Just bought this zuki GSE500 tell me what you think!

[hobbner]

Found this Suzuki GSe 500 for sale in the newspaper and jumped on it,
She is a 1997
21563 miles on the clock
Modifications Include
Sport handlebars
Smaller Sprocket in the back
Vincent Exhaust
K&N Intake
Jetted for 5000+ feet
Custom carbon blinkers
Previous owner claims to have ran amsoil its whole life.
What do you think of her this will be my second bike, my first was a 76 honda CB400 nice looking but not safe wobbled like Crazy!

so let me know, good deal   or did i just buy myself a bad deal  

I paid $1400 for her

Also if anyone knows general maintenance on this, valves chains or trouble spots on the zukis please let me know, are there any good tank bags or panniers for her, I would like to do some touring with this bike up into Yellowstone and down into Utah, just short trips, im still young to the sport!

[Roseknight]

cant say without lots closer look as to weither you got a good or bad deal... but most japanese p-twins are near bullet proof motors as long as you do proper manitance (dont run em without oil... don't ask me how I know they will still get you home even if ya do)

http://www.gstwin.com/
has lots of info on em including common mods and manitance..

[Bug R]

In general an excellent choice for a starter bike.
Pretty much bullet proof and the mileage is very low (under a year for a lot of people on this site)

Basic's I would do,
Buy a Haynes Guide
Change the oil + filter, brake fluid.
Check pads (They should be good)
Lube any cables, check chain alignment and slack, clean and lube chain.
Double check all your signals and break lights
Check headlight alignment.
How old are the tires, if more than two years I would probably change those as well.

Next level which can be done but a little daunting for a beginner:
Lube the pivot points, (Suspension, swingarm)
Check and maybe repack steering head bearings.
Pull the forks and change the fluid.

Good cheap luggage,try Joe Rocket or Oxford, also check aerostich for idea's
Chris

[RBEmerson]

Without seeing the bike in person, it's hard to say how you did but... looking at Kelly Blue Book numbers, the price is in the middle between trade-in value and retail price and the mileage is about 2/3 of the average. for bikes of this age and size.  The bike came with some farkles which have some value (in re-sale, not a lot, unfortunately, although you can look at them as stuff you won't have to buy later).  Assuming the bike was well treated and there's nothing (tires, etc.) screaming for attention, I'd say you got a fair deal.  Was this a private sale?  

[hobbner]

Someone just bought a 07 Honda CBR 1000 and didnt need this bike anymore... He went test riding with me and blew me away with that rocket...my zuki is enough for me for now!

As far as I can tell everything is in good shape, Im going to ride it over to a dealer today and have them give it a quick look over for me. It rides nice and puts a smile on my face guess thats a great start eh?

[RBEmerson]

Good call on heading to the dealer for a look-over.  Using Google, I came up with this site - I hope it's useful for you.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Looks good. Good Luck with it. What are your plans with it?

[hobbner]

my first bike was not safe for more than around the block.  I plan on getting some inexpensive panniers go on some local weekend tours up into Yellowstone and also Red lodge montana and have fun with her for a few seasons. The old honda wasnt suited for twisties, So im going to learn to lean   not to mention lots of commuting to and from work all over the South East Idaho Valley.
Ohh yeah, hoping to give a few girls a ride also along the way lol

[Leanintree]

I'm afraid you got a lemon. That's just horrible, and I reccommend you should get rid of it immediatly, at a loss if necessary. Tell you what, since I'm such a magnanamous guy, I'll give you $1300 for it right now just so I can part it out to squids on Ebay and not make my money back. I'm just concerned about your safety you see... Wouldn't want someone else to get hurt if there's anything I can do to keep it from happening... oh the horror...

Dammit. I'm jealous. Need one of these or an EX500 for a household backup...

Leanintree

[bizarro]

The GS500E was my first bike. I'd say you got a decent deal on it. Those things are a ton of fun. I raced on mine for a year even. I sucked and I was slow but I had a blast. Well done.  

