Well, I finally decided to rejet my 97. All I did, since everything is stock (and I plan to keep it stock), was change the pilot jets from #37.5 to #40 and replace my mild-steel allen bolts with stainless steel ones. Previous owner had already had a shop install washers (and remove mixture screw plugs) on the needles.
Boy, what a difference it makes. It's a completely different bike now, and feels like this is the way it's supposed to run. I suppose it's because it is how it's supposed to run.
With 50°F weather, like it was today, it would take full choke just to get the bike to start at all. It would then take about a minute before the RPMs would start rising. Then another 10 minutes of messing around with the choke and waiting before I could even ride it.
Now, the bike will start without choke, even stone cold. A small amount (20% maybe?) of choke will immediately bring the revs up to around 2k...and it only takes around 30-60 seconds of leaving it like that and you're able to completely turn the choke off and it idles smoothly and is ready to ride.
This is, by far, one of those most worthwhile mods you can do to your bike. The notorious "dead spot", which seems to reside between 4 and 5.5k RPM, is now completely gone. Not only that, the bike pulls MUCH better during take-off and requires far less clutch slip to get going.
I have a video in the works that shows the removal of the petcock, tank, airbox, carbs, floats, and old jets; as well installation of the new jets. I'll need a bit to edit and narrate the video but I'll post it when it's done. It's not the world's best video but hopefully it will ease some fear about the "witchcraft" and "magic" lurking inside the carbs. :icon_lol:
In the mean time, here's a video of how the bike runs with the #40 jets. Note that it's about 50°F outside. Also, I initially started the bike with no choke at all and only needed to add a very small amount to get it to jump up in revs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5vidyo2_iw&feature=youtu.be
Don't step on your phone, yo!
Isn't a good strong idle great?!
As soon as I got my GS500F home from the dealer, I went online and ordered +1 pilots and +1 mains, had them in before the first tank of gas was gone. It's one weak pimp without them, it's nice to twist the grip and feel the engine do something.
Quote from: Funderb on February 20, 2012, 09:19:11 PM
Don't step on your phone, yo!
Isn't a good strong idle great?!
Oh man, it's so much better than it was. Now I don't have to "allow time" to "get ready" to ride. Now, all I have to do is crank the bike with about 20% choke, leave it on while I put my jacket on, turn it off, let it idle some more while I put my helmet and gloves on and close the garage and it's ready to rock.
Don't worry, I've got an Otterbox Defender series on it. This phone has survived two motorcycle crashes AND being run over. First crash the phone was thrown from my handlebar mount and out into the intersection where it was run over repeatedly. Second one (otterbox replaced the case for free) survived being crushed in my tank bag by the handlebars.
I don't think stepping on it is gonna hurt it, LOL!
Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on February 20, 2012, 10:03:46 PM
As soon as I got my GS500F home from the dealer, I went online and ordered +1 pilots and +1 mains, had them in before the first tank of gas was gone. It's one weak pimp without them, it's nice to twist the grip and feel the engine do something.
Yeah but my 07 "F" is better about warming up than my 97 was. Also, while it does backfire a lot sometimes, it does seem like it ran better than my 97. Though, now that the 97 has #40's in it, it's no contest. I imagine it would smoke the 07 due to the substantially better off-the-line power.
You know, i thought it was just how they were, but my bike is mighty choppy cvompared to that. Kind of like a lopey cam.
Don't sound like a sewing machine.
Quote from: xunedeinx on February 21, 2012, 12:16:17 AM
You know, i thought it was just how they were, but my bike is mighty choppy cvompared to that. Kind of like a lopey cam.
Don't sound like a sewing machine.
Just a thought...have you replaced your sparkplugs recently?
What's the electrical tape on the handlebars for? To stop the keyring chipping it?
Quote from: Twisted on February 21, 2012, 01:31:06 AM
What's the electrical tape on the handlebars for? To stop the keyring chipping it?
Exactly right. I tried to do it as evenly as possible and it took me 3 tries to get it to look that good. :p
Quote from: Kijona on February 21, 2012, 09:54:27 AM
Quote from: Twisted on February 21, 2012, 01:31:06 AM
What's the electrical tape on the handlebars for? To stop the keyring chipping it?
Exactly right. I tried to do it as evenly as possible and it took me 3 tries to get it to look that good. :p
I should do that to mine to cover up how ugly it is... Previous owners stupid tapout keychain did a number on my bars. :mad:
Quote from: Flux Maven on February 21, 2012, 10:09:04 AM
Quote from: Kijona on February 21, 2012, 09:54:27 AM
Quote from: Twisted on February 21, 2012, 01:31:06 AM
What's the electrical tape on the handlebars for? To stop the keyring chipping it?
Exactly right. I tried to do it as evenly as possible and it took me 3 tries to get it to look that good. :p
I should do that to mine to cover up how ugly it is... Previous owners stupid tapout keychain did a number on my bars. :mad:
Yeah and actually, I got sick of all my keys getting hung up under the bars, so what I eventually did was add a small ring to both of my GS500 keys and put them on my carabiner separate. That way I can just put just the key and a small ring in the ignition and put the rest of my keys back on my beltloop. The bars are all chewed up from previous owner so the electrical tape stays.
Previous owner had a metal (stainless steel no less) bottle opener for a key chain...of all things!
Quote from: Kijona on February 21, 2012, 10:24:28 AM
Quote from: Flux Maven on February 21, 2012, 10:09:04 AM
Quote from: Kijona on February 21, 2012, 09:54:27 AM
Quote from: Twisted on February 21, 2012, 01:31:06 AM
What's the electrical tape on the handlebars for? To stop the keyring chipping it?
Exactly right. I tried to do it as evenly as possible and it took me 3 tries to get it to look that good. :p
I should do that to mine to cover up how ugly it is... Previous owners stupid tapout keychain did a number on my bars. :mad:
Yeah and actually, I got sick of all my keys getting hung up under the bars, so what I eventually did was add a small ring to both of my GS500 keys and put them on my carabiner separate. That way I can just put just the key and a small ring in the ignition and put the rest of my keys back on my beltloop. The bars are all chewed up from previous owner so the electrical tape stays.
I do something very similar. I have one of those key chains that can quickly detach from my main keys. I only have my bike key and front break lock key on it. This way there isnt a big mess up there doing any damage.
Quote from: Kijona on February 21, 2012, 12:22:44 AM
Quote from: xunedeinx on February 21, 2012, 12:16:17 AM
You know, i thought it was just how they were, but my bike is mighty choppy cvompared to that. Kind of like a lopey cam.
Don't sound like a sewing machine.
Just a thought...have you replaced your sparkplugs recently?
Actually, its one of the few things I have not touched since checking them when I got the bike.... 5k miles ago.