Newbie Motorcycle Questions

sleepy_head

sleepy_head

simply lazy today
Hi,
As I said in the intro/newbie place, I'm new to riding...and currently have zero knowledge about bike maintenance. I don't know many riders so If anyone can answer some of my stupid questions, I definitely appreciate it.

It's a little bit hard for me to put both of my feet down, so I'm thinking of shaving my seat. I'm not so sure how good this is for riding so what do you guys think? Also, for some reason its really really hard for me to shift - especially from first to second gear. One of the professors who used to ride, kindof looked over my bike and also verified that the shifter is really stiff. Does it just need an oil change or something?

Should i get my suspension setup? theres that one thread talking about suspension? Do i need to get my suspension setup too? When I brake, my front dives a lot.. i think.

FINALLY I'm looking for some used gear to buy since all my stuff is the perforated summer stuff =( (full time student, kinda broke) I'm a small 5'3", and of course...a girl =^-^= I have a blue suzuki gs500f...so anything that would go with that. I'm looking for a jacket (prefer black), Small size and good winter gloves (black as well)...or whatever stuffs that belong to your ex-gfs kinda things that you want to get rid of - Please let me know!

I dunno IF anyone can maybe help teach me some maintenance or something I would sooo appreciate it!
 
ex911

ex911

Current favorite ride
are you...

:p

on the serious side (I know, shame on me) shaving your seat down may affect the comfort level if you ride on rough roads, or go for long rides, but otherwise it shouldn't affect the handling of the bike, unlike lowering the bike via suspension mods, which will affect lean angle, among other issues.

EDIT: I've heard Rob at Evolution Suspension only charges $30 for suspension set up, so you might consider that. Don't know if your bike's suspension is adjustable, however.
 
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C

cruzinZ

Well-known member
I'm sure someone will be able to lend you a hand and show you how to do some basic maintenance. Dont worry about the first numb nut that posted above.... your going to get quite a bit more of that with your gender around here. Get your bike in shape & have fun. I'm sure you'll also enjoy it around this forum also.
 
cbrf3

cbrf3

The slowest one
:newbie

As far as the shifting, I'm not quite sure, but shaving the seat would be a good idea, as long as you have enough foam left for it to be comfortable, setting up your suspension would be a good idea, but not necessary in my opinion, unless you are going to be riding real fast or at the track, which neither you will be doing.. I haven't set up my suspension on any of my bikes and they seem to do fine with my slow riding.. as far as gear, look in the riding gear section on here, or craigslist, you should be able to find some used stuff, also newenough.com... Have fun riding.. :thumbup
 
C

CnDnMax

Well-known member
Suspension adjustments on the gs500F is pretty much unavailable haha. the front end is very soft from factory but shouldn't be too much of a problem for you, im 175lbs and it only bottoms out of occasion. There are lowering links for the gs but i wouldn't recommend them, at 5-3 you shouldn't have too much trouble getting used to stock height. Maintenance is a piece of cake on this bike, might help if you got a haynes manual.
As for the hard shifting, try changing the oil. for some reason the bike likes to be in neutral( especially if down shifting too fast) but it shouldn't be noticeably harder to shift.
check out http://www.gstwins.com
 
sleepy_head

sleepy_head

simply lazy today
:ride

bleh me and my bike!

Yeah, it's not sooo big of a deal...plus, I ride with heels too (the bombshell ones, i got both colors black and white...and they are awesome...not for racing or anything crazy of course!) I'm just thinking it may help to make my life a bit easy occasionally when i actually have to use both feet to push the bike or something...I guess I can deal with it just fine.
For some reason, it's hardest to shift to neutral, especially when the bike has already come to a stop. It's easier when still rolling or when the engine is off...I guess i need to do oil change...which I don't know how...YET!
 

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Xenos

Xenos

No! Not the Crack Slam!
Ebolamonkey got called a numb nut :rofl

On the serious side, i'll be seeing you both at school tomorrow.
 
