Pods - I know I shouldn't but...

[JimmyR]

I really like the look! Seriously, I want to run pods on my bike purely for the aesthetics. Now I may be wrong - actually I'm quite certain! - but surely if I could somehow measure the amount of air that flows through each boot of the airbox and replicate that with each pod then my bike would run more or less the same wouldn't it?

So if I could find someone or someway to measure the airflow through the airbox and experiment with ways of reducing the airflow through my pods to match the airbox I could tun pods happily ever after. I would actually like to be able to increase the airflow maybe and run slightly larger jets to increase the grunt a bit if possible but primarily I just want a good running bike that looks exactly how I want it to look.

Does anyone know how I could go about this? How do you measure airflow/resistance?

Thanks guys. I am sure that a lot of you will think I'm crazy but hey - it's a free world!

 

[tom203]

I really like the look! Seriously, I want to run pods on my bike purely for the aesthetics. Now I may be wrong - actually I'm quite certain! - but surely if I could somehow measure the amount of air that flows through each boot of the airbox and replicate that with each pod then my bike would run more or less the same wouldn't it?

I am sure that a lot of you will think I'm crazy but hey - it's a free world!

We don't think you're crazy, just ambitious! Lots of pod admirers, with plenty of posts as they dive into podland!

 

[JimmyR]

I posted this question on another forum where I live and somebody sent me a link to an interesting article about resonant frequencies of airboxes:

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Airboxes.html

But I still wanna run pods! I was hoping that someone out there must have done some work on getting pods to run with a GS1100G. I can experiment with stuffing rags into my pods but I was hoping to be a little more scientific. I figures that number one would be airflow - I didn't realise that resonant frequency would have a role to play. Still, I reckon there has to be a way...

 

[850 Combat]

I can't think of any ways to test the flow of pods vs your airbox that would not be far far more expensive than a jet kit. I have been involved with leak testing duct work. Any good sized HVAC fabricator/installer will have a way to measure flow and pressure/vacuum that would be adaptable. you could make up a variety of restrictors to test.


Its an interesting idea, but not a practical one in my opinion. The solution seems more difficult than the problem.

Oh. I see its an 1100G.

 

[landshark]

Not to harp on a point, i know i posted in your other thread, but is there a reason why you dont seem keen on a dynajet kit?
I have a 1000G and no problems with running thus far, is there a difference with the 1100G?

 

[GS1000G Shopper]

Wasn't there a bike for sale on eBay recently where the guy used duct tape on the pods?

As I understand the issue, it involves a lot of testing and tuning. My 1000G seems like it has run rich since I got it, so I experimented with some pods. It fell on its face around 4K RPM or so as I recall- I know it was not a good experience. It has a K&N stock size replacement filter in it. I like the pods for the serviceability aspect.

 

[AJ]

The big benefit to pod air filters is that it makes getting your carbs off a snap compared to removing a stock airbox.

This is a good thing, as you will be removing and reinstalling your carbs many times before you get your bike running right again! LOL!

I am sure the 2% performance improvement will be worth it!

 

[Steve]

I really like the look! Seriously, I want to run pods on my bike purely for the aesthetics. ... I would actually like to be able to increase the airflow maybe and run slightly larger jets to increase the grunt a bit if possible but primarily I just want a good running bike that looks exactly how I want it to look.

If you are willing to re-jet and fiddle for a little bit of increase, why are you not willing to re-jet and fiddle to get all you can with the pods?


By the way, one problem with measuring the airflow through our carbs is that the flow is VERY intermittant through any one carb. It is only flowing air while the intake valve is open, which is just over one third of the time. One of the functions of the airbox is to help smoothe out the effects of such intermittant operation.

There is also weather protection and noise reduction, but we won't bother with them for right now.

.

 

[JimmyR]

Well as I said performance is not my goal. And I don't mind getting a Dynajet kit either. My original point was that if I can modify pods to respond like an airbox then I have made life easier for myself and the engine will run just fine. I was simply looking for a different way of approaching the whole issue. I am happy with the airbox performance but like the LOOK of pods. Call me superficial!

If someone has installed pods and a Dynajet kit in a GS1100G and is 100% happy with how their engine is running then I would love to know exactly what they did! But I read lots of threads where guys are having trouble adjusting carbs to suit pods. THAT's why I thought about modifying pods. Sorry if this wasn't clear! I just don't want to spend months sorting out carbs. I don't have the skills to do that really.

I am getting lots of different advice as to what to do. Even though I say that performance is not my main goal I still get people telling me how to get the best performance. I am looking for the easiest way to use pods without killing performance, not wanting to use pods to gain power.

So if I want to use pods will flat-slide carbs make tuning easier? Or can I just use the stock carbs and a Dynajet kit and I'm good? Some say the dynajet kit is all I need, some say it isn't enough... See where I'm coming from? Once I have a good idea of which way to go I will just do it. I hate not knowing what to do!

 

[JimmyR]

Hey Landshark - I wasn't dissing your advice - honest! I would imagine that the 1000G and 1100G would be extremely close. How do you have yours set up? That would help hugely if you could tell me which jets and settings you used. At the very least it would be a great starting point. Thanks!

