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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: ghostrider_23 on April 14, 2011, 05:29:13 PM

Title: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: ghostrider_23 on April 14, 2011, 05:29:13 PM
Just wondering.

What type of horsepower and speed could one get after upgrading to a performance muffler, rejet the carb, and new lunchbox air cleaner.

Of those of you who have done this, was it worth it and can you notice the difference?
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: mister on April 15, 2011, 12:17:53 AM
You don't buy a GS500 to chase HP. If you want more HP, buy a different bike.  :thumb:

Michael
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: gregvhen on April 15, 2011, 12:26:14 AM
If I had like 5 bucks for every time someone has asked this questio and gotten that response I could pay off these speeding tickets I have pending right now and buy a faster bike.....twice.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: Big Rich on April 15, 2011, 01:45:39 AM
Quote from: ghostrider_23 on April 14, 2011, 05:29:13 PM
Just wondering.

What type of horsepower and speed could one get after upgrading to a performance muffler, rejet the carb, and new lunchbox air cleaner.

Of those of you who have done this, was it worth it and can you notice the difference?

I think it was Buddha that said something to this effect: "You might gain 1 hp doing the basic bolt on mods. There is no huge increase in useable power, much it smooths out the power delivery that is already there"

Buddha, if I'm wrong on this feel free to correct me.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: ghostrider_23 on April 15, 2011, 04:50:02 AM
Buddha,

Sounds like a "wiseman"

I ask this question because I have read alot about do this mod, change this part and was wondering the gains.

Being new to the GS and this forum I have not ran accross this info before, so I thought I would ask.

Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: gsJack on April 15, 2011, 07:25:54 AM
Quote from: ghostrider_23 on April 14, 2011, 05:29:13 PM
Just wondering.

What type of horsepower and speed could one get after upgrading to a performance muffler, rejet the carb, and new lunchbox air cleaner.

Of those of you who have done this, was it worth it and can you notice the difference?

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=45924.msg515200#msg515200
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: Affschnozel on April 15, 2011, 07:46:48 AM
Anywhere near 45hp for a 500cc twin engine (487cc in case of the GS ) is pretty good, stock GS is 39-42hp so it's close, jetting+exhaust will get you there.

Stock GS 0-60 in ~4 + sec
Top speed 115mph
Not too bad ,the GS's strength is in it's agility/maneuverability mostly and being a good sporting platform, small suspension upgrades are more rewarding than a couple of hp's IMO 
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: noiseguy on April 15, 2011, 09:03:21 AM
Frankly, I think the $$$ is better spent upgrading the stock suspension and brakes. 

Main reason to run pods, in my mind, is to make the carbs easier to remove on a racebike. I'm not a fan.

Get the basic Buddha upjet for the stock airbox, and check your valves.

Moving up the ignition timing 5 degrees was a nice change on my bike. That's a free change.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: JAY W on April 15, 2011, 09:29:28 AM
Should make it a bit more responsive,stock silencer is pretty hefty compared to most race cans.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: 5thAve on April 15, 2011, 11:12:55 AM
Although it won't add power, the best mod will add lots of SPEED. I'm talking about upgradng your own skills. Witness this recent thread:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=55694.msg631473;topicseen#msg631473 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=55694.msg631473;topicseen#msg631473)
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: KlaXon on April 15, 2011, 11:21:07 AM
Quote from: noiseguy on April 15, 2011, 09:03:21 AM
Moving up the ignition timing 5 degrees was a nice change on my bike. That's a free change.

Can you tell about this mod something more? What changes you noticed and how to do that?
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: burning1 on April 15, 2011, 11:54:29 AM
It's better to upgrade the rider. I regularly chase down and pass bikes with 2-3 times the horsepower at the track.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: jeffdodge on April 15, 2011, 12:00:58 PM
The timing advance is in the wiki. Best thing I have done for my bike short of upgrading the front springs and brakes. The advanced timing seems to give the bike more power down low, where it needed it most.

If you have basic mechanical skills you can do it no problem.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: mister on April 15, 2011, 12:05:02 PM
Everyone is forgetting the two most important mods...

1 - removing tank idiot stickers adds 5hp
2 - using full cream milk in the handlebars; powdered milks just does't cut it.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: cd on April 15, 2011, 02:58:51 PM
put an ex650 or sv650 engine in the bike if you want more hp
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: burning1 on April 15, 2011, 04:38:25 PM
Why not also swap in the SV650 frame, shock, forks, electronics, swingarm, wheels... etc... etc... etc...? A big bike is a better platform for a big engine.

The main benefit of the GS is it's ubiquity, simplicity, cost, and balance. When you start throwing it far out of balance with crazy modifications and major upgrades, you kill all of it's benefits.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: ghostrider_23 on April 15, 2011, 08:25:59 PM
Affschnozel

thank you. This was the answer I was looking for. So if I am getting what everyone is saying:

muffler makes the bike sound better
air box or cleaner make the engine breath better
Spockets give you either more take off torque or lower RPM at high speeds

So spend my money on upgrading the brakes and suspension.

