Highway riding impovements

[TheGaginator]

I drive my gs500f 95% highway 100 miles a day. I am thinking about making some changes so my bike will be more interstate friendly.

first thing im thinking is a 17 tooth front sprocket to help lower my rpms and maybe even give up some extra MPG.

Input from people using or that have used this gear?
just seems like im always at about 7 or 8k rpm on the highway.

i would also like to find a more comfortable seat

Bar risers? i found these on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SILVER-SUZUKI-GS500E-DR650SE-HANDLEBAR-BAR-RISERS-RELOCATORS-ADAPTERS-/291077708335?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43c5955a2f&vxp=mtr

[Roxtar]

ergonomics are very individual...
I'm 6'2" and fairly thin. the only stuff I've done to mine to make it more highway comfy is a zero-gravity double-bubble. it lets me tuck down under the wind more than the stock windscreen does. though honestly, 99% of the time, I'm still getting a face/chest full of wind. the only difference now is that I can get out of the wind by laying down on the tank if I want to. My commute is 70 miles a day (80 if I'm going to the lady-friend's place), and my only gripe with that distance is my shoulders get sore from riding with a back pack.

with a jardine exhaust and re-jetted carbs, I still get 55-60 mpg cruising at 70-80 indicated. I don't know how much fuel you really expect to save with the sprocket change, or why you're cruising at 90+ indicated.

[Big Rich]

$50 for risers? I think it was Jack that mentioned getting another set of handlebar clamps and longer bolts. Put the extra set of clamps under your current set to raise the bars for a couple bucks.

Unless your chain and sprockets are pretty new, it is generally recommended to replace all 3 as a set, since they wear together.

[gsJack]

Actually Rich I put the $110 GenMar risers on my 97 GS and after it was totalled I moved them to my current 02 GS.  When I bought the 97 back and restored it I took the bar caps from the 02 for junkyard risers for the 97.

http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.HandlebarRisers

[gsJack]

Gaginator, the 150/70 rear tire you mentioned in your other thread will reduce engine revs but not as much as a 17T front sprocket would.  An even larger dia 140/80 rear tire would reduce revs the same amount as a 17T sprocket would.  I've run several of both sizes on my GSs and liked the steeper rake and resulting quicker steering they gave.

[Suzuki Stevo]

In this photo...17T CSS, Bar Risers, luggage to take some chit with you while you roll down the Hiway 

[prmas]

For the past 3 years I have been running an 18 tooth front and 37 tooth rear sprocket. I now also have a 140/70/17 rear tyre. The speedo has been recalibrated (by me) and is now very accurate. At a true 100 kph (62mph) my bike is doing 4600 rpm. This gives very relaxed touring but you do need to drop down to 5th for hills. Effectively I have raised the gearing almost 1 complete ratio ie: my new 5th gear is about the same as my original 6th gear. Sixth gear now is very much an overdrive. For me it works very well. Benefits are: relaxed touring, a slight improvement in economy (not as much as you might think) and no change to chain length needed as it is 2 teeth up at the front and 2 teeth down at the rear.
If you want to get into the technicallities of it, it also gives very good chain and sprocket life due to the ratios of 18, 37 and 110 (links) ensuring that tooth to particular link contact is VERY rare. My rear sprocket is a Vortex Alloy Racing unit and after 15,ooo km has NO visible wear. 

Macka

[TheGaginator]

wow some awesome replies already! I am 6'2'' and 165lbs. I think i may try a taller rear tire(since i need tires anyway) and a 17tooth front sprocket.

i would really like to have that "overdrive" type 6th gear that sounds awesome!!

so far my list of parts i plan on getting:

$50      zero gravity double bubble
$?        17tooth front sprocket
$100    rear tire still deciding on size...  150/70 or 140/80
$50      Bar risers (i like the ones that bring the bars rearwards AND upwards)


ps stevo those luggage bags are awesome

[REN69]

what's the height difference from the ZG Double bubble to the original windscreen?? I've done a few highway short trips with my GSF and I find it's not so bad until you ride on a windy day, the speed and amount of cars and trucks on the road seems to create a sway effect on me. Also does worsen the wind into your chest, if I tuck down it seems to get better but you almost have to straddle the tank.

[Roxtar]

that screen is only a few inches taller... it's no touring screen, but when I lay down on the tank I can get mostly out of the wind.

there is a touring screen available that might be better suited to what OP wants.


screen comparison thread:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=60022.0

[TheGaginator]

wow i like the touring windscreen MUCH better! i will defiantly be going that route. thank you for posting that.

[enrgizerbunny]

While we are on the subject of highway-friendly mods, what kind of performance modifications can be made to make these lower RPMs a little more effective?

I know my bike has been rejetted, and I've heard of drilling the tailpipe and the lunchbox air filter. Are there any other (relatively simple) ways to gain some power out of these engines? What's the fuel/power trade-off like with the aforementioned mods?

My next mod will be the installation of a screaming banshee horn (not the complete system) so I can actually wake up those idiots who don't look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzWU6mafWgw

[BockinBboy]

+1 for the touring screen. I will say at my height 5'6", it puts the air flow at the forehead/top part of my visor with regular riding position. Slight tuck and I'm under the airflow. Have used it a ton this summer and it's been one of my favorite mods. I picked up one early last year from zero gravity's eBay store when they were selling 'seconds' which are somehow blemished or didn't meet their standards. Found one tiny bubble inside the screen near the edge somewhere... Really, I probably couldn't find it again, though I tried taking a pic of it and put it up on the forum somewhere when I was sharing the deal with others.  Another member tuned me on to them, but I haven't seen them available since.


Also, an upgraded horn has been on my list for awhile...
^That darn thing would scare the tigglebitties off Chuck Norris himself!

- Bboy

[Janx101]

Yep ZG touring screen is pretty good! I'm a titch under 6 foot and it took out a lot of buffet plus shifted the airflow several inches higher? .. does make the bike look tall and skinny initially though. . Till you get used to it