Hey all,

I'm a brand new rider and just bought my first GS500F yesterday. 
I think I got a GREAT deal on the bike.
2009 with 500 miles in perfect conditon GS500F in black for 3495 out the door.
I was deciding between that -- the CBR250 or the ninja 250. I opted for the GS500F because it's a great bike and will give me enough power when I'm ready to use it on the highway.
I brought it back to Connecticut from the dealer in Jersey and within the first ride, I stalled many times and dropped the bike once-- allowing the hand brake to not stay in place.  Also the front turn signal light came loose and doesn't stay in place. I was going to bring it to a dealer to have it checked out and even ordered a new hand brake

Do you guys think I made the right choice in a bike. I dropped the bike because it was too heavy and I was on an incline and was trying to start it up again. Made me think I shouldve gone for the 250? The 500F is a heavier bike.

It's my first bike and I know I have to get a feel for it. I also just finished motorcycle school. --- so I'm learning.

Also -- have a few questions---

Any idea on how I can do the repairs?   Should I bring it to a trusted mechanic?
Also -- How do I know if it needs an oil change? And also how do I know when I should refill the gas?
Also -- any saddlebags or side cases you recommend for helmet storage on the bike?

Thanks in advance guys !   Happy to be in this community so far!

Chapaloo

Hey chapaloo.

The GS500 was and is my first bike I think it's probably the best bike to learn on. Sorry to hear that you dropped it but to be honest I think most people drop there first bike.
When you say the hand break are you talking about to rear brake? The pedal brake.
As for the oil change it should be done every 12 months when I got mine it came with the service history telling me when the oil was last changed did your have this?
With Gas there are 2 ways 1, refill when you have to switch it to reserved I found that its just behind me left leg and I can change it while riding. The other way is I found I get about 350k's before I have to switch to reserve so I just fill up when I get to around 300k's.
The helmet storage I'm not sure on I take my helmet with me but I think there are 2 helmet loops under the seat that you can attach the helmet to

you dropped it from inexperience, nothing to do with model, weight, or type of bike. don't worry, you'll drop it less as you ride more.
your can repair the plastics and signals with jbweld, or buy new parts, but new parts are expensive. and then there is the part about dropping the bike a lot as a new rider.
its not a big deal, let the plastics be for a while. cosmetics are nothin.

dealers are called stealerships for a reason. what you can do in your garage for $20 they'll charge $400 for, and do poorly if even close to right at all.

keep in mind if nothing broke off, and no oil is leaking, the bike is likely fine to ride again.

check out rider training courses, advanced versions, motogymkhana on youtube,  and similar tutorials.

the first time you hear "had to lay er down", walk away, the people talking are fools. bikes are meant to be up on two wheels.

and get some gear. real motorcycle boots, gloves, jacket and pants. it makes standing up and walking a joy after a simple get off.


you can find parts on ebay. the gs has been around since 1989, don't let "new" parts burn your wallet .

Brake and clutch levers are easy to change yourself. Just watch the videos and you;ll know everything about it.

Here's a list. Continue through the video thread and you'll find a few more listed.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58403.msg662999#msg662999

Chapaloo, IMHO the GS500 is the perfect learner bike. You have made a good choice. But she is heavy. Once she starts to go down ya gotta be pretty quick to catch her. Even out shopping today, with a bit of a heavy load in the rear pack/panniers, I had a rough stop - my bad - and one of those "don't let her drop" moments. It's part of living with the bike.

Most embarrassing I've had was on an up-slope in a parking area with a give-way to a car on the right (I'm in Oz) situation. Slow, grabbed the front brake too hard, down she started to go to the right, strutted her up against my right leg and found myself in total equilibrium - not prepared to let it drop and without the strength/posture to rebalance the bike. Mouthing away to the car driver for help, I found that extra gram of adrenaline fuelled energy to slowly push her back to a normal position.

So there ya are, you've got a great learner bike and you're just experience the realities of GS500 ownership.

