1982 Suzuki GS1100GL questions

[Charmed]

Hi All,

My uncle recently handed down to me his longtime motorcycle after he finally decided to try something new. Stylistically the bike is not my speed, but I knew it could be a decent platform for me to do some customizing and make it a respectable grocery getter. One of the first things I did was remove the wonky handlebars and replace them with some more standard 7/8 inch bars. Now, here are the questions:

Can I put a shorter turn throttle tube as a direct plug-in on this bike? Say from a GSXR?

I can’t use the stock throttle tube at all because the stock bar is tapered at the ends with the tube made to fit. I guess I’ve never noticed, but is that standard? Are most throttle tubes made to go on bars that are seven eights inch all the way to the end?

Lastly, I’m changing out the airbox for pods and the stock exhaust for a pretty open 4-into-1. The stock main jets are 115, so does anybody have a solid suggestion for jet sizes I should start with? I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna get it right the first time, but a reasonable approximation will at least get me down to the tuning shop.

-Ben

 

[Junkie]

modern sportbikes, dirtbikes, standards all use 7/8" controls. cruisers often use larger controls. the clamps are often larger diameter on sportbikes and standards (1 1/8"), although that's probably a little less common than 7/8" at the clamp.

 

[bobl]

If you are going to use individual filters, invest in a jet kit, or do yourself a favor, and use the stock air box.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Yeah, going to pods looks kewl, but the airflow increases to the outside carbs and the inside carbs get starved, so jetting changes to all four, plus the pods get dirty after a bit, you have to clean them more often, and it's generally a serious PITA.

Stick with the airbox for better performance and lots less carb diddling. :teeth


Unless you like diddling carbs, that is. arty Me, I'd rather ride.

 

[bmwbob51]

CV carbs and GS1100 are lean runners. Even removing the airbox lid means lots of jet experimentation!

 

[matty]

Relevant:
https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...5-Pods-Pipes-Panic!-(Help!-Your-Bike-has-Pods)

 

[bobl]

You will probably discover that no amount of main jetting will correct the mid range, and the needles are not adjustable, and are too lean to start with. Look at the air box. See the long runners from the box to the carbs? These help supply a ram affect to help the midrange. The air box also supplies a reservoir of relatively calm air as opposed the swirling mess at the rear of the motor. Not enough? Wait till it rains and the pods start sucking in water, or get wet and richen the mixture. Some of the old days race bikes used to use the air box due to the mixture problems associated with pods. If pods you must, start with a jet kit, as the stock needle/needle jet combo most likely will not be able to handle the air flow. It can and has been done with reasonable results, but you will be the local GS1100 carb guru when you're finished.

 

[auntiebling]

If you find that the bike runs well and isnt providing you with enough Old Bike Experience, Install pods

 

[Cincinnatus]

If you find that the bike runs well and isnt providing you with enough Old Bike Experience, Install pods

:rofl :thumbup :rofl :thumbup :rofl :thumbup :rofl :thumbup

 

[auntiebling]

Also. 7/8 diameter at the grips tends to be Everyone But Harley. So personally I'd look around for some triple clamp adapters to go to a 7/8 bar, or 1 and 1/8 MX style "fat" bar that tapers to 7/8 at the grips.

From there you can find lots of generic aftermarket controls, or adapt something from your favorite Japanese maker and do custom cables. Custom can be made in your garage btw

 

[Charmed]

Relevant:
https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...5-Pods-Pipes-Panic!-(Help!-Your-Bike-has-Pods)

Thanks for the input, everyone. This link was definitely the most useful. I solved 90% of my issues (I had already purchased a stage 3 jet kit) with 2-3 highly relevant posts within.

Rain isn’t a huge thing where I live, I don’t ride in the snow, and this is one of 3 bikes, so it only needs to be “kewl” and just run ok

-Ben

 

[Charmed]

I’ll be sure to post up when I’m finished so everyone can laugh at the final product. ��

 

[budman]

Told ya barf would come through!! :cool

You got the pipes on yet??

 

[ST Guy]

Stick with the stock airbox. I had an early 80's Suzuki that I put individual K&N's on when that was the big thing. The jet kit I bought from one of the top suppliers (forget who) was not right. I had to spend time with a dyne to get it right and in the end, used nothing of the kit.

Then I found that airflow past the side of the bike would affect how the carbs worked. If, for instance, I moved my leg to a different position, the engine would bog just a bit. Move them back and it ran great. And this was after getting the jetting perfect on a dyno.

Find controls off a GS1100G (not the cruiser version) and that'll be exactly what you need.

Good luck with the charging system. I cured my woes with a rewound stator and a VRR off of a Honda.

Too bad your uncle didn't give you a regular G model. It's a much better bike simply because of the riding position.

 

[matty]

Glad it helped:thumbup

When I had a gs, that forum was a great resource! The folks there helped me sort out a number of electrical gremlins.

 

[Pushrod]

Hurry, though.

As time passes fewer and fewer guys with the skills to help you will be available. When the last of us die off, you who still have carbed bikes, will be high and dry.

 

[Sharky]

If you are going to use individual filters, invest in a jet kit, or do yourself a favor, and use the stock air box.

This.
Keep the airbox