New owner questions

[girlie_rider]

I have a 82 300L that I absolutely love.

However much I love my Suzie I have one huge problem!!!!!!!

I have no idea whatsoever as to what to do with it other than riding it. I know nothing about the bike other than how to ride it and sometimes I'm not real good at that. I learned to ride the last day of March, first day of April. My husband bought me the bike in May for $650.00 from a friend of a friend. It only had 8600 miles on it when we bought it and it run. It had just had an oil change on it. It is cold natured and has to be choked everytime I start it if has sat for any amount of time or the first start of the day. I have no idea how old anything is on it or when anything else has been changed or replaced other than the oil.

I have found out it is a rare bike and can find practically nothing for it or very little and mostly small stuff at that.

Can anyone give me some advice and what I need to do to take care of it? It may have been meant as my starter bike but I would love to keep it up and running as long as possible, even when I get me a new one.

I need to know what I need to look for and what I need to keep an eye on on it.

Please help. I want to remain a driver and not become a passenger on my husbands bike.

[twistedwankel]

I have no idea whatsoever as to what to do with it other than riding it. I know nothing about the bike other than how to ride it and sometimes I'm not real good at that.

I need to know what I need to look for and what I need to keep an eye on on it.

Please help. I want to remain a driver and not become a passenger on my husbands bike.

Please sign up for a local motorcycle training course. I believe about $200 and they provide the learner bike, bike STATE riding test and helmet too. Not only will you live to enjoy your bike but you will learn alot about how to take care of it. If you husband is self -taught he will learn alot taking the course with you.

Then you can find out all you want to on this website for years and years of GS or new bike riding.

[chef1366]

First thing I would do is try and find a manual for it. It has a whole maintenance chapter. Click here

[girlie_rider]

Please sign up for a local motorcycle training course. I believe about $200 and they provide the learner bike, bike STATE riding test and helmet too. Not only will you live to enjoy your bike but you will learn alot about how to take care of it. If you husband is self -taught he will learn alot taking the course with you.

Then you can find out all you want to on this website for years and years of GS or new bike riding.

I took the course March 31st and April 1st. Got my license and have been riding on the road since June. I practiced in the parking lot of the high school where my husband teachs for a month before I got on the road. We have taken quite a few short trips around where we live. My longest trip has been around 100 miles (yesterday). My husband has been riding since he was little. He as had his license since he was in his early 20's (we are now 33 and 32). He has a 2007 Ninja 650R. The problem is that we have no idea what the spec for my bike are and are having a hard time finding any information about the bike. Several places we have been, including a local motorcycle junkyard have never even heard of a GS 300L.

I haven't found but 2 other people that mention a 300L on GSResources.

When I took the course, the scope of the lesson on motorcycle care was that it needed to occur whenever you rode before evey ride. I need to know the what and how much.

I need to know about the brakes, engine, oil, tires, wheels, etc, etc, etc.

Any info would be much appreciated.

[girlie_rider]

Thank you chef for the website. :-D

I also need to know about the suspension on my bike.

[Redman]

I'd say to get a manual as has been said above.
Maybe you can find a Clymers at an online book store for more like $24.

Then you can start with some things like:
- chain lube
- chain adjust
- engine oil change
- clutch cable adjustment
- tach and speedo cable lube
- take off wheel for tire change

Then later you may find yourself doing something like:
- Replacing brake pads/shoes
- replacing the clutch plates
and just casually mentioning that you did that yourself and your friends will think you are bragging.

[girlie_rider]

I'd say to get a manual as has been said above.
Maybe you can find a Clymers at an online book store for more like $24.

Then you can start with some things like:
- chain lube
- chain adjust
- engine oil change
- clutch cable adjustment
- tach and speedo cable lube
- take off wheel for tire change

Then later you may find yourself doing something like:
- Replacing brake pads/shoes
- replacing the clutch plates
and just casually mentioning that you did that yourself and your friends will think you are bragging.

If this were my Explorer I could do most of this myself. I know how to change the oil, the tires, the lights, wipers, plugs and wires, and other things I need to. I leave the electrical for the hubby, but can do the basics on the rest myself and will try other things if I'm in the mood. I even help the girls at work with some of this when needed. Problem here id that I don't know the specs on the bike ans don't want to mess it up or break it bad.

[bradleymaynar]

The choke situation has me curious. I only need to pull the choke on my 1100 when the temp is below 50. And that's only if it's in the winter and in my unheated, detached garage. Have you gone through the carbs (ie. rebuilt)? Synced them?

It's amazing how many running issues can be cleared up with a carb cleaning and sync. Plus, it's relatively cheap and easy, especially on a two cylinder bike.

I wish copierguy (Rich) was still around. He has/had a 300 that kept up with guys on much larger bikes. He could be a big help.

Brad bt

[girlie_rider]

My husband says that the guy we bought claimed he had went through the carbs and hubby said that they appear clean.

I do know that I checked the oil today and it looked like it had just been poured out of the bottle into the bike and was still full. My husband and I were both surprised at that. We have put 600 miles on it since we got it in May. I have no idea how often fluids and the like should be changed.

Choke problem - when I pull the choke out, it refuses to stay out. SLides right back in to the open position. I have to put a gator clip on it to hold it out til she heats up or I have to stand there and hold it - blah. What could be the deal?

[earlfor]

There is usually a plastic friction twist ring on the top of the choke base/mount that the knob rests on. If you have that ring, turning it clockwise increases friction. Also, if the bike is cold natured, its probable that from sitting unused a lot, the choke and idle passages in the carb have accumulated some varnish. Get a can of fuel injector cleaner and when you have a full gas tank, add the amount specified on the can per gallon of gas.
It should help noticably by the time you have used a tank of gas. The injector cleaner will not damage the rubber "O" rings or plastic parts in the carbs.

Earl

Choke problem - when I pull the choke out, it refuses to stay out. SLides right back in to the open position. I have to put a gator clip on it to hold it out til she heats up or I have to stand there and hold it - blah. What could be the deal?

[chef1366]

Lift up the rubber boot under the choke knob and you can adjust the tension. Lose the roach clips. :shock:

[Reddawg]

?

Try a small twist to the right or left when choke pulled out. My 1000g does the same thing. Usually the twist locks it into position.

[girlie_rider]

I will try the choke in the morning and when I gas up tomorrow afternoon I will go to the auto parts store for the injector cleaner.

Thanks for the advice guys.

And chef, by the way, I said gator clip, not roach clip. It came with the bike. Bad PO, bad PO. When all else fails, blame the po. CHA, CHA , CHA.

[girlie_rider]

My husband wants to know if Sea Foam would work in the bike to help clean out the carbs or do I need to by fuel injector cleaner per se.

[Steve]

Sea Foam is one of the best cleaners you can put in there. Mix it about twice as strong as recommended, then run that tank out in one day. Refill the tank to dilute the remaining mixture, run the bike long enough to get the diluted mixture in the carb bowls for overnight storage. Not sure the strong mix is good to leave in there for more than the few hours it would take to run through one tank.


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