What ohgood and  adid said +++

Sorry to hear the side of the bike touched the ground, but it's a learning experience none the less.


My first bike was a 1982 Suzuki GS650GL; mostly steel and chrome, 4 cylinder engine, shaft drive, dual exhaust, and luggage rack.

After switching to my GS500, with all it's aluminum and plastic, 2 cylinder engine, chain drive, single exhaust, and no rack, I feel it's light as a feather!

Where I used to have to give a good grunt and lean hard to pop my 650 up on the center stand, I can basically just pick up the rear end of my GS500 


I did almost drop my 650.  Didn't let it warm up enough before taking it out, was trying to get into traffic quickly by starting the turn while I was letting the clutch out, engine stalled and the bike was already leaning over.  It lurched, started to fall, and I shot my leg out as far as I could get it and caught the bike.  A hard lean, a few cusses, adrenaline straight to my left leg, and I had it balanced up again 

Haven't done anything close to that again!




Just ride within your limits, take it slow, and work that clutch!  Master the clutch and master the bike.

Also, see if there are any free classes by you.  Here in Illinois, there is a state subsidized series of motorcycle education classes that costs $20 to reserve a seat which is refunded after the class (20hrs of instruction).  Beginner class for complete newbies, intermediate for people who have ridden before, and advanced for people that have bikes and want furthered instruction on more complicated maneuvers.

Good tips and techniques all the way around.  The best part?  It's free!   






To answer some of your questions, how do you know if it needs an oil change?  Well, #1, when you check the oil and it's a dark brown or almost black color, it's in good need of a change.  But, the bike won't tell you, so you should keep a schedule.
Keep an eye on the odometer.  Much like a car, there is a recommended interval for oil changes on motorcycles.
I just keep it the same for convenience, every 3 months or 3000 miles.  Since I have cold winters here in Chicago, I usually change the oil in the spring before I start riding, once mid-summer, and then a final time before I put the bike into storage.

Can you get by once a year?  Yes, but oil is cheap, easy to change yourself, and fresh oil ensures engine longevity.

As a rule of thumb, one of the first things I do when I buy a used vehicle is change the oil myself because I don't know the condition, type, or quantity of oil the previous owner used.


As long as you're fuel valve (petcock) works, it should have a "prime", "on", and "reserve" position.  "On" is your typical, well, on position.  But it won't allow you to run the tank empty.
When the bike starts to sputter and lose power, it's a dead giveaway that you are running out of gas.  Flip the fuel valve to "reserve" and head towards the nearest gas station to fill up.
It's a good idea that when you fill up you should zero the trip odometer.  When you run the tank to reserve, look at how many miles you went and remember that.

Including the reserve supply I can go about 150 miles on a tank with my bike.  Your results may vary.




When you pop your seat off, there are two hooks on the frame on either side that point "in" towards the middle of the bike.  Hang your helmet by the strap on one of the hooks, and replace the seat.
Now no one will steal the helmet!

If you actually want a bag to store the helmet I have no recommendations, but for a cheap saddle bag see if you can hang something off of one of the helmet hooks.  I went to a local military surplus store and found a medic bag with a "grab loop" on top, and it serves my purpose well.



My bag has a large-ish main compartment and 2 smaller compartments that fold out.  I can fit a grand total of 4 cans of soda or 2 bottles of soda/water/gatorade in the 2 smaller compartments, and I can comfortably fit a bag from a fast-food establishment with 2 burgers and 2 orders of fries in the larger compartment.  I also keep some zip-ties and some bungee cords in there.

It's an idea if you're on a budget.

Quote from: Chapaloo on June 15, 2013, 10:45:01 PM
Hey all,

I'm a brand new rider and just bought my first GS500F yesterday. 
I think I got a GREAT deal on the bike.
2009 with 500 miles in perfect conditon GS500F in black for 3495 out the door.
I was deciding between that -- the CBR250 or the ninja 250. I opted for the GS500F because it's a great bike and will give me enough power when I'm ready to use it on the highway.
I brought it back to Connecticut from the dealer in Jersey and within the first ride, I stalled many times and dropped the bike once-- allowing the hand brake to not stay in place.  Also the front turn signal light came loose and doesn't stay in place. I was going to bring it to a dealer to have it checked out and even ordered a new hand brake

Do you guys think I made the right choice in a bike. I dropped the bike because it was too heavy and I was on an incline and was trying to start it up again. Made me think I shouldve gone for the 250? The 500F is a heavier bike.

