Aus 2004 gs500f - new exhaust, K&n - jet, oil, petrol questions - pics within!

[Cosmo]

Hey Guys,

Bought a yellow gs500f about 2 months ago. I'm very happy with it, the combination of comfort and power is nearly perfect!

But i stress nearly 

So i bought myself a nice black shorty and the appropriate K&N filters and like many have a few questions before rejetting.

Specifically I'd like some recommendations on the jets I should be using at 0 elevation but with regular hot weather over 30*C for about 25%-35% of the year and temps not lower than like 10*C ever.
Also is there anyway of rejetting without completely removing the carbs? Obvisouly i wouldn't be able to get to the slide needle but thats not imperitive is it? Im also not keen on drilling threw the idle screw caps.

Also I'm thinking of using 15w-40 semi-synthetic oil seeing as i have 6L of it already, but could it be detrimental?

And finally the aus government is phasing out regular unleaded meaning ill have to use either a 10% ethanol blend or 95 octane fuel, which is better for my engines longetivity?

Hope you guys can help me out. But who better to ask right? Look forward to seeing you blokes around! 

I'll put the pics up in my next post

[Cosmo]

[Cosmo]

Also tell me what you think of my pipe 

[mister]

Cosmo,

Welcome. And pics or it didn't happen.... Oh, you already covered that. Moving on...

Glad you asked about fuel. We hardly get a chance to discuss that here.

Now. You can try this yourself... fill up with Ethanol a few times and take note of economy. Then fill up with 95/98 a few times and take note.

Mine runs Worse on E10. So I use 95 or 98. Plus, the E10 isn't going to do the fuel lines any favours.

As for oil... *I* use Motul 5100. My private mechanic uses Motul 5100. The Suzuki Dealer up the road uses Motul 5100. The main thing to watch out for are oils with Friction Modifiers. Some people have Funny things happen with Synthetics, others don't. Some reckon any old oil will do, others say no. I'll keep using the oil I do cause it is giving me good results - smooth gear changes, no false neutrals, etc. Plus, if it is true different brands use diff ingredients which could have adverse reactions when mixed, then sticking with the same brand is better for engine life.

What is this oil you have laying around - car or bike oil, brand, etc?
Where in NSW are you based?
How do you find the riding thongs?

Michael

[Cosmo]

G'day Micheal thanks for the reply

As for the oil, its a giant 6L valvoline 'engine armour', made for 'longer life in 4 stroke engines', and by lying around i actually mean spontaneous bought earlier for $30 from supercheap.
I can always take it back later so not too worry. Might grab some Motul.

I'm on the northern beaches actually, enjoying being the only yellow gs500f in the area i believe, also enjoying the army of rusting vehicles which I frantically fight to keep my GS from being the latest recruitment. 

The thongs are fantastic, their actually my 'step-in-oil-walk-on-the-carpet' thongs, easily mistaken for my riding thongs, which are also black for maximum reduced visibility and ghostrider-ness.

All seriousness aside, do you reside in nsw? and more importantly have you rejetted in nsw?

I think i'll also stay away from E10, i mean its good for the car but my old sachs nearly spulttered to death on the stuff, i conclude its not the best fuel for bikes. But neither is the 95/98 octane, oh well.

Cheers mate i appreciate the welcome and the advice

[Twisted]

Welcome to another Aussie GS rider. Seems we are taking over this forum  . Mister,mole and I were riding down your way on the weekend. I am located in Queensland near Brissy.

I only use premium unleaded in my bike (either 95 or 98 octane). Also I would recommend getting the motul oil to use for your bike.

Did you buy that muffler off ebay? I think I seen them advertised on there.

[Cosmo]

Yeah i did actually. Wasn't as stright forward as I thought it would be, but thats ebay for ya. But i like the look i have now, the length and the angle, it suits my tastes.

I'll look into that oil, seems to be the oil to beat.

I noticed the aussie presence on the fourm, and i only just recently saw the relay thread. It's a wickid idea, wish i could have been apart of it. 

[Cosmo]

Any clues to what jets to use? And a good shop that ships to Aus for a decent price?

Thanks in adance

[ragecage23]

Sorry to thread hi-jack, but Mister, is it my understanding that the higher grade fuels get higher MPG's?

And welcome to the forums Cosmo!

[mister]

Sorry to thread hi-jack, but Mister, is it my understanding that the higher grade fuels get higher MPG's?

