Hi all from Greece Europe,

This is a great site with some of the greatest info I have seen anywhere, so let me start by saing bravo.

Now since November I have the GS500F (black) bike, which is needless to say a great bike.

Unfortunately I am 1.90m tall and 240lbs so the bike is having a hard time especially near the top end.

So I need more power!!

So here are the questions ....

a) Due to my weight I presume I need bigger rear suspenssion, like the Katana one ( which model 600 ? and what year ) ...

b) Also I do need spockets, front and back 17  and 41 ( is this OK ..? )
  ............
c) Jet I also need ....... which one

d) Finally any other mods that will give some more power to this bike, and please also mention if any disantvantages to things proposed...

e) Ohh shoulf I just sell it and get a bigger one.

Thanks a lot Pavlos

Welcome to the site, you'l love all the info about the GS.

I think just about any year katana shock, but I would try to find a newer one with less miles, yr 2000 and up can be had on E-bay for about $30 or less w/shipping.

Sprockets, stock is 16 and 39, changing to 17 and 41 is no change, going down one in the front is the same as going up about 3 in the back.
More power, quicker take off - drop one in the front, or up 3 in the back.
More top end, less take off - up one in the front, or down in the back.

Jets - Depends on what exhaust and air filter set up you have, I have an 04 also, Wileyco Slipon, UNI drop in exhaust, this is what Jets I have,
2* #20 bleed airjets / pilot (sudco part # 004.564 )
2* #62.5 mid-main (sudco part # 004-270)
2* #137.5 main. (sudco part # 004.300)
[ NOTE: #132.5 main has the part # 004.298 ]
From this site  http://www.sudco.com/

Don't sell it, you'll love this bike.

Welcome!

Yep, suspension and sprockets will make the bigest difference. The least expensive would be the smaller front sprocket, 15 tooth. Then for more and smoother power, jet the carburetors, as mentioned above. If you need to stiffen up the front suspension, many people get the Progressive fork springs.

Thanks for the info, re spocket, 15 tooth, do I also need to change the chain ....? and II hear with this mod you loose some of your top end power, so the bike wont go as fast ...... ( it tops at 180km theoretical )?

Pavlos

No new chain required for going to a 15t sprocket, and yes theoretically you will lose some top end.

Whether you lose top-end is debatable.  Theoretical top-speeds (at 11k RPM)  in each gear of a stock GS are, in MPH:
(from http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=127027#127027 )
48, 67, 87, 106, 124, 140

Many people here post that 105mph is about as fast as you can go on a stock GS.   Lowering the gearing will lower the theoritcal top-speed, but it may not lower the actual top-speed... there are other factors.

Hi, thanks for the info.

I went to my mechanic and told him about the change in sprocket and he was   to say the least, and strongly advised against it...

So how many people have done this and for how many miles, and did you had any problems ......

Pavlos

I've had my 15t on for about 3000 miles now and no problems.

ive got a 14 in front stock in back. i'm 6'1" 250 lbs and with the 14 i can pull a wheelie. lots of power on the highway compared to before

for more on sprocket change:

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14668&highlight=

I put a 15T front sprocket on my 97 GS500E at 37,000 miles along with the 2nd chain replacement.  Have replaced twice since with 15T and now have about 80,000 miles on the bike.  All three 15T sprockets have been the type w/o the hub.  No problems at all.

I see no need for a 15T on the 02 GS500, no problems at all with the far more flexible 02 engine.  I weigh about 240# and have for all of the almost 100k miles I've put on the GS's.

Quote from: gsJackI see no need for a 15T on the 02 GS500, no problems at all with the far more flexible 02 engine.  I weigh about 240# and have for all of the almost 100k miles I've put on the GS's.

what do you mean by flexible 02 engine???

Quote from: Frost

Quote from: gsJackI see no need for a 15T on the 02 GS500, no problems at all with the far more flexible 02 engine.  I weigh about 240# and have for all of the almost 100k miles I've put on the GS's.

what do you mean by flexible 02 engine???

My 97 GS has the original 2 circuit carburetors that all the GS's had thru 2000.  Along with the bodywork/gas tank changes that started with the 01 models, a larger 3 circuit carburetor was added.  Also there is a new intake camshaft number starting in 01 on and also a new exhaust cam number for 04 on.

My 02 pulls much stronger thru the mid-range than the 97, but seems to not pull as strong on the top end.  Although quarter mile times have dropped off about a second for the newer ones, they feel much stronger in everyday riding.  

My 97 will not start pulling below 4000 rpm.  It must be revved to 4k and the clutch slipped to get it going and the clutch slipped till the road speed catches up to the 4k+ engine speed.  No doubt this problem is worse for a heavier rider like myself.  The 15T sprocket made it much easier to get the bike moving with less clutch slippage and especially so on an upgrade.

The 02 starts pulling at 2500-3000 rpm and is much more pleasant to ride all they way around in my opinion. It will pull away from a start from a fast idle on.  Now when I ride the 97 I enjoyed for so many miles it takes a while to adjust to it again.  Hardly want to use it anymore.  

Can't believe Suzuki waited so long to make these small changes, at least for the US market.  If the 2 circuit carbs are made rich enough, they will overlap better in the middle and it all works out ok for the non EPA world.