TheRiddler

TheRiddler

Riddle me this.
sleepy_head said:
For some reason, it's hardest to shift to neutral, especially when the bike has already come to a stop. It's easier when still rolling or when the engine is off...I guess i need to do oil change...which I don't know how...YET!
Click to expand...

Motorcycles don't like to shift gears when they're not in motion. I always park my bike in 1st, and when I go to start it I usually have to nudge it forward or backwards to get into neutral.
Actually, it's impossible to shift more than one gear at a time if the bike is stationary. Try shifting into 6th, stopping, and downshifting after you've stopped. You'll get into 5th, but no lower unless you rock the bike.

In addition, neutral is never necessary on a bike. You should always be in gear at a stop light to avoid anyone who may be about to rear-end you. When starting the bike, you can always hold the clutch in. Neutral is a convenience, not a necessity.
 
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Roadstergal

Roadstergal

Sergeant Jackrum
sleepy_head said:
It's a little bit hard for me to put both of my feet down
Click to expand...

Don't bother. Put the left one solidly flat on the ground and let the right one hold you at the stop on the rear brake. I had a GS500E and a GS500F with less height on my side.

PMed about a jacket.
 
J

Junkie

gone for now
DarkNinja75 said:
Motorcycles don't like to shift gears when they're not in motion. I always park my bike in 1st, and when I go to start it I usually have to nudge it forward or backwards to get into neutral.
Actually, it's impossible to shift more than one gear at a time if the bike is stationary. Try shifting into 6th, stopping, and downshifting after you've stopped. You'll get into 5th, but no lower unless you rock the bike.

In addition, neutral is never necessary on a bike. You should always be in gear at a stop light to avoid anyone who may be about to rear-end you. When starting the bike, you can always hold the clutch in. Neutral is a convenience, not a necessity.
Click to expand...
depends on the bike. some bikes are cold blooded enough that you pretty much need to let them warm up for a couple minutes, it's a major PITA to hold the clutch that entire time (especially with it dragging a little as it likely will with cold oil).
 
sleepy_head

sleepy_head

simply lazy today
I just like to put it on neutral so i dont have to hold in the cluth at the stop light. That's all...but it's incredibly hard to shift to neutral on my bike...for all the reasons that we've been discussing here...or whatever reason it is.
I hope oil change and some minor changes will help...if not...well, i'll stick with first gear at the stop light...
but my bike does seriously need some of this :eboy

@ TrplGrl: I think you may be too tall for me...5'8" right? I'm only 5'3"
@ Xenos: ahhh..right, we'll bump into each other tomorrow at school IF we actually make it to 7 30 class on time (but I doubt that!)...I hate that class, worst engineering class ever!
 
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tuxumino

tuxumino

purrfect
As for the shifting problem, I'd check to see if the clutch is properly adjusted.
suspension adjust of a gs500 is only on the rear shock, not super critical unless your pushing the envelope.
for gear also check out cyclegear for sizes, once you know what gear you like it's a lot easier to look for it used.

I used to race on a sloop named Sleepy Head.
 
EbolaMonkey

EbolaMonkey

Well-known member
I was able to take a quick look at Sleepy's bike and I must say that I'm not sure her bike is safe to ride at the moment hah.

I am a mechanic newb so I fear that I might make things worse - I don't mind screwing with my own bike, but then i dont mind being liable for my for my own screwups. Anyway, It really is incredibly hard to shift on the bike - at any gear really. I think shes way overdue for an oil change at 3000 miles now so that may help a great deal.

Also, b/c shes tipped her bike over two or three times now... her clutch lever and brake levers have bent downwards quite a bit.. so being short-ish.. she has to bend her wrist quite a bit in order to reach down over the top of her handles to get to the levers... it looks uh.. kind of awkward and weird. I didn't have any tools so i wasn't able to reposition her levers. They don't ahve the quick adjustment that I am accustomed to in order to bring them closer.

Anyway, I'll try to rotate her levers up a little tomorrow if i can find the right tools for it or something, but I dunno! Someone help her out before she possibly hurts herself! :cry

Shes a pretty cool girl though, its pretty rare for a girl to just decide to randomly start riding herself... aaaaand shes single guys! =P
 
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