need help

[78GS550]

i have a 78 gs 550 i want to modify it but i dont have a lot of money because im a high school student so i was wondering if neone has ne advice on how i can still modify my bike for minimal money but make it a rocket

[chef1366]

A 550 a rocket? Call NASA.
The cheapest mods would be getting rid of the airbox for K&N pods and a Vance and Hines 4-1 pipe. This would require rejetting of the Carbs with a Dynojet stage 3 kit.
This though is not cheap and only gain you at most fifteen ponies.
More air flow + more gas = more horsepower.

You could also buy a Wiseco big bore kit and bore your cylinders for a bigger displacement. But why? Buy a bigger bike.

Get your 550 running as well as you can with the aid of this site (some smart cookies here)
Get as much experience riding as possible and get a rocket then.
Ask Jethro what a real rocket is!

[Dink]

Suspension and brakes are the areas were large improvements are available.
Wanna rocket, build experience then buy one!!!

Dink

[KEITH KRAUSE]

The above advice is spot on.
It sounds like the extra power you want isn't really feasible from your 550.
You can make a 550 go pretty quick but not for low bucks.
Take your time. Enjoy that 550 the way it is for now. It's a great commuter bike and still fun in the canyons.
When you get out of school and get that job you want, you can better afford a larger bike that will be much faster without modding it.

[78GS550]

thanks for the advice and would midwest action cycle have that jet kit?

[MissFabulous]

thanks for the advice and would midwest action cycle have that jet kit?

Keep in mind - the only reason you would want that jet kit is if you bought the 4-1 pipes, which are generally over $300 by themselves. Installing a jet kit on what you have will only mess things up!

I'd say get to know your bike, then make it the best of what it can be, or go bigger later on down the road once you master this one. Have you taken an MSF riding course?

[chef1366]

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/MMYSkuDisplay.jsp;jsessionid=XNBPWMD1O5A0RLA0WTKSM4VMDK0NCIV0?leafCatId=40301&catId=403&store=Main&mmyId=7705

http://www.dynojet.com/jetkits/motorcycle/suzuki.aspx

Use the dynojet site to find your part# I buy my jet kits from http://www.mawonline.com/dynojet.htm#Jet%20kits

This site has good deals on K&N pod air filters http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/knpower...=y&make=SUZUKI

[KEITH KRAUSE]

As said earlier, a stage 3 kit is designed for use with K&N pods and a quality pipe, such as V&H. You must have both for the kit to work as designed. The pipe is $300 if they still have one for the 550. The pods are generally $150 for 4. The kit is $100. About $600 with taxes. I assumed it was above your budget.
Cost aside, you said you want the bike to be a rocket. Though basic intake and exhaust mods offer the most bang for the buck, the bike will still not classify as a rocket after these mods and a perfect re-jet. If jetted right, you will see a noticable increase in power at mid to higher rpm's. Probably worth about 1/2 second in the quarter. Noticable, but not a night and day difference.
So taking you literally on what you want from the bike vs cost, just isn't going to happen unless you invest so much that it would make more sense to find a bigger bike.

[chef1366]

Put a turbo on it

[bwringer]

Work on your skills, starting with the MSF course, and you will be a rocket no matter what you're riding. On bikes on a twisty road, speed is 95% the rider. Maybe 1% of that is engine power.

Once your skills start to improve, you'll understand the benefits of smooth. Get your bike running as well and as smoothly as you can, then leave it alone (a bike with an overbuilt engine that breaks is nothing but a boat anchor). You can make a bike a lot faster simply by tuning float height and idle mixture screw settings to smooth out the off-idle throttle response. If you're leaned over with the pegs dragging, having extremely smooooooooooooth throttle response is the "secret weapon" that will allow you to get back into the power much sooner than most.

Also, make sure the throttle and clutch cables and the lever pivots are lubricated and working very smoothly, with very little slop. Even many new bikes suffer from jerky, sloppy controls.

[Dave8338]

The voice of reason, experience, and knowledge has spoken.

NICELY stated, BRIAN!! =D>