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.

 

[Guest]

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?

 

[Guest]

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.


.

 

[slugsride]

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.

Sea Foam is good, seems to have a near cult following among outdoor power equipment folks and boaters (and folks on this forum). The MOST important thing is to read the can and calculate the right amount for your size fuel tank. Don't dump in a whole bottle!!:shock:

 

[girlie_rider]

On the choke on my Suzie, I could not twist it right or left to lock it when I pulled it out. There is a rubber grommet but did not see a way to adjust it.

I did buy a manual off of ebay last night that has all of the specs for every 82 Suzuki. It is a factory service manual. And it was only $4.95 plus shipping.

 

[twistedwankel]

Olderly advice

Olderly advice

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.
I need to know about the brakes, engine, oil, tires, wheels, etc, etc, etc.
Any info would be much appreciated.

Good for you on the class. When you are run off the road (by the person who will not stop) and wreck it you will be okay. Your bike won't but you will be. Then you can fix it cause it's cheap or sell it for parts on ebay.

There is no difference between his 2007 and your 82 as far as basics. He has a better suspension, more power and brakes is all. You do the same level of maintenance as described for his bike. Oh and his in new. For what it's worth my wife drives my "best" car....duh. I drive the 84 Mustang. Check on recent life insurance purchases.:-D

10W-40oil and should be stamped on the fill hole or engine for capacity.
Mine is 3200ml and add 600ml for filter - but I have an 81 750E... Nobody has a 300L anymore nor do they have my bike either. If I wreck this one it's ebay city. That's why I bought it. Fun for the cheap and who really cares about dings at that price. My daughter learned on my old 82 450 but it wasn't fast enough for her so she sold it and she bought a custom lowered Harley 1200. It is cool - I have to admit. My son-in-law maintains/fixes it for her so she won't damage a nail...ahhahahaha She was his SGT in Iraq and can change a semi-truck tire by herself if need be.

When I buy any old thing I change the oil and filter. Also buy new tires if they are old at all. Replace the wheel bearings when you change the tires - the dealer/service center will do it for cheap at the same time if you get them from Bikebandit ahead of time. I can almost guarantee you they are original and junk. Tires and pressure are really important. 3 psi more in back than front.

You can get essential info from the Suzuki dealer like capacities and such when you buy your first oil/filt etc from them and they will tell you and you will write it down.

You start riding his 2007 bike and let him ride the 82 rag:-D That's what I would do in your shoes.

Those that can DO. Those that can't TEACH. Or so I've been told.

Good luck. I ride old because I am old and can't afford new. I always carry a cell phone too and have AAA plus good for 100 miles. BTW my wife doesn't go with me either. She can't lift her leg that high anymore....true. She is also my only remaining beneficiary so tells me to have FUN.

I can still remember being in my 30's....bearly. I think I still had hair, hearing and .... I forget what else. Oh yeah....I have always known how to have FUN.

 

[girlie_rider]

You start riding his 2007 bike and let him ride the 82 rag:-D That's what I would do in your shoes.

I would ride his bike some if I could get my leg up and over on it without looking like th proverbial monkey and the football. Once I get my leg over it and haul my fat rearend onto the seat, I can't touch the ground except for one foot on tiptoe. Here in lies the problem. While I may get it going, stopping it will be an ugly event. One I believe he would rather avoid.

The cellphone always goes with me, added more life insurance on both of us recently, and I bought old because it was cheap, hubby bought new because he's only cheap with me. One of these days I hope he gets it figured out.

 

[twistedwankel]

One of these days I hope he gets it figured out.

Girlie, that was without a doubt the most brutally honest funniest posts I have ever read. My wife and I spend the last 5 minutes laughing.

I hope you continue to post on this site..all tho'...there is also a Ladies GS site you can post on if need be. Lots of guys do. I'm sure you noticed that too.

All the best - with your new career on stage. You're getting lots of fresh material now. Please continue to post your biking sagas.:-D