Blue Train

[samulis]

Life is great. Finally got some sleep.

It has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I'd been watching GSX's for a while, went to local motorcycle sale page some time ago and realized that one bike I had pinned had not sold since I had been there. It was white&blue GSX and I thought I'll give a second glanze and thats when I realized that it is injected. That was bad, I mean good as I had taken it as a fact that all muscle bikes were 5 speeds with carbs like my old Bandit. Had bought CB600 and most important point of it was injection as I had sold two projects (106 Rallye and Primavera) and really wanted something that just worked. This knowledge pulled the pin and I was in the rabbit hole.

After looking one for a month, I went to see this. I had realized that indeed, if I really, really squint my eyes, it is inside my budget and even tho it isnt the classic white&blue with storage back box that I really wanted, this had Yoshi ST1 cams, full Devil exhaust and PC III. Stock white&blue lost the battle.

Owner seemed genuine and warned that it hasn't moved since last summer and even then it was only taken out for full service and new tyres, so it would be dusty. We got it out only to realize that it wont start. It is missing the ITB's sequence of starting procedure, battery wasn't the reason, nor the PC III. So we walked and talked for hour. I liked what I saw, low mileage, like new K3 at 38k. But the caveat was that it had been off the road for years, in cold garage that helps collecting moisture. Seller was really sorry and promised to take it to the service and keep me updated.

Nothing for a long week, week where I used my ADHD superpower to read, learn and search everything that came in mind ( alot mind you), like bad 2nd gear or soft seat maybe too soft or try to find a youtube review I had not seen to filter some new info of how it might feel to own and ride. Week went slowly and finally seller let me know that it needed a new fuel pump setup. Replied that I'm still interested and wanting to buy it. He told that there were others too, 4 other buyers, one of them willing to buy it with out seeing and he'd pay more than asking price. And that seller wasn't taking any reservations. Oh sweet...

I knew where the GSX is, it is the same place where the new owner of my old CB600's takes he's bikes. Good, as I had promised to find out what Honda's services would cost. On the way to make a deal of the CB, I now had genuine reason to go and see the GSX. Service place has good reputation and I had heard that owner is a air/oil cooled Suzuki guy. Got the info for my old bike and as I told that they have my "new" I got invited to see it. I was show'n the tank and how rusty it is, I was told how it will never be good and painting a horror story of owning it, the owner explained that I should not, definitely not buy this bike, following after a long silent pause, so that he can. They didn't order the whole 800€ pump setup, just new pump. Flushed and washed the rest. (@Hooli all ready pointed that it most propably will need a highpressure fuel filter, I think so too).

Wait came to end friday evening. I went to see it again, again armed with "buyers guide", again forgot it. Testdrove, but didn't do full pull, it felt like what I had imagined, everything seemed to work so drove back to make a deal.
We went trough the buyer offering extra and I ended up offering bit more and we had a deal. Seller told after that buyer had offered to pay whole service to get the bike.

Man, as you know, it pulls like a freight train. It doesn't really accelerate, more just adjusts the speed, like asking from ships engineroom and it just delivers it with out a drama or hesitation.

[Hooli]

Sounds like you like it then.

There are ways to bypass the high pressure filter & use an external one that can be cleaned, there's threads on here somewhere on how to do it. I've never done it myself so can't comment on how well it works. It might be easier & cheaper long term if you need too as the high pressure filter alone is £170 in the UK.

[samulis]

I tend to write long rants so ran out of editing time.

I do like it. But 100km isn't alot to learn new bikes trades, also need to wait for weather before I can start riding it. Did 2nd gear full pull and it coughed twice, to me it that's a sign it needs the new filter. Don't want to run it lean and burn parts. Need to change original mirrors back, ones on it are useless, windblocker needs to go and not a great fan of those "carbon" blinkers either. Luckily it came with all the stock parts and few extras.

