Carb Syncing on a gs500f 2006

[dread_au]

I am having trouble on where to attach the tubes from my carb to my carbtune tool. I have the Haynes manual and it is not real clear on where to attach them to. It is the 2006 manual and my bike is 2006 gs500f(australian version).  Any light that someone can share on this would be great. Thanks.

[BaltimoreGS]

The ports on '01 up carbs are harder to get to than the older ones.  The one port is the same port used for the vacuum actuation on the petcock.  Look for a similar port on the left carb that has a rubber cap blocking it off (don't forget to put that back when you are done!).

-Jessie

[Suzuki Stevo]

Here is a photo of the carbs off my '07, the view is as if looking from the engine, so the ports are on the right side of the bike right next to the rubber boot where the carbs attach to the head or ^^WhatHeSaid^^



TIP: One thing I have always done on a bike that has vacuum ports that are hard to get to...I leave a short piece of rubber hose where the plug once was and then plug the hose when I'm done so next time the sync/balance will be a piece of cake. You can clearly see the two hoses I added to my DL650 in '05, now when I want to sync it I just prop the tank unplug the hoses hook up the Carb-Stix and adjust with that screw just out of sight under the tank, on the GS500F you only need to add one hose though.  

[johnny ro]

nice tip, that works on the early SVs as well which is a bear otherwise to get at.

[dread_au]

Thanks. I was hoping it wa not going to be that cap inbetween the carbs as I still have the airbox attached. Oh well I guess it will all have to come off again this weekend.

[the mole]

If you're using the port that normally supplies vacuum to the petcock, you'll have to switch the petcock to "prime" to keep the fuel flowing while you do the adjustment.

[intergalactic]

I think Buddha mentioned that he just eyeballs them. I do too and it seems fine.

[dauphinc]

I'm just wondering IF the GS will ever get fuel injection???

[mister]

I'm just wondering IF the GS will ever get fuel injection???

Well. It's not sold in Europe anymore. Probably due to their Emissions 3 standards which prevent non EFI bikes being sold as only EFI can meet the emissions benchmarks. So it'll keep getting sold in Australia and USA for as long as those countries do not create emissions standards that mean no carbs - and - as long as the numbers remain good compared to other offerings from Suzuki and other brands.

For instance, the Honda CB400 has roughly the same performance specs as the GS500. And I ride with a girl who rode one for ages - she now rides a CBF1000. But the $ for the CB400 was $3.5k more and I didn't see the value in that.

Looking at the other offerings from Suzuki - GSR6, SV650, Gladius (yuck), nothing else has the same value for money, simplicity, nor range as the GS500. Although, the 650 Vstrom does have a large tank, good power and is relatively cheap. But it is a large bike compared.

Nice if Suzuki could consult with Triumph to ask them how they managed to get EFI to look like carbs. Then they could keep making the GS but with EFI and couriers of the world would be happy  

Personally, I can't see Suzuki dropping the GS. But who knows? I've seen plenty of good selling products get dropped in favor of the latest CEO's personal choice or what the CEO has personally invested his $ in - or just to be bought out so it can be dropped in favor of the buying company's own brand. So if the number crunchers at Suzuki think it will cost too much to develop EFI for the GS compared to the small additional $ they can ask for the bike, then when Emissions Standards mean no more carbs, we'll have no more New GS's and have to buy old ones and do them up. Or bite the bullet and get whatever other midrange EFI stuff is out there - which is not much at the moment. Not for the value for money found in the GS.

Oh... forgot about the GSX650. Similar to the GS500 in looks, but with EFI. I'd like to see a nekkid version of that bike. If THAT sells, it might be Suzuki's dream replacement. Ah, if only the Market would do what it's told not what it wants.

Michael

[black and silver twin]

the gsx650 looks nice but its too heavy, if you want an injected bike with more power, similar handling, and still be light look at the sv650. its got 30whp (70ish stock at wheels) more than the gs but its no high revving 100whp monster, it has the same light predictable suspension setup as the gs (both good and bad aspects) and its actually 1 pound lighter wet.

