78 GS1000- smell gas and bogs down at 6500 RPM

[Guest]

So I have a 78 GS 1000. This is my first bike and my mechanical skills are limited. I've had her about a year and rode her nearly every day rain, shine, or snow. Now I recently moved down to a warmer climate and I've had nothing but problems since coming down. I will admit I'm hard on my bike. The newest issue is that i smell gas while riding, when it hits about 6500 RPM it bogs out till the rpm drops to bout 6000, and when I open her up she dosen't have the power she had a month ago. Don't get me wrong, she still starts and runs. I still ride her every day, but i want to get her back at the track. Any tips or ideas???

[7981GS]

Besides the usual, tune-up/valve adjustment to cure it, have you also moved to a lower elevation from where you where located?
Perhaps a simple main jet drop of one size or two might be the answer.

Daniel

[Nessism]

When's the last time you adjusted the valves?

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. FreshmanJoe,

Is there gas in your oil? See: Overflowing Carbs

Hard starting when cold is a classic symptom of tight valves. Adjust them or they will burn.

As mentioned below, go through the maintenance lists and get your bike working like it should. Take no shortcuts, do it all right the first time, and you'll have a trouble-free motorcycle. Now let me share some GS lovin'.

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...



Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[FreshmanJoe]

Thank you all for your tips. Sorry I haven't been on lately I just got internet back...I fixed the bike. It happened to be an electrical issue belive it or not. the clip for my main fuse melted though the plastic in the fusebox. then the sotter that connected the fuse to wire broke but was still touching. I just took out the main fuse and rewired it with a 15 amp car fuse and now she runs great when i can get her started. So now i got to read my mega welcome and see if it says any about why my bike is a pain in the ass to start. Does anyone know what maintince need to be done besides oil changes? Anyone know were I can find a free repair manual online for it? I'm hoping all she needs is maintince cause once she starts she roars but if she sits more than 12 hrs or so she is a HUGE pain in the ass to start.

[Nessism]

So now i got to read my mega welcome and see if it says any about why my bike is a pain in the ass to start. Does anyone know what maintince need to be done besides oil changes? Anyone know were I can find a free repair manual online for it? I'm hoping all she needs is maintince cause once she starts she roars but if she sits more than 12 hrs or so she is a HUGE pain in the ass to start.

You're killing me her...

[FreshmanJoe]

So i'm an idiot. so sue me. Who would of thunk there would be so much good stuff in there.

[tkent02]

Anyone who looked.