I have a couple of questions about this bike which has 100K miles + and came with a log of all service and parts added over the years. It was owned by two people over all tose years and the sidecar was just added about 2500 miles ago.
First is that it is hard to shift out of first gear to neutral when stopped. Releasing the clutch a little does not appear to help, moving the bike a little with the feet does not. It needs time and a lot of force to get into second, then find neutral from there. Any comments? I see no work on the tranny or clutch in the logs, in fact the engine has had really nothing done. I think that the clutch is sticking a little causing this problem. When hot, it also drags when starting, in other words it moves a little even in first gear with the clutch pulled in.
Now to the dreaded OIL question. The guy I bought it from has owned it since 199 and only ridden it 2500 miles. He uses castrol GTX 20W50 (which is my preferred oil in BMWs, but they have a dry plate clutch) and before I change the oil and filter I was wondering if that oil and/or sitting around for two years would make the clutch behave this way. Coming from a dry plate clutch world where engine oil hopefully never sees a clutch plate I need a little advice on what to use here.
Third thing is that in the logs the owners listed every cc of oil they added over all those miles, as well as conditions and nloads. For example, they pulled a trailer and often in hot weather. From new this thing used oil, maybe 250cc to 500 cc a day on long trips. Is this normal for the GS1100G under heavy loads and 500 + mile days? Over the years this oil consumption did NOT increase, which surprised me.
From what I have read this seems to be a bullit proof bike with the exception of the charging system. I like the power band, and so far it is a solid bike. My first ride was about 70 miles in 95 degree plus heat and it was a little hot behind a Vetter fairing with lowers. I pulled the lowers so I'll see how that chages the distribution of air off the engine unto my legs.
Thanks in advance for sharing your GS knowledge with me.
I am located in Southwest Virginia near Roanoke in great bike riding country. We often have a place to stay and wrench on bikes as well as a cup of coffee and suggested mountain roads to ride, so keep us in mind if visiting this area.
Ron
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