GS1100E performance

[coachmorin]

Good day all,

I have finished rebuilding my GS last week. Starts good, runs good. My question is about performance of the bike. It is my 1st GS and my 1st 4 cylinders too. I'm use to big V-Twin torque engine. I feel my GS is sluggish under 4000rpm. 1st gear seems too long. When I go from a dead start, I have to slip the clutch a little to get it going, like if there was not enough torque. Once launched it's good but the acceleration is not brutal. Is this the nature of the beast or I miss something during my winter time rebuilding?

Before you asked ...Carbs full rebuilt, new splugs, full valves adjust, no clutch slipping...

[tkent02]

Go to 9,000 RPM and open the throttle wide.

[coachmorin]

Yes over 4000rpm, starts to pull good, even harder over 6000rpm. The complain I'm having is from the dead start. Maybe I just need to get use to it and find the pefect friction spot?

[tkent02]

4,000 - 6,000 is nothing, the real power starts higher. Why even use less that 4,000? While it will run, it certainly isn't designed for it. If you want to ride around under 4,000 and have any torque, get a V twin or a thumper.

[Guest]

Yes over 4000rpm, starts to pull good, even harder over 6000rpm. The complain I'm having is from the dead start. Maybe I just need to get use to it and find the pefect friction spot?

You are just used to a bike that redlines before the GS even starts making power. Fours are built to rev, let it rip and enjoy the top end rush. If it is fast launches you crave then you need to rev it and slide the clutch a bit until it is rolling.


Mark

[GS1150Pilot]

Truth. The GS is much faster than you realize, but you are used to the feel of torque, which is really only the thrust from a stop or low rpm. Rev it out. It'll outrun pretty much any VTwin that doesn't wear fairings.

[A-train]

The engine you have, running right, is about as torquey as these bikes get. You'll probably have to let the clutch out at a higher RPM than you're used to on the twin, but when you do, you shouldn't have an issue. I think you're bike is rated to run 0-60 in something like 4 seconds. Which doesn't suck.

1st is 'long' because you have 9500 revs to play with

[coachmorin]

I feel much better now! I thought at first that I did something wrong while putting the bike back together during winter time! I have to get use to this ''new'' engine! Love that bike! Thanks all!

[eil]

My '81 750E is the little brother to your 1100E and I don't find it sluggish at low RPMs at all. I can roll away from a stop sign in pretty much any gear I like. If anything, I wish it were more tame at low RPMs (like my 8-valve 850 is) because sharp turns at urban intersections + potholes + touchy throttle and things have gotten a wee bit dicey at times.

You say you rebuilt your carbs, are they properly synced? Maybe the idle mixure could use some tweaking?

[Ecklund]

My '81 750E is the little brother to your 1100E and I don't find it sluggish at low RPMs at all. I can roll away from a stop sign in pretty much any gear I like. If anything, I wish it were more tame at low RPMs (like my 8-valve 850 is) because sharp turns at urban intersections + potholes + touchy throttle and things have gotten a wee bit dicey at times.

You say you rebuilt your carbs, are they properly synced? Maybe the idle mixure could use some tweaking?

I'd guess these comments are on the right track.

GS liter size bikes certainly pull harder at the top end but they also have a relatively wide power band too - when running as they should.

Inferring from your comments that you suspect the poster's bike may need at least a tune up sounds right to me.

[coachmorin]

the carbs have not been sync on a bench at this point. Will do in the upcoming weeks for sure. The plugs needs to be coffee like color I assume for the engine to run in the right mixture?( Will check those later on)

here's my rebuild thread

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=217963&highlight=maintenance+started

[wymple]

If you lack torque anywhere on a gs1100, something is amiss.

[storm 64]

If you lack torque anywhere on a gs1100, something is amiss.

+1 on that!

[Rob S.]

If you lack torque anywhere on a gs1100, something is amiss.

Gotta agree with that.

I let the clutch out in first on my '82 1100e nice and easy at about 2,000 or less rpm and then open her up. Pulls like a (very fast) truck.

Of course, I've never ridden a Harley, so maybe I'm unduly impressed with my GS's low-rpm torque.

[blowerbike]

ride a big inch V twin and the torque will rip your hands off the grips..fun fun