Unless Suzuki could get decent carburetion on the bike, then maybe a 15t would be more practical.

I don't know what my mileage is yet, I just got on it for the first time since we swapped out the stock sprocket and put 70 miles of PCH and twisties on it today, and I'm glad I went for the 14t instead of stepping down to a 15t first. It cuts the throttle lag in half (not actually, but you get there quicker so that's how it feels), and shortens the gearing up a lot, but now it feels more like a dual sport to me (more torquey), and my hubby popped a couple little wheelies on it in first in a parking lot (the DMV!) before we scooted home in case the cops were on the way to get the hooligans (I went in to do circles and stuff after we got back and made him try it out), and it had perfect manners on it's back wheel. Even when he did a burnout in a patch of oil, after I said Don't even think about it! So I'll make him buy her something nice for abusing her.

I got used to it for about 22 miles on PCH up through Malibu but it was really no big deal, I guess I was expecting more but then I still have stock jets  ) and then we went up Latigo, along Mulholland (took a break at the Rock Store), and down Malibu Canyon and back PCH and the fwy. What a nice change! Shifting has a silky feel, both up and down, I suppose because the gearing is closer it's easier to stay right in the sweet spot on the rpms, especially when downshifting. My Mom would say it was slick as snot. Since this is a for fun bike and not a commuter I don't need to worry about mileage or fwy speed rpms, but it was doing around 65 at around 6K in 6th on stretches of PCH and the fwy. I had expected it would be higher. So, no sweat. I can't imagine anyone wanting to go UP from stock...

The twisties were actually nicer to ride once I got used to her new feel because I had "more gears". I'm usually mostly in second, but I could shift to third instead of winding her up another notch, and keep the power right where I wanted it. So I was able to shift a lot more often to keep her revving right in the zone I wanted for smoooth turns. It also makes engine braking more useful inbetween turns. It does make it easier to wind the tach up, I got into 9.5-10K a few times just because I could. I guess I'm glad the front end is still a bit higher than spec from lowering her because I also started sliding a bit of cheek off the seat in the turns just to see, and wow does it turn fast, something new to work on. I passed a Harley Sportster (1200cc), woohoo. He got disgusted with me even though I wasn't hanging on him in a rude, squidly way, and my hubby had already passed him and was long gone, and he waved me around. I'm usually the one pulling over...    I know, the tiniest of victories. But I guess that's why Harley riders don't wave at sportbikes.

I also put some Seafoam in before we left and had some popping in the exhaust going out PCH and also down Malibu Canyon. It seemed to help get my sticky idle down by about half though. I put 6-7 ounces in 5 gallons. I'm guessing it's really time to clean the carbs and rejet, by the time that's done I should be really used to the bike but I feel like I already mostly am. So any extra power I get and the smoother roll on of throttle I want should make this bike perfect for me for a long time. This mod does require that one be smoooooth on the throttle, at least when cornering. Also, if you're a lightweight, you might want to grab the tank a little with your knees if you decide to really step on out with it.

Ooooh, I'm so in love with her! I wish I had a house with a roofed over back patio off a rec room with a big glass sliding door: I'd park her right there where I could blow her kisses every time I walked by...   


At the Rock Store with her riding buddy, an '05 DR650se with side panels and headlight cowl painted to match the tank, purty.



On PCH same.

After a few 400-500 mile freeway days you might like a 15T better.    I put a 15T on my 97 GS but my 02 retains stock gearing, doesn't need a sprocket change to get it moving and after that it's just a matter of being in the right gear.   I've found my stock GSs will run their best paces in the mountain twisties keeping the engine cooking between 7000 and 9000 rpm, if you can keep it there for a couple hours it will be a good ride.     The GS motor develops peak hp at about 8.5k rpm and peak torque at about 7k rpm, going beyond 9k is pointless unless you modify the engines breathing and then you can shift the curve up a bit.  Have over 130k miles on GSs now and they are still all fun.

fyi...
14/39 = 2.79 final drive ratio
15/42 = 2.80 final drive ratio

It just makes me happy seeing you so happy teek.

Congrats I guess. I have never ridden anything other than stock sprockets, so I don't know how it feels, but apparently... it's nice.

  -Anti 

Thanks Anti, that was nice of you to post.     I'm so tickled with this little GS, carbs and all. I'm content with all the small stuff that most people take for granted, a roof, food, hot water, friends and family. This little bike is a big fun thing for me, I sure got my money's worth out of her in pure enjoyment already.

dgyver, I think you have the better set up option there with the 15/42, but I wanted to get an idea of it and try it for awhile before I went messing around with the rear too. I forget, is that what you are using, and who's sprockets and what chain if so? We had a heckuva time with finding sprockets for that DR in the pics, he went up to I think a 49 in the rear and has a 15t front, not yet installed, but is looking for a 14t. He had to change to a 520 chain from a 525 to fit the rear sprocket he got. He wants to stunt it a bit. We finally got pointed to Kientech for anyone who has a DR in the stable.
So do you think that 15/42 is a better overall setup for the bike? I had that in mind for the future, and I'm watching to see if there is any chain rub on the swingarm too from running this 14t. It was a cheap test for just the cost of the sprocket and the time to swap the stocker out.

ahhh, another fun ride. so, what are you planning for the carbs ?

the dr looks like a ton o fun, tix.

love the pictures, don't be afraid to post a few of them

Quote from: Teek on March 03, 2008, 02:10:28 PM
...
dgyver, I think you have the better set up option there with the 15/42, but I wanted to get an idea of it and try it for awhile before I went messing around with the rear too. I forget, is that what you are using, and who's sprockets and what chain if so?
...
So do you think that 15/42 is a better overall setup for the bike? I had that in mind for the future, and I'm watching to see if there is any chain rub on the swingarm too from running this 14t. It was a cheap test for just the cost of the sprocket and the time to swap the stocker out.