[samulis]

Hello

Been daily riding it about 1000km so far, weather hasn't really been co operating, early mornings have been around 0c, but as wife has the car it still wins over public transportation. Like the bike, far from nimbleness of CB600, but no lower back pain either (rode old CB600 for 8km from winter storage, couldn't get up next morning because the back pain). Pull's nicely, torque makes it faster than it seems. Just open a bit and doing way more than I was meant to :D But you know this.

PC3 map that came with bike made 144Nm but the map didn't feel all that well honed, flat spots and running so rich that friend following noted about it. So tonight swap'd it to Dynojet's map that is meant for Yoshi cams and Acra full exhaust (had to change PC5 map to PC3). I'm running full single Devil and thought that the difference on map between two exhaust can't be too big. Dynojet's map runs way smoother, better idle and not jerking off throttle when coasting, definitely lost some power and torque but gained better working fueling. Have to compare maps and learn the differences. Also interested to see change on mpg.

Fuel gauge showing isn't as accurate as I would hope. I think that when they swap'd the pump they may have twisted the metering arm. Yesterday last block started to blink when I left from work. Started to cough midway and ran out of fuel just when I turned to local fuel station. Trip is 8km'ish. Or is the last block just few km's?

Coughing I experienced on previous post was just running on low fuel.

Windblocker is off and swap'd original mirrors back, those are great, first bike where I can see behind without elbow chicken dance. Sadly weather is getting colder, seems like winter is making short return. Take care and ride safely.

[KiwiCol]

When you're on to the last bar (still black) of the fuel tank, you're down to about 6L.  The small fuel pump icon will be flashing.

When the last bar is gone, it will start flashing as well as the small fuel pump icon, when this happens, you're down to about 1.75L left.  You may not notice when they both start flashing & could have been riding for a bit before you notice, hence fill it up when you get to the last bar.

Personally, I wouldn't run the tank as low as you seem to be doing, any crud in there gets sucked into the filters.  You're going to put fuel in anyway, so why run it dry?  unless there's no gas station around I guess.

How far you go on 1.75L is mostly dependent on how you ride it, you should be able to get 25 - 30k's after they're both flashing, provided you notice when it starts.

Hope that helps somewhat.

[T 24]

I'll never run my bike under 3 to 4 liter, because I can see from fuel pressure gauge that the pump will get air-fuel-air... even the engine is running smoothly
under low throttle.

[grog]

Spot on Col. 👍Mine has both flashing tonight, 1 k to servo tomorrow. My fuel gauge always been perfect, one thing Suxuki got right.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Never had both the bar and the fuel icon flashing, worst ive had is last bar flashing. Just dont want to pick up anything from the bottom of the tank.  Always refuel when i get to the last bar. 

Spot on grog, that gauge is always right.

[Hooli]

My gauge went wrong for a bit, it was reading a bit higher than what was left. Turned out one of the earth wires on the bottom of the tank had snapped with the good old black wire corrosion. It must have still been earthing via the mounting bolts, tank & the bolts mounting the fuel pump.

[samulis]

Might be bit stupid but I was waiting for tuesday as local fuel prices are cheapest then. Good thing is tank was flushed and cleaned multiple times when the pump was changed, so there shouldn't be any dirt in it.

[VladTepes]

When you're on to the last bar (still black) of the fuel tank, you're down to about 6L.  The small fuel pump icon will be flashing. When the last bar is gone, it will start flashing as well as the small fuel pump icon, when this happens, you're down to about 1.75L left. 

How far you go on 1.75L is mostly dependent on how you ride it, you should be able to get 25 - 30k's after they're both flashing, provided you notice when it starts.

Awesome I have always wondered...    

[GSXKING]

My gauge went wrong for a bit, it was reading a bit higher than what was left. Turned out one of the earth wires on the bottom of the tank had snapped with the good old black wire corrosion. It must have still been earthing via the mounting bolts, tank & the bolts mounting the fuel pump.

That BLACK STUFF was probably holding a lot more of your bike together @Hooli 

[Hooli]

Probably still is, when I get chance & funds to strip it down & tidy it up I'll find out.

I'm suspecting the running problem might be the same corrosion.