These bikes should never have existed. The 250s were worse (and more expensive) than the 250rs and the 400 worse than the cx. (I owned all 4 of those bikes back in the day)
(The actual info is around the middle of my wall of text) The owners manual has a chart for all maintenance intervals on page "6-4". You can get a digital one (aka a .pdf file) for free by googling "suzuki gs500 manual" as well as the service manual (useful too). The manuals are are easy to read and lots "oh sh**" moments for me just reading the headlines real quick. Anyway, oil change depends on how old the bike is. It's written for new bikes sort of. The chart says replace oil and filter after: • The first 1000km/600miles or first 2 months • Then at 6000km/4000miles or first 12 months •Then 12000km/7500miles/24 months •18000km/11000miles/36 months •24000km/14500miles/46months. It stops there but never says if the last one is the guideline for the rest of the bike's life, but i assume so. You can also just change it more often if you feel like it, cause that seems like a bit much to me waiting every 4 years... Very important. Torque specs. Oil drain plug is 23nm/16.5lb-ft. Oil pan bolts is 14nm/10lb-ft. The torque wrench spec chart is in the service manual. Drive chain - clean and lube every 1000km/600mi. Etc.
Brilliant, just bought a California Sport and going to be attempting this soon once I get the stand delivered, unfortunately its minus its fixings so I'm glad to see here I need spacers. Very clear and detailed (Y)
You might have seen my videos on the removal of the speed limiter and other mods. Can you explain why the sprocket change is a good idea and what it does, and is it worthwhile?
With the air filter and exhaust change it made the gears shorter. A tooth larger really makes a lot of difference. I hadn't seen your video, but I have now. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
@@MotorcycleFettlers in what way does it make a difference? I’ve looked at lots of reviews and pretty much everyone has said they’re changing back. It makes the acceleration slower but once up to speed, the revs are around 500 slower at the same speed, however you are having to downshift when needing more acceleration so the increase in mpg is negated.
With the air filter fitted it makes first gear really short, as in you have to change into second really quickly, and I prefer the way it goes. It's more relaxed. It was not very good higher up the rev range in higher gears until we changed the exhaust for less restrictive one. Now it revs to the limiter, in top. Before, it really struggled in top until the exhaust was changed. One would imagine that 85 mph would be possible if I was to change the throttle body, as you did.
Unusual but a nice classic bike, I like autos in bikes and cars they give a relaxing ride, it’s a good alternative to a scooter. I can hear the engine has the well known rattley camchain noise. Enjoyed the vid, thanks.👍
I don't know if it was the original chain when I bought it. I changed it at around 8k miles. The chain was probably OK for a bit longer but the bush was trashed.
27k is a lot of miles for a 2 stroke 50cc, my first moped(a 1989 Tomos moped 50cc 2 stroke was on its 2nd top end rebuild at 10,000 miles. Wonder how many top end rebuilds that’s had. Sounded nice though, A 16yr olds wish list bike back in the day.
Well that was a trip down memory lane. Thank you. I had a 1981 model when I was 17. I used to ride with a pillion a lot of the time. It was not going to win races but it was a comfortable bike to ride.
Hello! Congratulations for your always very interesting videos on the Virago 535! I have a question: what brake disc does yours have? I bought a new front rim but it has wider bolt holes that fix the brake disc (75mm hole spacing) than the original (40mm). What you put seems to be right for me... do I also have to put additional components in the disc (dust guard on the speedometer side, disc side or something else?) Many thanks!😀
Hi, Thanks for the feedback. I'm afraid that we do not have this one any more. We're hoping to do some filming where there is one, in the next couple of weeks, and we'll measure up but I fear this won't be soon enough for you. I'm sure you can get the answer on Virago forum. Good luck.
Great looking bike. I bought one new in 1973 when I was still in high school. I rode it halfway across America and back (twice), and up and down the East coast. I loved it. Traded up to the 400 CMT in 1980.
Got a slight weep from the bottom of the oil filter cover after first service, think the dealer left the original O ring in place. How did you get on with out changing the O ring ? Great video 👍
i've owned mine for about 5-6 years now, and its cost me a fortune just to keep on the road. something you'll probably find reassuring is those micron cans are fairly desirable and that one looks in decent nick, and a running engine can go for about £300 on its own in good nick from reputable sellers on ebay. i'd probably price this one down though based on the fact its got a manual CCT, people only really do this to get extra life out of the Cam chain. as a manual CCT can keep the tension for beyond the max extension of the stock auto CCT (some also change it out of fear the stock one will fail). other than that though, a tidy up and powder coat on that frame should bring a good return on your expenses. i'll save any further comments so as to not spoil your adventure, but depending how much elbow grease you want to put in to clean the parts up, will be the biggest difference between a small profit or a big one, since at £300, i think you'd be hard pressed to turn a loss :D
Thanks for the detailed feedback and useful information. The Micron did, indeed, sell the moment we listed it! I think it was worth a little more than we thought. Other stuff is selling, slowly, and we are pricing low as we're not looking to sit on stock. We're having fun (mostly) taking her apart and doing some filming. If we turn a profit, it won't be a lot...We're thinking £150 for the engine although it's currently proving devlilishly difficult to get all of the seized engine bolts out :-(
I purchased a 1983 12v version in 2015. Was a 3 year project doing it up in between a full-time job. Ive still got it and ride it to and from work in the fine weather. Which unfortunately is not that often. Not a speed machine by any means but so comfy and feels good on the road. Drum brakes are ok but more distance behind traffic is required for any urgent stopping 😂
I came to London in 1981 from San Francisco on an extended visit and bought a nearly new 1980 CB250N from Coburn and Hughes at Green Lanes London for about 1500 pounds. They mounted me a rear rack to hold my backpack and gear and I put 10,000 miles on it in the next three months covering most all of England, Scottish lowlands and Ireland crossing to the Continent through France, the Low Countries, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy and back to London. I was between wives and jobs and it was an adventure not to be duplicated. The 250N was a near perfect choice for me as my chief concern was reliability. There were certainly times I could have used a bit more power but the Honda was able to comfortably cruise at 60+ MPH fully loaded. Changed the oil a couple of times, replaced the chain and rear tire but she never failed to start or gave me any problems. Not sure if any modern bike could provide similar performance for the relative cost. Thanks much for the look back!
