I have the first model. What are the differences?
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All I saw hanging off my carbs is a vacuum sensor and a TPS.
-Turd.
Because I was thibking maybe I'd replace them for a newer version. You're saying it wouldn't matter to me?
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I have put 80k miles on a 97 GS500E and now have over 40k miles on my 02 GS500. The 02 is so much better all around than the 97 was due mostly to the 3 circuit carbs although there may have been some cam changes too It pulls from 3k rpm like the 97 only pulled from 4k rpm. It is just more flexible with the 3 circuit carbs, doesn't have the flat spot the 97 did in the mid rpm range. It works all year around for me here in NE Ohio and the 97 is/was just plain lousy in very cold weather.
I bought the 97 from a dealer about 30 miles from home and started home on a cold about 35F temp day and half the way home I though I had made a hugh mistake; that 97 ran really crappy in cold weather. After it finally got warmed up and I started up River Road on the last lap home it began to perk and handle on that hilly twisty road and I knew I had a winner. I had traded a worn out smoking old 85 Nighthawk 650 in on the 97 GS and the GS handled like a sportbike by comparison to the old Nighthawk. I totally enjoyed that 97 for the 80k miles I rode it, but I parked it for about 3 months and rode an old 81 CM400A thru the winters.
I tried the 97 again early last winter hoping to use it thru the salty road winter and it was just so crappy by comparison in the cold that I parked it and accepted the rust received using the 02 thru the winter. Without a doubt I consider the 01 and later carbs to be so much better than the old 2 circuit ones; but I have no personal experience with the 94 and later ones.
I frequently regretted not rejetting that 97 to make it run better cold, it ran flawlessly when hot and when the revs were kept up, but I wouldn't change a thing on the 02. I get good performance with great fun with the stock 02 GS and also still get a solid 60 mpg spring thru fall running most of the time in a very spirited manner.
The GS500 begins to burn oil at about 40k miles or so and the oil use is much greater when run at 9-11k rpm's than at lower rpm's. For a high milage rider like myself that generally wears out and uses up bikes before getting a new one, I find the GS best for all around use in stock form. Power peak is at 9500 rpm and torque peak is at about 7000 rpm and I've found that running it to 9k, just above the hp peak, and shifting and dropping to the top of the torque curve maintains the fastest pace for me and stays just below the high oil and gas consumption revs. I run hard in the 7-9k rpm range and the 02 and later carbs are just right for this for me. No doubt this is all different for you who do track days but it works for me.
Cast my vote for the 01-02 carbs. :thumb: :)
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on September 10, 2006, 06:24:23 AM
?? What are those new things molded into the plastic covers?
I'm not sure I know what you are talking about... Guess I must have missed that. My 05 carbs are the only GS carbs I've ever seen, so I'm probably not a good source on this kind of stuff.
-Turd.