So lately my GS has been feeling alittle down.  It doesnt have the get up and go it used to, the only think i can possibly think is the culprit could be the air filter.  Is the only thing i havnt replaced on my baby yet. I use Shell only Premium gasoline in it also.  Any suggestions?

valve clearances?

Quote from: Jlittle on May 29, 2008, 10:08:45 AM
So lately my GS has been feeling alittle down.  It doesnt have the get up and go it used to, the only think i can possibly think is the culprit could be the air filter.  Is the only thing i havnt replaced on my baby yet. I use Shell only Premium gasoline in it also.  Any suggestions?

'premium' gas , isn't. use 87, or waste your dollars and have a dirtier engine.



check your air pressure (tires), clean/replace your air filter, adjust your clutch, clean/oil your chain, change your oil + filter, change your plugs. if that doesn't do it, how long since your valves were adjusted ?

have you drained the float bowls lately, checked the tank for water, all that fun stuff ?

No idea, i havnt messed with any of that since ive got the bike.  Its an 05 and it has 10900ish miles on it now.  Should i have the valves checked out?

I know 93 vs 87 octane isnt suppose to matter but i can feel a diffrence in how she runs with the shell premium so i use that.  I havnt checked the bowls or anything yet, i havnt really pulled her apart too much, the weather here has been really rainy and i have no garage.  I guess i could check out some of the stuff this weekend if the weather permits.  I ride it work everyday, rain or shine so she has see abit of weather also.

Quote from: Jlittle on May 29, 2008, 10:21:09 AM
No idea, i havnt messed with any of that since ive got the bike.  Its an 05 and it has 10900ish miles on it now.  Should i have the valves checked out?

Valve clearances should be checked every 4000 miles (6000 km); if they've never been looked at, you're definitely due.

Sounds like thats what ill be doing this weekend. Ive only put 7k miles on it but now i know to get it done often. Thanks guys

Quote from: Jlittle on May 29, 2008, 10:24:22 AM
I know 93 vs 87 octane isnt suppose to matter but i can feel a diffrence in how she runs with the shell premium

Its not that it "isnt supposed to matter" IT DOESNT! Higher octane does NOT make your bike run faster or bettter. If you "think" it does, its just that... You "think" it does 

</octane rant> 

running a higher octane is a waste of gas, because the bike does not hava a hot enough spark tto burn all the fuel so you end up running richer than what the bike already dose.

?? Who knew a GS could be emotional. 

Quote from: shaun on May 29, 2008, 12:20:58 PM
running a higher octane is a waste of gas, because the bike does not hava a hot enough spark tto burn all the fuel so you end up running richer than what the bike already dose.

I run premium in my bike and can also tell the difference.  I tried a tank of 87 octane and it just seemed...sluggish.  I started running 91/93 octane because I've heard over and over again that the bike is "lean from the factory" and figured hi-octane would make it run rich (which should balance it out).  My logic could be wrong but the results are what they are.

I use premium 93 because they dump E85 in the 87 and 89 to get rid of it.E85 hasn't caught on in my area.They bring a whole seperate truck with the 93 because everyone local uses it to keep from having car trouble.OHHHHHH.I just caught a corporate conspericy.They're dumping E85 in the other tanks so we will buy the higher grade fuel.I bet the high grade fuel is actually 87 or 89.Damn what a realization.  I'll never use that station again.I don't care if it is the only close one. 

Quote from: scottpA_GS on May 29, 2008, 12:07:58 PM

Quote from: Jlittle on May 29, 2008, 10:24:22 AM
I know 93 vs 87 octane isnt suppose to matter but i can feel a diffrence in how she runs with the shell premium

Its not that it "isnt supposed to matter" IT DOESNT! Higher octane does NOT make your bike run faster or bettter. If you "think" it does, its just that... You "think" it does 

</octane rant> 

Correction: It doesn't matter in the GS.  My bike has a f%$king temper tantrum when you put regular in it, hell it doesn't like premium at a few places.

Octane as we know it is a measurement of a liquids resistance to combustion.  87 combusts more readily than 91/93, so at static pressure 87 will ignite at a cooler temperature than 91/93.  By that logic running 87 in a lean engine would be better as it will initiate the burn at a lower temp.

spcterry,you are a wealth of information. 

there is no way it runs better using a higher octane its all in your head, because it physically burns slower. a slower burn is less explosive which means not a much power is produced. the only way higher octane benefits ANY internal combustion engine, whether it is a motorcycle or a car, is to get a hotter spark, more spark advance and change your dwell to get a longer spark.

longer hotter spark + slower/longer burning fuel = more power
stock spark + slower/longer burning fuel = alot of unburnt fuel out the muffler/less power.

Yeah, dude, compression doesn't play a role in there anywhere........

yeah i never said anything about the compression because the gs only has 9.0:1. the only reason you need to put compression in the picture is when you a running 11.0:1 or higher, when detonation, higher temps and higher pressures become an issue.

Quote from: scottpA_GS on May 29, 2008, 12:07:58 PM

Quote from: Jlittle on May 29, 2008, 10:24:22 AM
I know 93 vs 87 octane isnt suppose to matter but i can feel a diffrence in how she runs with the shell premium

Its not that it "isnt supposed to matter" IT DOESNT! Higher octane does NOT make your bike run faster or bettter. If you "think" it does, its just that... You "think" it does 

</octane rant> 

the higher octane is the gasolines resistance to detonatiion. aka why high performance engines run like shaZam! on cheap gas. we gissers have an engine that doesnt ask for the good stuff. it likes the cheap liquor its not an expensive my mama