Hp rating , old vs new.

[Kat99]

Just wondering,

when doing research if found that the hp rating for the older gs500 (89-95) is about 10hp higher than say the 2002+ gs500's.

Anyone know why the power difference? I thought the motors where pretty much identical. The only difference i can think of is the testing methods where different.

Any help would be appreciated.

[JAY W]

Hi carbs are slightly different,i suspect the difference in horses lies there.Change will be to keep up with exhaust omissions.

[NF11624]

I believe that it is just the way the values were tested/calculated.

[mister]

I believe we've been through this...

Turns out in '96 they put on a new marketing manager with a large mahogany desk. At this point they took away the Magic and the horses dropped. But I think you'll find they realized their mistake a year or so ago and have since put the magic back. So it's all good again. 

Michael

[jrains89]

carbs have changed, cams have changed

[gsJack]

Just wondering,

when doing research if found that the hp rating for the older gs500 (89-95) is about 10hp higher than say the 2002+ gs500's.

Anyone know why the power difference? I thought the motors where pretty much identical. The only difference i can think of is the testing methods where different.

Any help would be appreciated.

There has been no significant change in GS500 horsepower from 89 to 04 according to results published in magazine road tests and that's probably true thru the present 09 models.  It has been reported as 39.2-40.7 rear wheel horsepower as tested on a dyno.  Testing the same bike on different dynos will show that much varience.  Here are the results of all mag tests I've found over the years:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests_zpsd738ea8a.jpg

It was generally reported as about 50 hp on the UK Suzuki site in the past and in their publications.  I believe this was the greater hp measured at the crank rather than at the rear wheel although it could be just a different standard of reporting it.  Anyway they were the same engines and same power output if they were measured the same way.

[gsJack]

carbs have changed, cams have changed

Yes, carbs were change from 2 curcuit to 3 circuit design with the addition of mid range jets starting with 01-02 models and thereafter.  Also I am convinced from personal seat of the pants testing that the cams were also changed altho I've never found that confirmed definetly anywhere but the fiche parts numbers for the cams changed at about that time.

I had a 97 GS that I put about 80k miles on that was totaled so I then bought my current 02 GS to replace it and the 02 was stronger all around thru the mid-range in everyday riding.  I bought the 97 back after the insurance settlement and rode both some days for a while and that old 97 with 80k miles on it was still stronger on the top end but couldn't match the 02 for mid-range.  The 02 with 4-5k miles on it was much more fun to ride.  Just my opinion but that says cam change to me.

[5thAve]

Jack is right. The cams were changed and that gave the newer (01+) models better midrange than the first batch.  There may be a small loss of peak power but nothing noteworthy.  The stronger midrange may actually make for equal or better acceleration times?? Dunno.  The change in the carb style (3-jet vs 2-jet) smooths out throttle response but doesn't change power.

[black and silver twin]

every dyno i found of a stock gs500 e and f models made 39whp. the owner of this site (pandy?) dynoed an e model stock and made 39whp and when I dynoed my 07 f model stock it made 39.2whp. the difference i saw between the dynos was the 2000-5000rpm range where the f models 3 circut carbs made FAR more torque. the 50 hp you might find on the interwebnet thingy is bhp (brake horse power, or engine hp) all vehicles loose power through the drive train at approximately 20% so wheel horse power (whp) is always lower. my point is all gs500's make the same peak power but the newer carbs have a lot more midrange.

p.s. after all my mods my bike made 44whp  the bigger mods are listed in my sig.

[HPP8140]

Man I'm really liking the 02. The torque and throttle is so much more tractable. Everything happens 1000 rpm earlier than my 95. 6th gear roll-ons are also not a problem and I'm often riding in much higher gears. Not to mention the increased gas range.