at the crossroads

[ausgs]

after riding my 2010 GS500F for 18 months I find myself wanting a little more bike.
I don't use it for commuting its used for weekend rides with mates and it has done a few big trips also.
Is there any worthwhile mods to give it more power on the open road as that is my main issue, eg overtaking on two lane highways.
If I could improve the bike overall as a sport/touring style I would spend the dollars to improve it.
Otherwise it will be time to part ways with the bike.
Any suggestions would be great.
John

[robfriedenberger]

For more power you might get 5-10 HP more out of the motor before you find your self blowing it up. I find my self passing cars on the high way and hitting 90  before I know it so this could be an indication of some thing is wrong with your bike.

Check your filter and plugs this will tell you a lot about your bike, look at the color of your plugs.

or

Lose weight: either from the bike or your self.

or

GSXR: 750

[radodrill]

If you've got the stock carb jetting, the a simple rejet and a K&N filter can get you a noticeable increase in power (I went up 5 sizes on the main).  You can also change the gearing; smaller front sprocket (with bigger rear) gives more torque but higher RPM for the same speed, while bigger front means less torque but lower RPM at cruise.

[adidasguy]

Performance plugs help.

Brisk or PowerMadd plugs will improve mid and upper performance. WOT doesn't bog down, either.

[ohgood]

after riding my 2010 GS500F for 18 months I find myself wanting a little more bike.
I don't use it for commuting its used for weekend rides with mates and it has done a few big trips also.
Is there any worthwhile mods to give it more power on the open road as that is my main issue, eg overtaking on two lane highways.
If I could improve the bike overall as a sport/touring style I would spend the dollars to improve it.
Otherwise it will be time to part ways with the bike.
Any suggestions would be great.
John

get a sv650

[ausgs]

I sat on a SV650 and didn't like the low bars.
Theres nothing mechanically wrong it only has 12,000km's  (7,500 miles)
I dont want to change the gearing as it does a fair bit of freeway work
I will look into those plugs adidasguy, and a K&N and see if anyone sells them in Australia
Might get a Zero Gravity sport touring screen next week as the Wunderlich deflector flew off on the freeway 
I know better than to ask about jetting late model Aussie bikes here.

[cWj]

You sat on a SV650 or SV650S? The older, the curvier and the naked-er you go the higher the bars should be (if memory serves). Bars are an easy thing to replace though. You could swap with your GS  .

I was under the impression that performance plugs were marketing magic...

Adidas, are you using them? Any opinion as to which Brisk is best suited to our bikes?

[adidasguy]

I have been testing different plugs lately. Testing I do is simply by swapping plugs then going for a ride. No rejetting or other changes to the bikes.

BRISK: PERFORMANCE SPARK PLUG Suzuki GS500 (all) * GFRT900BR12ZCYU989  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7IJ0GY/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(Available from Magnum Tuning. Brisk part BR12Z) My first try at performance plugs over a year ago. These really have good power and improve performance. They have higher resistance than stock plugs (7.5k versus 5k) so are more sensitive to low voltage as when your battery is cold. Myself and others find they start better with no choke then immediately flip on the choke (when it is cold like below 45* F ). Other than that, they are really great with more power than stock and a smoother power curve. No bogging down with wide open throttle. and we know that a sudden WOT will cause a momentary lag in power - but rare to have this happen with Brisk plugs. Perhaps because the ring fire style gives the spark an infinite number of paths to take that it jumps all over and gets all the fuel burning really fast and more complete than a plug with just one small gap and one path for the spark.

PowerMadd E3 36 Spark Plug:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OP9YTC/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
These are not quite as good as Brisk, though I've only recently tried them. They do have better cold starting characteristics. Even in the 30's, bikes start right up. I'd say better than stock for cold starting. I use only Shorai batteries and we know LiFe batteries are more sensitive to cold (which is why you try starting, then if no-go, wait 30 seconds for battery to self-warm up and go again). Choke is needed when really cold with these, unlike Brisk which is no choke then full choke as soon as running (remember - only when really cold). I'll see what they are like when weather warms up. But in a warm bike cave, they are really good.

Pulstar he2rt Spark Plug: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EVGWN4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The cap is hard to unscrew - they use thread lock. One came apart trying to remove the cap. These plugs cause lots of mis-fires and because our bikes fire the plugs on compression and exhaust, lots of backfiring. Don't like these. Maybe in warm weather? Don't know. Even with bike hot, they misfire. I thought HUHSKY's motor went bad after putting them in. Put PowerMadd's back in and he runs fine again. I haven't tried upgraded wiring to the coils nor removing the resistor from the plug cap. Since these plugs have a built in capacitor that is supposed to improve spark, insufficient voltage may not generate a spark at all. Hence the misfire and a good spark on the exhaust cycle (plug got hit with a second burst of energy then decided to fire). Maybe other bikes or sport vehicles run better with these.

SUMMARY:
Brisk: Great, but can be finicky in cold weather so no choke then full choke. #1 for performance.
Powermadd: Good starting when cold. #2 for performance. Perhaps PowerMadd in cold weather and Brisk in hot - then I've never had the bike not start in cold weather with Brisk and LiFe batteries though that combination is finicky.
Pulstar: Don't like. Might try again in hot weather. Maybe my bikes just don't like them. Don't buy them. If you want to try them, I'll send you a pair.
Iridium: Work OK. better than stock.
Stock: Meh. But better than Pulstar.

[ohgood]

I sat on a SV650 and didn't like the low bars.
Theres nothing mechanically wrong it only has 12,000km's  (7,500 miles)
I dont want to change the gearing as it does a fair bit of freeway work
I will look into those plugs adidasguy, and a K&N and see if anyone sells them in Australia
Might get a Zero Gravity sport touring screen next week as the Wunderlich deflector flew off on the freeway 
I know better than to ask about jetting late model Aussie bikes here.

sat on??? RIDE one, it is a better machine, from suspension, to fueling, power, torque, everything. even the headlight is better!

with clip ons, or standard bars? find a round headlight sv, with risers on it. these things ROCK

[sledge]

after riding my 2010 GS500F for 18 months I find myself wanting a little more bike.

Fit new plugs, jets, pods exhausts etc if you want  . True if done properly they will alter the way the bike feels but the gains are minimal, a few hp at most. The biggest problem with the GS5 is that its now 25 years old and the competition left it behind years ago.

Try something more modern, you will be amazed at the differences.

[fetor56]

If u can keep the bike & buy a larger capacity sports tourer.....if u can't sell/trade the Suzi for said mentioned sports tourer.