After I got the bike back from them the bike started up very quickly and ran great. No problems whatsoever and then all of a sudden after it sat for two or so days outside in the rain  the noise was happening and it refused to start. Put the tank back on and the air box back on but no filter in and it seemed to start up with no real problems. Didn't let it run long because I had to go. I'm at a loss for what was causing that noise. Didn't seem to hear it when it started

Not sure if anyone mentioned checking the oil level.
Carbs could be leaking and when bike sits, gas gets into the cylinders and oil.

Sorry. Just an update I don't know what I did but it runs just as good as it did now. Took out the air box and what not checked all the vacuum hoses and what not the carb boots also. Everything seemed fine and yes it was running well for a week after the carb sync. Going to keep an eye on it but everything seems fine. I personally think the vacuum to the tank from the carb was pinched or something so it was sucking for air. But I don't know very much about bikes so who knows. Random question does anyone know if 04+ fairings fit on all the 04+ bikes. Want to put fairings on my bike now and need to make sure I don't need specifically 07 fairings. Thanks

Uhh I think you got a problem and  adidasguy is right, check the float height.

Yes, all 04+ fairings are the same.

Okay when I get a chance I will check it. A little harder living in an apartment than at home with a garage. I hope they are not leaking they used to but both carbs were rebuilt and I hope I didn't pay all that money for them to make it worse. Thanks guys

Do you think that I still need to do a compression test to check the valve clearance or whatever? The bike has 14k miles and I'm not quite sure when bikes are due for an adjustment if that's a regular thing.

GS valve check interval recommended in the manual is every 4k miles after initial service.

- Bboy

BockinBboy is right, you need to check your valves. Write down the millage and specs, than check it again in 2k to make sure every thing is ok, after that you can check it every 4k.

Compression test is like a fitness test for your cylinders most of the time it will show major issues, but if it's running it has at least 90psi.


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Where is the tools to check it? I watched a video by Baltimore gs on how to do it but I don't know where to get the shims to do it or where to get the sticks to check the clearance

Local auto or hardware store will have feeler gauges (sticks) and Allen keys. You should be able to get them for less than $10 if you go for good ones. Shims you can he them from your local stealership or online


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Okay cool thanks. Another question I noticed this while riding today. When in sixth gear idk if it was because it was really windy or if this is just how the bike is but it seemed that if I tried to go full throttle nothing happened. But if I started to slowly turn the throttle and keep that going it would accelerate. That normal? Or do I need to check something

Yeah some thing isn't right, even at 90mph in sixth some thing should happen no matter how much gas you give it. At those speeds id think to lean, or fuel starvation


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Yeah that's what I was thinking but the carbs were just rebuilt and new air filter was just put in. It didn't happen in any of the other gears only 6th. Which makes me believe that it could be something with the clutch plates? or maybe the oil inside not being warm enough? I don't know. I checked the oil level and it seemed fine. If I dropped down a gear to 5th everything seemed fine to me. Haven't had any problems since but I don't ride of the highway often if I can avoid it

Hrrrm ... may not be as much of a problem as it seems??

depending on your speed when going full throttle in 6th ... 6th gear is essentially an overdrive ratio (as many have mentioned on the site) .. and with the 'torrent of power' that the GS500 doesnt exactly have .. it can just be simple wind resistance??

i can and have been doing 160kph/100mph (indicated) in 6th gear.. twist the throttle open and it does accelerate... but very leisurely!!! and refuses to get much above 170kph/105mph.. click it down into 5th and WOT and it will then wind up to 185-190ish kph/115-120mph (indicated) ... which is also darn close to redline mark on the tach .. but its still not leaping up to that speed!!! ... quite a few white dotted centrelines go past in the meantime!


at lower and legal-er speeds there of course is less wind resistance .. but in 6th gear .. dont expect anything like the same amount of pull in the lower gears!!

i dont think the problem being in 6th only would change anything with the clutch plates or oil temps

carbs rebuilt?... with what jets?... ask buddha for relevance of jet sizes!?

going WOT in 6th may be messing with the mixture vs whats possible/rich/lean kinda thing... while easing it on steady may be keeping your mixture more useable?? ...

or as you said .. it was really windy ... cross wind stumble? that is then exacerbated by dumping the throttle open and flooding or leaning it out?

i dunno exactly what the tech of it is.... but i do know i use 6th for rolling along the freeway or cruising the burbs at low (quiet) rpm ... if i need to 'play' then i use 2nd to 5th gear ... 1st only for getting moving or the very occasional tight corner....

the engine in these things is not a superbike or fuel injected anything!! ... and never will be!... its a nice little powerplant that keeps purring with proper treatment/maintenance!! ....

i do rev mine hard semi frequently though, remembering that i will never keep up with the mates on a straight line drag.... and then that they keep on getting in my way on twisty roads because they are lugging their big heavy bikes with higher inertia and mass around those corners...

just my .... (counting)..... well i guess about 17 cents worth!??