Dropped bike.

[Brewhonkey]

My Mother-In-Laws boyfriend dropped my 80 GS 550L, and now it feels like I lost a cylinder. It won't idle at all. Is it possible I got oil up in the top-end? It ran on it's side for about 20 seconds before it stalled out. What ****es me off the most I spent all winter getting it running 100%, and the first nice day this happens.

[duaneage]

If it hit on the right side check the pickup coils behind the cover. And whack the boyfriend with a shovel.

[Sandy]

Hopefully it could also be just a fouled spark plug from a cylinder being flooded with fuel before it quit.

[nabrams]

I'm betting Sandy is right. That's exactly what happened to my neighbor's bike when he droppped it. We spent hours trying all sorts of things. Then I decided to look at the plugs - totally fouled. New plug and bike ran great.
Boy, did I feel stupid and embarrased - I was supposed to be the "expert", being that I've restored four non-running bikes.

[Billy Ricks]

Change your plugs, they are probably fouled with oil and gas. Particularly oil since it continued to run.

[bwringer]

I second the application of a shovel to idiot's cranium.

NO ONE touches my GS.

Noobs can putt around on and drop my wife's little Honda CM400T all they want -- it's small, light, and has an enormous heavy ugly nasty JC Whitney crash bar. If you drop it, the bike just sits there propped up on the crash bar at a 45 degree angle.

And yes, change the plugs before panicking. Check the cases for cracks or bent areas, too.

[Brewhonkey]

Thanks, I'll throw some new plugs in tonight. I hope that's all it is. I think I should still hit'em with a shovel.

[Sandy]

Thanks, I'll throw some new plugs in tonight. I hope that's all it is. I think I should still hit'em with a shovel.

Full agreement on both counts from me.