1100E--pods with stock exhaust

[dpep]

I picked up 1100ED's '83 1100E a couple of months ago, first chain drive GS I have owned.

It has stock exhausts with pods. It was evidently set up by a performance shop with a good reputation, but it has a noticeable stumble right around 3000 rpm. I can't finesse the throttle enough to get through it, regardless how slowly I twist. If I was only drag racing or interstate riding it wouldn't be an issue. But it makes around town riding a bit of a chore, and it would not inspire confidence for taking on twisties.

In most cases pods, new pipe, and different jetting seem to be done as a set. Is the hesitation something I will have to live with in my current configuration (pods with stock exhaust)? The pods are in need of a cleaning, I have bought the kit. But would dirty pods only affect the performance at one rpm level and that noticably?

Right now I am leaning toward finding a stock airbox. I am less interested in screaming top end power than I am in low and midrange with a smooth acceleration curve. On my G models the power wicks up like a rheostat; and I don't dare mess with their stock airboxes.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

[tkent02]

What jets are in it now? And how do they compare to stock sizes?
At what throttle setting does it stumble, or is it any throttle position at 3,000??
If it is at all throttle positions it may not be carb related, is the ignition working perfectly?
I think the pods reduce the fuel flow especially at low RPMs, not sure yet, I just started playing with them. They do seem to give a little more kick on top.

A series of plug chops would tell you what you need to know.

Finding a stock airbox would certainly be the easy way out, but anything can be tuned out with enough time and effort.
Welcome to the chain gang.

[Guest]

bringing things back to stock sounds like a best option for what you want

it would pay though to know whether there have been changes made to the jets because if there have, adding the airbox may make things worst

changing from box to pods with no jetting would lead to your current problems, i think

[Joe Nardy]

Don,

The (roughly) 3k RPM stumble is a lean condition mostly affected by needle position. If a jet kit has been installed you probably have adjustable (grooved) needles. Try raising the needles a notch at a time. If you don't have adjustable needles you can still shim them to raise them a bit. The mixture screws will have some effect as well.

Thanks,
Joe

[Guest]

Don,

The (roughly) 3k RPM stumble is a lean condition mostly affected by needle position. If a jet kit has been installed you probably have adjustable (grooved) needles. Try raising the needles a notch at a time. If you don't have adjustable needles you can still shim them to raise them a bit. The mixture screws will have some effect as well.

Thanks,
Joe

Ditto..............

[terbang]

What has probably happened is that the pods have been fitted with no jetting or other adjustment. People often do that because they have too much trouble with the airbox fitting and find it easier to just fit the pods. Fitting the pods leans her up. Check yer float levels, check the numbers on the main jets (bet they are standard) , put the slide needles back to standard (can't remember the setting but its in the book), set your idle screws to standard (Its in the book too) and fit a standard air box. Warm the engine while securing your riding gear and go out there and enjoy riding your GS.

[rphillips]

Ditto again to the needles, if the jetting hadn't been changed you should have more problems than just at 3000.

[dpep]

Thanks for the responses. I actually picked up an airbox at a good price on Ebay last night. Now I can go either way. I guess the jetting will decide. If a jet kit has been installed I leave on the pods and fiddle with the needle position. If the jetting is stock, I put on the airbox. If I don't have stock jetting I will order it just to have that option down the line somewhere.

[doctorgonzo]

I second the comment on why people go to pods (other than that sweet sweet sucking sound you get from the carbs). I can have my carbs off and back on in about 5 minutes. Try that with an airbox.

[Suzuki mad]

Pods

Watch out for pods on the front rubbers. The whole carb weight is supported now by the main rubber to cylinder head. The amount of movement on a GS set of cards is noticible and will allow damage to the rubber seal also allowing the bike rough.

If you have the original airbox you can still by the carb to air box rubbers and the locating rings.

Suzuki mad

[Griffin]

Since it has the oem exhaust, I wonder if there is too much exhaust restriction for larger jets and pods. You can go to Dynojet's website and look up what size jets come with each kit. If your installed jets are Dynojets, you'll be able to figure which way it was jetted from the website. If it has Mikuni jets, there is a chart somewhere (google for it) that converts Mikuni to Dyno jets and vice versa.

If you want to keep the stock exhaust and you now have the stock airbox, I would recommend going with a Stage 1 kit. I've installed two Stage 1 kits in the past month on totally stock GSes (750E and 700ES), and followed the enclosed carb tuning instructions to a T. Both bikes warm up much more quickly (can be taken completely off choke within 30-45 seconds), are much stronger in the mid range, and haven't lost anything down low or up top.

It might be easier to just pony up the $90 for a Stage 1 kit and start from scratch than to fiddle around with unknown jetting.

[mriddle]

Sounds like a good move .. I have a Stage 1 (not installed) for my 1100 ..

Have you noticed much difference in your MPG yet or do you expect to ?

Since it has the oem exhaust, I wonder if there is too much exhaust restriction for larger jets and pods. You can go to Dynojet's website and look up what size jets come with each kit. If your installed jets are Dynojets, you'll be able to figure which way it was jetted from the website. If it has Mikuni jets, there is a chart somewhere (google for it) that converts Mikuni to Dyno jets and vice versa.

If you want to keep the stock exhaust and you now have the stock airbox, I would recommend going with a Stage 1 kit. I've installed two Stage 1 kits in the past month on totally stock GSes (750E and 700ES), and followed the enclosed carb tuning instructions to a T. Both bikes warm up much more quickly (can be taken completely off choke within 30-45 seconds), are much stronger in the mid range, and haven't lost anything down low or up top.

It might be easier to just pony up the $90 for a Stage 1 kit and start from scratch than to fiddle around with unknown jetting.

[Griffin]

Sounds like a good move .. I have a Stage 1 (not installed) for my 1100 ..

Have you noticed much difference in your MPG yet or do you expect to ?

Mileage on my 700 dropped from a typical 42-44 mpg in mixed riding to 39 mpg on my first tank with the kit. The current tankfull is probably going to be right at 40 mpg, based upon my intimate knowledge of what's left in the tank when my fuel gauge reads 1/2 full, and how many miles I've ridden so far.

I don't know how it's affected the 750E, and won't, because I just got it last summer, and didn't put many miles on it before installing the kit.

[doctorgonzo]

Stage 3 kit on a 1000 dropped me all the way from 35 to 25, but it's a bit rich, needs to be tweaked. Runs strong though.

[Griffin]

Stage 3 kit on a 1000 dropped me all the way from 35 to 25, but it's a bit rich, needs to be tweaked. Runs strong though.

25 mpg? Wow. My wife's Chevy van gets more than that on the highway. I don't think she'd challenge you to a drag race though. 8-)

That bike of yours is beautiful, by the way.