High speed get up and go!

[blacksun978]

I was wondering if dropping a tooth on the front sprocket to 15 would help the acceleration when you are already cruising at around 50 mph to pass someone per say.  Or are there other solutions to that?

[SAFE-T]

Shift down a gear or ride in a lower gear to keep rpm higher. Really. That is all.

[gsJack]

+1

Riding local back roads mostly now I rarely hit 6th gear at speeds up to 55 mph or so.  I put a 15T on my 97 GS during the mountain years to help it get underway on steep uphills with my 230-240# butt aboard.  Had a 15T on my 02 for a while to compensate for larger dia rear tires and I just changed back to a stock 16T size recently after I put a 150/60 rear tire on which has same dia as stock 130/70 tires.  I like the stock engine/gear speeds of the 01 and later 3 circuit carb GSs, older 2 circuit carb GSs could use a 15T sprocket.  I always left my GSs in 5th gear on local expressways when running with big twin friends to match their roll on speeds.

[Suzuki Stevo]

The GS isn't strong enough to pass people with a simple roll-on on the throttle, the tack needle pointing straight up is just getting started in my book 

[burning1]

I was wondering if dropping a tooth on the front sprocket to 15 would help the acceleration when you are already cruising at around 50 mph to pass someone per say.  Or are there other solutions to that?

Never shift into 6th on the freeway. Same result.

[wildcat333]

People are really driving this thing at 80 mph regularly? I have found this bike to be terrifying at high speeds.

[Phil B]

regularly.

It's when it gets to 90 (on the speedo anyway) that it gets a bit scary

[wildcat333]

How do people deal with the wind gusts from the side? This bike is so lightweight that I feel like I'm riding a toy bike sometimes. We had 35 mph wind gusts here in NH today, and I got PWNED big time - pushed into another lane - luckily a car was not there.

[termlifed]

How do people deal with the wind gusts from the side? This bike is so lightweight that I feel like I'm riding a toy bike sometimes. We had 35 mph wind gusts here in NH today, and I got PWNED big time - pushed into another lane - luckily a car was not there.

At 80+ I just lay down on the on the tank its not bad at all. The only time crosswinds have been a problem was on a couple of abnormally windy days but those days are very rare.

[k.rollin]

I regularly ride along I-5 from Mount Vernon to Bellingham traveling at 70-85mph for much of the way, and even on windy days, I haven't had control issues on the bike. Walking is a different story however. I don't alter my riding position for the wind either, I just control the bike with my knees.

[burning1]

I've got how speeds of 103 confirmed on the front straight at t-hill, and will enter turn 1 without rolling off the gas. GS is solid at speed once the suspension is sorted.

[slipperymongoose]

No matter the speed GS has been one of the more stable bikes I've ridden no matter what the speed, I've maxed my bike at 200 on a downhill with a tailwind and it's hairy but doable.

[knowles]

How do people deal with the wind gusts from the side? This bike is so lightweight that I feel like I'm riding a toy bike sometimes. We had 35 mph wind gusts here in NH today, and I got PWNED big time - pushed into another lane - luckily a car was not there.

I ride in high wind sometimes and have never been pushed over in the other lane because of wind, i also ride on the freeway and 70-80 mph and have no problems with the bike handling at speed. 6 gear in kind of high for 55mph IMO i would be in 5 unless i was just cruising but shift down to 5 and you can take off pretty good at 55mph. You sure your tires are aligned? or fork oil is different?

[wildcat333]

Ugh. No idea... It passed state inspection recently. Granted this is my first bike and first full riding season... But I dunno. I find it difficult to crouch down too much because the angle of my handlebars that are stock.


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[Tombstones81]

Had Zero problems with mine on the run with local riders yesterday.

was a VERY windy day too.

average speeds on country twisty roads were 50 to 70mph.

Then on the highway at 80 to 95 almost the whole way back home.

But I do have brand new tires on, headlight cowl that Might push some wind away from me and drag bars (almost straight)
and progressive front spring with 15W oil and Kat600 rear shock.

ducked my head down a little bit and had zero problems with control.

heck even this one road right before the highway.... ugh
was like 5 miles of nothing but Bumps!
not a single smooth spot on the road!
I cant even fully describe how bad it was. (suspension wise, not road conditions liek pot holes etc, just bumps)

didnt faze the bike one bit with that suspension.

[Phil B]

Ugh. No idea... It passed state inspection recently. Granted this is my first bike and first full riding season... But I dunno. I find it difficult to crouch down too much because the angle of my handlebars that are stock.

So change the angle already! 

[vinny]

People are really driving this thing at 80 mph regularly? I have found this bike to be terrifying at high speeds.

All the time. I find 80mph quite stable on the GS. In fact, id say it prefers 80, holding 70 it seems to want to go faster, 80 it holds perfectly.

[mister]

Another "oh my the wind" thing. I swear there really must be something different about the air in the USA vs the air down here in Aust. Cause I have NEVER heard a single person I ride with ever complain about the wind. And a LOT ride naked bikes and will sit on 80+mph all day long. Maybe y'all just need to HTFU or something 

As to the OP's original question...

Doing 50mph, you would NOT be in 6th gear. If you are you are one gear too high. If you want to pass someone while doing 50, drop down to forth. The GS has no problems passing people.

Here, watch this video of a GS500 passing multiple vehicles with ease - pay attention to the speed and tacho numbers and the car in the twists was passed with a starting speed of 50mph and no issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pXUfvzSx2k&feature=plcp

Maybe the video above will give you a better idea on where you tacho needs to be for more effective passing.

Michael

[Twisted]

How do people deal with the wind gusts from the side? This bike is so lightweight that I feel like I'm riding a toy bike sometimes. We had 35 mph wind gusts here in NH today, and I got PWNED big time - pushed into another lane - luckily a car was not there.

Learning how to ride in windy conditions can take a little time to master. Try gripping the tank with your thighs and the bars lightly. Death gripping the bars and being rigid in your arms will make it worse when you get a gust. You should be able to flap your arms like a chicken.

[termlifed]

At 55 the highest gear id ride in would be 4th. The last time I had questionable handling at high speeds it was due to my tire pressure being off.