Just curious how you folks ride your GS's.

300 miles into the journey, I've found that mine hates being below 3000 RPM, likes to cruise between 4k and 5k, and has no problem accelerating between 3k and 6k, at least in city traffic.  I haven't felt the need for more power just yet, and honestly with 35mph limits around me its not real useful.

I've seen the dyno run on the main site, and it appears there is a lot more power to be had above 6k or 7k.  

I haven't been there, bu I'm curious -  just how dramatic is output at higher RPMs?

i always cruise between 5 and 6k.  its just where i like it.   i roll through turns at around 7k so when i come out of the turn i have power.   the dyno run on the main page shows max HP at 9ish but that is with modifications.  i remember hearing that on a stock gs its between 7k and 8k.  someone tell me if im wrong..  so basically i shift shortly after 8k when im trying to accelerate as fast as possible.   hope that helps.

The Baby doesn't like to walk or crawl...she likes to run. Below 6 grand she is a dog. I mean it isn't like a GSXR 600 or something like that but she really likes to run above 6000. And be careful 'cause if you run it up to about 7 grand and dump the clutch she will dump you...on yer butt. I love my Baby GS, Puerto Rico (should it or should it not be a State of the USA?), and this forum.

C.......

in all honesty anywhere i dump the clutch on my stock 500f i cant seem to get dumped... never tried it from a go, but rolling ... i cant get the front end up...all that will change with all the crap (upgrades) thats on the way though.

My engine is old: 39000 miles on it.

I have plenty of power under 7000, that means that I can use 6th
gear even when the engine is 3000rpm, and I can feel it pulling hard.

But when it reaches 7000rpm it stops pulling, I have to engage
5th gear to get the engine revv beyond 7000.

After hitting 9000, I can engage 6th and if I'm lucky, I may be able
to keep the speed.

Any ideas to help my GS engine work better?

Quote from: weaselnozei always cruise between 5 and 6k.  its just where i like it.   i roll through turns at around 7k so when i come out of the turn i have power.   the dyno run on the main page shows max HP at 9ish but that is with modifications.  i remember hearing that on a stock gs its between 7k and 8k.  someone tell me if im wrong..  so basically i shift shortly after 8k when im trying to accelerate as fast as possible.   hope that helps.

I ride like weaselnoze on my stock 98.

Marc, I wonder if you are getting fuel starvation at high rpms? There are a lot of posts on the board about it. Try riding with the petcock on PRI for a little while and see if that makes a difference. If it does you may have a vacuum problem.

That's normal. 6th is like an overdrive, it's just there to maintain speed at a lower rpm, although I can accelerate to a certain point (about the 7000rpm you stated) in 6th, 6th is not geared to pull that hard; just maintain.

Edit: Sprocket size may be a factor; if you have stock sizes (16 front ,39 rear), then what you are experiencing, I believe, is normal. Same goes for jetting. The hesitation around 6-7k is where the needle comes in; shim it with a .5mm thick washer, or two.

Quote from: '04gs500fin all honesty anywhere i dump the clutch on my stock 500f i cant seem to get dumped... never tried it from a go, but rolling ... i cant get the front end up...all that will change with all the crap (upgrades) thats on the way though.

Must be doing something wrong. I dump it smooth from a roll (so it doesn't bend the swingarm in back) and it always comes up. Find some grippier concrete.

I like to cruise around 5-6k also, just seems "happy" there. As far as being a dog below 3k, look into getting your ignition advanced. Bob B just did mine and it really fixed up my lower end. It's still slow down there, but it's smooth instead of jumpy.

I definitely don't shift as early as 8k though if I'm trying to accelerate as quickly as possible. I'll run it up to redline or close, there's tons more power up high in the power band. That said, I do have exhaust/pods/rejet...  Not sure how big a difference that makes.

Quote from: marcMy engine is old: 39000 miles on it.

I have plenty of power under 7000, that means that I can use 6th
gear even when the engine is 3000rpm, and I can feel it pulling hard.

But when it reaches 7000rpm it stops pulling, I have to engage
5th gear to get the engine revv beyond 7000.

After hitting 9000, I can engage 6th and if I'm lucky, I may be able
to keep the speed.

