How fast is is your old GS?

[sedelen]

I remember it well, the day I topped out my '78 GS1000E. It was late spring '79 in Alaska. I had read all the published articles about this supposedly new superbike and what it could do, I decided to see for myself. To that end I oiled my chain, maxed out the air pressure in the tires and front forks, and set-up my suspension for high speed. I had just crossed the first century mark on the odometer, she was now "broken in."
I chose the old Seward Highway south of Anchorage because there was a stretch about 5 miles long that was straight and flat. It was getting dusk as I was heading out, I wore tight fitting clothes to help keep the turbulance down. When I got to the area where I wanted to start from there was a truck weigh station and one lone police car sitting there. Now it was getting dark, it was late, the sun really doesn't set that time of year up there, but it was dark enough. The police car finally left and slowly headed back towards Anchorage and I saw his taillights dissapear in the distance, and with no headlights coming I knew I had the road all to myself, no hurry. I took the bike on the road and stopped. I didn't pop the clutch just redlined through the gears wide open throttle. The bike was very fast and it was in no time I had it to where it would not go any faster, I was lying down on the tank holding on for just a little more, it seemed like an eternity, but was probably only about 20 seconds or so. I realized the bike felt extremely light at that speed, which was an indicated 140. I backed off the throttle and slowed down to about 80 where I sat up. After going that fast, now at 80mph it seemed so slow as if I could get off the bike and push it faster. That was the fastest I've ever been on a bike. Now of course I know I wasn't going 140, the speedometer error on these bikes was way on the optimistic side. I probably was going in the neighborhood of 130-135.
I now have two bikes that might match it, perhaps someday I'll do it again. But I don't think I'll do it at dusk.

Is this in KPH?

No, I was being paced by a friend on his 1100 Ninja. So, however accurate his speedo was, it indicated 150.

'83 1100ES-9200rpm,5th gear,aprox. 145mph: '82 750S-9500rpm 5th gear,aprox. 125 mph.Don't know how accurate the tachs are, that's why I say approximately. Sppedos aren't accurate at either end of the scale,but radar guns are!Both these were at the local (now closed,sadly) track on bikes that were maintained. Fun.

ive put my 78 750 at about 115 with plenty more rpms than i had nerve.

Got my old girl up to 175kph on a couple of 3-4mile long straights on the weekend she still wanted to go on faster but backed off in respect of the two sloppy valve shims.Certainly likes to pull once the revs are up maybe its the 850 yoshi kit

Is this in KPH?

Funny man. I personally have riden with you when both of our bikes read over 135 KPH (Of course)
And neither one was anywhere near red-line. LOL!


Eric

i got my 550 up to 100-105 before i let off idk i bet i could pull 110 115 out of it

[chef1366]

I've had my '78 GS1000 north of 150 in the past. Can't wait to get my refreshing finished so I can run her through her paces. I'm sure it won't do the 170+ that my TLS can (and has done with me on it) but the old girl is a beast.

Is this in KPH?

[Jedz123]

anything over 125mph on an old GS is scarey in my book!

I've had my '78 GS1000 north of 150 in the past. Can't wait to get my refreshing finished so I can run her through her paces. I'm sure it won't do the 170+ that my TLS can (and has done with me on it) but the old girl is a beast.

It's fast. And when I put the dyna ignition on, inadvertently way over advanced, I pulled over 100 in 3rd, with the engine still feeling frisky.
I'm sure it can fill out the 140 mark, just not with me on it!

I hit 100 in 4th while passing with a gear and some rpm's to go.

I did 160km/h(100mph) yesterday on my GS750T while passing someone on the highway(two lane, one each way, no median). All the paved roads out here have a limit of 100km/h(60mph) but police wont bother you under 120km/h(75mph). Although there isn't really any police out here.
I was tootin along at 120km/h and came upon a car so I dropped it into 4th and gave it some throttle up to 8500rpm and switched back to 5th as I passed. By the time I got back into my lane I was up to 160km/h. Wasn't at all scary but I doubt the bike has much more than that in it with me on it (320lbs+).

Tank

[Jedz123]

I have buried the 85 mph needle on the 550L...and then some . According to the amount of acceleration I felt after topping out needle I am sure I hit 90-95 mph. Very smooth too, but that light bike is dangerous at high speeds. No death wobble but light wind or road variations give it a good shake and it just does not have the mass to stay tight and strait. 49 HORSEPOWER BABY!

I buried my 82 GS550L's 85mph speedo last night, Surely wasn't a land speed record but I'm sure I hit 100mph, the tach only had 1k rpm before red line. It pulled very hard, but the bike was ridiculously wobbly (Vermont roads suck). Backed it off at 9k rpm in 6th. Not sure where that puts me in MPH... High end has went up some after the re-jet and Dyna S...

I have buried the 85 mph needle on the 550L...and then some . According to the amount of acceleration I felt after topping out needle I am sure I hit 90-95 mph. Very smooth too, but that light bike is dangerous at high speeds. No death wobble but light wind or road variations give it a good shake and it just does not have the mass to stay tight and strait. 49 HORSEPOWER BABY!