GS Newbie questions

[Captainkirk]

Carbs/Fuel/Exhaust......that's the name of the thread, right? Good. Cuz that's what the questions involve.
Rather than try to explain the whole thing over again; here's the original thread:
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=164266
With that in mind, you might notice several things;
1) I need carbs
2) I need exhaust
3) I'm building a performance-based GS on a budget
First off, I have no idea what carbs came stock on this bike ('78 GS1000 "G")
Second of all, I don't really care.
I need recommendations for the best-performing carbs for this motor for a reasonable price; then I can scour eBay for them. Or, at least put'em on my watch list. I'm assuming Mikuni flat slides? But which ones?
Same goes for exhaust; the four-into-two stockers are definitely going the way of the carrier pigeon. I'll be looking for a nice (light) four-into-one street system that performs well, and plays nicely with the carbs I'll be searching for.
Bear in mind, at this point in the game, I'm not ruling out a big bore kit, either.
Thanks in advance.....

 

[Steve]

You are looking for "best-performing carbs".

What is your intention for the bike?

I know you said "performance oriented", but does that mean Saturday night street racing, weekends at the drag strip or doing the whole season at various road tracks? I don't know all the ins and outs of the different types of carbs, but I do know that some of the "performance oriented" carbs won't idle worth a darn and are therefore worthless on a street bike.

.

 

[Captainkirk]

Sorry, should have specified.
Street rider; no racing. Just want no bogs or hesitation as is sometimes present with (poorly tuned) CV carbs

 

[cowboyup3371]

Sorry, should have specified.
Street rider; no racing. Just want no bogs or hesitation as is sometimes present with (poorly tuned) CV carbs

As long as you follow the recommended maintenance and honestly either do the work yourself or get someone to help you (don't pay the money to some shop) then you'll be running okay. I'm a dog's hair distance away from mine running again thanks to everything told here to go through. All I'm waiting on is getting my pipes back on the bike and brakes done.

And take a look through the member list because there are alot of good folks in your area that can help them get tuned correctly

 

[Steve]

Sorry, should have specified.
Street rider; no racing. Just want no bogs or hesitation as is sometimes present with (poorly tuned) CV carbs

Easy answer there is ... TUNE YOUR CV CARBS PROPERLY.

I realize that we all have different perceptions of "performance", but I have no problems with the CV-type carbs on any of my bikes.

.

 

[Big T]

Carbs/Fuel/Exhaust......that's the name of the thread, right? Good. Cuz that's what the questions involve.
Rather than try to explain the whole thing over again; here's the original thread:
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=164266
With that in mind, you might notice several things;
1) I need carbs
2) I need exhaust
3) I'm building a performance-based GS on a budget
First off, I have no idea what carbs came stock on this bike ('78 GS1000 "G")
Second of all, I don't really care.
I need recommendations for the best-performing carbs for this motor for a reasonable price; then I can scour eBay for them. Or, at least put'em on my watch list. I'm assuming Mikuni flat slides? But which ones?
Same goes for exhaust; the four-into-two stockers are definitely going the way of the carrier pigeon. I'll be looking for a nice (light) four-into-one street system that performs well, and plays nicely with the carbs I'll be searching for.
Bear in mind, at this point in the game, I'm not ruling out a big bore kit, either.
Thanks in advance.....

Your request is an oxymoron

1. Your stock carbs are best - finding a 34mm flatslide set will break your budget
2. Exhaust - only MAC and Marshall make them now. If you want a different one, search Ebay or the For Sale forum
3. Budget? What is your budget? Project $500+ for carb cleaning, set up and a header. Add $100+ for pods if you're going that route. Tires? Valve adjustment? Carb boots - add $150

You've picked one of the heaviest GS bikes to try to wring performance from. You can see that dropping $1,000 on your GS for parts and labor (by a qualified tech, like Chef) is just a start on performance. What about suspension and brakes? Figure $1,000 for a big bore kit (i'm not sure there's one available) installed.

And, there isn't a 1978 1000 G model. Proper Identification of your bike will be helpful in obtaining parts and advice.

Edit: I read your other thread. You have a 1978 GS 1000 standard model (often incorrectly referred to as the C model). That's a good bike to hot rod, you'll see lots of them in the Registry.

You'll need some VM 26 carbs (stock) or 29 mm Smoothbores (add $600+)
That bike's going to need $2,500 to make it nice if the engine is good, which is doubtful. Is that your budget?

