1/4 mile issues

[hotrodstu77]

so ive gone to the track with my gs a few times and last time i went i got a 15.2 as my best time. then i put a k and n in and stopped using the clutch on the runs and i brought it down to 14.7 and that was my best time. anything i can do to lower the time. i know its not a super sport bike but i read it should do a 13.2 at best. im not hoping for that time but a 13 would be nice. i know i need a rejet as it still has stock jets in it but can new jets really bring it down more then a second?

[tripleb]

from what I've heard about the jets it does pull more so I guess that could mean it's a little quicker.

[5thAve]

No offense, but... how much do you weigh?  These bikes might pull low 13's with a wee little Japanese rider on board.   

[kml.krk]

I'm not sure if it is a good idea to use K&N with stock jets.
The jetting is lean from the factory as you know.
So by increasing air flow and not increasing jet size you are actually decreasing the amount of fuel in the air/fuel mixture that gets to the engine.
This may cause overheating or even blow.
It may not be so significant on the street but since you're racing your GS you're riding at the very high rpms which increases the risk.
I would advise to change the jets as soon as possible. I'm not sure if you'll get better times on 1/4 of a mile, but your bike will be a lot happier 

good luck and keep us posted with your times!

[gsJack]

From the 5-89 Cycle mag test thru the 10-01 Motorcyclist test the published road test quarter mile times were all between 13.2 and 13.9 sec.  The tests for the 02 and later bikes were all 14.5 to 14.7 sec.  Seems your doing as well as the magazine road testers are doing on the newer GSs and they do it all the time. 

I had a 97 GS that I put 80k miles on and then a 02 GS that has 66k on it now and I rode both bikes a bit just after I got the 02 and restored the totalled 97.  The 02 had the new 3 circuit carbs and I believe they had different cams,  cammed down for better mid range.  I never confirmed a cam change, maybe someone like dgyver would know if there was a cam change.

Anyway, the 02 felt stronger all around in everyday riding than the 97 but if you wound it up to higher rpms the 97 with near 80k miles on it still felt stronger.  Seems to confirm the approx 1 sec better published quarter mile times on the older GSs.  I prefer the newer ones to ride since I don't go to the drag strip.   

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests.jpg

[hotrodstu77]

ah i had no idea there was that much of a difference on the models. ive only taken it to the track once since the k and n. track is closed now due to winter. glad to know im making the same times as pro riders considering im basically a first time rider lol. i will be gettin a jet kit from buddha so hopefully it will bring my times down quite a bit. thanks for the help guys.

[hotrodstu77]

and i only weigh 170 wet

[sveach]

My best is a 15.5, with a RT of .0158. Open exhaust, individual air filters on the carbs. 150 mains, midmains and pilots are stock.

[hotrodstu77]

wow so i guess im doin pretty good then eh

[lilwoody]

Smaller front sproket would make it quicker.I'm not sure how much but  it will make it quicker.

[jrains89]

so somebody needs to find out exactly why the 01+ bikes are slower, so that we can fix it. i hate the idea of a ninja 250r being much faster than my bike.

[hotrodstu77]

ninja 250r is only like a 15.3 isnt it?

[shiznizbiz]

I raced a ninja 250 with an itty bitty 140lbs man on it. I was on my gs..im 180lbs.  I blew him away......maybe he slipped somewhere on the 1-2-3 shift sequence, or he didnt know he was in a race....lol.   

[hotrodstu77]

lol not using the clutch is a drastic improvement. try it sometime. makes things fun.

[shiznizbiz]

lol not using the clutch is a drastic improvement. try it sometime. makes things fun.

Indeed.

[5thAve]

There was a cam change that went with the carb design change. I'm not sure if they both happend in the same year.  Newer bikes have a cam that gives better mid range for a lively "real world" performance, but at the expense of a bit of top end power.  I have not ridden the newer style, so my butt-o-meter can't attest.  However I have heard feedback on this forum and others that there is a noticable difference.

[gsJack]

ninja 250r is only like a 15.3 isnt it?

A Cycle World comparo test shows 15.54 sec @ 82.7 mph 1/4 mile time for the new 250R while tests of the newer cammed down GS500s show around 14.5 sec @ 90 mph.  The same comparo complains about the new cammed down 250R being slower- "Redesign made the bike bigger, heavier and a little slower."  No doubt the new 250R feels stronger all around in everyday riding much the same as the newer GS500/F do.

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=816

I had a 97 GS that I put 80k miles on and then a 02 GS that has 66k on it now and I rode both bikes a bit just after I got the 02 and restored the totalled 97.  The 02 had the new 3 circuit carbs and I believe they had different cams,  cammed down for better mid range.  I never confirmed a cam change............Anyway, the 02 felt stronger all around in everyday riding than the 97 but if you wound it up to higher rpms the 97 with near 80k miles on it still felt stronger. 

There was a cam change that went with the carb design change. I'm not sure if they both happend in the same year.  Newer bikes have a cam that gives better mid range for a lively "real world" performance, but at the expense of a bit of top end power.........................I have heard feedback on this forum and others that there is a noticable difference.

A look at the GS500/E/F published test results would seem to indicate the cam change came between the 01 and 02 model years while the new 3 circuit carbs appeared on the 01 models.  A 10-01 Motorcyclist test shows old cam results while a 12-02 Cycle World test shows the new cam results:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests.jpg

It's sad we must get so many bikes designed to show best published test results in order to sell the bikes when they can be made so much better for everyday real world riding by tuning them down a bit.  I'm glad they are changing them in the practical direction like the GS500 and now the 250R have done.  Close the drag strips and live in the real world!   

[the mole]

It's sad we must get so many bikes designed to show best published test results in order to sell the bikes when they can be made so much better for everyday real world riding by tuning them down a bit.  I'm glad they are changing them in the practical direction like the GS500 and now the 250R have done.  Close the drag strips and live in the real world!   

+1

Don't worry about some hot 250's 1/4 mile times. Load both bikes up with a pillion and try overtaking a truck without changing down 3 gears. Now where was that 250?

[shiznizbiz]

It's sad we must get so many bikes designed to show best published test results in order to sell the bikes when they can be made so much better for everyday real world riding by tuning them down a bit.  I'm glad they are changing them in the practical direction like the GS500 and now the 250R have done.  Close the drag strips and live in the real world!   

+1

Don't worry about some hot 250's 1/4 mile times. Load both bikes up with a pillion and try overtaking a truck without changing down 3 gears. Now where was that 250?

ZING!