GS500 Turbo!

Jackstand Johnny · September 05, 2008, 10:47:02 AM

I thought that might get your attention. No, I don't know of one that exists, but I think it's a really cool idea! I'd like to get some help from the elder gods on this one. I'm sure it can be done(as they say around here, anything can be made to work). I want to know how well it would work. I know it'd be a simple setup(simpler than fuel injection), but would it be worth it? What would a good turbo be? It'd have to have very little lag as the GS500 already has plenty of that. Thanks!

Jackstand Johnny · September 05, 2008, 10:49:58 AM

Okay, just saw the Wiki...it does exist....BUT! how was it done? How bout a walkthrough? Who's bike is it? Is it fuel injected?

beRto · September 05, 2008, 10:53:52 AM

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42199.msg485636#msg485636

ohgood · September 05, 2008, 03:09:56 PM

think about the heat. how would you keep the heat from destroying the oil, turbo, engine ?

daily rider = KISS

nascarkeith · September 05, 2008, 04:21:12 PM

There is one in the reader's rides section of a magazine this month. Saw it at the bookstore but don't remember which mag it was.

DoD#i · September 05, 2008, 05:53:26 PM

Turbos were a 2-3 year fad in the early 1980s - I suppose that means the fashion cycle has rolled around again....

Someone a little ways south of here was selling one in running condition, the same model as mine (other than being on the road, so it was in better shape) for like $800 on Craigslist a few weeks ago. I don't need two, so I let it go on by.

The short and skinny - wacky powerband like a 2-stroke. Either killed or scared the poop out of a lot of squids back in the day - they'd wail on the throttle and when the spinny thing kicked in, bad things would happen - things like breaking the rear tire loose at 80 mph. The turbo added complexity, parts, weight, fuel pump, pressurized carbs, oil cooler - and one of the few good reasons to actually use synthetic oil. The oil plumbing adds more places for leaks to happen. Mileage sucks compared to a normally aspirated engine for two reasons - when you are on boost, you are cramming more gas/air through to make more power - and when you are off boost, the compression ratio is lower than a normally aspirated engine.

Ridden intelligently, not scary at all - smooth roll on gets smooth response, pulls nicely doing two-up uphill, etc.

Functionally replaced by 900's that weighed less and didn't need all the plumbing - plus they had more predictable powerbands.

Dom · September 05, 2008, 07:23:39 PM

A roots-type blower run off a belt on the ignition advancer side seems like it would be easier to conjure up.

Jackstand Johnny · September 05, 2008, 07:39:09 PM

A supercharger? I think that belt would rob way more power than a turbo. As for a fad cycling around, I've been a fan of turbo's before I thought about it on a bike. The complexity is apparent, but if done right, leaks would be minimal if at all. I see it's ben done with a fuel injected version...now thats complexity. Having it carburated wouldnt have as good of gas mileage as it would F.I., but it's simpler. The gas mileage would be worse off than an N/A engine, but still better than a car, and I didnt get a bike for the fuel economy! I'm in love with the concept of a turbo bike. Those cons are in deed valid, but not too much of a concern, to me at least. I'd like to look more into the pro's, the logistics, and the resources to get it done. Maybe not soon, but someday.

DoD#i · September 06, 2008, 05:18:22 AM

http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/

Keep your eyes on the classifieds. You certainly can hack it all together if you've got enough shop, but the bikes are out there (factory built) if you want one.

If nothing else, a turbo bike (wrecked/junked) would be the best place to get a turbo of the proper size for a turbo bike.

sledge · September 06, 2008, 06:25:04 AM

There is no place for a blower/turbo on any mass produced bike these days, if there was wouldnt the big 4 still be offering them? The extra weight and complexity involved far outweighs any practical advantages in power gains. Things have moved on in the last 25 yrs, modern engine design together fuel injection and engine management systems have far more to offer but people still like to fit them for the bling factor and the sense of acheivment.