Great video man, tiny personal question. I also have an Yamaha virago 535 project bike. After cleaning the carbs, and trying to start it. It wouldn’t run, the front float chamber stays dry/empty, and the back one does get fuel. Do you have an idea?
Absolutely loved the rant, so true. I can only afford one bike, limitations being, tax, insurance, space to keep it and the initial cost! Makes me lose my sh*t when I hear, "I'm not sure where this fits in my stable, if I were to add it to my collection?" Well, here's a news flash, if I add this to my stable I'm going to go hungry... 😂
I nearly got one of those but I went for a BMW R650 that wasn't a very good starter after a while. Probably should've gone with Honda reliability in hindsight. Bike press at the time raved about the Beemers. It was a very easy bike to ride tho with the low centre of gravity.
With just a sprocket change one would expect an increase in mpg but as I've changed the air filter and tail pipe it's actually less mpg but still getting around 90+ so I'm quite happy
im scared of watercooled bikes. zey usualy are more powerfull and can leak like my car does... in old..er cars it can be common and just filling it up is cheaper says our mechanic... how leaky are old motorbikes?
Good question. I'm not really sure. From my own experience, there are are lots of things to worry about on an older bike and water leaks have not been at the top of my list...Electrics...Fuel...
@@MotorcycleFettlers yeah just got back from a ride thinking how nice my bike is... so simple no comp... just hid. brakes and steel cables, no abs, no gear ind. I was soo full of myself with pride and that idea that my bike is just perfect simple. clutch cable snaped... that was not a fun ride home :c 2nd time, once before 5000 km! its not about one time rapair cost but about loosing confidence in the machine in general. i hope You all dont get such trust shatering ''breaks'' like cable wear fear or cooling leaks or yelowing of carbs becouse it obv is leaking somewhere, or choke levers that just dont stay as set, or squeky shocks.or maybe the front tyre is loosing a bit of air. i love my kawasaki zephyr550 but i fear ''it'' does not love me back
Sorry, can't help on this one. We have no plans to put coolant back into this one as this is part of our series on stripping down an uneconomical restoration to see if the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. I think a manual, forum, or Google is your friend.
You don't have to watch them. Firstly, we don't take money to review bikes. Secondly, we're lucky that people let us take out their bikes as we just like riding different bikes. Thirdly, who's going to offer money to a tiny little channel like ours?
I had red one on 1987 E plate. Did no more then 30 mph wasn't dangerous at all I was 17 year old had it 18 months no one brake down on it. Cost me 729 bran new from c e Barnes in hull
Those cables that are connected above the carbs, what are they for? I bought a virago and it came with those cables disconnected I’m not sure what was connected before
If it's electrical and it's attached to the carb, then it's the heater. I don't recall if the heaters on ours, worked. From my experience and, anecdotally, then don’t make a huge difference. I had a broken one on a Kawasaki Zephyr and could not find a replacement on eBay. I guess, if you’re have trouble starting it, then try and find some replacements. That said, it’s an old bike so is likely to not always start on the button, anyway…
Great seeing this video. I had one back in 1980 DGY871T really nice bike would love it back now.i remember swapping the tyres to I think Avon Roadrunners totally transformed the handling.
Uh as it happens my virago wont start ! Charged battery. Replaced spark plug, but there is nothing 😢 ignition on, usual buzzing and thats that. No revs nothing 😢 any suggestion if cleaning carbs will help? Or where should l look ?
I think there's lots of possibilities. I'd first try to establish if it is electrical or fuel. Have you tested to see if there plugs are sparking? You could try some easy start to see if it will fire on that, which may indicate a fuelling issue. On an old bike, there's a good chance that the carbs will need some level of cleaning.
@@MotorcycleFettlers good stuff my garage also mentioned carbs. So thats a good shout. Getting new battery anyway. Will test again tomorrow 🤞🏼 thanks for the reply. Your videos are super helpful 👍🏼
You can mostly service the carbs in-situ. We had to take ours off as we needed to replace the small diaphragms. They are a nightmare to take off and put back on…hopefully you can sort your problem without having to remove them.
Shame to dismantle it, but I guess it will help keep some other examples of this Honda on the road. Hopefully you will make your money back and a few quid for the effort 👍
