GS500
This is my first motorcycle - a 2001 Suzuki GS500k1. I bought it in October of 2003, with about 3000 miles on the odometer. All I have to say is that it's the most fun I've had out of 37hp ;o]
If you're looking for information on GS500s, try the
GSTwin site and their
forum.
Modifications: National Cycle F18 screen; Progressive springs; Srinath case savers.
Mazda3
My first new car, woo! It is a 2005 sand Mazda3i. I bought it after a nice lady
folded my old car in half. So far, aside from a little trouble seeing anything when backing up, I have only good things to say for it :). I'll have a photo up as soon as I'm not lazy (that's not going to be very soon, so don't hold your breath).
Modifications: FIAMM low-tone horn addon to beef up the tiny beep.
If you are curious, you can view my
greasemonkey work log.
|
Model |
Date |
Mileage |
Job Type ↑ |
Job Name |
Comments
|
|
Mazda3 |
2005.08.16 |
5426 |
Repair |
Wheel |
show
|
[hide]
I hydroplaned and cracked a rim (OEM Toyo proxes are horrid on wet roads).
Replaced with factory 16in rim. |
|
GS500 |
2004.07.17 |
6100 |
Modification |
Progressive Fork Springs |
show
|
[hide]
installed progressive fork springs. changed fork oil.
full writeup/instructions |
|
GS500 |
2004.08.07 |
6485 |
Modification |
Case Guards |
show
|
[hide]
replaced the front and bottom engine-frame-mount bolts and added small case savers. case savers were made by Srinath from gstwin.com forums. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.12.02 |
8575 |
Modification |
Horn |
show
|
[hide]
The car comes with one "high-tone" horn, which sounds wimpier than my tiny gs500 horn.
Installed a FIAMM "B"-note low-tone horn (AM80/#72012) in addition to the OEM high-tone horn. Used a 1m->2f splitter to get power to both horns.
Used these instructions (second set of pics) to jack up the car. |
|
GS500 |
2004.06.09 |
5750 |
Adjustment |
Rear Preload Adjust |
show
|
[hide]
changed rear preload from 4 to 6-7. the whole job was a huge PIA. the special tool was useless - we had to resort to a chisel&hammer method, which is why the end preload is not a specific number. |
|
GS500 |
2005.05.10 |
7722 |
Adjustment |
Valve Clearance |
show
|
[hide]
Only the LI shim had to be changed.
Left Intake - shim = 2.60mm, clearance = 0.06mm
Right Intake - shim = 2.65mm, clearance = 0.05mm
Left Exhaust - shim = 2.78mm, clearance = 0.05mm
Left Exhaust - shim = 2.78mm, clearance = 0.05mm
I left the old cover gasket and bolt o-rings. The gasket has a small tear, so may need to be replaced soon. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.08.16 |
5426 |
Adjustment |
Alignment |
show
|
[hide]
4-wheel alignment |
|
GS500 |
2004.03.06 |
4000 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
quaker state peak performance 10w-40
first oil change. went pretty smoothly, except that i could not find a new filter, so i had to keep the old one. the old oil was pretty gunky.
|
|
GS500 |
2004.05.20 |
5500 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
quaker state peak performance 10w-40.
stp smo-00 filter
changed oil again, because the old filter fouled up the oil very quickly. changed the filter and gasket. |
|
GS500 |
2004.12.12 |
7450 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
put in 3qt of cheap 10w-30 for winter storage
left old filter |
|
GS500 |
2005.03.24 |
7450 |
Maintenance |
Scheduled |
show
|
[hide]
-changed oil/filter
-changed spark plugs (NGK DPR8EA-9)
-bled and changed brake fluid (Valvoline SynPower DOT4)
-cleaned air filter
-checked all hoses for leaks (none)
-checked tension/freeplay of drivechain, clutch cable, throttle cable, and rear brake pedal height.
|
|
GS500 |
2005.03.24 |
7450 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
quaker state peak performance 10w-40.
stp smo-00 filter |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.08.10 |
5045 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
First oil change. Perhaps I should have done it a little sooner, but I was not able to. The old oil was fairly clean when it came out.
Castrol GTX
Napa filter |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.12.03 |
8585 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
Second oil change, this time at a dealer.
4.3qt of Mobil 5w20. (They could not give me more info, but if I had to guess it was Mobil Clean 5000.)
Mazda filter cartridge. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.12.03 |
8585 |
Maintenance |
Tire Rotation |
show
|
[hide]
Dealer rotated my tires: front to back; back to front. |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.01.01 |
12590 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 (4.2-4.3qt)
mazda filter #LF10-14-302 (screw on, NOT cartridge)
could not get the floor jack under the front of the car (not enough space). jacked each side separately and put the car on stands (under the cylindrical wheel/shock couplings).
CAUTION: oil shoots out far (toward the back) and slightly to the right (if facing front of car). |
|
GS500 |
2006.03.18 |
10118 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
3qt quaker state peak performance 10w-40.
stp smo-00 filter |
|
GS500 |
2006.05.13 |
10850 |
Maintenance |
Tire Change |
show
|
[hide]
Replaced OEM Exedras with new tires. Put Avon Azaro AV45 110/80R17 on the front and AV46 140/80R17 on the rear. (Sport-touring radials)
Tires came from and work done by:
Kens Motorcycle Tires
http://kensmotorcycletires.net/
Happy with product, labour, prices, and the small Mom&Pop shop overall. |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.07.24 |
16728 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302
old oil was pretty nasty-looking. perhaps 4000mi is too long an interval. |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.11.04 |
19666 |
Maintenance |
Tire Rotation |
show
|
[hide]
rotation done at Big10Tires; $20 with coupon; i believe they did front to back, same side. |
