General questions on a recently purchased GS500

[nico]

Hi all,
This past Monday I bought my first motorcycle: an '01 GS500 with 6600 miles. Today is Friday and it now has 6905miles...I am loving it and riding every chance I get to get used to it. I come from a vintage Vespa background and decided one of these would make the commute quicker and get me from Eastern Long Island to NYC a lot more effectively...highway for 1 hour instead of backroads for 2-3 hours.  And...it is always nice to have a spare bike.

I have been lurking on here and there is a LOT of info about the GS 500 here. I have been trying to take it all in, but I do have a few questions. This is a new thing for me, Japanese motorcycles (motorcycles in general) so please be easy

1. As I approach a red traffic light or stop sign, I shift from whatever gear I am in down. Am I supposed to be able to get into 1st gear while rolling?

2. Some times I step on the gear lever to get into 1st, and it doe snot engage...the green Neutral light stays on. But, if I let the clutch out slightly, it click into 1st with lever pressure. Is this normal?

3. Is there supposed ot be a pad for the centerstand to rest onto when raised? The left centerstand foot comes really close to the chain.

Which brings me to the next question:

4. How do I know the chain is properly tensioned? Is there a sag on the bottom half I should be looking for?

5. Eventually I would like to replace the rider pegs and pillion pega for non-rubber units, but stock looking. Doe sanyone know what is out there as a replacement...GSXR pegs, maybe? Again not looking for the racer look, just no rubber.


So far, I have ordered an oil filter, oil filter o-ring and drain plug seal, as well as a chainguard (mine is missing) for the GS. Also ordered an 01 GS500 owner's manual to know what the service intervals are and the complete operation of all of the doo-dads on the bike: adjustments, oils and types and quantities, etc etc.

This morning I discovered the helmet hook! =D

[jacob92icu]

First off, welcome to the forum and the exiting world of motorcycles!!

now,

1) Yes, should plop into first gear easily. However; do not attempt to do this if you just came out of 6th going like 40. If your going to fast to get into the gear you will have to stomp it in. Just gradually downshift until you feel no more stopping power in that gear, then go to the next lowest, etc... until you get to first.

2) You need to roll the bike a little if this happens, back and forth. The gears are ment to be changed while moving, so a little movement is required. You will notice if you wait until you are completly stopped to put it into nuetral, you will not have this problem.

3) There should be a pad connected to the inside of the stock exhaust, close to the exhaust can. It is still going to be close to the chain with that pad in place. Some people fix this buy putting a pad on the swingarm.

4) 1 inch of play either way is a good ball park for chain adjustment.

5) GSXR 1000 pegs will work, any year. A little grinding is needed, because the left peg for the GSXR is the right peg for the GS, funny huh? The grinding is needed to make the peg swivel up and down.

6)... ? Oh no six

Have fun riding, and be safe! Dont forget about this forum! We would appreciate pictures of your bike

[yamahonkawazuki]

BTW a shaded visor on helmet is great for one other thing. examing seatcovers . ever have any questions let one of us know. looking for parts?, check adidasguy hes our resident parts whore. ( plus has some great howto videos on youtube. )

[nico]

[nico]

There we are: pictures of the bike have been posted

Those bar-end mirrors are great...the visibility is awesome

Thanks for all of the info...I'm going to message Adidasguy for some stuff. Since one week ago I've put about 420 miles on it: no leaks, no drips and no oil consumption. The only thing that happened was the speedometer cable came undone while I was riding and just had to screw it back onto the back of the speedo case. Tightened the tach cable as well.

[nico]

5) GSXR 1000 pegs will work, any year. A little grinding is needed, because the left peg for the GSXR is the right peg for the GS, funny huh? The grinding is needed to make the peg swivel up and down.

so the pegs are swapped from the gs to the gsxr? R is L and L is R?

[jacob92icu]

Heres the GSXR pegs on the GS.



The left peg for the GSXR goes on the right rear set for the gs500. The bottom of the peg will be flat, and it needs to be grinded to a round edge to pivot on. I can get pics when I get home.

The foot levers will have to be adjusted accordingly, cause your foot drops quite a bit without the rubber blocks lol.

