Quote from: Bluesmudge on November 13, 2023, 10:33:12 AMI understand it doesn't make sense to most people to put $500+ into the engine of a cheap bike with that high mileage. But if you are like me, you have the GS500 set up just the way you like it, enjoy the bike, and $500 is less than the cost to move to a new bike and less total work than moving/re-doing all your personal bike mods on a new bike. Once you do the work, you basically have a new engine because the bottom end of the GS500 is known to be indestructible. The top end can be removed with the engine in the frame if you want, so it's just a few weekends of work if you outsource the machine and valve work.

Definitely not the solution for everyone, but there is something cool about keeping a high mileage bike running. My GS500 is not even to 60,000 miles yet. I have a personal goal of getting this bike to 120,000 miles some day in the far away future. Maybe by 2040.

Oh, it makes sense if I had the knowledge...I'm handy, but draw the line dismantling the engine (low desire to spend time to learn). I would rather have a shop replace the engine, if I could find a good replacement unit.

I would have to take your word on the bottom end, but I'm not convinced haha...surprised how well the bike still runs when warm, but my counterbalancer bearing (I think) is rough when cold