[black and silver twin]

just looked it up,
gs500f 439# wet
sv650sf 438# wet
gsx650f 531# wet < (WOWSERS!)

and just for reference:

gsxr600 432# wet < (nice  )

[johnny ro]

If you intend to skip gage step, then hold carbs on bench, look into mouth from engine side. You can see one or the other open up as you twist screw one way and the other. Get it to where you cant tell, in the middle, which is moving, then count turns one way and the other to where you can tell a few times, and then rotate halfway through the total turns to get in the middle. I got very close doing this according to the gages I hooked up afterwards.

[dauphinc]

Wow, that's cool you guys did the research. Does the sv have some sort of v-twin? And I wouldn't ever get a jixxer or anything, though people in my age group love sport bikes. The reason I wouldn't is because of how low the clip ons are. The gs was the perfect choice  for height, price, and comfort IMO.

[Suzuki Stevo]

just looked it up,
gs500f 439# wet
sv650sf 438# wet
gsx650f 531# wet < (WOWSERS!)

and just for reference:

gsxr600 432# wet < (nice   )

Never compare a Sport Touring bike like the GSX650F to a Sport bike like the GSX-R600 they have nothing in common other than two wheels, if you plan on posing at Starbucks or spending some time at the track then a GSX-R600 will work just fine. If you plan on doing hundreds of miles a day 2up in comfort then the GSX650F is a wise choice. A certain amount of weight is required for a good ride...a 1500# Cadillac would ride like compost. It really comes down to the type of riding you do. If you think you are going to hop off a GSX-R600 after an all day ride and feel like doing anything other than taking a hot bath your kidding yourself. But if you want to look cool and do the Starbucks thing than yes a GSX-R600 will work just fine, because they really are one of the most uncomfortable ways to get from point A to point B there is, even guys I know in their 20's regret buying a Super Sport when we go on 300+ mile day rides..."I'm putting this thing on Craigslist as soon as we get back" is what I heard twice last year on two different rides. Weight has it's place, and sometimes you want it on your bike  

[BaltimoreGS]

Does the sv have some sort of v-twin?

The SV has the same basic V twin available in the V-strom.  Decent bike, poor suspension and higher center of gravity than a GS.  '03-up models are fuel injected (though the '03 is a bastard year which does not share all parts with '04+ models).  The naked version was replaced by the Gladius in the Suzuki line up.

-Jessie

[mister]

Does the sv have some sort of v-twin?

The naked version was replaced by the Gladius in the Suzuki line up.

-Jessie

In Australia was get 'em all. We get the SV650, the GSR600, the GSX650 and the Gladius. Which I find kinda puzzling. Cause it seems to me they have a small collection of bikes which are basically competing with each other. But, it could just be the naked Sv650s available in the bike store are old stock. So we'll have the SV650s and for naked the Gladius with its puny 14.5 liter gas tank.

Think I'll pop in and ask the question...

Michael

[black and silver twin]

just looked it up,
gs500f 439# wet
sv650sf 438# wet
gsx650f 531# wet < (WOWSERS!)

and just for reference:

gsxr600 432# wet < (nice   )

Never compare a Sport Touring bike like the GSX650F to a Sport bike like the GSX-R600 they have nothing in common other than two wheels, if you plan on posing at Starbucks or spending some time at the track then a GSX-R600 will work just fine. If you plan on doing hundreds of miles a day 2up in comfort then the GSX650F is a wise choice. A certain amount of weight is required for a good ride...a 1500# Cadillac would ride like compost. It really comes down to the type of riding you do. If you think you are going to hop off a GSX-R600 after an all day ride and feel like doing anything other than taking a hot bath your kidding yourself. But if you want to look cool and do the Starbucks thing than yes a GSX-R600 will work just fine, because they really are one of the most uncomfortable ways to get from point A to point B there is, even guys I know in their 20's regret buying a Super Sport when we go on 300+ mile day rides..."I'm putting this thing on Craigslist as soon as we get back" is what I heard twice last year on two different rides. Weight has it's place, and sometimes you want it on your bike  

I agree, gsxr's and the like are the most uncomfortable ride on long trips, but I dont take long trips. my bike is my daily driver 6-7 months a year and Im only riding 40-100 miles a day (not all at once) in 15-30 mile stints (A to B to C ect.). I have taken a few trips of over 100miles at a time and honestly the gs500f with stock bars was all day comfy for me, but ever since I installed clip ons I cant go more than 30 miles with out getting numb hands. when I go on long trips (200+ miles one way) I take my car.