Nice bike man, thats my favorite color scheme. Are you located in Seattle then?

[cc2]

1. As I approach a red traffic light or stop sign, I shift from whatever gear I am in down. Am I supposed to be able to get into 1st gear while rolling?

2. Some times I step on the gear lever to get into 1st, and it doe snot engage...the green Neutral light stays on. But, if I let the clutch out slightly, it click into 1st with lever pressure. Is this normal?

....

This morning I discovered the helmet hook! =D

I'm gonna go out of order, since your questions have been answered...

If you have a nice helmet, I would carry it with you.  You don't want to leave it in the weather, and you don't want some enterprising person to lift it.  I had my shiny CBR lifted within a month of being on Staten Island (looks like you're in NY?)--your mileage may vary.  I had a disk lock on it, but bikes don't weigh much.  The Xena disk locks are similar, but make a hell of a racket if they get moved (there's a motion alarm on them).

The chain guard on Jake's bike is available on the forum, either for cash or beer.    They look pretty cool.

As for 1 and 2, they've been answered, but a couple things--as you're slowing down, shift to make sure the gear you're in is appropriate for the speed you're going (goal being to be in first when you come to a stop).  You may have to ride instead of stop, and you don't want to be fighting the tranny at that moment.  I see a lot of guys sit in lights at neutral, and have to do the leg hop to get in gear--I personally leave it in first with my other foot on the rear brake at stops (yeah, there are exceptions).  If it's a long stop, or a bridge, maybe I'll stop the bike or go to neutral instead, but mostly I'm ready to go.  The gears are always meshed, and will allow you to shift between any of them (when it's moving), although, as you've found, coming to a stop and trying to shift can be a problem.  Either rocking the bike forward and back or lightly engaging the clutch to move the gears a bit will allow you to make the shift (and, as pointed out, then shifting to neutral will still leave first easily available to you).

Ride safe and be seen!  Manhattan is a driving nightmare, I've never seen so many right hand turns from the left hand lane as when I was there.  I have a bright yellow green Kilimanjaro jacket, which might not be as cool as black leather, but it sure is eye catching.  Good year round too.  Also, I've had nothing but good experiences with the guys at Revzilla--their return policy is everything they advertise it to be.  My girl has the white one--not quite as garish, but a good compromise if you're not ready for the high vis.

As for the pegs--the GSXR ones are sexier, but you will get more vibration through them than the rubber ones on the GS.

[Joolstacho]

Don't want to start a biffo here, but there's 2 problems holding the bike in 1st gear when stopped at lights etc. If some tintop nudges you from behind (not an unknown occurrence), or your hand holding the clutch in slips, being in gear means you could be propelled forward into cross traffic. Yes this could be terminal! 
2: Having it in gear whilst stopped means you'll be riding the clutch. Clutch plates don't like too much of that, they get hot and bothered... have some mechanical sympathy. 
Most experienced riders don't go back into 1st gear when coming to a stop (though it might depend on your gearing). Shift down as you brake, go to 2nd, and then just ease the lever down into neutral as you come to a stop. Most boxes will slip into neutral from second easier when not stopped. And the gearbox will like it. 
-Jools

[nico]

Heres the GSXR pegs on the GS.



The left peg for the GSXR goes on the right rear set for the gs500. The bottom of the peg will be flat, and it needs to be grinded to a round edge to pivot on. I can get pics when I get home.

The foot levers will have to be adjusted accordingly, cause your foot drops quite a bit without the rubber blocks lol.

Nice bike man, thats my favorite color scheme. Are you located in Seattle then?

I am in Long Island, NY.
Thanks for the image of the GSXR pegs because you mention that the left peg goes to the GS right rear.
Essentially, if I get a set of GSXR pegs, they will be able to work on the GS500, right? With that little grinding, and such?

I can do with a lower foot position and with out the rubber.

[Gs500fmrex]

Hi nico , great looking ride mate. Have you got it all worked out now ? 

[nico]

Hi nico , great looking ride mate. Have you got it all worked out now ? 

Thanks
I have only had it a week and it has been great...Up to 520 miles and I've had it 8 days. Now I am starting to get it together and finding the place where my bike it and where I think I want to take it.

