found this. have a look at it
gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=48872.msg551349#msg551349

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 11, 2015, 09:31:30 PM
found this. have a look at it
gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=48872.msg551349#msg551349

thanks!

Do you also happen to know where I can find bolts and rivets for the fairings? My fairings are missing 1 bolt and 1 rivet. I went to Lowe's and bought a 1/4" rivet, and it was too thick. That seems to be their smallest size.

Also, since I dropped the bike a few times the fairings have cracked around the front turning signals. My research shows me that the best way to fix cracked fairings is plastic welding, but I don't have proper materials for this. Is there a better/cheaper way to fix this?

thanks again,
  Serge

perhaps fibreglass and epoxy. unsure on this though.

Quote from: ziggyjoe21 on September 14, 2015, 10:15:38 AM

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 11, 2015, 09:31:30 PM
found this. have a look at it
gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=48872.msg551349#msg551349

thanks!

Do you also happen to know where I can find bolts and rivets for the fairings? My fairings are missing 1 bolt and 1 rivet. I went to Lowe's and bought a 1/4" rivet, and it was too thick. That seems to be their smallest size.

My Kawasaki ZZR fell over when I was washing her.  I was devastated because the fairings were cracked.  I actually fixed them by first roughing up and cleaning the inside of the fairing and then using fibreglass tape and lots of super glue to reinforce the repair I would make on the top.  After that was dry I flipped  them over and sanded the crap out of the fracture lines and ran some glue down them.  Last stage was another sand and a skim fill with some flexible body filler. 

Because the repair only cost me $20 AUD I saved the other $200 to have them painted professionally.  bike is still going and you can't see my repair.

Jimmy

(Ive since done the left hand side cover of my GS tail with the superglue and gauze method (because I ran out of fibreglass)  The repair was done on top be the previous owner but the cracks are still apparent underneath. as it can't be seen I use the glue and mat as an "insurance".



Also, since I dropped the bike a few times the fairings have cracked around the front turning signals. My research shows me that the best way to fix cracked fairings is plastic welding, but I don't have proper materials for this. Is there a better/cheaper way to fix this?

thanks again,
  Serge

I found a video on youtube where a guy fixed his cracked fairings by gluing it together with ABS cement (the stuff that's used for ABS and PVC piping). Judging from the comments, it seemed to have worked. I may give this a try, especially since the stuff isn't expensive.

Another newbie question..... what kind of insurance do you guys carry? I just got basic insurance for $14 a month. If I want comprehensive and collision that'll jump up to $33 a month. Is it worth it?

so for insurance i am always with full coverage on my bikes not cause i fear myself but i fear the people around me, i pay like 200 all upfront for a year with full coverage and if you pay for the years you get a bit of a discount which is nice but you got to have the money then. So reason i see full coverage a good thing i just got my gs500 beginning of spring put full coverage on her and about half way through the season got hit by a car and my whole front end was badly damaged i still had 1700 to pay off on her, now i got to fix her and get parts.... well full coverage came through on that for me i got all my parts which came to 350$ for forks and triple tree then i got a check for 1450 cause i chose to keep the bike they took off the 250 deductible i had and parts so now i have her paid off fixed up and a few extra bucks in my pocket which paid for medical for my fractured wrist.
Enjoy the bike and glade to see another rider to the family.

Ziggy, insurance can vary greatly person to person, and region to region (you don't want to know what Canadians pay for motorcycle insurance....). Your best bet IMO is to contact local insurance agents and discuss your options with them. They will try to talk you into getting the most coverage you can afford for 2 reasons: first, that's how they make their money (naturally). The second reason is because when you need to use it, you can't have TOO much insurance.

IIRC, you are young, correct? You'll pay more for that but their may be discounts that you can still get. Good student discount, taking the MSF course, etc.

Quote from: Big Rich on September 16, 2015, 06:30:41 PM
Ziggy, insurance can vary greatly person to person, and region to region (you don't want to know what Canadians pay for motorcycle insurance....). Your best bet IMO is to contact local insurance agents and discuss your options with them. They will try to talk you into getting the most coverage you can afford for 2 reasons: first, that's how they make their money (naturally). The second reason is because when you need to use it, you can't have TOO much insurance.

IIRC, you are young, correct? You'll pay more for that but their may be discounts that you can still get. Good student discount, taking the MSF course, etc.

