Must've been too generic a question. I glazed over your question the first time I saw it too... :wink: But on a serious note, I don't think many on here have done much modifying to a GS550, except to go to a GS litre :twisted: Okay, semi serious note. I think the purpose of this section is just to gloat over mod's already done or on the wish list. Perhaps it needs to be asked in the 'technical' forum.
Actually, I 'upgraded' my exhaust because of some serious rusting in the crossover section of my stock system. So, technically, I went from a 4 into 17 8O to a 4 into 1... and saved some money in the process, since the aftermarket Jardine was less than half the price of a new Suzuki stock system.
Some one else on here will probably knock this apart more indepth, but simply put... In header technology, from what I remember from my automotive days, the design has more to do with how the gases flow. Smoothing out the kinks, and especially with cars - the pipes are designed to allow each cylinder an equal length of pipe. Inside the collector, before heading on to the muffler, the design eliminates some/most of the turbulence. This is not the same as back pressure, I don't think. Some back pressure is required. If the bike was larger, a 4 into 2 would work better.
If you go back to the stock exhaust, the crossover set up generates turbulence and in effect, it was like having a 4 into 1 into 2, but messy. It worked, but remember, these are just 550s. Bone stock engine, it produces a nice powerband, but not much on the wheel popping.
What gives me a perk in the new header is it generates a nice sound, and it's put out the back where it belongs. Not underneath the engine where I was losing some back pressure.
I remember putting a header system on my VW Bug. I used a single muffler setup for it. It eliminated the 'whistle' the stock muffler put out, and the horsepower it added was quite noticable. The dual mufflers, which friends had on theirs, just added noise.
Going back to your original 'generic' question... in the aftermarket world, there isn't much available for the 550s, apart from a few, and in my case, one, exhaust system(s). Most mods you do, and what I've done, is from ingenuity of finding something else that will work better. I scavenge my bike wrecker at least once a month, and if nothing else, Rob B., who runs the place, gets a morning coffee outta me, when I drop by. I've done lots of stuff to mine, actually, and plans to do more. Not much on the engine, yet, but it makes the bike more what I want out of it, money permitting. For a more complete list of that, check out my GS Owners thread -
finally joined the GS site at the bottom of page one. There's a partial list in my 'novelized' posting
As for the carbs, I've left the stock air box on. There are probably pods and dyna jet kit available for it, but I haven't gone that route yet. The header by itself didn't require rejetting. And, as for the engine, I've plans to rebuild it at some point, but not having a heated garage means pulling the engine out and tearing it apart in my living room over the cold season. I keep putting that off for 'another winter'... Have been known to procrastinate here n' there. :roll: Tempted to pick up a spare engine, and do the rebuild to that one, but I'm still working on wearing Rob B. down for a good price on one of his engines...
...time to get another coffee. :twisted:
Robben
