Hello Everyone.
My name is Matthew been looking for one of these since summer and finally came across one at an amazing price. It has 20k on it. New tires and new battery. Idled smoothly.
This bike is my first and I can't wait to ride it. But first I'd like to make sure everything is up to par mechanically.
I plan on changing the oil, and spark plugs right away.
I have a few small concerns maybe someone can help me with.
I don't see brake fluid in the indicator on the right handle bar.
Also oil seemed low as when I checked it it wasn't on indicator.
Lastly new battery seemed to be making a hissing noise while little acid coming out of one of the top circles


What do you think?
What else should I maintenance before I ride?
Worth the 950 I paid for it?

Welcome to the site man! $950 doesn't seem too bad at all, as long as it doesn't need a whole lot to get it back to 100%.

Find a service manual and go thru ALL the maintenance items first and foremost. Right off the bat I'd look at the brakes.... not seeing fluid is one thing, but that rubber brake hose is probably due to be replaced as well. Plan on changing the oil & filter, checking valve clearances, etc.

http://zkmc.org/pdf/GS500OwnersManual.pdf

Check the oil with the bike vertical, not on the side stand.

Seems like a d@mn fine price to me with new tires and if others things like fork seals, valves, petcock, are in good order. Like Rich said, go over everything (have you opened the master cylinder to look at the fluid?).

And ride 'er!!

Have fun. Welcome to the jungle.

Checked oil on the stand and I'm in good shape although it will still be changed.
Brake fluid is full. Just didn't notice the small bubble at the top.
I like the lunchbox air filter although I need to be rejetted?
Thanks in advance guys

From your picture it looks like a sock air box is on there so if you get a lunch box than yes you will need to re-jet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd say for the time being, hold off on upgrading the intake / exhaust / jetting. Make sure all the maintenance is up to snuff, and enjoy riding season.

Or at least wait until you have a rainy weekend with nothing else planned.....sometimes you'll run into a hiccup messing with the carbs that turns it from a 2 hour job to a 2 day job.

I always suggest getting carbs blessed before proceeding with any work...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Okay will perform maintenance first of course.
I noticed a lead on the left cylinder surrounding the spark plug.
I plan on changing them but is it something that I should be concerned with?

Lastly I had to re register for this website because it wasn't recognizing my email or user name.
Did I get kicked off or something?

I noticed recently some newer members are showing their accounts as guest - not sure what that is about, but it isn't a normal thing.  Maybe John has an answer to that... 

A note on the spark plug lead -    I'm confused as to what you are asking there

Battery - I don't know what would cause that specifically, but manage that ASAP.  That stuff is very corrosive, and will botch up any paint in a hurry - send rust into hyper speed, etc... make sure your battery 'vent' aka 'overflow' tube is attached and routed down below the bottom frame of the bike (usually its on left side, and goes straight down near the clutch foot lever) - you don't want that dripping on anything down there either.

You need a repair manual - Haynes or Clymer or both, mostly personal preference but either will certainly handle what you need.

I would suggest bleeding the brakes with new fluid at a minimum (new lines would be best, especially if they are original - repair and owner's manuals say bleed fluid every two years, replace lines every four years)  Take care with brake fluid as well - will eat your paint better than a window licker on the short bus...

Other general maintenance things to do on a bike new to your stable:  Clean air filter, replace spark plugs, check valves (GS500 valve check interval is every 4k miles), change oil/filter, inspect brake pads for wear/replace if needed, lube clutch and choke cables, inspect chain and sprockets (clean and lube chain or replace chain and sprockets if needed), ensure all lights/bulbs are working and replace as needed (don't forget to check both front and rear brake light function and turn signal function), check horn function (as useless as it may seem at times, it does have its purpose)

Some thing I saw in pic you may want to find replacement for is a missing bar end on your brake side (can't see the other side), and your brake lever is broken (not a huge deal, but its nice to have a full lever)



- Bboy

Edit:  Going through everything even though it may look okay will help ensure that it really is, will help you get to know your bike, and will help you spot anything else that may be a concern.

Quote from: GS Fan on April 14, 2014, 07:56:14 AM
Lastly I had to re register for this website because it wasn't recognizing my email or user name.
Did I get kicked off or something?

Oh nos!! Heartbleed strikes again!!!

I forget the details but it seems you have to post 3 times before you become a full member.  It has to do with stopping spammers I think.  Note that OP's first 2 posts are marked guest and the 3rd one is not and counts as his 1st post as a member.  Should be good to go now.

Bboy I'm sorry I meant there is a small leak around spark plug I wanted to know how serious it was.
Will absolutely get a repair Book that should help me a lot.

Glad I'm officially a member because I'm really pleased with the bike thus far and plan on keeping it a while.
Happy to see there is a fourm with such awesome people!

So I've come to find realize there is no vent/overflow tube at all on this battery.
Seems there is only a plug causing it to release the pressure through the top.
How can I acquire this tube?
This battery was replaced before I bought the bike and the tube was not attached

Congrats, man. I'm jealous

Well, determine whether or not it is a lead acid battery or AGM.

Lead acid would require the drain tube, and AGM would not.  Lead acid usually has plugs on top which you can refill, AGM is completely sealed.  The stock tube is black rubber, but Yuasa (lead acid) batteries come with what just looks like clear vinyl tubing - which could be found at any hardware store.

For the leak around the spark plug - you'll want to confirm exactly where it is coming from.  If it isn't obvious, you can clean it off with engine degreaser or brake cleaner (just don't touch and rubber or electrical with it), dry it off, then sprinkle baby powder on the engine.  The leak will show up and lead you to the source.  Once you know exactly where it is from, you can see how much trouble it will be to fix - whether its just a valve cover leak, or tach leak, or the dreaded head gasket leak, etc...

- Bboy

It is the lead acid battery and it has a sticker on top that says remove plug as well as the caps for refilling.

If the plug is removed will anything leak out?
Anyone have a picture of routing or length this tube should be?

The engine is very clean and it clearly seems as if it is coming from directly under the spark plug.
I'm changing he plugs anyways. Hopefully the issue doesn't persist.
Anyone have an idea on what this could be?