[denydog]

That's the kind of bike I'm trying to talk my sister into buying for her first bike.  Even one like your last one might do.  Maybe with a little work?  What did you do with it?

[hobbner]

Shame I sold her last year she had some problems brakes needed working on and it had a few bad spokes in the wire wheel rim, beautiful bike though for an unrestored bike. the kid that bought it from me fixed it up really nice until someone cut out in front of him and he swerved into a curb and messed it up big time....its sad when any bike goes down, but when its a old classic...its a tragedy!

[Grainbelt]

Should be great!  I had a 93 as my first bike, its in my garage waiting to be picked up by its new owner.  There really aren't too many things to worry about maintenance-wise, just the normal wear items like chains, sprockets, tires, etc.

I highly recommend putting progressive springs in the forks. Mine also has a Targa 1/4 fairing - some of the Givi shields look nice as well.

Only racks I know of for the GS are a Givi topcase and a the Five Stars setup, which you can get adapters to put all kinds of cases on. Check twistedthrottle.com for more luggage options, I haven't looked hard in a while.

Enjoy your new ride!!!

[stefrrr]

Sounds good.  
Congrats!

[whitewolf]

You will enjoy it! I have a 04 GS500f. It is a sweet ride for me. I have put over 4300 miles in the 6 months I have own it.
I read where up above someone tells you about the gs twin site. I would recommend it myself. There is a lot of good data there for these bikes

[hobbner]

Maiden Voyage pics!
Took her out for a 125 mile trip around SouthEast Idaho today...
Ohh im in love with the sport nothing puts a grin on your face like leaning into a turn!


Downtown Idaho Falls Alley Way

Old Radio station belonging to 590 AM KID

END of the road, Kelly Canyon Ski resort nothing but snow and muddy road past this point!, Just a short drive up a canyon, not a bad drive at all. drove into the parking lot where the snowmobiles were headed out for playing!

[SeriousGeorge]

Great bike! I'm riding a 91 right now which I got as my second bike. Yours looks to be in much better shape. I'll second or third the suggestion to register at http://www.gstwin.com/. Lots of good information in the forums. They're a dependable, solid bike. Only pain is that valves are supposed to be checked every 4k. Everything else is pretty low maintenance.

You're already rejetted which takes care of one of the big complaints about the bike. Those handlebars look pretty good. Are they Suburban Machinery? Can't tell from the pictures. Are you sure they went smaller on the back sprocket? Stock is 16/39. Going to a 15 tooth front seems to be very common, but I can't recall anyone going the other way. Unless you're doing nothing but 85mph highway driving I wouldn't think that gearing would be enjoyable at all.

The only thing thats absolutely critical on the GS500 is the suspension. If your pretty light weight it won't be a big deal, but if you're a fatty like me the stock suspension is absolutely crap. I could bottom the forks just braking lightly on flat ground. Progressive are the cheapest option and seem to work well. I like http://www.sonicsprings.com or http://www.race-tech.com/ because you can order a spring weight custom for your weight and riding style. I have Sonics and really like them. I've got a Katana 600 rear shock which is a direct drop in and has a little higher spring weight than the stock one.

[KokomoSam]

+1 for http://www.gstwin.com/

I bought a GS500e as my re-entry bike to riding and I am happy with it.  I think you made a great call.

[Hawk998]

You did GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!enjoy, Hawk.

[hobbner]

she has been Soooo much fun so far I did 200 miles on her today!
I have a lot to learn and she is plenty fast...wraps up a little high on the highway than I would like it to though.
anyone from around Idaho Falls area that knows Sport bikes reallly well.. Im planing on doing 500 miles in a day next week and I want the thing looked over and given an a ok before i venture out.

[LENSMAN]

You did GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!enjoy, Hawk.

Second that.  Just keep up on the maintenance.

[ctfz1]

Good machine. In so far as your 1976 goes, for educational purposes, check wheel aligmnent, fork alignment, stem bearings(on centerstand have someone hold down rear move fork side to side, expect notchiness=bad). on centerstand hold rear wheel see if side to side play in swing arm pivot. assume shocks dead, spring only. examine chain for kinks.