Looking for performance

[moose200]

What is a good mod to get a little performance out of a 1983 GS400E ?? and suggestions or websites would be appreciated!!
Thanks

[cowboyup3371]

When you are talking about a little performance out of it, what exactly do you mean? Are you looking for stock speeds or racing stuff? Have you looked over Basscliff's pages yet: http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/?

What have you done so far? Are the:

Carbs dipped and cleaned thoroughly with orings replaced?
Intake orings replaced?
Intake boots replaced if necessary?
Exhaust pipes the right ones for the bike and if necessary was the bike rejetted if you put different ones on?
Air Filter new and box sealed?
If using pods, was it jetted for them?
Valve clearances checked and adjusted?
chain and sprockets in good shape?
Brakes good?
Rubber brake lines replaced?

Fill us in?

[Nessism]

Yea, do all the maintenance and if the bike still doesn't run to your liking sell it and get a bigger bike.

[Mindless]

Get some Keihin CR carbs.

But then there's the issue of the carbs costing two times more than the actual bike.

Cheapest upgrade you can find is a bigger bike.

[bwringer]

[Baatfam]

What is a good mod to get a little performance out of a 1983 GS400E ?? and suggestions or websites would be appreciated!!
Thanks

Sell it and buy an 1100E....for a "little" performance...

Otherwise...buy something made in this century....

[Nicholaschase29]

An adjustable powerband would be nice for the 400 so you can give it more torque down low.

http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=30

[moose200]

Yea I think I may have to upgrade...Its a great first bike, but I want something that can get up and go....So it will ether be a bigger GS or a cruiser. I was thinking of keeping it for another year so when I go on my own insurance for the first year it wouldn't be to bad, but I was hoping for a cheap mod to get some more power

[Big Jay]

We have a 69 mm piston kit for them.

[Steve]

..., but I want something that can get up and go....So it will ether be a bigger GS or a cruiser. ...

Well, if you want to "get up and go", it does not necessarily have to be a bigger GS, but you won't be happy with a "cruiser".


Your almost-30-year-old 400 will keep up with many of the much larger "cruisers" in a street-bound drag race and will definitely run away from them in the corners.

.

[rapidray]

What Steve just said. Also, SUSPENSION work, braided steel brake lines & GOOD tires will make that bike able to be ridden a LOT faster! Possibly faster than your abilities. Ray.

[trippivot]

nitrous is cheap and easy.

5% better chassis handling is the same as having 15% more horse power.

springs shocks tires and braking system upgrades honestly give more than they take. -- unless you are dealing with 20 someting H.P. and it feels like your bike has asthma from the exhaust of a city bus.

First you must consider the cost just to get a larger bike because you do not get 100% out of what you invest into any regular bike.

The real deal is- you have to understand a 400cc bike in traffic has to work twice as hard as a 800. So you are meant to rev it to the moon and shift like you are tap dancing. Just change the oil and filter, ride it for what it is. shucks at least it will go 80mph all day long- nevermind tossing about by the wind.

make plans for a better bike that fits your needs and style.

riding a low powered bike that you are totally bored of helps you iin many ways;
1 helps develop traffic savvy
2 you get to play with extreme counter steering
3 charcter and quick wit to retort people taunting you
4 patience
5 what it feels like to W.O.T. and not break the speed limit.