[black and silver twin]

P.S. I dont go to starbucks, I dont like coffee. 

[badguy]

If you intend to skip gage step, then hold carbs on bench, look into mouth from engine side. You can see one or the other open up as you twist screw one way and the other. Get it to where you cant tell, in the middle, which is moving, then count turns one way and the other to where you can tell a few times, and then rotate halfway through the total turns to get in the middle. I got very close doing this according to the gages I hooked up afterwards.

I think I know what you're saying - do you mean to turn the adjuster screw until you see one butterfly open, then turn the adjuster screw the other way and count the number of turns until the other butterfly opens.  Setting the adjuster screw halfway between these points will give you a pretty good synch.  Is that the gist of it?

Never compare a Sport Touring bike like the GSX650F to a Sport bike like the GSX-R600 they have nothing in common other than two wheels, if you plan on posing at Starbucks or spending some time at the track then a GSX-R600 will work just fine. If you plan on doing hundreds of miles a day 2up in comfort then the GSX650F is a wise choice. A certain amount of weight is required for a good ride...a 1500# Cadillac would ride like compost. It really comes down to the type of riding you do. If you think you are going to hop off a GSX-R600 after an all day ride and feel like doing anything other than taking a hot bath your kidding yourself. But if you want to look cool and do the Starbucks thing than yes a GSX-R600 will work just fine, because they really are one of the most uncomfortable ways to get from point A to point B there is, even guys I know in their 20's regret buying a Super Sport when we go on 300+ mile day rides..."I'm putting this thing on Craigslist as soon as we get back" is what I heard twice last year on two different rides. Weight has it's place, and sometimes you want it on your bike  

I think that's a pretty sweeping generalization.  I know guys who would regularly do 300+ mile rides (over 500 some days) on GSX-Rs or similar sportbikes and not complain a bit about it.  Of course, there are more comfortable ways of doing high miles, but I believe it's all in how you set the bike up and how you ride.  If you're putting all your weight on your wrists (which you can even do with the GS) you'll be hating life before long, but if you have decent form, you should be ok.  Also, it depends on the riding; if it's all highway miles, you'll definitely be better on a cushy, relaxed bike.  But if you're staying on twisty backroads, you can move around enough that the sportbike won't be too bad.  A lot of people will swear by a cruiser for comfort, but I can't ride one for more than a hundred miles without it hurting my back.  I've done 500+ mile days on my SV650s with racing rearsets without too many problems. I'd change to lower pegs if I was keeping it on the road, though...

[Suzuki Stevo]

I think that's a pretty sweeping generalization.  I know guys who would regularly do 300+ mile rides (over 500 some days) on GSX-Rs or similar sportbikes and not complain a bit about it.  Of course, there are more comfortable ways of doing high miles, but I believe it's all in how you set the bike up and how you ride.  If you're putting all your weight on your wrists (which you can even do with the GS) you'll be hating life before long, but if you have decent form, you should be ok.  Also, it depends on the riding; if it's all highway miles, you'll definitely be better on a cushy, relaxed bike.  But if you're staying on twisty backroads, you can move around enough that the sportbike won't be too bad.  A lot of people will swear by a cruiser for comfort, but I can't ride one for more than a hundred miles without it hurting my back.  I've done 500+ mile days on my SV650s with racing rearsets without too many problems. I'd change to lower pegs if I was keeping it on the road, though...

Agreed, I did paint with a very broad brush, and I do know people that can ride a sport bike all day myself