do you guys agree...

[Frost]

that the GS carb SUCKS!??!?!

just look at all the threads about starting issues and idling problems...is this consistent?...or did all this problem just happen conincidentally all the same time??

that's it...the next bike will be FUEL INJECTED :x

[cernunos]

Ya know, I never had carb problem one with an HD, nor even on the old Trumpets with the screwey Amals...I hope White Owl never gives me near the headaches the rest of you seem to have...do you really love your bike?? I love my little G and the forum too.

C.......

[SPARKPLUG1977]

carbs are carbs.
I don't find the GS's carbs any more offensive than any other modern carbs.  If you don't like them replace them with some mikuni roundslides or something.

[cernunos]

Hey, Spark, carbs ain't just carbs...it does seem that bikes with CV's have more problems than bikes with simple butterfly operation. Hell the ol' Linkert's on early HD's didn't have maybe five parts to 'em. Gotta love these little GS bikes or they get mad at you...gotta tiptoe thru the forum too...sometimes...even tho' I love ya all.

C.......

[SPARKPLUG1977]

I was just making a point that all carbs are touchy. I am quite sure 40 years ago carbs were simpler. If properly maintained most carbs will work on most bikes. Personally I'd rather tinker with the GS's carbs forever before I ever try to screw up anything labeled "Keihin".

[VTNewb]

HD's actually are awesome because of their carbs, or should I say for the new ones. CARB, only one. sweet.

[GRU]

the GS carbs are fine......the problem is way too many people trying to do carb work that don't know anything about carbs...once you get the carbs right you want have any problems

[Roadstergal]

I haven't mucked with mine, and they've given me no problems.

That being said, I want to get a F-I, catted bike next.  Greenie tree-lover, you see.  

[Rema1000]

I agree with GRU; unless you want or need to rejet, they should just work... with the exception of the float bowls, needle valves and pilot jets getting gunked-up sometimes.  I thought all carbs had tiny pilot jets, and float needles, so those problems are probably universal.  Although, now that I think of it, a single carb for a big Harley probably has a larger pilot jet too.

Perhaps some makes of carbs are easier than others to rejet, but it's your choice to rejet or not.

The only things I can think of that would be better for the GS carbs, would be to have them located such that you could remove the float bowls and ream-out the pilot jets, without taking the carbs off the bike.  And having big knobby screws to adjust the idle mixture, rather than the fiddly tiny recessed screws.  Otherwise, they seem fine.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind having a mid-jet to play with, like the '01s and newer have.

[Susuki_Jah]

havnt had a problem with my carbs. the bike is a 91 and it has been jetted by the previous owner.  I have no idle or starting up problems. choke it and go. its great.

[cernunos]

I don't know about the new HD's, but on the older models if you wanted to jet up or down you just changed one jet and that was it...no pilots, no needle clips, no holes to drill...but I love the Baby G and the forum, just hope White Owl never messes up her carbs.

C.......

[kyzee]

I don't know about the new HD's, but on the older models if you wanted to jet up or down you just changed one jet and that was it...no pilots, no needle clips, no holes to drill...but I love the Baby G and the forum, just hope White Owl never messes up her carbs.

C.......

Talk about HD carbs. The don't call them gaz guzzlers for no reason.  

and NO, I do not have any problems with my carbs once I fixed the float problem I was having sometime back. My GS is a 91 and has 65K on the odo.

[cernunos]

Actually my old Glide (Rest Her Soul) got about 50 mpg...no shaZam!. Love the GS500 and the forum and the S&W M29.

C.......

[scratch]

GS carbs suck...gas! And air. But, I haven't had any probs. I wouldn't mind a set of re-sleeved Amals for the GS. I just love to tickle my carbs.

[The Buddha]

GS carbs are not that complicated... But they do have some issues... the fuzzy crap is floats, and the troublesome crap is the intake manifolds which suck air easy and often... else the GS crabs are as simple and reliable as they get. Set the floats too high and instant trouble, set it low and it feels like you are several sizes lean on the jets... you must have the 2 equal and within 1-2 mm off the gasket surface.
Cool.
Srinath.

[cernunos]

It does seem like a lot of people have trouble with the carbs on the Baby G for some reason...then again, it seems like every Jap bike I've ever seen has had some carb issues. I don't know, quite a few people seem to have a lot of questions on re-jetting, cleaning, even assembly. Amal carbs are really, really simple, as are the Bendix and S&S carbs commonly used on HD's. Ah well, I love the White Owl the forum and Beretta 92.

C.......

[70 Cam Guy]

the GS carbs are fine......the problem is way too many people trying to do carb work that don't know anything about carbs...once you get the carbs right you want have any problems

I agree.  My carbs have been great.  The only time I've touched them was to replace my choke cable and when scratch helped me synch them up

Instead of everyone rejetting, I think people should get Bob's ignition advancer.  That alone made an enormous difference in low end response.  My bike is warmed up for me to ride off after putting on my helmet and gloves.  I'll be on half choke and turn it off a couple blocks later.  Works great

[Hi-T]

The majority of the problems posted on this board are our own doing...  It's not that a part is bad - more that we messed the part up or did not maintain the part.  But that's cool 'cuase we gotta learn.  But I'd recommend learning all you can before tearing into a project.

If we had more "how do I" threads, we'd certainly have alot less "help me fix it" threads.  At the same time, there is no better bike to muff something up on then the GS... it's a simple bike.

[mp183]

Someone once said the carbs are the "devil".
Fuel Injection Forever!!!!!!!!

[kyzee]

Someone once said the carbs are the "devil".
Fuel Injection Forever!!!!!!!!

I rather learn from the devil himself....  :nana:    There is not much you can do to the EFIs except ECU remaps.