Author Topic: GS550 Jetting (Read 9978 times)

z-dna · « **on:** February 09, 2006, 03:51:39 AM »

I hope that someone can help me with a non-bandit question. I hope its pretty simple:

I want to put the oval K&N airfilters on my 1980 GS550, but I can't find a jet kit and I don't know what jets to put in these carbs. Does anyone know? Additionally, can you shim the needles on these carbs like you can on our bandits?

Thanks!
Josh

tacoman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2006, 02:55:57 PM »

You have a fairly old bike so experience with it here may be limited. If dealing with old carbs and jetting, I'd check out Sudco. www.sudco.com

PitterB4 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2006, 03:30:50 PM »

Have you been to The GS Resources? You may find some model-specific info there.

rider123 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2006, 02:23:56 PM »

If you like you could experiment with larger main jets. You can still get main jet parts for the carbs. My 1984 GS750EF was jetted with a Yoshimura pipe by a previous owner and quite well. You could probably get away with just shimming the needles a bit if all your adding is a filter. Try one shim and see if it works. It almost free. If its pods you'll have to rejet.

Red Bandit · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2006, 08:55:57 PM »

I have a 1980 GS550E and have considdered k&n's before. I have enquired about it several times to local old bike experts. One was a very good shop that works on old bikes, he said not to do it, I was surprised because I was offering him the job. The other person was a former team suzuki mechanic and also said not to mess with the air box at all, it will only run badly. Unless you are changing the exhaust system and it requires re-jetting you are better off with stock jetting and air box. He said it is really hard to get them to run right with K&N's and new jets.

rider123 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2006, 02:54:47 PM »

Well even if you jetted it perfectly with a pipe your only going to get max around 4-6 extra horsepower max on that 2 valve motor anyway. It will be much snappier for sure, but it's alot of effort to just get it slightly faster. Better to leave it and save up for a bigger CC bike. Those are good solid bikes best not to fool around with the jetting.