I received an owner's manual from an Ebay auction I won and read through that just to know how the bike works. Today i should receive an oil filter, o-ring, drain plug deal (just in case) and a chain guard...the previous owner did not have it when he got the bike...now there is oil slapped up all over the inner rear fender and left side of frame. After a wash and a ride, it seems to stay clean.

What do you guys use for chain lube? The Suzuki manual says to clean the chain with Kerosene! 

[Gs500fmrex]

I used a normal heavy degreaser on the weekend but I would need to go to she'd to check the brand of chain lube I use ( spray)

[kyled25]

Bel-ray makes a great chain lube, I use the super clean version. Don't cheap out on chain lube, one can lasts a long time (over one riding season)

[mustangGT90210]

1. As I approach a red traffic light or stop sign, I shift from whatever gear I am in down. Am I supposed to be able to get into 1st gear while rolling?

2. Some times I step on the gear lever to get into 1st, and it doe snot engage...the green Neutral light stays on. But, if I let the clutch out slightly, it click into 1st with lever pressure. Is this normal?

....

This morning I discovered the helmet hook! =D

I'm gonna go out of order, since your questions have been answered...

If you have a nice helmet, I would carry it with you.  You don't want to leave it in the weather, and you don't want some enterprising person to lift it.  I had my shiny CBR lifted within a month of being on Staten Island (looks like you're in NY?)--your mileage may vary.  I had a disk lock on it, but bikes don't weigh much.  The Xena disk locks are similar, but make a hell of a racket if they get moved (there's a motion alarm on them).

Agree with you completely, and I even have more to add! Hanging the helmet off the lock causes the pad underneath the helmet strap to compress due to the weight on it. If you use the lock often, you will notice the nice seal that your helmet used to have under your ears getting worse fast, and more wind noise from it. Ask me how I know... But at least in Florida, more airflow is ALWAYS better. I'll get new pads for right there come winter time so I don't get the 45 degree wind on my ears!

The chain guard on Jake's bike is available on the forum, either for cash or beer.    They look pretty cool.

As for 1 and 2, they've been answered, but a couple things--as you're slowing down, shift to make sure the gear you're in is appropriate for the speed you're going (goal being to be in first when you come to a stop).  You may have to ride instead of stop, and you don't want to be fighting the tranny at that moment.  I see a lot of guys sit in lights at neutral, and have to do the leg hop to get in gear--I personally leave it in first with my other foot on the rear brake at stops (yeah, there are exceptions).  If it's a long stop, or a bridge, maybe I'll stop the bike or go to neutral instead, but mostly I'm ready to go.  The gears are always meshed, and will allow you to shift between any of them (when it's moving), although, as you've found, coming to a stop and trying to shift can be a problem.  Either rocking the bike forward and back or lightly engaging the clutch to move the gears a bit will allow you to make the shift (and, as pointed out, then shifting to neutral will still leave first easily available to you).

I've always beenn the leg hop back into first kind of guy. I keep it in gear until the car behind me stops, then relax and let it go in neutral. Just pay attention the the intersection and you'll be able to figure out when you'll be getting a green, at least around here 

[jacob92icu]

I am in Long Island, NY.
Thanks for the image of the GSXR pegs because you mention that the left peg goes to the GS right rear.
Essentially, if I get a set of GSXR pegs, they will be able to work on the GS500, right? With that little grinding, and such?

I can do with a lower foot position and with out the rubber.

Yea no problem. Ill take a couple more pictures right now and I'll post em later. They work great. I bought two of the sets and used them for both rider pegs and passenger pegs. Its a good cheap alternative peg. All you have to do is the grinding, and for the passenger pegs you need to drill a small hole for either a strong cotter pin, or a small bolt to go into to stop the peg at the right spot.

As far as comfortability, my foot has never gotten numb, and I have never not been able to find the peg under my boot.

[nico]

Great..thanks so much!

[jacob92icu]

Got the pictures for you, the first two explaining the stop that has to be drilled in for the passenger pegs, one explaining how much you have to grind off (indicated by the red in the third picture) and one with both pegs.









Also, forgot to mention, if you want to use the nicer pins that come with the pegs you have to drill a new hole into the brackets that hold the pegs. Very easy.