Has anyone taken a GS for a long tour? If so, how was it and is there anything I should do to the bike before I go.

I'm sure there are a number of folks who have...but the one person that comes to mind immediately is Kerry...track him down...he is full of great info

Well, I don't know what you consider long, but I just got back from a 350 mile ride. To me, thats a pretty long time on a motorcycle. The main thing to check is probably oil and air pressure in you tire. Check the chain to just in case.

cwgs500,

To answer your specific question, I didn't find it necessary to do anything TO my bike for the long rides I've done.  All 3 of my 3000+ mile tours have been on a '99 GS500E that's just about as stock as you can get.

On the first trip I had an oversized rear tire (because I didn't know any better).  On the 2nd and 3rd trips I had a large windshield, hard luggage bags, and an in-airbox K&N replacement air filter (with restrictor installed to perform like the stock paper filter).  My bike has never been rejetted or otherwise modified in the engine and exhaust departments.  I have retained the stock sprocket ratios, and at-or-near stock tire sizes (except for that first 130/90-17 rear tire that I was talked into as a newbie).

But maybe that's not what you were asking.  Did you just want to know what kinds of maintenance you should do before setting out?

1) Depending on how long the trip will be, you may want to change your oil and filter.  My trips matched up pretty well with the standard 3000-mile interval, so I changed my oil and filter before and after each trip.  (Make sure to take along an extra quart or two, and check the oil every other time you stop for gas.)

2) Like 96gs said, make sure the tires have the correct pressure when you start out and every other time you stop for gas.  (33 lbs in the front, 36-38 lbs in the rear depending on the amount of luggage you carry)

3) Check the amount of chain slack, and make sure it's set correctly before you leave.  Again, if you're going on a multi-thousand mile trip you should prepare to adjust the chain slack on the road.

4) Pack a can of chain lube, and lube the chain once a day.  In the evening is probably a better time than in the morning, because the chain will be all warmed up.  Just make it part of your "unloading" procedure.

That's about it!  There are lots of other "small" things that you could check over, but they're all standard items that you should have been doing anyway.  (If you don't have a repair manual, see the Maintenance Schedule here on the GStwin.com site.)

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Take a look at my website (the link in my signature below) to see the kinds of things I have tried on my bike.  You won't find any performance mods ... just ideas to make travelling more "do-able".  (Luggage, throttle retainer, etc.)  You will also find pages describing some of my longer trips, with photos and narration.  (I really need to finish up the maps and photos for the May 2002 - British Columbia I trip!)

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To finish up, here are some links to a few miscellaneous GStwin.com message threads:

Philosophizing on the concept of riding long distances (see my 2nd post)
wish me luck

Comments on windshields and packing the bike
Question for Kerry

General advice on taking long trips
Preparing for long trips

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If you have any specific questions (about stuff to bring, or camping, or cooking, or whatever), fire 'em off!

Otherwise, GOOD LUCK!

Kerry doesn't wash his bike.  He thinks all the dirt, bugs and grime keep his bike held together on those long trips  :lol:

There's your travel tip of the day!  Go Kerry!  

Hey Kerry, all of us here know that your the guy to come to to talk about tours. Here's my question. What is the most miles you've racked up in one day. I figure you might be able to get an "Iron Butt" award.

The most I have done in one day.. 425miles.

I have done 300+ miles no problems.

Today to Inifieon and back was 160 miles.. wasnt too bad but it was raining and by the end i was shaZam! cold. This is with my First Gear REV-X jacket and Fieldsheer Cobra riding pants (rain pants). THe legs were warm.. but my jacket was a bit soaked..  even though it was water proof, it did let a bit of dampness in and that was cold with teh wind.. mostly my arms were cold.. chest and stuff was nice and warm.

Quote from: cwgs500Has anyone taken a GS for a long tour? If so, how was it and is there anything I should do to the bike before I go.

My wife and I have returned from our trip just a week ago.  The GS covered 6097kms in three weeks with most of the riding on open roads, straight and twisty (in Australia)

Prior to the trip we serviced and tuned the bike (equiv to a 12,000km service).  We knew that new tyres would be needed about halfway into the trip, this wasn't to be a problem as we would be in a major city about then.  The bike already has front progressive springs that improve the handling but aren't essential.

The bike covered the distance without a hitch (clutch lever did break-off when it fell over one day).  We could pretty much sit on 120km/hr all day.  The only time we felt the GS lacked in some get up and go was overtaking some of the long trucks at speed.  If you treat the bike well and don't thrash it you should easily get there and back.  With a Ventura bag rack and a tank bag we could carry all the clothes and a few extra bits.

For preperation I suggest:
1. Service / Tune the bike (new oil, filters, spark plugs etc)
2. On items that wear like tyres and brakes make sure they will go the distance or plan when you will replace them on the road
3. Make sure the chain is clean, adjusted and take chain lube which you use daily.  I used the spray-on type from Belray but will go back to a SAE 90 oil as the other stuff builds up too fast and is a bastard to clean.
4. Fit a windscreen for some wind and bug protection (we hit a 100km locust swarm - pretty discusting)
5. Take spare engine oil as the GS did use oil and needed about ~300ml every 3,000 kms
6. Make sure you know how to adjust the idle revs as we found in some areas this needed adjustment as we climbed higher etc.

Hope you get away soon - a long bike tour is a must do thing in my book after finishing this one .

Cheers
Conrad

All the above except during the ride regularly check vital bolts for vibrating loose and check the oil every 500 km's. I sometimes had 0.5 litre oil consumption every 1000 km's especially on the highway so make sure to keep it topped up.

Quote from: 96gsHey Kerry [...] What is the most miles you've racked up in one day. I figure you might be able to get an "Iron Butt" award.

Nope, I haven't done anything THAT crazy yet.   1,000 miles in 24 hrs?  I'd have to have a DARN good reason to try it!

But here's a long-ago post about my longest day so far....
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=20722#20722

[Edit: I (finally) added a map to that long-ago post.  Check it out!  Can you tell that I avoid the freeway whenever possible?]

Thanks everybody. You have been most helpful. I'm heading down to Ohio for the superbike race in July and hope to see some of you there.