 

[koolaid_kid]

I agree with Steve for the most part. I have one bike with pods, one stock. The stock is easy to tune, I don't. The pod bike is fairly radical and needs the extra air. If you really want the look of the pods and a somewhat easy time of tuning, get the DynoJet Stage 3. It has the jets for 1 & 3, where 3 means you have also replaced the exhaust.
And if all you want is the look, and want to make it a lot easier to work on the carbs, go for it. My GS with the factory box is horrible to work on. The GPz is a breeze.
And the needle on the DynoJet kit is supposed to be far superior to the stock one, and worth the cost of the kit.

 

[tkent02]

The big benefit to pod air filters is that it makes getting your carbs off a snap compared to removing a stock airbox.

True with a 650, or 1100E but not in this case, the 1100G air box pops off in seconds with the carburetors in place.

I just don't want to spend months sorting out carbs. I don't have the skills to do that really.

Here is your answer, isn't it?

 

[Steve]

My original point was that if I can modify pods to respond like an airbox then I have made life easier for myself and the engine will run just fine.

I don't know how much "easier" it would be. There are many guys that have done the carb jetting and can report their results. Virtually NOBODY has modified the pods to match the carbs, so it's all uncharted territory. Which one do you really think would be easier?

Call me superficial!!

Hi, Superficial.

So if I want to use pods will flat-slide carbs make tuning easier?

Now you need to stop adding fuel to the fire. Changing the carbs is going to require even MORE re-jetting. Whether someone has already installed flat-slides with pods on an 1100G is unknown, so you will have to do a LOT of exploring there.

Some say the dynajet kit is all I need, some say it isn't enough... See where I'm coming from? Once I have a good idea of which way to go I will just do it. I hate not knowing what to do!

The Dynajet kit is a very good starting point. For some, it might be perfect, for others, they might have to go back in and fiddle with needle height or float height just a bit, but out of the box, the Dynajet kit is a lot closer (and easier) than anything else you are likely to find. Perfect? Sometimes. Easier? YES.

My GS with the factory box is horrible to work on. The GPz is a breeze.

If you bought your GS to work on the carbs, you got the wrong one.

You should have gotten a shafty.

If you only want to remove the airbox (on a shafty), less than five minutes will have it in-hand.

If you want to remove the carbs, you can add another couple of minutes after removing the airbox, or leave the airbox in and slide the carbs out.

.

 

[JimmyR]

Well I have ordered the Dynojet kit.

 

[AJ]

Well I have ordered the Dynojet kit.

That was the best answer to your question. I hope you also bought the K&N pods, not those horrible Chinese pods on ebay for $35 a set.

 

[koolaid_kid]

If you bought your GS to work on the carbs, you got the wrong one.

You should have gotten a shafty.

Perish the thought.
APE also sells pods, they seem to be very similar to the K&Ns for a bit less $$. Never tried them myself, so this is at best second hand info.

 

[landshark]

Hey Landshark - I wasn't dissing your advice - honest! I would imagine that the 1000G and 1100G would be extremely close. How do you have yours set up? That would help hugely if you could tell me which jets and settings you used. At the very least it would be a great starting point. Thanks!

I didnt think you were, dont worry.
I used the stage 3 kit and just followed the instructions that came with it. So far so good.
At the moment i have the horrible cheap pods that everyone hates, but i will be ordering K&N's in the next few weeks.
I would suggest not using the drill bit that comes with the Dynajet kit as it broke off when i was drilling the first slide. Could be just bad luck on my part, but it seemed an average drill bit, use a good one.

 

[JimmyR]

Oh yes I have K+N pods. I am looking forward to setting it all up.

But after all this, I never did get an answer to my original question. Maybe nobody knows? Steve, maybe it would be difficult to work out how to modify pods to work with a stock carb set up. But it might not be if I can find someone who can measure the resistance of the airbox. My question was not really "how do I set up pods?" or "How stupid is it to want to use pods?" it was who can measure airflow.

Maybe nobody knows, or maybe nobody actually read my question.

 

[Guest]

Oh yes I have K+N pods. I am looking forward to setting it all up.

But after all this, I never did get an answer to my original question. Maybe nobody knows? Steve, maybe it would be difficult to work out how to modify pods to work with a stock carb set up. But it might not be if I can find someone who can measure the resistance of the airbox. My question was not really "how do I set up pods?" or "How stupid is it to want to use pods?" it was who can measure airflow.

Maybe nobody knows, or maybe nobody actually read my question.

I believe your ? was answered in the 4th post, as to who/ or how you might be able to check the air flow, also stated by Steve that it would be extremly hard to measure airflow as the motor only sucks 1/3 of the time on each cylinder and the amount of vacuum is constantly changing with throttle opening. Save your self some hassle and just buy a Dyno jet kit and pods , install as directed and enjoy your bike.

 

[koolaid_kid]

Probably the only way to truly measure the flow is a flow meter (IDK the actual name) such as my head builder uses when he modifies heads. I don't know how it works, but it sounds like something that would do your task for you.