How quick can one of these bikes really get?

[m_melen]

So I'm going to have to make a decision about putting a lot of effort into my 96 GS or start saving for a 600 ninja or gixxer.
My bike is stock performance-wise. Can I squeeze a pretty noticeable amount of additional power out of it for a reasonable price? It's especially laggy on the low end of the RPMs, but I want some more power in general. I'm not expecting supersport power, but definitely gonna need it to be faster than stock.

[Suzuki Stevo]

There is NO replacement for displacement, for every dollar spent, more CC's has always and will always be the best path for any real HP gain. 

[piresito]

If valves are ok, air filter ok, proper rejet and you feel like you need more power, start saving for other bike. There isn't much you can do to make it much faster (a track course would make it much faster, but that's not a bike mod). IMO, the only cost effective way is to buy a new bike!

[Juan1]

I will rephrase your question with info you may not have known:

At a reasonable price, can I squeeze much performance out of a 500cc air cooled engine that was engineered back to the 1970s?  My other option is to look at a bike with an engine design that is less than 20 years old, is liquid cooled, and has more 20% more displacement. 

[m_melen]

Lol well when you put it like that, Juan...
I think I'll start saving for something I can't get bored with but keep making small improvements to this one

[browncheetah]

if you are in it for the fun of modding it but not much gain elsewhere, keep the bike.

[weedahoe]

I might later get a 600 but strictly for computer management and EFI. I have zero issues starting my bike now but I have no need for 1000+cc bike. I mean really, it's nice to go that fast but when you do, either all people see are either a blur or are waiting for you to crash.

Me? I would rather go slow and look pretty than go fast and not be seen or expecting to suffer the consequences

[m_melen]

How noticeable is a reject with a lunch box and exhaust to the average rider?

[Suzuki Stevo]

How noticeable is a reject with a lunch box and exhaust to the average rider?

You will notice better throttle response more than anything, but the mod is the best bang per buck...if not for the sound alone.

I'm just guessing here and using Rainman Math, in the end you will spend about $100.00 per 1 Hp....give or take 1/2 a pony.

[fetor56]

A friend did so many engine mods to his non GS that it lost ALL reliability......now it's just a metal lump sitting in his garage. 

[gsJack]

Way back in the beginning of time (GS500 time that is) Vance and Hines built one that was covered in the Cycle World Aug 89 issue.  It had a 555cc Wiseco piston kit, carb calibration kit, competition valve job, ignition advancer, performance clutch, and of course a V&H Supersport exhaust.  They claimed a 10% increase in horsepower and torque without publishing exact figures and their test results for 1/4 mile, 0-60 mph, and top speed.  All that brought the GS up to the same performance level as that of the EX500 of the day.

All published GS500 test data I've found including EX500 data from comparos:

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

[motoarch]

Move up to a 650 ninja or sv 650.  Don't waste time and money on a gs.  If you want to improve performance on the motor you'll probable want to do suspention and breaks too at some point.  It would be more cost effective to just buy a 650 and you'll have even better performace and still have comfertable do everything bike.

Don't be fooled by the displacement difference.  A 600 inline four is a much sharper and faster bike then the 650.  The 650 will be a better everyday bike for the street.

[jestercinti]

You will never see a gs500 as fast as a 600 or 650. Cost prohibitive.

Save for a bigger bike.


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[wayne242]

and here i just bought mine for the gas mileage.  Its like buying a 250 and saying its not fast enough etc, makes no sense. 

My GS 61mpg compared to by friends 1000 gsxr 38-41 mpg.. GS for me. Here's a tip, borrow your friends when you want to have fun with more cc's, cheaper that way


always can toss down $4-7k on a 600+ bike, but unless your doing track or wanting to be "cool' doing wheelies etc why need the extra hummp . But i do agree, a 600 is a well rounded machine and actually better then the GS in many ways. 600 cbr is a dream compared, but i still like my old gs

[Higgins13]

I did all the mods your thinking about. I got some gain but its still not a GSXR. I would estimate that I went from 37hp to maybe 45/46 hp. It cost me about 1000 bucks for everything. Im happy with the looks, sound and general improvements.

[motoarch]

i bet you got maybe 3hp if your lucky.  The best you can really hope for is smoothing out any and dips in your torque/hp curves by adding 5-6 hp where you really use it in the mid range.  If you gained more then 3-4 at the top I'll eat your stinky underoos.

[peteGS]

I don't know how much "faster" mine is now but with the engine completely stock, a custom 2 into 1 free flowing pipe, K&N pods, more appropriate jetting in the stock carbs and shorter slide springs it's definitely far more responsive than stock and the mid-range is much improved.

I'm going to guess the gains in power are minimal but it's a lot easy to access it.

I'm still dialing in the mains and mixture screws so it may even get better yet. And I'm still contemplating enlarging the vacuum holes in the slides as well.

Then of course you can do things like getting the head ported and polished and some more aggressive cams if they exist. Those things won't reduce reliability if they're done right.

I'm finding my economy after the jetting, exhaust, and intake changes is so far appearing to be the same as it was stock, but if you go much further than that it will probably get worse...

[Twisted]

The question is not how quick one of these bikes can go but how fast can you ride it? I would do front spring upgrade before touching the engine. It is more fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

[Calpantera]

If you want faster get a bigger bike, I actually went smaller because I wanted to go slower. I have a real problem with speed, I am totally addicted to the rush. When my 1000cc bike was not fast enough anymore I knew I had a problem. I actually quit riding for quite a few years because I thought I was going to die on a bike.

[jestercinti]

^^ what he said. I did the same thing when I had my gsxr-750.


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