A little tune-up and some fun on a sunny day
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:04 pm
My GSF600S had just hit 5K miles so I decided it was about time to do a little maintenence. Idle was a little spotty, NO power below 4500rpm, and shifting was a bit clunky.
So,... I set out to change the spark plugs, oil, and oil filter. Had I been able to find an air filter locally, that would have been done as well but I suppose I will have to order one. I plan on checking the bike over a bit more next weekend and making a longer list of things I want to do anyway so that will be a good time to take care of that. Order it all at once.
So I go at it. Holy shnikey! Two of the spark plugs I didn't even need my ratchet to take out! Might explain a couple things..... So I got in the new plugs, tightened them down, unlike the last guy did. The idle is as smooth as silk now and the bike pulls MUCH harder under 4500, no studdering or hesitation at all.
OEM spec NGK plugs if your'e interested.
So after my little warmup/test ride I brought her back into the garage and started on the oil/filter change. Twirled on the new filter and dumped in 3.7 qts just like the manual says, and hey it was actually right. I had been reading up a bit and Mobil 1 SuperSyn 15w50 seemed like a solid choice so thats what is flowing through her veins now. OEM Suzuki filter FYI
Time for the second test ride. Today was the first sunny day we have had in awhile so I geared up for an extended ride. WOW! This thing shifts like butter now! I ended up putting about 100 miles on the bike and on the way home went through a little schicane (sp?) and scraped BOTH pegs for the first time.
That was FUN! 
All in all, a good day.
So,... I set out to change the spark plugs, oil, and oil filter. Had I been able to find an air filter locally, that would have been done as well but I suppose I will have to order one. I plan on checking the bike over a bit more next weekend and making a longer list of things I want to do anyway so that will be a good time to take care of that. Order it all at once.
So I go at it. Holy shnikey! Two of the spark plugs I didn't even need my ratchet to take out! Might explain a couple things..... So I got in the new plugs, tightened them down, unlike the last guy did. The idle is as smooth as silk now and the bike pulls MUCH harder under 4500, no studdering or hesitation at all.
OEM spec NGK plugs if your'e interested. So after my little warmup/test ride I brought her back into the garage and started on the oil/filter change. Twirled on the new filter and dumped in 3.7 qts just like the manual says, and hey it was actually right. I had been reading up a bit and Mobil 1 SuperSyn 15w50 seemed like a solid choice so thats what is flowing through her veins now. OEM Suzuki filter FYI
Time for the second test ride. Today was the first sunny day we have had in awhile so I geared up for an extended ride. WOW! This thing shifts like butter now! I ended up putting about 100 miles on the bike and on the way home went through a little schicane (sp?) and scraped BOTH pegs for the first time.
That was FUN! All in all, a good day.
. course I rode to work and then rode to a few plants and in about 3 hours ill be riding back home lol. I just looked at the maintenance schedule for my bike. I am hoping I can do most of it this weekend although that means I gotta figure out what kind of oil filter I need and see if I can get it at someplace like autozone rather than the honda stealership. They really recommend 5W50 for a bike? I am just curious as I have never changed oil in a bike before only in normal cages and ive always used 10w30 cause well I have never owned a vehicle long enough to upgrade it to something different lol.