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Took my first ride on the GS550es this last month. Took a little time off from everything having to do with the motorcycle afterward, getting ready to go back at the repairs/maintenance.
While some of you may know (and some not) that I purchased the 83 gs for $50 (with title) I didn't really announce on here that it was more or less running. Made the decision to try a ride on it, took it out on a 50 mile loop including highway miles, and the thing operated admirably well. Geared up a bit further with insulation (being an Idaho 'winter') and prepared for the first 'long' ride of my life.
Having no idea what repairs I was going to have to do on the road, I tossed in my set of wrenches, and some screwdrivers. Did a final tweak of the gas mixture before leaving, and headed out into the great unknown.
Being the stubborn SOB that I am, I decided to go out to work at a friend's house in Colorado. Those experienced with riding probably see where this is going.
Not only was this my first 'long' ride, but my first winter ride, night ride, ride with wind/ice/rain, ride with a backpack, and ride on this bike.
My prior longest ride was about 150 miles, on a fairly quiet little two-cycle bike from the early 80s. This one was on a 550... and an education.
Got started late after the thing didn't quite have a mixture I was happy with going out of the parking lot, so enriched it just slightly, and headed out. Went along I-84 to Tremonton, missed my fuel stop, and stopped at the next available point. I discovered, by this point, a disconcerting tendency for the throttle hand to start getting a bit numb in the index finger, thumb, and middle finger. First rest stop, I managed to almost tip the bike over on myself getting off of it.
No matter, I continued along the ride up the Devil's Slide canyon, eying the clouds above with trepidation. Had a feeling I was heading into inclement weather, but the best laid plans....
Halfway up Devil's canyon, the rain cut loose, and I was blinded enough I could only go about 55, even knowing the road. Stopped in Evanston, got a cup of hot coffee, and examined my gear, fueled up, and headed back out. FInally got out of the rain about 50 miles later, but by then, the old leather jacket wasn't quite cutting the chill, even with the multiple layers of insulation under it.
Finally had to pull off at the next rest stop, and hour further, and warmed up for three hours, it having gotten dark in the interim.
Had recognized by this point the signs of hypothermia, the pack was holding the leather on the back close enough to the skin it was rapidly conducting heat away through the ventilation built into the pack to prevent sweat buildup.
The rest of the ride from Fort Bridger to Colorado was starts and stops, warming up about every 50 miles or so. The thinsulate gloves weren't holding thier own until they dried out, but at that point my body temp had dropped enough on the first one I didn't want to take any chances.
Came in to my stop at 4am. Seemed like an endless nightmare.
A week later, I decided to go back. Had, by this time, purchased a better motorcycle jacket with CE armor, a better helmet (I didn't mention that the visor decided to let go on my cheap one) and a better pair of gloves.
Got out before first light, at about the same time I came in the previous trip. I'd adjusted the valves, checked the fuel level, oil, etc. Ran it back to Laramie, adjusting the new gear now and again, to prevent chafing. At Laramie, I hit a sign labeled 'Light trailer traffic prohibited, 50+ mph gusts.
Knowing there were no accessible routes otherwise (routes to the north were unreliable/closed due to slick conditions/closed for the season) i gritted my teeth and rode. I think it burned more rear tire in the miles between Laramie and Wamsutter than the entire rest of the trip, with it slipping sideways now and then.
Winds finally died down to 30mph gusts, and then it was smooth riding until Evanston, where it started getting dark... The bike was running beautifully, and the canyon run was uneventful, smooth, and quiet. When I was heading down the canyon, a train to the north was lighting up the entire canyon with its headlights, an oddly beautiful sight.
Turning on the 550 was a breeze compared to the other bikes... the bike started getting better and better, and by the time I hit tremonton, I was having to check the speedometer repeatedly to keep it below 80, as it had a tendency to creep upward unnoticed toward 90.
Came back in through the Eden exit at around midnight, and had some genius from the bar crowds decide to follow me to tell me my backpack was too heavy to ride the bike. I think I noticed how heavy it was after 650 miles or so....
Parked, trudged it up the stairs, dropped it off, weighed it the next morning at 77 lbs or thereabouts. Military rucksack, modular sleep system good to 40 below, and the various tools, clothing, etc that were 'might needs'. The full frame helped a lot with it, and it was actually far better to ride with strapped down tight.
Bike's done darn well... going to do a compression test on it later this week, and possibly hone/rering it. Noticed some signs of some blowby at the beginning of the trip, will see if it cleared up.
Need to pick up some different luggage for the bike, though. I admit I was a tad sore when I got home.
All in all, it was an educational trip. I think the bike's capable of a lot more than I gave it credit for, and my confidence in my riding has improved a bit. Looking at a much lighter toolkit, and other gear for any further rides. Keeping the new jacket, helmet, gloves, and the leggings.
The bike's getting repainted at this point... neglected since 97 with a rattlecan job on the fairings, it's the least I can do.
So far, the total outlay into the bike is a new air filter, tank cleaning, new front fork seals, oil filter, oil change, a can of berryman's dip, chain lube, fork oil, and a new voltage regulator to preempt the stator failing, and o rings set.
This forum has been a great help in getting it up and running. Hoping for many more, less adventurous miles.
TL;DR version? Ice is no fun. Crosswinds not much fun. Heavy pack, not much fun. Getting out and moving and seeing the countryside on a bike I fixed myself? Priceless.
Firsts on this ride: First ride at night, first ride 150+ miles, first solo drive over 600 miles, first time riding on slick roads, first time riding in crosswinds, cold, and rain.