That isn't right at all. I can put mine in 6th at 50mph (which is what, 5k RPMS?) and it'll pull all the way up to 100mph smooth as can be if I have the room. I'd obviously get there a lot quicker if I'd downshift, but it WILL pull, pretty strongly too, in 6th just fine. I'd say you have some carb issues. A gap from 7-9k may be something to do w/ your pilots, I'm not sure.. that's Srinath's job  :lol: . In fact, if anyone has any interest, I can time myself doing a 6th gear pull. I think that'd be interesting anyway, especially if someone w/ a stock GS would do it as well just for comparison...

Oh, and age shouldn't be it either. My '94 has 30k miles on it..

Anyway, good luck figuring that out...

trey

Quote from: treybrad

I definitely don't shift as early as 8k though if I'm trying to accelerate as quickly as possible. I'll run it up to redline or close, there's tons more power up high in the power band. That said, I do have exhaust/pods/rejet...  Not sure how big a difference that makes.

it must be your mods.  peak horsepower is now where near redline from what i know, that is on a stock gs .

When I said the Baby is a dog below 6 grand I meant just that...it doesn't have any torque. It's not jumpy, it just doesn't pull worth a crap down low. But I am used to bikes that red-line around 6 thou. Oh she is fun when you let her get to running. I'm sure she would top out well over the ton because I've had her up to about 100 indicated and she definitely wasn't out of breath. But then she is an '89, and the '89 is the prettiest and the fastestest.   . Plus, I've lost down to around 120 lb so I'm sure that helps. I'm seriously thinking of selling her and getting another laid-back cruiser. I just can't get used to running the thing the way it wants to. I love the little White Owl, New Zealand (go Xena), and this forum.

C.......

all this crap talk about slow gs's.  heres a thought, if u never rode a faster motorcycle before, its the fastest bike you have ridden!  seriously you wont even know what your missing.  i like it that way personally

In '68 the Baby would have been considered one bad-assed machine. I love the little thing, Ethiopia (they have problems producing enough food), and this forum.

C........

well in '05 the 'baby' is a badass machine. to me at least.  there is always something bigger, better, faster..  but who gives a shaZam!

Wound my GS out to about 8 or 9k on the way home, and toyed with keeping the revs above 5k.

You guys were right - my otherwise timid GS turns into kind of a beast at higher RPMs.  Its fun, and a little addictive. Not useful in the neighborhood, by helped out alot in cage-avoidance maneuvers on my commute.  Just roll onto the throttle and BAM! I'm outta there.

Quote from: weaselnozeall this crap talk about slow gs's.  heres a thought, if u never rode a faster motorcycle before, its the fastest bike you have ridden!  seriously you wont even know what your missing.  i like it that way personally

My GS was my first street bike. It felt fast as hell to me for the first couple of weeks than I easily became bored with the power. I was always winding out every gear and never got scared. I also never had a time where I felt the bike was going to dump me. I get used to speed fast though. I'm already used to my CBR's speed. Everyone is different.

Also it would top out at around 115-120 for me. I would get smoked buy Honda Civics on the higway. I know it may sound like I'm a reckless rider but I'm really not. I just ride fast a lot of the time but I do it as safely as possible.

I'm spoiled with the CBR now though and I don't think I would ever be able to go back. In 6th gear on the highway crusing at 5k the bike is going 60mph. (6k=70mph, 7k=80mph and so on)

I ride at 6000-7500 on the highway (120-145km/h or 70-90mph), and in sixth  if I still need a little more speed I just pull and it will keep pulling until 110-115mph .

Peak power from a real dynorun on a motorcycle dyno for mine was 8900RPM without any mods, so its useless to shift over 9000-9500 for me. (shifting over the peak power so the next gear is right in there).

Quote from: Eklipse

Quote from: '04gs500fin all honesty anywhere i dump the clutch on my stock 500f i cant seem to get dumped... never tried it from a go, but rolling ... i cant get the front end up...all that will change with all the crap (upgrades) thats on the way though.

Must be doing something wrong. I dump it smooth from a roll (so it doesn't bend the swingarm in back) and it always comes up. Find some grippier concrete.

how fast are you rolling?

with the stock gearing and the 90 series tire, I run 6200 @85 indicated in 6th,  and she just purs along.

Well I'm running stock excapt for a 15 tooth front sprocket.
At 6k RPM in 6th gear I'll be doing an indicated 70MPH.
Plenty of pull in 6th with the 15 toother and I'm siting just below the fun zone when I need to accelerate past folk on the highway.