Good Jet Size for Pods?

[Anonymous]

My roommate and I have been working on his 81 GS650GL and we decided to put pods on. After getting everything together it is way to lean with the Mikuni 110 main jets. We know we have to re-jet.

However because of all the money we have poured into this bike so far we are hesitant (and prefer not) to pour $130 into a Dynojet Stage 3 Re-jet kit.

What we would like to know is for those of you who switched to pods what size jets worked with your pods?

Some more background... we have rebuilt the carbs, reset float height, & synced the carbs.

and to those who might wonder, yes, we have the clymer service manual.

Thanks!!

[SqDancerLynn1]

I don't know what would work look on this site for info

http://www.motorcyclecarbs.com/jetting/default.htm

[Jeff Tate]

Are you still running with the stock exhaust or an aftermarket header? I don't believe pods would work with a stock exhaust. There are also a few other things that have to be done besides installing new jets. If it were me I'd either leave the airbox on and stock, or spring for the jet kit. Getting the bike to run right is hard enough even when you have all the parts and instructions. If you DO get it sorted out without the kit, you'll need the $130.00 for therapy. Even though my bike has pods and a jet kit which I installed myself, I wouldn't go thru it again. Even though it did improve power somewhat. I've gotten used to it and it feels like a stock 1100 after all these years.

[RacingJake]

Go ahead and spend 10 bucks for some new 120 mikuni jets or check some bike shops. They always have some old jets laying and may even let you try them for free. Talk to the service guys first not the parts dude.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Don't just change the main jets and call it re-jetted.
Besides increasing the main and pilot jets, you need to richen the needle circuit. It's where you spend the most time riding. Your stock jet needle isn't adjustable. A jet kit will supply you with an adjustable needle and other instructions/jets to make the re-jet complete, such as air jets, drilling the vacuum orifices, removing the floatbowl vent lines, etc.
The stage 3 kits are for pods AND a quality pipe though.
If you don't get a pipe and jet kit, you'll still need to raise the needles by shimming. If you don't, you'll be lean.

[RacingJake]

Spend the 10 bucks, you'll be surprized. If not, what's 10 bucks going to do to your wallet after you spend 130??????? 8)

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Jake. Just in case my last reply was taken wrong.
Your main jet suggestion is not a problem. I just want to say that there are two other circuits that need re-jetting too. I've seen so many posts about how people put in larger mains and think the jetting is done. I just want this guy to do it right.

[RacingJake]

Nope not a problem we speak with GS tongue.

Even in the Harley world of paying your tax, you do not need to buy the thunderslide kit for over $100 when just a pilot and main jet is all you need.

Even for the GS you can drill out the slide with your own drills and go out and buy the jets you need for pennies as compared to a new jet kit. I'm a gearhead and don't mind fuel running down my arms when just pulling the bowls when the carbs are still on the bike or pulling the carbs off 20 times a day to find all the ponies I can. Most folks here will proably loose it when they can't remove the c-clip to replace the needle or even place a washer under the oem needle or better yet when it's time to install that puppy.

I've gone the jet kit way too and when it was said and done my bike ran better with oem needles and bigger jets than what comes with the kit.

Mine was the K&N one but if somebody else make's a true Mikuni jet kit that's the one I would buy.

Chow

[HiSPL]

I'd have to say that the money I spent on a K&N jet kit was wasted. After all was said and done I replaced every part in the kit except for the adjaustable needle. I like the needle, but it was hardly worth the 90 bucks I paid for the stage three kit. :?

[Mr. Jiggles]

I've bought individual mains from dynojet in the past. It may be possible to get them to sell you jet needles as well. I, too, wound up abandoning the main jets that came with the kit, increasing them to richen the mix. The bike runs better for it.

Jeff

[Jeff Tate]

Man, I remember when I got my Dyno-Jet kit AND the K&N pod filters all for $116.00. Am I getting old or what.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for all your input!

Here is what we are doing / have done

- Ordered Mikuni 120's from Parts Unlimited ($8 for a set of 4)
- We are going to shim the needles with some washers however the snap ring pliers we bought are not thin enough to get all the way to the bottom of the slide. Any suggestions?
-Also we bought #6 brass washers but we are not 100% sure they will fit.

With the pods on we don't mind half as much pulling off the carbs as much as we did with the stock air box (man that was a pain in the ass).

BTW... they stopped selling the K&N kit for the GS650 ... all that's available is the dynojet kit.

[Mr. Jiggles]

Thanks everyone for all your input!

Here is what we are doing / have done

- Ordered Mikuni 120's from Parts Unlimited ($8 for a set of 4)
- We are going to shim the needles with some washers however the snap ring pliers we bought are not thin enough to get all the way to the bottom of the slide. Any suggestions?
-Also we bought #6 brass washers but we are not 100% sure they will fit.

With the pods on we don't mind half as much pulling off the carbs as much as we did with the stock air box (man that was a pain in the ass).

BTW... they stopped selling the K&N kit for the GS650 ... all that's available is the dynojet kit.

Before I got my snap-ring pliers I did it using a hemostat (a cross between scissors and tweezers) that I had filed the ends into fine points. That worked pretty well for me.

Jeff

[RacingJake]

Check Sear's or Auto parts stores for some small but long needle nose pliers that have small tips that will fit in the c-clip holes. Or if your like me I just use a scribe and a long flat tip screwdriver. Just be careful not to bend the needle or poke a hole in the rubber or your leg when your holding it between your knee's

[Jethro]

- We are going to shim the needles with some washers however the snap ring pliers we bought are not thin enough to get all the way to the bottom of the slide. Any suggestions?

I bought a pair of snap ring pliers that didn't fit either. I simply took the sides of the pliers down on the bench grinder. Fits perfect and they work as good as new.