Hey there, I am a new rider who just got his new (to me) 92 GS500E home.  I have a few questions.  I did search the board, but couldn't sort through all the data, so I thought I'd come to the source.

I need a new back tire, it's bad.  I am looking at something cheap to get me through my learning stages and then upgrade later.  I've been pointed to Kenda, Cheng Shin and Maxxis.  Any suggestions on which one and where has the best prices?

It has the V&H exhaust on it and my wife has suggested quieting it down a bit as it's loud!  How can I tell if it has been jetted to go with the exhaust?

Any other tips for the newbie rider?

Here's a pic



Thanks

Jetting won't make the bike louder...or quieter. I'm sure there are many on here who would happily trade you their stock exhaust for the V&H. I'm not aware of an easy way to tell if the bike has been jetted short of pulling the carbs.

I don't like Kenda tires - kinda hard and slippery compound in my experience. I believe Maxxis is Cheng Shin's performance division - same manufacturer there. I think they're decent for inexpensive tires. GSJack is the resident tire guru here, shoot him a message.

Heck, I'd be willing to swap a stock exhaust... I'm so nice...   :mrgreen:

Anyone close who wants to help me with the work may end up with the v&H in a trade.

I know the jetting doesn't have anything to do with the noise, I just remember reading that you should do it/undo it when going to/from aftermarket exhaust.

nice color wheels...white r0cks on black frame!

Quote from: ConanLloydAnyone close who wants to help me with the work may end up with the v&H in a trade.

I know the jetting doesn't have anything to do with the noise, I just remember reading that you should do it/undo it when going to/from aftermarket exhaust.

Stock jetting is lean, so even mild jetting is generally beneficial to a stock bike. If you still have the airbox on the bike chances are your current jetting will run fine with the stock exhaust. If you have pod filters it was probably jetted richer and you may have some trouble with fouled plugs and hesitation with stock exhaust. In jetting it's usually safer to err on the side of too rich anyhow. Fouled plugs are cheap to replace, an overheated engine is not.

I've got matching stock size Maxxis Promax tires on my GS. They grip very well and look nice. Plus, they are cheap.   I've been caught in the rain now a few times and they handle that well too.