Hello Folks, I bought a 99' (according to the PO) GS500e last spring as my first bike. And let me tell you, it was one hell of a year! I put in about 7k through commuting and touring the upper peninsula of Michigan and learned my limits the hard way by dumping it at speed around a gravel laden twist in the road (major humbling experience ). I love how simple the bike is and, compared to my buddies' Ninja 900, how light and maneuverable it is. While I am looking to add a DL1000 to the garage in the future for long tours around the states, I think I will be holding onto the GS as an around town bike that (fingers crossed) shouldn't cost me a fortune to maintain.

So anyways, I do have a couple questions for you more experienced folks. Please keep in mind that I am a major rookie when it comes to motorcycle maintenance.

In the first two photos that I have attached, you can see on the engine what looks to me like some oil/road grime. Other than ascetics, could this mean that i have an oil leak somewhere on the bike? Is this something that is common or should cause me any concern?



Also, in the final photo you will see a (admittedly crappy) photo of my rear shock.


I went to adjust my pre-load this morning and noticed that it does not look like the other OEM shocks that I have seen on the GS500 Wiki, in that it does not have that collar where the spanner wrench is inserted. Is this just a different rear shock model or did the previous owner possibly change it out for a different model. You may have to explain this all to me like I am 5. Thank you for any help and advice!<>

Yes, that is an oil leak, maybe in a couple places... best way to know where it is coming from is to clean it up with some engine degreaser, rinse, and dry.  Then sprinkle baby powder on the engine, run it for a few minutes, and keep an eye on where a line of oil comes from.  Look like you may have a leak at the valve cover and the head gasket, but the baby powder trick should point the way.

The shock, its really quite hard to tell you what shock it is only seeing the bottom edge of it... but it is not stock... at first I thought SV650, but adjuster is wrong end, so that is throwing me off... I'm not sure what it came from only seeing that section of it.

- Bboy

Your pics weren't showing, here they are.  Yep, that's not a GS500 rear shock.

That's not a Kat or SV shock, might be a R6 shock, see wiki pics.

http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.RearShock

Thank you for the advice. I am going to try and degrease the beast and see if I can locate the source of the leak. Are leaks common with these bikes?

 Well, I just washed the bike and it looks great but... it won't start! . I am guessing i created a short somewhere or maybe (is this possible?!) got the air filter wet? I am going to let it dry out over the next 24hr and see if that helps.

See if you got water in the plug caps and check if spark plug wires are tight in coils, they should be bonded tight in the coils and won't turn if OK.  They can be reached to check without removing tank.

So what is it doing or not doing when it won't start? Is it not turning over ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: robfriedenberger on April 03, 2014, 12:59:46 PM
So what is it doing or not doing when it won't start? Is it not turning over ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The lights turn on and the engine cranks but  no ignition.

Pull your plugs and ground them to the block check for spark when you turn it over. If you have weak or little spark charge et battery and try again, if you got good spark, spray a little starter fluid down the cylinder and try to start it if it dose any thing then you it fuel issues


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: robfriedenberger on April 03, 2014, 04:20:56 PM
Pull your plugs and ground them to the block check for spark when you turn it over. If you have weak or little spark charge et battery and try again, if you got good spark, spray a little starter fluid down the cylinder and try to start it if it dose any thing then you it fuel issues

Well, it has been a day and the bike is running perfectly on the first try. I honestly think i need to replace the rubber caps that sit over the spark plugs. From what I can tell, a bit of water got into there and must have caused a short. I dried them off and waited over night and it did the trick.

Quote from: R.macwill on April 04, 2014, 02:35:17 PM

Quote from: robfriedenberger on April 03, 2014, 04:20:56 PM
Pull your plugs and ground them to the block check for spark when you turn it over. If you have weak or little spark charge et battery and try again, if you got good spark, spray a little starter fluid down the cylinder and try to start it if it dose any thing then you it fuel issues

Well, it has been a day and the bike is running perfectly on the first try. I honestly think i need to replace the rubber caps that sit over the spark plugs. From what I can tell, a bit of water got into there and must have caused a short. I dried them off and waited over night and it did the trick.

Maybe not pushed down all the way?
Sometimes people forget to remove the little screw on cap from the plugs. Top of plug should be just a threaded shaft. If the thingie was not removed, you'd have poor connection and water would act like an insulator in there.

Clean the plugs, the caps. Apply some dielectric grease


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk