on January 26, 2012, 08:58:16 AM
Fired the bike up last night to since it was 30+ degrees out and it would actually start! I think I need to rebuild my carbs as it revs up high with the choke on but then immediately dies as soon as soon a I push the choke off because the idle goes too low.

Any recommendations for Carb rebuild kits? 

Bike is fine. Like mister said, you're not using the choke correctly.
My way: Work the choke down slowly as the bike warms up during the first minute or two. If in a hurry, I start riding with choke a little on. When I come to the first or second stop (a block or two as I leave my house) I can flip the choke off with my thumb. If really cold, I work it down as I ride the first couple minutes.

If you have a 1989-2000 engine, changing the pilot jets from 37's to 40's makes a HUGE difference in cold starting. Buddha can tell you what to do for a newer engine. I haven't played with those carbs yet.

What part of DSM? I grew up in Highland Park. Harding Jr  High and then North High (diving team).

Quote from: adidasguy on January 26, 2012, 12:18:09 PM

Any recommendations for Carb rebuild kits? 

Bike is fine. Like mister said, you're not using the choke correctly.
My way: Work the choke down slowly as the bike warms up during the first minute or two.
[/quote]
Yep.  The slide choke on my other bike will even click into two positions.  There is wide-open choke, as well as half choke. It seems stupid, but it makes choke adjustment easy while riding.

Quote from: adidasguy on January 26, 2012, 12:18:09 PM

Quote from: Tronspeed3 on January 26, 2012, 08:58:16 AM
Fired the bike up last night to since it was 30+ degrees out and it would actually start! I think I need to rebuild my carbs as it revs up high with the choke on but then immediately dies as soon as soon a I push the choke off because the idle goes too low.

Any recommendations for Carb rebuild kits? 

Bike is fine. Like mister said, you're not using the choke correctly.
My way: Work the choke down slowly as the bike warms up during the first minute or two. If in a hurry, I start riding with choke a little on. When I come to the first or second stop (a block or two as I leave my house) I can flip the choke off with my thumb. If really cold, I work it down as I ride the first couple minutes.

If you have a 1989-2000 engine, changing the pilot jets from 37's to 40's makes a HUGE difference in cold starting. Buddha can tell you what to do for a newer engine. I haven't played with those carbs yet.

What part of DSM? I grew up in Highland Park. Harding Jr  High and then North High (diving team).

I currently live in the Union Park area, moved to DSM 3 years ago from St.Charles,IL   

PUT ON MY YOSHIMURA MUFFLER ON TODAY AND LOVE THE SOUND. NOT TO LOUD NOT TO QUIT JUST RIGHT.

Just got a new muffler donated for her!

Nice handbag too mate - that's an original mod 

  I feel the man purse holds my cellphone nicely.

The chicks dig the coach too!

Finished reassembly and started it up (no muffler, waiting for repacking). Started on the first try! 

Bought a new (ok, 2nd hand - im a student!) alternator, and regulator/rectifier unit.
Oh, and bought a soldering iron to get rid of loads of connectors which the PO put in the wiring harness...

 Apologies if this I shouldn't be asking a question here, but I don't like making new threads for small stuff and this is more of a general mod thread by the looks of it.

I'm looking to purchase some aftermarket bars and just wanted to make sure the wiki was 100% about them. The bars are the Suburban Machinery Type 1 bars and I have a 1990 GS500(E) and by the looks of things everything will fit just fine, right? I heard some issues about the brake reservoir hitting but if that's all then I'll probably jump on these.

And one other thing I'm looking for recommendations on is a bar end mirror that will fit in the bars. I don't like the look of the Napoleons and the CRGs are really expensive if I want the adapter.

Quote from: Watevaman on January 29, 2012, 01:45:38 PM
Apologies if this I shouldn't be asking a question here, but I don't like making new threads for small stuff and this is more of a general mod thread by the looks of it.

I'm looking to purchase some aftermarket bars and just wanted to make sure the wiki was 100% about them. The bars are the Suburban Machinery Type 1 bars and I have a 1990 GS500(E) and by the looks of things everything will fit just fine, right? I heard some issues about the brake reservoir hitting but if that's all then I'll probably jump on these.

And one other thing I'm looking for recommendations on is a bar end mirror that will fit in the bars. I don't like the look of the Napoleons and the CRGs are really expensive if I want the adapter.

If you don't like the look of the Naps, you can get the knock off CRGs found on ebay.  I'm presently torn between the EMGOs (Nap style) and the knock-offs.  They can be had on ebay for <$20, and I've heard good things.  My suggestion?  Go ahead and buy the knock-offs, and if you really like them, save up and buy the CRGs.

took bike for MOT yesterday and passed even with a hole in exhaust blowing on the back brake pipe, told to get it fixed for next time. it was 7am cold wet and he must of been in a good mood.   hole now fixed.

boggy