I'm 28, and the quoted amount of $33 already includes a bundle discount (I already insure my car with them) and the MSF discount (saves me $9 a year. lol). Currently I'm paying $14/month just for liability.

From a safety POV it makes sense to get the full coverage. However from a financial POV, I plan on riding my bike 1-2 times a week, April-October. I don't want to be putting too much money into this "toy" which I'll barely use compared to my car.

I guess it's all a matter of preference.

To answer an earlier question: I really like Sedici gloves, I have several different pair of that brand.
As far as insurance: stick with basic IMHO. Fixing it yourself if you wreck it isn't too hard or expensive and you don't have to call the law and get an accident on your record.

Just got my bike inspected today, the guy said it's almost like new. Looked at the bike for what seemed like 15 minutes, stabilized the front turn signal lights,  and it passed inspection.

After I left the shop, it looks like the bike is having electrical issues. Tonight I charged the battery and turn on the bike. Whenever I shake the bike, everything goes dark. By go dark I mean the engine gets quiet and all the lights (head lights, stop lights, turning signals, neutral gear light) shut off. Also, whenever I press the rear break lever, everything goes dark. As soon as I stop shaking it or let go of the break lever the lights come back on. Also, the speedometer and tachometer start to flicker at random and then come back to normal.
The bike did start once but turned off after a few seconds.

Any ideas what this could be? Perhaps bad spark plugs? Bad wiring? Unethical mechanic? The battery was at full charge, and despite it being 2-3 years old the guy at Advanced Auto Parts checked it and said it's in good shape.

thanks
  Serge

Turn the ignition on, and try to get the system to "go dark" as you say. When it does, get a multimeter and start following connections to see where they break.

Something similar happened to me recently, but only when starting the bike. As soon as I pressed the starter button, everything went dark. After rummaging around the wiring system for a few minutes I would flip the key and everything was back to normal (or so I thought). Ended up being the bolt on the negative battery terminal being loose.

Hmmm yep.. start with checking both ends of both battery leads.... then if still an issue look for loose harness wiring with potential multiple split wires touching each other or shorting to the framework. ..

Quote from: Big Rich on September 26, 2015, 06:13:49 PM
Turn the ignition on, and try to get the system to "go dark" as you say. When it does, get a multimeter and start following connections to see where they break.

Something similar happened to me recently, but only when starting the bike. As soon as I pressed the starter button, everything went dark. After rummaging around the wiring system for a few minutes I would flip the key and everything was back to normal (or so I thought). Ended up being the bolt on the negative battery terminal being loose.

The battery bolts being loose is an issue? My bolts are loose (there's no nut to keep the bolt in place so I use tape to make sure it stays in place). This hasn't given me any issues in the past. I went to Loew's to get a nut but all were too big.

Hmmmmm.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

Haha, there ya go man.

I'd bet money if you found some nuts to fit, your problem would be solved. And it doesn't "need" to be some specific nut & bolt combo at the battery terminals - any nut and bolt that fits will work (but use some common sense please!).

If you go to a local battery shop. . Just batteries not an auto parts! ... they may even have the right type/size bolt. ... they usually keep a tray/bucket of salvaged 'spares' in the workshop

Serge, I sincerely hope you're taking the piss!
(1/4" rivet?... WTF are we building here an ocean going liner?!
And, battery terminal held on with tape?!
Aaaarrrgggh! 

Sorry Serge, couldn't resist. Just remember, ANYTHING to to with electrical connections needs to be CLEAN and very FIRM (well, that's what Mary always says anyway!)

Quote from: Joolstacho on September 27, 2015, 01:29:46 AM
Serge, I sincerely hope you're taking the piss!
(1/4" rivet?... WTF are we building here an ocean going liner?!
And, battery terminal held on with tape?!
Aaaarrrgggh! 

Sorry Serge, couldn't resist. Just remember, ANYTHING to to with electrical connections needs to be CLEAN and very FIRM (well, that's what Mary always says anyway!)

Well the 1/4" rivets were the smallest size they had at Lowe's (if you're not in the USA, it is a giant home improvement store).

As far as the tape, I realize it is stupid to use tape, however in my defense it had worked without any issues the last 10 times I had ridden. I couldn't find any bolts small enough to fit in the terminal? of the battery and I was scared of using a clamp because it may slide off due to the vibration.

Like I said in my first post, I am a true newbie