 

[Captainkirk]

Your request is an oxymoron

1. Your stock carbs are best - finding a 34mm flatslide set will break your budget
There ARE no stock carbs. I just want to make the best choice in selection for the buck.
2. Exhaust - only MAC and Marshall make them now. If you want a different one, search Ebay or the For Sale forum
Dennis Kirk has a Vance & Hines Pro Drag series 4-into-1 for $209.00 and a V&H megaphone 4-1 street system for $317.00. Not too much to pay for a performance 4-1, especially if I can recoup some of the cost by selling the stock exhaust, which while dirty with a few minor dents, appears sound.
3. Budget? What is your budget? Project $500+ for carb cleaning, set up and a header. Add $100+ for pods if you're going that route. Found pods on eBay for $35.00 "Buy It Now" price. Tires? Yes, I'll need tires. Valve adjustment? A few shims and maybe a cover gasket Carb boots - add $150 Ya got me, there...

You've picked one of the heaviest GS bikes to try to wring performance from. You can see that dropping $1,000 on your GS for parts and labor (by a qualified tech, like Chef) There will be no "labor". I've been restoring bikes since "Tricky Dick" was in the Oval Office. I meant I was newbie to the GS1000, not bikes or wrenching in particular...FYI: been a licensed A&P with IA for 30 years...is just a start on performance. What about suspension and brakes? Planning on drilling the stock rotors and using them, unless they perform unsatisfactorily! Figure $1,000 for a big bore kit (i'm not sure there's one available) installed. Was gonna troll eBay.....

And, there isn't a 1978 1000 G model. Proper Identification of your bike will be helpful in obtaining parts and advice. Information taken from the Illinois title. As I mentioned, not very familiar with the GS1000; which is why I'm asking....

Edit: I read your other thread. You have a 1978 GS 1000 standard model (often incorrectly referred to as the C model). That's a good bike to hot rod, you'll see lots of them in the Registry. A good thing to know. Any reason this model is better for hot-rodding? Weight? Handling? Etc...

You'll need some VM 26 carbs (stock) or 29 mm Smoothbores (add $600+)
That bike's going to need $2,500 to make it nice if the engine is good, which is doubtful. Is that your budget? When I dragged my Nighthawk S ("Lazarus"....can you guess why?) home out of the trash heap, "they" said it would cost more to restore it than buy a nice one in VGC. Not. It looks pretty nice, runs like a dream, for under 500 bucks. I realize this one might be tipping the 1K scale by the time I'm through, but it should be worth at least twice that in value. Not like I've never been wrong before by any means, but I do love a challenge! Sounds like a plan to me!
Thanks for your honest & insightful post...really appreciate the input and candor, and hope I can live up to my own expectations this time....
__________________
1978 GS 1000 (since new)
1979 GS 1000 (The Fridge, superbike replica project)
1978 GS 1000 (parts)
1981 GS 850 (anyone want a project?)
1981 GPZ 550 (backroad screamer)
1970 450 Mk IIID (THUMP!)

 

[Dave8338]

Thanks for your honest & insightful post...really appreciate the input and candor, and hope I can live up to my own expectations this time....
__________________
1978 GS 1000 (since new)
1979 GS 1000 (The Fridge, superbike replica project)
1978 GS 1000 (parts)
1981 GS 850 (anyone want a project?)
1981 GPZ 550 (backroad screamer)
1970 450 Mk IIID (THUMP!)

Do we ever?

 

[koolaid_kid]

Found pods on eBay for $35.00 "Buy It Now" price.

What ever you do, do not use those pods. They are pure junk. What you want are K&N pods. Period. You want pods that you oil, not the dry ones. The dry ones are very difficult to jet, do not filter the air well, and are of poor quality.

 

[Captainkirk]

What ever you do, do not use those pods. They are pure junk. What you want are K&N pods. Period. You want pods that you oil, not the dry ones. The dry ones are very difficult to jet, do not filter the air well, and are of poor quality.

Thanks for your input. The ones shown on eBay were just an example; even I'm not dumb enough to buy pods before carbs!.....(in my best Homer Simpson....or AM I..?) No. No I'm not. I get your drift, though....the UNI pods are about as handy as a screen door on a submarine and do as much good. These were K&N "knockoffs"; not sure how well they would work. I did not bid. I don't even know which carbs I'll be running yet! But again; thanks!

 

[Big T]

The G model has shaft drive and weighs more. More of a touring bike

The standard model, being chain drive, is easier to mod

Skip the Pro drag pipe unless you don't need to ever turn right

The V&H pipes are Ok, search for Marshall Deep tone, which get great reviews

Wiseco makes a 1085 big bore kit that is the standard for street use

The GS 1000s are notorious for bad charging systems and rattley clutch baskets

That's why I have 3 of them

 

[Captainkirk]

Now, that's what I like......

Now, that's what I like......

The GS 1000s are notorious for bad charging systems and rattley clutch baskets

That's why I have 3 of them

....Somebody who is obviously as sick as me!

 

[Captainkirk]

After doing a little homework........

After doing a little homework........

.....I have indeed ID'd this thing as a GS1000C....despite what the title says. The spoked wheels are a dead giveaway.

 

[Big T]

It should look like this

 

[Captainkirk]

In my dreams......