Hello,
Been looking into getting my first motorcycle. Currently looking at a 99 GS500 that been sitting for a two years.  What would I need to do in order to get it running. I have read that rebuilding/cleaning the carbs might be necessary as well as draining all the fluids.  Ive also read that the rings/pistons can be stuck.  How would I check for this when buying and what else should I be looking for in the bike that would make it fixable?

Thanks,
Harrison

If you are planning to buy it ask the seller to start it for you. "needs carbs cleaned" is a classic cover for many types of problems, although with ethanol fuel in the US it is unfortunately usually true, even after just a winter.

You can tell if the engine is locked by turning back wheel with the engine in a high gear.

Try to start the bike, thats the best test-  Look in the tank, clean? Oil level OK? Gas smell in oil?. If OK, Get a new battery or use a car battery. Choke on and try to start the bike.

If it cranks but won't catch, spray some starter fluid into the airbox and see if it will start then. If yes you are at least getting spark. If it starts that way drain the gas and refill with some fresh gas (can drain through carb drain holes/screws while on prime but might take some time).  Put on prime and try again. Hopefully, it will start.

General appearance of the bike is normally a good indication of its state!

why not just find one in god running condition?  they are around.


Cookie

Quote from: harry457 on October 21, 2018, 05:04:38 PM
Hello,
Been looking into getting my first motorcycle. Currently looking at a 99 GS500 that been sitting for a two years.  What would I need to do in order to get it running. I have read that rebuilding/cleaning the carbs might be necessary as well as draining all the fluids.  Ive also read that the rings/pistons can be stuck.  How would I check for this when buying and what else should I be looking for in the bike that would make it fixable?

Thanks,
Harrison

Quote from: twocool on October 22, 2018, 01:12:36 AM
why not just find one in god running condition?  they are around.

That's right. In fact mine may be for sale soon. And it's pretty much dialed in.

Quote from: mr72 on October 22, 2018, 07:59:13 AM

Quote from: twocool on October 22, 2018, 01:12:36 AM
why not just find one in god running condition?  they are around.

That's right. In fact mine may be for sale soon. And it's pretty much dialed in.

Well the problem is money. Currently in college and looking for something cheap to fix up.

Quote from: herennow on October 22, 2018, 12:31:37 AM
If you are planning to buy it ask the seller to start it for you. "needs carbs cleaned" is a classic cover for many types of problems, although with ethanol fuel in the US it is unfortunately usually true, even after just a winter.

You can tell if the engine is locked by turning back wheel with the engine in a high gear.

Try to start the bike, thats the best test-  Look in the tank, clean? Oil level OK? Gas smell in oil?. If OK, Get a new battery or use a car battery. Choke on and try to start the bike.

If it cranks but won't catch, spray some starter fluid into the airbox and see if it will start then. If yes you are at least getting spark. If it starts that way drain the gas and refill with some fresh gas (can drain through carb drain holes/screws while on prime but might take some time).  Put on prime and try again. Hopefully, it will start.

General appearance of the bike is normally a good indication of its state!

Thanks for the advice!

Quote from: herennow on October 22, 2018, 12:31:37 AM
If you are planning to buy it ask the seller to start it for you. "needs carbs cleaned" is a classic cover for many types of problems, although with ethanol fuel in the US it is unfortunately usually true, even after just a winter.

You can tell if the engine is locked by turning back wheel with the engine in a high gear.

Try to start the bike, thats the best test-  Look in the tank, clean? Oil level OK? Gas smell in oil?. If OK, Get a new battery or use a car battery. Choke on and try to start the bike.

If it cranks but won't catch, spray some starter fluid into the airbox and see if it will start then. If yes you are at least getting spark. If it starts that way drain the gas and refill with some fresh gas (can drain through carb drain holes/screws while on prime but might take some time).  Put on prime and try again. Hopefully, it will start.

General appearance of the bike is normally a good indication of its state!

This is pretty much the process I went through when I bought mine and what I would recommend.  Everything looked good and it ran on starter fluid.  It took a while to get the carbs dialed but other than that I haven't done much other than fluid changes.  If you're not technically minded, it might be worth having someone else do the carbs.  It's not difficult and there's really only two adjustments, float level and idle mixture.  But they can be finicky and frustrating to get right.

Well I checked mine pretty thoroughly before I bought it, then discovered only after I had it home and tried riding it more than about 10 minutes that the valves were bent and I was soon out $900 on a top end rebuild. You really do roll the dice on any used bike.

There is a ton of good info on the net about starting an engine after it's been sitting a while. A GS carbs are going to need to be removed and thoroughly cleaned and replace all the o-rings and float needle valves while you're at it. Tank will need to be drained and perhaps or maybe probably treated for rust. Before you turn it over it makes sense to put a little oil into each cylinder through the spark plug hole, but that's if it's your bike. Seller likely just turned the starter and let whatever is going to break, break.

I also carry a jump pack on any checkout I do for a used motorcycle, and I'll carry it with me for a while after I buy it. Hate being stranded.