"Power Mods" - Worthwhile or Waste of Time?

[de-lectronic]

If I may play devil's advocate for a bit -- I'm running a Vance & Hines system, K&N lunchbox, and ~140 mains on an E model, which cost me maybe 3 afternoons and under $200...I definitely agree on Buddhas point that the rideability factor is more of a noticeable and justifiable concern. However, the 'butt dyno' tells me that low rpm torque is more usable, as well as significantly more power coming all the way up from 5k to redline. I also have no trouble hitting 100mph in 6th gear, and she keeps pushing 

Obvious downside being able to wake the dead at anything more than 4k rpm.... but i digress...
I also don't ever plan on getting rid of this bike, so if you don't quite like to tinker and mod, and feel like a newer/bigger bike is in your future, by all means focus on suspension, instead of pipes

[The Buddha]

K&N and slip on on an E 89-00 ? I'd run 150/40. What made you run 140 ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[twocool]

remember to double the top speed you will need 8 x the horsepower.  Horsepower increase in the single digits % is meaningless. "Engineering Explained" has a video that show how good tires vs average tires is better than 2 x the HP!!!


Cookie

[qcbaker]

Personally, I think the best mods you can make to go faster on the GS are rider mods, not bike mods. Improve your cornering skills (body position, countersteering, etc), improve your throttle control, learn to trail brake, learn to rev match your downshifts, learn to clutchless upshift, etc.

[The Buddha]

A stock GS will pretty much choke on its own internal restriction (airbox and exhaust) by the time it gets to 9000-9500. Any load on it will effectively render its resultant HP as 0 by then.
If you remove those restrictions all you're doing is - moving the limit to - well the flow out of the head and flow through the carbs.
Its a question of whether you want to fall at the first hurdle, or the 2nd or 3rd.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Darkstar]

FWIW, after rejet, setting float height right, shimming, and syncing carbs, mine runs better with a bit more snap, it just runs better. I've decided at the beginning of each season to sell my GS for something faster, but then I work on it more and enjoy learning, and that's what its become. It's such an inexpensive bike to maintain and insure. Plus every time I see or hear of another friend crashing or getting hurt, I think yeah, I really don't need anymore speed in my life.

I also think of it like women. You start dating a hot chick, and 6 months into it the novelty wears off, and then all these other girls start looking better.

[gregjet]

Darkstar consider a fz/mt07. It is a bit of a cult bike like the GS and once correctly modded it is brilliant to ride.  Check out FZ07.org it is as useful for the 07 as this forum is for the gstwin. I have one and it will be my last bike...

[Darkstar]

Darkstar consider a fz/mt07

I like the looks of this. 50% more hp with a reasonable price is. Thanks! maybe i'll see you on that forum someday

[The Buddha]

The FZ07 is a twin, the 09 is a triple. The 09 has better forks and even a better frame, but a twin is better IMHO.
Its rather sad how the other 3 + BMW are all making the GS copy and the upgrade bike from the GS, while Suzuki has pretty much abandoned it and are experimenting with the Ghedius. I cant imagine a V-twin ever being cheaper to make than a parallel twin not to mention that it will have to be longer and less "mass centralized". The FZ07 is an awesome bike and one I cant keep from eyeing @ every opportunity, so is the 650 ninja.
Good you mentioned its website, I've never ventured to it, maybe its time to get on that as well as find a good FZ07.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Darkstar]

Looking into it now and the ergonomics of the FZ07 are quite different than the GS, more of a tall and upright design

[mr72]

IME the FZ-07 ergos are nearly identical to my GS500. Size and weight nearly the same, seat height, pegs, etc. all nearly the same. Sit on one and you'll feel right at home.