I am planning on buying new carbs for my 1989 suzuki gs500e, i found some on Dime City Cycles website that say they will fit my bike but i was wondering if it is going to be a easy swap or do i have to change some things. Can i run the same gas lines from the stock pitcock or does that need to be changed? and i am running straight pipes with 8in baffles so do i have to change the jetting? if someone could please help me out cause i want to but them soon and if there is anything else you can think of that i would need to change please let me know.
These are the carbs on Dime City that im talking about,
"The Coveted" Mikuni VM32mm Carburetor, Right Side - (Pre-Jetted for: CB/CL450, CB500T & Other 400-650cc Twins)
Do NOT get those carbs. The cheapest and easiest carbs to install would be stock carbs.
Yikes, yeah... that'll be way more headache than its worth. You can fit carbs from GS500 model years 89-00 without any changes to fitment - dialing in the jetting and mixture is a part of any carb replacement; however, the 89-00 will fit the same, as they ARE the same, and will require the least mixture adjustment.
- Bboy
I was kind of rushed when I replied earlier. But here are some of the problems you will run into with VM carbs:
They will probably fit in the boots on the engine side, but you won't be able to use your airbox anymore (at least, not without modifications). The throttle cable is completely different since it is a 2-1 cable, and your choke cable will be useless since VM carbs have a manual choke lever. You'll need to support the carbs somehow (usually done by the airbox) or else the intake boots can develop a rip. As far as the petcock goes..... I can't speak for the GS500 setup. But you will need to block off the vacuum system somehow while still delivering fuel. Remember - the petcock is capable of delivered fuel all the time, the vacuum setup stops it while the engine isn't running.
And despite what Jason and Herm say on their site, absolutely NO carbs are prejetted perfectly. And it's not just swapping out the main jets and tweaking the mixture screws.....you'll be experimenting with different slides, emulsion tubes, needle jets, etc.
When it's all said and done, you'll have wasted an entire riding season just trying to tune the carbs correctly, and you will have spent probably four times more than you would have by going with stock carbs.
Yeah, I read that bit about 'pre-jetted blah blah blah'... :bs: prejetted anything is a joke!
- Bboy
thanks for all the replies, they were very helpful. anyways Big Rich im not going to run the stock air box or the stock hand controls im pretty much getting rid of everything stock so say i got back with stock carbs what would my options be with the chock would i have to run the chock on the handlebars or are there other options
No stock parts, huh? Making a race bike / just like changing stuff / what's the deal?
Well, the throttle side isn't too hard to figure out regardless of what control you go with. You might have to shorten / lengthen the travel of the cable but there are ways around that. For the choke side, you don't "need" the cable to operate the choke. If you bypass the clutch / starter safety switch, you can use your left hand to open the choke (actually an enrichment circuit, but whatever) while the right hand hits the start button. Depending on your jetting and current engine temp, you may only need to hold of open for a couple of seconds.
Ya thats what i was thinking about doing, and for what im doing, im building a cafe racer and im completely rebuilding the whole bike. I dont like any of the stock hand controls or really anything that was stock on the bike besides the tank and the engine.
Ah, ok. Well.....if you decide to go against my advice and end up going with the VM's, there is info out there. I just wanted you to be certain that they won't "bolt on and go" as they are advertised.
Look at some older bikes (like the GS850 for example). Many have cable operated chokes with separate mounts for the cable. If you're willing to put in the effort, there are ways around everything.
Good luck, and start a project thread!
I would start a thread but i cant figure out how to upload pictures, i have so many pics id love to share cause im almost done my build ive been working on it for 6 months now i just got done all the paint. and by the way im not going to go against your advise thanks for the help i really appreciate it!! now does anyone have carbs for sale that will fit a 1989 gs500e that are in good shape that dont need to be rebuilt
We love pictures here so maybe I can help ya get them posted up. Here is the thread from the FAQ section...
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=15370.0
And here is how I post pictures. When you go to reply to a thread or make a post...
1. Click on where it says "Attachments and other options"
2. Then click the Browse button to pick a file from your computer
(Just cause I was bored, I made this real quick and used those 2 steps to post it for ya)
Hope this helps you make a project thread :D
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