OK Here is the overall deal ...
Sometime in 01-02 they changed the part number for the intake manifold boots.
The old boots are not available, only the new ones, the part has been "upgraded" ... WTF, I hate that word ... everythign from windows with major bugs, to useless crap in carbs and bikes that you cannot fix are all "upgrades" ...

OK and if you're not running K&N filters with the new boots on a old GS you'd never have this problem (presumably) ...
The new boots are to fit the new carbs, which I would think are very very close to the old carbs ... but not close enough ... the old carbs dont seat into the new boots the way they did with the old boots. Remember taking them off would be so tight ... OK not any more, new boots on old carbs with K&N filter, it will fall off every 30-40 miles ...

Appaently the carbs and filter are heavy enough with the bouncing around of the bike when riding to get the carbs out of the manifold ...
With air box back in it prolly is tight enough in there due to lack of space that it makes it sorta no where to go ... however carbs even if they slightly get out can take in air ... so it can be bad even with a stock airbox.
Anyone else have come across this problem ?

Cool.
Buddha.

I have new (ordered september 08) boots on old carbs with a lunchbox.  The carbs slide into the boots with some force, but not alot.  Once I put the clamps on they weren't going anywhere and they haven't fallen off yet.  I just went outside and tried to pull my carbs off.   They're not coming off without breaking something.  Did I get lucky and get an old one before they "upgraded"?  Is your clamp busted?

I got good clamps ... OK maybe I bought the new boots. I'll check ... the old ones used to click into place almost ... new boots on the old carbs do no ...
Cool.
Buddha.

When we say "old carbs" and "new carbs", are we talking about the 2-circuit vs. the 3 circuit design? Or was there another change in there? I have an 01 with the 3-circuit carb so I should be good with the new boots as apposed to someone with a say... 95' GS or whatever. Right? 

I do believe so, 01+ carbs are basically whatI think the manifold botts arr made to fit.
Cool.
Buddha.