I'll look back on it fondly as a 'character building learning experience'... as my father would say.
-- Old Wolf
While some of you may know (and some not) that I purchased the 83 gs for $50 (with title) I didn't really announce on here that it was more or less running. Made the decision to try a ride on it, took it out on a 50 mile loop including highway miles, and the thing operated admirably well. Geared up a bit further with insulation (being an Idaho 'winter') and prepared for the first 'long' ride of my life.
Having no idea what repairs I was going to have to do on the road, I tossed in my set of wrenches, and some screwdrivers. Did a final tweak of the gas mixture before leaving, and headed out into the great unknown.
Being the stubborn SOB that I am, I decided to go out to work at a friend's house in Colorado. Those experienced with riding probably see where this is going.
Not only was this my first 'long' ride, but my first winter ride, night ride, ride with wind/ice/rain, ride with a backpack, and ride on this bike.
My prior longest ride was about 150 miles, on a fairly quiet little two-cycle bike from the early 80s. This one was on a 550... and an education.
Got started late after the thing didn't quite have a mixture I was happy with going out of the parking lot, so enriched it just slightly, and headed out. Went along I-84 to Tremonton, missed my fuel stop, and stopped at the next available point. I discovered, by this point, a disconcerting tendency for the throttle hand to start getting a bit numb in the index finger, thumb, and middle finger. First rest stop, I managed to almost tip the bike over on myself getting off of it.
No matter, I continued along the ride up the Devil's Slide canyon, eying the clouds above with trepidation. Had a feeling I was heading into inclement weather, but the best laid plans....
Halfway up Devil's canyon, the rain cut loose, and I was blinded enough I could only go about 55, even knowing the road. Stopped in Evanston, got a cup of hot coffee, and examined my gear, fueled up, and headed back out. FInally got out of the rain about 50 miles later, but by then, the old leather jacket wasn't quite cutting the chill, even with the multiple layers of insulation under it.
Finally had to pull off at the next rest stop, and hour further, and warmed up for three hours, it having gotten dark in the interim.
Had recognized by this point the signs of hypothermia, the pack was holding the leather on the back close enough to the skin it was rapidly conducting heat away through the ventilation built into the pack to prevent sweat buildup.
The rest of the ride from Fort Bridger to Colorado was starts and stops, warming up about every 50 miles or so. The thinsulate gloves weren't holding thier own until they dried out, but at that point my body temp had dropped enough on the first one I didn't want to take any chances.
Came in to my stop at 4am. Seemed like an endless nightmare.
A week later, I decided to go back. Had, by this time, purchased a better motorcycle jacket with CE armor, a better helmet (I didn't mention that the visor decided to let go on my cheap one) and a better pair of gloves.
Got out before first light, at about the same time I came in the previous trip. I'd adjusted the valves, checked the fuel level, oil, etc. Ran it back to Laramie, adjusting the new gear now and again, to prevent chafing. At Laramie, I hit a sign labeled 'Light trailer traffic prohibited, 50+ mph gusts.
Knowing there were no accessible routes otherwise (routes to the north were unreliable/closed due to slick conditions/closed for the season) i gritted my teeth and rode. I think it burned more rear tire in the miles between Laramie and Wamsutter than the entire rest of the trip, with it slipping sideways now and then.
Winds finally died down to 30mph gusts, and then it was smooth riding until Evanston, where it started getting dark... The bike was running beautifully, and the canyon run was uneventful, smooth, and quiet. When I was heading down the canyon, a train to the north was lighting up the entire canyon with its headlights, an oddly beautiful sight.
Turning on the 550 was a breeze compared to the other bikes... the bike started getting better and better, and by the time I hit tremonton, I was having to check the speedometer repeatedly to keep it below 80, as it had a tendency to creep upward unnoticed toward 90.
Came back in through the Eden exit at around midnight, and had some genius from the bar crowds decide to follow me to tell me my backpack was too heavy to ride the bike. I think I noticed how heavy it was after 650 miles or so....
Parked, trudged it up the stairs, dropped it off, weighed it the next morning at 77 lbs or thereabouts. Military rucksack, modular sleep system good to 40 below, and the various tools, clothing, etc that were 'might needs'. The full frame helped a lot with it, and it was actually far better to ride with strapped down tight.
Bike's done darn well... going to do a compression test on it later this week, and possibly hone/rering it. Noticed some signs of some blowby at the beginning of the trip, will see if it cleared up.
Need to pick up some different luggage for the bike, though. I admit I was a tad sore when I got home.
All in all, it was an educational trip. I think the bike's capable of a lot more than I gave it credit for, and my confidence in my riding has improved a bit. Looking at a much lighter toolkit, and other gear for any further rides. Keeping the new jacket, helmet, gloves, and the leggings.
The bike's getting repainted at this point... neglected since 97 with a rattlecan job on the fairings, it's the least I can do.
So far, the total outlay into the bike is a new air filter, tank cleaning, new front fork seals, oil filter, oil change, a can of berryman's dip, chain lube, fork oil, and a new voltage regulator to preempt the stator failing, and o rings set.
This forum has been a great help in getting it up and running. Hoping for many more, less adventurous miles.
TL;DR version? Ice is no fun. Crosswinds not much fun. Heavy pack, not much fun. Getting out and moving and seeing the countryside on a bike I fixed myself? Priceless.
Firsts on this ride: First ride at night, first ride 150+ miles, first solo drive over 600 miles, first time riding on slick roads, first time riding in crosswinds, cold, and rain.
I'll look back on it fondly as a 'character building learning experience'... as my father would say.
-- Old Wolf
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