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GS1100E performance

  • Thread starter Thread starter coachmorin
  • Start date Start date
C

coachmorin

Guest
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...
 
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?
 
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.
 
coachmorin said:
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?
Click to expand...

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
 
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.
 
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:)
 
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!
 
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?
 
eil said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
wymple said:
If you lack torque anywhere on a gs1100, something is amiss.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
For red light to red light performance I dropped 1 tooth on the countershaft sprocket. And turned it into a totally different animal. 3rd gear wheelies are effortless. :eek:
 
-1 tooth on the counter shaft and you can let the clutch out at an idle and not stall it. Weather you like it or not depends on your riding style. Sounds like you would like it geared lower. But I am with some of the others here in saying something is not right if it feels under powered from a V twin unless it was built V twin or a yammie Warrior. Are you sure the cam timing is correct?
 
My 2 last bikes were thumper. DR650 and DRZ 400. Before that I had 2 Honda shadows 1100, and before...thumpers etc. So this is my background. The GS does pull good but at higher RPM.
I did 500km today trying different rev etc. This is a really great bike, surprising, good ride, way better than my shadows.
My thought is the HP/torque curve vs a twin or a thumper is completely different.

Since I have no experience with 4 cylinders, I cannot compare how the GS is suppose to pull. I was asking the question because I have nothing to compare to. I will recheck the timing marks tomorrow and ride probably another 500km.

Next week, I will have the 4 carbs sync. Then the rebuild will be almost over...I guess( there is always something else showing up hahaha)
 
Good gods. Honda Shadow 1100s make less torque than a GS1100, even if they make more way low. I thought you might be talking about a VTX or Warrior.
 
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