It's my first bike and I know I have to get a feel for it. I also just finished motorcycle school. --- so I'm learning.

Also -- have a few questions---

Any idea on how I can do the repairs?   Should I bring it to a trusted mechanic?
Also -- How do I know if it needs an oil change? And also how do I know when I should refill the gas?
Also -- any saddlebags or side cases you recommend for helmet storage on the bike?

Thanks in advance guys !   Happy to be in this community so far!

Chapaloo

Ok first up welcome, second you have made a fine choice in the bike this thing if you take care of it will outlast religion. Since your fairly new to bikes if you can't get to addy's bike cave I think it's best to get a shop to fix your bike up. Don't feel bad about dropping your bike, everyone does it. Next get yourself a Haynes manual or clymer and it will give you heaps of info on your service schedule. By ghe sounds of it you'll be due for an oil change at 1000 miles. Lots of helpful info here search and ask away.

Also fitting a set of oggie knobs or an engine crash bar is no bad idea. Changing your oil yourself is super easy but do not over tighten the three nuts securing the filter housing. The studs break as soon as look at you. Lots of help and advice around here 4 u.

Its Fathers Day so HFD to all of our dads out there.

Secondly, I don't like having to remove or edit posts. But I had to edit one and remove others that were not about this topic. I'm not going to call names. A hit dog will always holler.

But if I or another Admin or Mod have to keep editing and removing posts then were going to start doing more than editing or removing posts. Keep negative comments to yourself. If it isn't about helping a member or rider with whatever issue they might have, then chances are, the comment isn't needed.

Maybe this will make you feel a bit better.  The GS500 is also my first bike and I dropped it before I even owned it.  That has to be some kind record.  I agree with everyone else.  Its an awesome first bike.  Forget about the 250s.  I posted this a few months ago:

"So here's a funny (read embarrassing) story especially for you new riders out there.  It might make you feel better if you do something even remotely as rookie as this.  I bought my GSF (first motorcycle) in November through a local dealer and after deciding I was going to buy it, the sales dude goes inside to get started on the paper work leaving my girlfriend and I to ogle at the bike a bit longer out on the lot. 

The bike was on the center stand and me being new, decided to push the bike down off the stand while standing beside the bike. You know where I'm going with this right?  Yep, down goes the bike hard on the right side with me falling on top of it in a doggy style sort of way, not inches from the neighbouring bike and girlfriend giggling away behind me.  This, before money even left my wallet.   Needless to say, my ego shrank just a little that day and have had battle scars on the bike since day 0.  It ended up with what seems to be the ubiquitous turn signal through the fairing break and a scratched mirror.  Not too bad all things considered but man! What a start!"

Don't worry about it OP. Inexperience is what you caused you to drop it, not the weight. The GS is practically a featherweight in the modern world thankfully. I dropped mine twice. Once 2 days into ownership, was walking it from the yard to the driveway and found a wet spot... No damage thankfully. Then about 6 months later I dropped it on my buddies driveway. Thought I got the kick stand all the way extended, didn't actually. I was doing all  I could to take it down slowly, but still bent the clutch lever and put a tiny scrape in my mirror.

Then I sold the GS, bought a '94 gixxer 750 (read: retarded heavy in comparison, like 460 pounds, top heavy too). Dropped that a month into ownership when my now ex hopped off the back. I was about to start pushing the bike backwards into a parking spot, and the 3 second pause I guess signalled to her time to dismount lol. Could have saved it, but I had been a squid on the way there and didn't have my boots on, so my foot kept ending up standing beside the sole of the shoe. Set it down gently, only added 1 scratch to it, but I'll be danged if it doesn't knock your ego back a few notches every freaking time!

