Getting my bike saturday... What maintenience should I do????

[//ACCIDENT]

I am getting my first bike ever (1997 gs500e, only 4800 miles) on saturday.  I already bought it titled it and registered it with a 30 day inspection waiver.  Its pretty low on miles and the tires and spark plugs are new.  the bike was tuned up just before sitting for 2 months but now the battery is dead (I have one on order).  I am wondering what maintenience I should do on the bike prior to inspection.

Also, (I know I am gonna look dumb for asking this) does the bike have transmission fluid or gear oil, or does it just run off the same oil as the engine? Also do most auto parts stores stock the oil filter for the bike?

[Jake D]

Fram oil filter  for your GS can be found at most auto parts stores. 

I think the part number is CH6000, but that is off the top of my head.

If it has only sat for two months, you should be pretty good to go.  Charge the battery.  Make sure there is the right amount of oil and check the air pressure in the tires and go. 

Gas can start to go bad in 60-90 days.  I doubt your gas is bad, but if you are anal you might want to drain it and get new gas. 

[hmmmnz]

when ever i get a new bike, reguardless weither some one has said the spark plugs are new or its been serviced i aways change the plugs, oil, filter, change the brake fluid as well, both front and back.
the gearbox and cluch use the same oil thats in the engine, so when you change the oil you are doing that as well.
hmmm thats pritty much the basics for me, but if you are anal you could check the bolts on your running gear, wheel ect,
have fun on your new gs.

[scratch]

Change the fork oil, too.  Stock is 10w.  Oh, and...Congradulations!

Also, (I know I am gonna look dumb for asking this) does the bike have transmission fluid or gear oil, or does it just run off the same oil as the engine?

The engine oil is all you need, except chain lube (that would be your 'gear oil' ).

[RedShift]

Not mentioned by the others is a good look at the "condition" of your rubber.  Tyres dry out, crack and harden over time.  For a bike with low miles, it's a good idea to inspect the age even if there's a lot of tread left.

To know how old a tire is, have a look at the sidewall.  You'll find a date code cast there:



It may be a part of a longer code but whatever, the last four numbers give the week and the year that the tire was made. This tire was made in the 39th week of 2002. It's only good for the current decade, but if you have a tire that could be 10 years old, it'll look like crap by now and should be replaced anyway.

You'll thank yourself for getting fresh rubber.  The grip of new tyres is amazing.  Sure, you may not want to spend the ~$200 right now, but it's a great investment.  If you look at your palms of your hands, that's about how much contact you have with the road.  Something to consider...

[Cal Amari]

Learn how to inspect your brake pads; stop into a local stealership and compare the front and back brake pads on a new GS with the brake pads on your '97. If yours don't look nearly as thick as the pads on the new GS, or if something else seems wrong (your pads aren't properly seated, they're excessively worn, parts are missing), talk to the service manager and ask for his/her opinion. You don't have to commit to repair service or anything, and there's nothing wrong with getting second and third opinions, but brakes and tires are essential equipment, and you need to be sure your GS is road-ready.

You mentioned new tires; what brand / model / size are they? New tires are nice, but one of our members (GSJack) is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the subject of tires for the GS, and he can probably tell you what kind of wear and performance you can expect to get from them...

Of course, pay attention to fluid levels; the air-cooled GS tends to burn oil, so be vigilant about checking your oil level. You might want to drain your gas tank, or at least add some alcohol / Dri-Gas / Heet to it, to help deal with any water (from condensation) that has accumulated in the bottom of the tank. Otherwise, rust will eventually make holes in the "crap pockets" (the lowest parts of the gas tank); for more information about crap pockets, use the Search feature...

You'll eventually (sooner is better than later) want to deal with the too-soft stock front suspension; the FAQ and the Search feature will help you learn more about your options for upgrading both the front and rear suspension...

You didn't mention insurance, though most states won't let you register a motorcycle without it these days, so you might already have that covered...

Last bit of advice is, you should sign up for the MSF BRC (Basic Rider Course) right away; you have to develop and maintain your skills, or nothing else you do will matter much in the long run.

Good luck; hope you enjoy your time riding the GS. You can always do some bench-racing here after your GS has been put to bed...