Anyone else remember Rangerbrown and his big ideas from a few years ago?? Put the kettle on, make a big cup of coffee and read through this epic http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=28332.0

BTW I did send him a PM on the date I said I would for an update........he never replied

ecpreston · September 06, 2008, 10:12:47 AM

Considering a modern 600 has more than double our power from the factory for not a whole lot more $, I can't imagine going through the trouble to turbo a 500. The result would be far less reliable than a 600, far more complex, have a much less predictable powerband, get worse fuel economy, and still wouldn't keep up with a 600. Sounds fun. Sell GS and buy a 600 if you want significantly more power. If you really have to have a project, put a 600 motor in your GS and run it with microsquirt.

Jackstand Johnny · September 06, 2008, 01:31:35 PM

Quote from: ecpreston on September 06, 2008, 10:12:47 AM
Considering a modern 600 has more than double our power from the factory for not a whole lot more $, I can't imagine going through the trouble to turbo a 500. The result would be far less reliable than a 600, far more complex, have a much less predictable powerband, get worse fuel economy, and still wouldn't keep up with a 600. Sounds fun. Sell GS and buy a 600 if you want significantly more power. If you really have to have a project, put a 600 motor in your GS and run it with microsquirt.

Now that sounds like fun! I guess a turbo really isn't a practical application for our beloved GS, but it sure does sound cool.

dgyver · September 06, 2008, 03:54:05 PM

It has been done.

For those who do not (or know how to) use the search...

Fuel injected turbo
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=34218.0
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4463

Jackstand Johnny · September 06, 2008, 04:13:16 PM

Quote from: SecondsFromTheFall on September 05, 2008, 10:49:58 AM
Okay, just saw the Wiki...it does exist....BUT! how was it done? How bout a walkthrough? Who's bike is it? Is it fuel injected?

GeeP · September 06, 2008, 04:15:50 PM

Quote from: sledge on September 06, 2008, 06:25:04 AMAnyone else remember Rangerbrown and his big ideas from a few years ago?? Put the kettle on, make a big cup of coffee and read through this epic http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=28332.0

BTW I did send him a PM on the date I said I would for an update........he never replied

Damn you Sledge!

I'm sitting here drugged up after being savaged by a doctor with a razor blade for over an hour.

Hoping for a little rest from reading all my post-operation instructions I sit down to read the twins. The little gem about putting the kettle on nearly busted my staples I was laughing so hard.

Now, it hurts like hell and it's all your fault!

On a different note... I have 3 puke bowls, some surgical tubing, a soldering iron, and a couple smoke detectors. I think I'm going to build a nuclear powered clock with memory function. I'll post back when it's up and running.

For Seconds:

This topic comes up once or twice a year, always with the same "Wouldn't it be COOL!?! attitude attached to it. Hell, simple, bolt on a turbo and you're instantly fast!

The fact is, there's a lot more to it than plumbing a turbo charger in and cranking the loud handle. The GS bottom end, according to several racers here, won't take much more than 65 HP for any extended period. If a GS500 is to take advantage of what a turbocharger can provide, a number of changes need to be made to the basic engine. I recall Roush or Shelby, or somebody once said words to the effect of "It will make X thousand horsepower for a few glorious seconds on the dyno before exploding into a ball of flame." That's about the truth of the matter.

I'm not saying it can't be done, nor am I trying to put a damper on anybody's spirits. From both the angles of a machinist and an engineer, I enjoy building things, even if they've been tried and tried again. However, there's a lot more to this kind of work than slapping something on and going, as Rangerbrown found out. As I recall, he blew up his engine at least once, possibly twice.

He had no understanding of the forces being developed within the engine and was entirely uninterested in learning the mathematics and theory behind predicting and managing those forces. For me, this is the best part of the project: THE LEARNING! If you approach it from this angle, it could be a worthwhile project for you. Beware, however, there is the very real danger of blowing up your GS's engine. I would buy a second GS engine and build a water cooled Prony brake or similar as a place to do your testing.

News:

GS500 Turbo!