15/42 will give better chain life but requires a longer chain. What you are doing is fine, just watch the rub.

I normally run 15/41 (street and most tracks), which I believe is a 2.73 final ratio. Most of my sprockets are from www.SprocketSpecialists.com and chains are typically EK x-ring. I do not recall specifically which one. I save the 14 for tracks with a short straight. I keep a variety of sprockets bolted to carriers so swapping them is fairly easy, along with several chains in different lengths.

dgyver, thanks for the specifics, I'm saving that info. 

ohgood, you can't have my carbs  , but I hope your situation has reached a satisfactory resolution or will soon, your bike is so pretty and you too worthy to have to go through so much crap with them. Plan is remove, clean with utmost paranoid care, rejet @ 22.5, 65 and 147.5 according to the matrix to start, for a K&N Lunchbox and hopefully a used Yosh can if I can find one. Jets are not here yet, and I had the bike laid up for awhile then we had rain, so I want to get some good riding in and wait for a 3 day weekend (on hubby's schedule) to take them off, plan is he gets one and I get one, and we will have our glasses on and all tools at the ready beforehand, and the laptop on, camera at the ready to take pics of everything as we go, so we know just what was there. I've taken carbs apart, but never got one back together all the way, because it was just for fun on junker carb bodies.

Any advice anyone on doing the jets and air filter and then opening up my PO's mufflerectomy some? If I can't get or afford a Yoshi I'd want to get enough air flow through for the bike to run right, and not be burning up my plugs, etc. (And do Iridium plugs cause popping? Or was it the Seafoam??? I figured the combo of both, but more the Seafoam...)

dang you all must not do high freeway speeds around your area.  15t/39t was as far as I wanted to go, I have a 45t but decided not to swap it on. the bike has been jetted has a K&N and a vance & Hines exhaust and I have no problem with throttle response , torque, or MPG. I could leave a new stock GS in the dust though on a straight away  and twisties, we found that out going head to head with a 2005.

what is the normal speed range on the freeway for you?

I avoid highways as much as possible.

Hey suzuki_jah how much you want for that rear sprocket? I have a 14t front if I wanna go to a 41 rear what size chain will I need. If a go to a 45 what size chain will i need? and which one will let me power up the front end?(squid)

Quote from: mach1 on March 04, 2008, 10:08:44 PM
Hey suzuki_jah how much you want for that rear sprocket? I have a 14t front if I wanna go to a 41 rear what size chain will I need. If a go to a 45 what size chain will i need? and which one will let me power up the front end?(squid)

there is the stock 39t on top of the 45t from JT sprockets.  the rear I have is not in the package anymore as I had intentions of swapping it on the bike but never did but it has never been used.

http://www.bikebandit.com/aftermarket-parts-list?d=1170244+1173059+2164785+2164877

this is where I bought it from a couple years ago. its going for 35$ .. before I commit to getting rid of it 100%    let me get some of your opionons . you have seen what setup I have . so how much difference on a scale 1-10 would I experience in puting a 45T in place of the 39t? and I currently have a 15t front.

stock = 16t/39t = 2.44:1
my setup 15t/39t = 2.6:1
15t/45t = 3:1

I can't really get a grasp on it in my head as far as how it would feel  but I did notice a nice different in the 15t.  3:1 might be too much for me on the highway. seems like yall sure have fun with the bigger ratios

but PM me if you are interested in the rear sprocket

I'm with dgyver, I avoid fwys as much as possible, L.A. is NUTS with lunatics everywhere! I think I've touched 70 on it on the 10 where it comes up from the beach, but it's not like it was 20 years ago, when you had some spaces between cars. I am very defensive and aware in a car and even more so on a bike. While the bike has more maneuverability, it has so much less protection. it's bad enough on PCH going 65 to stay with traffic when the posted speed is 45-55. Again, not the spped, but the people on my tail. Rode is rough too, lots of holes and repairs, and the diamond grooves on the fwys are not my fave thing when they are really deep and squirm inducing.

I felt like there was plenty of legs left on the bike on the fwy tho, no buzzing or anything that I noticed, and this was after 31/2 hours, so I was tired, so I would have been, I think, more sensitive to annoyances like that. Normal around here is anything from full stop and sit to 70-75 up in the lighter areas inland like on the way to Sunland on the 210 off peak.

When I rode my bike across Australia's outback I was very glad a 14 or 15 tooth wasn't standard.

In fact I wouldn't have minded a 17 tooth over the stock 16.


I think 16 is a good compromise. it doesn't cost that much to upgrade to your desired ratio.

this gets mind bogling to me. Dgyver, you talk about drive ratio. I am wondering what combination is going to be ideal for ridability, milage, torque, , horsepower, and lower RPM's at speed. I am just curious about the ratios if the front is smaller, or the back bigger, or both... ahhhh.

anyway, what seems to be ideal all around? Other than stock. I will be honest, I like milage, but it's not my 1st priority. I also wouldn't want to over-stress the engine. I do ride two-up occationally as well.

Thanks,
   -Anti 

OK. If *I* was riding across the outback, I think I'd want a 17t too.... 
AND a bigger gas tank! 

as far as all around power right now I enjoy the 15t front sprocket and 39t rear sprocket. I get about 180 miles to one tank and still can cruise at a good speed but power up when I need to.

you do not have to change the chain length for a 15t front sprocket but if you get a larger rear sprocket you will have to change the chain length.


highway speeds here are around 70 but most traffic is doing 80 so I think anything higher  than a  2.6:1 ratio will get you into the more whiney rpms but they may not bother you. but some of the guys here have tried many different setups so I can only give you an opinion on two , stock and 15t/39t