How fast is is your old GS?

[KennyJ]

1985 GS550EF

Magazines said 128 top speed. After numerous tries on my part (probably over 50 tries), the best I acheived is 126 on the speedo. From 115 to 126 took around 4 miles. I know this is the best because of all the runs ranged from 124 to 126 on the same stretch of road.

Kenny

[RacingJake]

Best 1/8 mile times are,

RT 0.5003
60FT 1.67
330FT 4.59
1/8ET 6.88
MPH 103.88

[jknappsax]

From a rolling start...

... while riding on our local expressway in heavy traffic at about 45MPH, suddenly a hole opened up past some idiot going the same speed in the left lane as the people in the right lane, so I rolled it all the way open in 5th gear on my '78 GS 750, so smooth a ride it felt like about 85 MPH, but the speedo read about 125MPH, with a little left on the throttle. This was back in the early 80's, but since the bike only has 11,000 miles on it, I think it'll probably still do that. I still get it up over 100 on a somewhat regular basis on the highway. Anybody got a recommendation for a good radar/laser detector? I keep looking at the Valentine 1, but get conflicting reports if it's really worth $100 more than the Escort Passport 8500.

[Hotblack]

95 mph on the interstate - about the safest that any road condition around here allows.

I did manage to hit 90 on a sustained uphill into a strong headwind, though - does that count? I can honestly say that I have never been over 105 mph on any bike on public roads - I've just never been in a situation where I felt that road conditions wouldn't deteriorate, traffic wouldn't worsen, or my reaction times wouldn't be an issue in the blink of an eye it takes to cover serious ground at ton-up speeds - especially rolling 20 year old suspension and brake components.

It's the accelleration that keeps me coming back - not top speed. I did manage to get 57 mph outta first at redline on my '91 1100 Kat, and 130 mph (indicated) out of my full-framed '65 Mustang running a mild 350 Chev and Muncie 4-speed (3.0:1 gearing helps...)...


-Q!

I'm with you on that one Kwai Chang... my 550 is more than fast enough for me. I brought it up to around 90, I think it's too fast for me and the road conditions here. Also not a lot of fun for sustained periods on an unfaired bike, I can tell. I have always liked 'brisk' acceleration though, and on a bike it can be life.

[ToddB3]

Speedometer accuracy....

One thing to keep in mind is how inaccurate motorcycle speedometers are over 80mph. I have a 97CBR900RR that I once did an indicated 175mph before I hit traffic, still had some throttle left, I knew this couldnt be correct. I installed a Sigma cycle computer calibrated to my wheels and tires and found out that at 80mph my speedometer was reading 6mph faster than I was actually going, at 120mph it was almost 10mph off! I was told by the shop that sold it to me that all factory speedometers have a variance where not only is the speedometer innacurate of the showroom floor but factors like tire size, tire construction, wear and inflation affect how your speedometer will read.

[RacingJake]

From a dead stop I can hit 103 mph in 6.8 seconds.

[earlfor]

Oh, I dont know about that. :-) I like a bit of acceleration, but the real pleasure is having enough open road to ease it up to high subsonic, settle in, and watch the world go by as a mixture of elongated colors.

Earl :-).


[quote="Hotblack"]
It's the accelleration that keeps me coming back - not top speed.

[crayonjota]

Buried my needle at 240 k an hour once...too damn fast but there you go

8O Did that too, why does the speedo only go that far? Why do those pesky little plastic covered things [can i say R1 on this site?) fly past me like I am standing still, and more to the point, why does my 6'2" frame not fit onto one without looking making me look like a gorilla riding something by fisher price?? [/i][/b]

[Hoomgar]

In the time that I have owned my 78 GS1000 I have had the needle touch and just go past the 140 mark several times. When I can't get it up there thats when I know it needs another tune up

120 - 125 is no sweat even when in need of a tune up. It's going to be an 1100 with larger carbs welded crank and ported head when I get it back together this year and I am going back up 1 tooth in the front so we will see that speedo burried now I hope

[Anonymous]

watch it mark please

[Hoomgar]

I know where and when and when and where not Scotty

thx man

[Hotblack]

[quote="earlfor"]Oh, I dont know about that. :-) I like a bit of acceleration, but the real pleasure is having enough open road to ease it up to high subsonic, settle in, and watch the world go by as a mixture of elongated colors.

Earl :-).

It's the accelleration that keeps me coming back - not top speed.

Oh if I lived in a locale like yours I'd flirt with top speed a little more,,, or a LOT more. There just aren't many places around here to really open it up. The upside is lots of twisty turns and hills.

[Giblet]

85 chasing a new Jac XK convertible

Hope my wife doesn't see this! I hit 85 in a heart beat trying to catch what I believe was a new Jag XK convertible this afternoon with what appeared to be a 30 something blonde female at the wheel. She also had two blonde labs in the car . . . . . but , I digress. Did I mention I ride an 82 GS1100GK with fairing, bags and trunk installed? She was really pulling away quickly and I nearly had heart failure when I finally looked and saw thw needle clear 85 (& still climbing). Thats all it reads any way. Enough for me.

PS. Still very stabil (the bike, not me) 8O

[whodatpat]

I got mine up to 10 mph moving it into a neighbors garage before the huricane last year. I am almost done with getting her road worthy and hope to hit 30 or 40 this weekend!
Patrick
80 GS850G
Firts time rider, first bike.

[earlfor]

Hmmm 10 mph? Thats about the speed I ride downhill and backwards when getting the bike out of the garage. :-) :-)

Earl

I got mine up to 10 mph moving it into a neighbors garage before the huricane last year. I am almost done with getting her road worthy and hope to hit 30 or 40 this weekend!
Patrick
80 GS850G
Firts time rider, first bike.