So moral of the story: We've all done it, it's normal, pick it up and ride into the sunset 

When I got my 92 a few months ago I was learning to ride by myself. Never had a full clutch outside of a car and not too long after recovering from a snapped collarbone. I almost dropped her at least 3 times, once stalling as I started a turn. And yesterday I almost did it again. I interrupted my normal parking routine and forgot my kickstand......luckily I had that "oh crap don't fall" strength to muscle her back up. It was embarrassing when my friend had just gotten off the back and watched the whole thing with her aunt.

The bike does feel heavy at first but as you ride you'll get used to it and it'll be a feather. If you go through the posts you'll find stories of members who dropped their bikes, things happen. It may hurt your ego but most things can be fixed.

Welcome to the world of riding, the veterans may poke fun but many have been where we noobies are. Keep at it and good luck, I'm sure you'll learn to love this bike.

I dropped my Honda ST1300 because I thought I could muscle it back up like I have when I almost dropped my GS.  My GS actually dropped itself.  It was warming up in the driveway and decided to leave without me (rolled off the kickstand).  The fall caused a dent in the tank from the handlebar end smacking it and the float needle in one of the carbs dislodged and started leaking.  I got all of that sorted out, but I learned a valuable lesson about where I can and can't leave the bike warming up.  I love the GS.  It was my first bike and I ride it more often than the bigger bike.  Hang in there and ride it like you plan to keep it forever.  Welcome!

Side stand is so important to think about and remember all time. Motorcycle very happy to roll away from sidestand on hill. Sometimes engine vibration when on a cold day you are letting her get all warm pushes it off side stand. Then, bango. So be aware of your side stand. Good tip 4 us..

Thanks you all SOO much. It feels so good to have this type of support for a first rider.

Any thoughts on the right front light?

It's loose -- not staying in the socket...

Is there something I can install ?

I saw a bent piece of plastic (looks like it holds it in place).

Thanks!

Also, should I invest in flush mounts instead?

Don't feel bad.  My wife dropped her bike going from the dealer to the insurance company.  The dropped it while parking right in front of their window. 

Not to be outdone ...she also dropped her bike INTO my brand new truck with only 100 miles on it giving it a nice big dent in the fender recently.

Her new Sorento was less than a week old when a lady backed into it and borked the bumper.  She had no insurance and disappeared leaving us to end up paying for the bill.

Do you see a common thread here?  She is bad luck with new vehicles.

So yeah, don't feel too bad Chap...
Last week I dropped someone else's bike.
It wasn't pretty. I felt like a moron.
-Ej-

P.S. Please don't let anyone know though. OK?
Thanks.

This has turned into a confession session.... So I'll join in, b/c it's fun like therapy... :-/

I dropped mine in the garage the first night I had it home.   Muscled it up and the wife comes out, WHAT was that noise.... Oh nothing! LOL.
Second drop was in a parking lot on one of my first rides. I was practicing going super slow and learning balance while turning. Counterweighting and all. It stalled and fell over, no biggie.   

Good thing of buying a used first bike, mine already had some scratches and broken plastic.

OP - good luck, do some reading and watching vids. It's easy to do the oil and just rig up that blinker till you drop it again and really break it. J/K.  Peace.

Quote from: Electrojake on June 17, 2013, 04:52:52 PM
So yeah, don't feel too bad Chap...
Last week I dropped someone else's bike.
It wasn't pretty. I felt like a moron.
-Ej-

P.S. Please don't let anyone know though. OK?
Thanks.

yes .. but you are OUR moron EJ!! .. and we shall keep it on the QT .. promise! 

Quote from: GatorTrae on June 17, 2013, 05:17:11 PM

This has turned into a confession session.... So I'll join in, b/c it's fun like therapy... :-/

Let me understand this...
You want us to confess about every bike-drop that we ever did since birth? 

Somebody get me a priest, this is gonna be a looong post!