carb setup

[madmoto]

Helping a new rider setup a low mileage '97 and could use some intake and carb suggestions. I had a GS many years ago. Think I had a Dynojet kit with K+N and stock pipe, but it's been too long to remember what all I went through to get the best out of it. Anyway, current bike will retain stock pipe, all other carb and filter mods are on the table. Hoping someone here can direct me to the go-to setup, as I don't have a lot of time to research this and want the newb to experience proper GS goodness before the season runs it's course. Thanks for any input!

[mr72]

40 pilot jet, stock (122.5) or 125 main jet.

Leave the stock airbox in place and don't touch the needles.

Ensure there are no vacuum leaks, change ALL o-rings (including the intake boot o-rings, pilot needle o-rings, and all of the normal ones in the carbs) and set up the idle mixture either by detailed setup or just set it to 3 turns out and leave it alone. Considering a 5-minute search would yield this information, my guess is you don't want to put the time in to research how to set up the idle mixture and idle speed correctly so I'd just say you can get close enough with 3 turns out on the pilot mixture screw and set the idle speed to 1200 rpm once the bike is fully warmed up and has been ridden on the road for 20 minutes.

Assuming you don't have carb problems to repair (torn diaphragms, sticking float needles, wrong float height, clogged passageways, etc.) then this setup will get you going just fine.

There's really no power or other tangible improvement to be had from intake changes or exhaust; that's like 99% cosmetic (and sound). Swapping the airbox in particular will just start you down a long path of tinkering and tuning that is much more likely to end in frustration than it is to result in a bike that runs as well as it would with the stock airbox and exhaust.