OK, good tip :thumb:
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: burning1 on April 15, 2011, 10:45:16 PM
Suspension is definitely the weakest point of the GS. If you're interested in brake and suspension upgrades, check out my threads in the for sale section. I have race quality upgrades for both.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: Cosimo_Zaretti on April 16, 2011, 12:22:44 PM
Horsepower's probably the only aspect of my GS I never thought needed upgrading. The suspension was a bad joke when I got it and the brakes aren't really up to the job.  Preload shims, 15w fork oil and a new set of sport demons tranformed into something that wanted to be thrown around. It still requires my full attention in a hard downhill E stop and I may be overhauling these 16 year old brakes fairly soon. 

I probably will put a higher flow exhaust and filter on at some point with the jetting to match, but only because I need a new muffler and the carbs could do with a rebuild. May as well get things flowing a bit better while I'm in there. 
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: fraze11 on April 16, 2011, 03:29:28 PM
This is a good HP and speed upgrade :D

(http://i52.tinypic.com/2i23jpu.jpg)

Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: gregvhen on April 17, 2011, 10:23:49 AM
Quote from: mister on April 15, 2011, 12:05:02 PM
Everyone is forgetting the two most important mods...

1 - removing tank idiot stickers adds 5hp
2 - using full cream milk in the handlebars; powdered milks just does't cut it.

Wow wow wow, I said skim milk guys skim.

Edit: also I've had mine up to 130 I think with the stock pip but I don't remember. Mighta been with my v&h
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: mister on April 17, 2011, 04:12:41 PM
Quote from: gregvhen on April 17, 2011, 10:23:49 AM
Quote from: mister on April 15, 2011, 12:05:02 PM
Everyone is forgetting the two most important mods...

1 - removing tank idiot stickers adds 5hp
2 - using full cream milk in the handlebars; powdered milks just does't cut it.

Wow wow wow, I said skim milk guys skim.

Full cream works as long as it's homogenized. Just no powdered milk - and no extra calcium milk either, for that matter. And an extra No No is Flavored milk - the milk that's sold as flavored is not suitable to be bottled as anything else, so they add flavor to it to mask it's yuckiness, so no flavored milk either. Ideally skim and then homogenized full cream. No other milk can be used.

Michael
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: bill14224 on April 17, 2011, 05:38:26 PM
Without the aid of a hill or tailwind this bike will do about 105 naked and the F will do about 112.  This bike needs 20 more HP to do 130.  Read David Johnson's "Racers Corner" on this site and you'll see how his stripped bike with moderately modified engine goes 120, and that's with about 55 HP, which is all you can get out of this engine without spending "approximately the cost of a Subaru", according to David.

Like the others said, it's not worth the $ to chase HP with this bike.  The weakest part is suspension, then brakes.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: the mole on April 17, 2011, 10:04:39 PM
Quote from: gregvhen on April 15, 2011, 12:26:14 AM
If I had like 5 bucks for every time someone has asked this questio and gotten that response I could pay off these speeding tickets I have pending right now and buy a faster bike.....twice.
I wonder why we keep posting that response? :dunno_black:  :)
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: gregvhen on April 17, 2011, 10:27:31 PM
Quote from: bill14224 on April 17, 2011, 05:38:26 PM
Without the aid of a hill or tailwind this bike will do about 105 naked and the F will do about 112.  This bike needs 20 more HP to do 130.  Read David Johnson's "Racers Corner" on this site and you'll see how his stripped bike with moderately modified engine goes 120, and that's with about 55 HP, which is all you can get out of this engine without spending "approximately the cost of a Subaru", according to David.

Like the others said, it's not worth the $ to chase HP with this bike.  The weakest part is suspension, then brakes.

yea i mighta had some wind behind me i guess, but i was fairly level ground. maybe downhill 1 foot every 100
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: pave_spectre on April 17, 2011, 10:42:16 PM
QuoteLike the others said, it's not worth the $ to chase HP with this bike.

That may be the case, but the real question that should be asked is "Is it worth the enjoyment factor", whether that enjoyment comes from the act of modifying or from the end result.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: burning1 on April 18, 2011, 02:12:28 PM
My street bike makes about 160, and I've ridden bikes that make even more than that. Some guys are building busas that make upwards of 800 HP. 300MPH is the new target speed No amount of power is 'enough.'

We install pipes, rejet, etc... because we want to muck with our bikes, not because it actually makes a lick of difference to the vast majority of us.
Title: Re: HP & speed upgrades
Post by: gregvhen on April 18, 2011, 06:55:50 PM
Quote from: burning1 on April 18, 2011, 02:12:28 PM
My street bike makes about 160, and I've ridden bikes that make even more than that. Some guys are building busas that make upwards of 800 HP. 300MPH is the new target speed No amount of power is 'enough.'

We install pipes, rejet, etc... because we want to muck with our bikes, not because it actually makes a lick of difference to the vast majority of us.

true story. ive hopped on a few busas at work and man do they haul... but if i had one i would still try to get more out of it haha. actually id sell it and get a differant bike. and then try to get more out of that. just not a busa fan