I just finish a 1,500 miles trip on my GS 500 but now I am having problems with it. It's leaking oil and I can't get the rpms over 1000, it normally idles at 1500, which means logicly that it won't hardly run. Does anyone have any idea what might be going on? Cracked head gasket, cracked piston? What should I be looking for?

Where is the oil coming from?

What is the oil level like?

Does the motor have compression? (Put it in 1st gear and try rolling it forward, clutch out ignition key off .. .. the rear wheel should resits movement.. if not you have no engine compression .. probably a damaged motor)

Difficult to diagnose this remotely .. see a local mechanic?

The oil is coming out of the engine cover, where two pieces meet. When I try and roll it in gear with the engine off, it resists I can't roll it.
I have taken it to a local mecanic but there's really no way to know if this person knows what he's doing or not. I would like to have an idea of what might be going on to reduce the chance of this guy giving me a bunch of bull and a big bill. Did I mention I'm in Mexico? Anyone can open up shop down here it seems like. So, we'll see...

I live in Mex City if I can help in any way send me a PM. Where are you exactly in Mexico? Try contacting the local communities on the HUBB. It could be something that can be easily fixed. The bike is a simple design and you should be able to find someone that can tell you what the problem is. Good luck

Good .. provided the starter motor turns the engine over - means you don't have a seized motor nor one without compression .. so no major damage ..

You may not be able (yet - limited by the number of post you have here) to send a PM ... but you can send an email .. the difference is that the receiver will know your email address .. not usually a problem here. So do that and see what you get. Oh .. Mexico is a big place .. when you send out your email .. narrow the area down a bit so you can get someone local not the other side of the country. Might be best sent to a HU community - see over on the left - brown thingy .. Community .. then 'Send message to a community' .. choose the closet one.

One thing you can do - clean the bike .. anyone working on the bike will want it clean before they start .. keeps them and the insides of your bike clean. It does not take much oil to make a big mess. It may also help find the problem. The two (leak and not running right) may not be linked ..

Good Luck.