The Octane rating is really an Anti Knock rating.

You know how a Diesel Engine works on Heat and Compression to Detonate the fuel? Well, if the compression is high there Can be a tendency for the fuel to ignite Before the spark plug fires. This creates Knock in the engine.

To combat this, the higher octane fuel resists such pre ignition.

The general Rule Of Thumb is... if the compression is above 9, then you'll benefit from higher octane. if it's 9 or below, then the compression is not high enough to cause pre ignition / detonation so no benefit will be had from using the higher octane, except costing you more.

Having said this, also know, the higher octane fuels have other additives. Such as stuff to keep the injectors clean. If that helps keep jets unclogged, then by That reason the bike May do better and the higher octane fuel - but not because of the octane itself.

In Brisbane, we have two refineries. BP and Caltex. Caltex refines for Shell, Freedom Fuels and Matilda and does so according to the specs of those other companies. So even though the same petroleum was used to make Caltex fuel as Shell, the fuel will preform differently because the fuels were made to different specs.

Michael

[ragecage23]

Oh, I see. It's not much more of a difference (maybe 10 cents or so) from regular to premium gasoline. I'll try the higher octane and see how that goes if I don't notice anything I'll go back down to regular. Thanks again.

[Twisted]

Any clues to what jets to use? And a good shop that ships to Aus for a decent price?

Thanks in adance

Found this in the Aussie part of the firums in the "Aussie where to buy stuff thread" - http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=37816.msg424962#msg424962

I got mine can off Ebay too. I went with the Screaming Demon one though. What part of Oz are you located?

[mister]

Any clues to what jets to use? And a good shop that ships to Aus for a decent price?

Thanks in adance

Found this in the Aussie part of the firums in the "Aussie where to buy stuff thread" - http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=37816.msg424962#msg424962

I got mine can off Ebay too. I went with the Screaming Demon one though. What part of Oz are you located?

Northern Beaches.... if you're somewhat familiar with Sydney it's like Manly and then north to Palm Beach - and everything between.

From a Brisbane perspective it'd be something akin to Sandgate and North to Deception Bay.

So Cosmo, the Baton hasn't passed you by just yet.

Michael

[tucsondude]

i know Australia is super expensive, but how much and where did you get that can?

[Twisted]

i know Australia is super expensive, but how much and where did you get that can?

Not so much anymore Tucson. Our dollar is pretty much on par with US dollar now. I think the can that Aussie has is this one -

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Suzuki-GS-500-Muffler-kit-muffler-exhaust-GS500-89-09-/320603039516?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aa56e271c

The one I purchased was this one -

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Suzuki-GS500E-GS-500-E-SDR-Black-Sports-Exhaust-/150507004862?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item230aeaa3be

[JB848]

Welcome to the Forum. How about some side shots of your GS?

[jeremy_nash]

you have to remove the carbs to rejet the bike, as you have to remove the fuel bowl.  you can leave the choke and throttle cable(s) connected, just remove the fuel and vacuum lines from them, turn the carbs upside down, with a pan  or shallow bucket to catch the fuel that runs out the overflow when you invert them. myself, I have a straight through muffler on the stock header, with the k&"n lunchbox filter.  I run 142.5 main and 40 pilots. perfect for me, and does fine year round including riding through winter on days as cold as 30*F.  but that wont help you, as you have the 3 circuit carbs, whereas I have 2 circuit carbs

[Cosmo]

Yeah the can I got is indeed the one off eBay. You Should be able to get it delivered for around 220USD wouldn't you think? It's pretty light and packaging is suffcient but not too bulky.
The listing is a bit confusing but i basically just asked for the shorter varient of the pipe, with the wider outlet and in black.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Suzuki-GS-500-Muffler-kit-muffler-exhaust-GS500-89-09-/320603039516?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aa56e271c


All Good. I'll be sure to get some more pics of the bike when possible, a little busy with 5 weeks of exams, but none the less when the weather improves I'll get the camera out.

Anyway I'll be looking into those carbs soon thats for the advice!

[Miraz]

Nice - I'm just up the road in Mona Vale....should have my GS back on the road in the next week or so.....

[Cosmo]

Nice - I'm just up the road in Mona Vale....should have my GS back on the road in the next week or so.....

Ah nice, saw a GS500f the other day actually was a blue one, but not you i guess...