Well, after weeks of searching and talking to different bikes, we've adopted a 1989 gs500 with 5000 showin on the clock. The bike actually looks like it came off the showroom floor. A local dealer has had it for about 6 years and we decided to give it a home. Having them put new tires and fork seals in before we bring home. Just hope this is going to be a happy bike, BTW, hi to all, this is our first post. What do others think of the '89 model? Any problems should look out for? Thanx for all the info.

Welcome to the forum.  Lots of great folks here to share your GS stories and questions with. My GS experience is limited to my '93' so I can't say if there are many differences with the '89'. Mine was a garage queen too when I got it last year, 10 years old and only 3700 miles. Other than dry rotted tires, leaking fork seals, and a brittle fuel valve diaphram time didn't seem to have been to unkind to it.

This is a very fun motorcycle, I think you made a wise choice.

Welcome!

An '89 huh? You've got the original!

Oh yea 89, is it white .... If so you Immediately want to sell all the white pieces to a guy named Srinath... Right on this web site... He's a sucker that buys all the white 89 stuff... If not, and its Black then you Immediately want to sell all the Black pieces to a guy named Srinath... Right on this web site... He's a sucker that buys all the black 89 stuff ....
ha ha....
Enjoy those true Clip on's, the aluminum linkage, the weirdly cut frame, no hole for the shock bolt, and the front frame section... The first 2 are mixed blessings... the next one is in consequential, the last 2 are just plain painful when you try various things... like swap shocks etc. Look at page 15 Wall of fame for the blue bike wiht black clip on's .... That's mine. 45K and still smoking... literally... so watch for oil useage... No smoke, just disappearing oil  :x . BTW that is a feature of the GS not just 89. Enjoy the fine bike.... and the fine website... just ignore the rants a bit till you get used to it.
Cool.
Srinath.

My '89 last time I saw it had about 75000 km, or about 46000 miles on it.

Was still running fine, needed a new exhaust, but that's about it.  Great bike, wish it were here  

Yes, the bike was unusual looking in that it was white and all forlorn back in the corner of their shop. It was next to an '89 vtr250 chicken hawk that also looked showroom. By the time we decided to try to make a deal on the two they had sold the chicken hawk. My bad...oh well. So if a person wants to change out the rear shock what would you have to do? Oh and BTW, when it starts from cold there is a ticking in the top-end that slowly dissipates as it warms up...any clue as to what that may be? Thanx for the responses and I hope I enjoy this machine. All my other bikes have been a Triumph 650 TR-6, '73 FLH, '77XLCH and a '79 SS750 Honda. This is going to be different for sure.

Oh That ticking... its just the time bomb that only I can defuse...
It might be normal... Valve ticking, they get louder and start clacking at a just off idle rpm... and that is when you need to sell it to me... Or do a valve adjustment.
Cool.
Srinath.