GS1200ss - couple questions

[AllanB]

Hi all.

I recently purchased a 04 GS1200ss with low kms - I am very much enjoying the beast.

I've read that the 01-02 Bandit 1200 had some oil consuming issues (piston design relating to oil ring piston holes being oversized) and with the the GS1200ss being a bandit based engine sold in Japan around those years have there been any similar issues with the NZ 1200ss engines. i.e. is it something I should keep an eye on. If so did Suzuki NZ do anything?


Second question and not specifically related to this engine - what is considered acceptable oil consumption from a large bore motorcycle now-days - I'd expect very little, but I notice when finding the above Bandit oil issue the official Suzuki America release stated that up to a liter per 1600kms was acceptable - this sounds like a shit load to me. After all my Honda Accord with 220 000 kms will be lucky to use 250ml in 7-8000 kms, ditto my Madza with 110 000 on it. Mind you our Mercedes vans at work burned about 4 liters per 10 000 kms until they hit around 25km and settled down - apparently all acceptable by the makers!

[Jantar]

In 2 years and 30,000 km of fairly hard riding my GS1200SS used no oil between changes.

And welcome to the site. :)

[craigs288]

I've just noticed recently on mine that it has used a little.
The first couple of thousand kms I didn't ride it that hard and maybe used 500ml in 3 months. The last 3 rides I have given it a bit of stick for a few hours at a time and had to put a litre in the other day to get the oil to the full mark in the sight glass. Only up to 6500kms.
If I ride like a grandma it doesn't seem to use any.

[Silage]

My GS does use a little between changes. Have not measured it but probably a litre in 6000km.

And isn't it a pain to try to get an accurate reading on the sight glass. Get the bike balanced then try to see the glass or drop it on yourself!!

[Lil_Byte]

On a completelty unrelated topic in this thread - how do you change the bloody time on the GS1200ss.

Call me slightly retarded but I haven't managed to figure this out:scooter:

[Dai]

Just changed the oil on my GS 1200

Bought it with 15000 k on the clock, changed oil at 20000. No appreciable change in the volume used.

Dirty but all there.

Dai

[Jantar]

On a completelty unrelated topic in this thread - how do you change the bloody time on the GS1200ss.

Call me slightly retarded but I haven't managed to figure this out:scooter:
At 12:58 (the end of your lunch hour) just unplug the instrument cluster. At 1:00 pm plug it in again. Your clock will read correctly.

And no, I am not joking.

When I purchased my GS1200SS I was unable to adjust the clock. I mentioned it to the mechanic at my first service, and he wasn't able to adjust it either. In fact no-one could get it to adjust by any method what-so-ever. There was a fault with the clock, so Suzuki replaced the entire instrument cluster under warranty. Once the new cluster was installed the clock was still unable to be adjusted except by the method I've outlined above.

[AllanB]

I have not changed my clock yet but the 'manual' (well 17 pages of photocopies) says -

1. at the clock display, push the select and the adjust buttons together for two seconds until the minute display blinks.

2. Adjust the display by pushing the select button
- if you push the select button the minute display gains (one minute per push).
- If you keep pushing the select button, the minute display gains by 10 minutes.

3. After adjusting wait five seconds and push the select button.

Let me know if it works!

[Lil_Byte]

At 12:58 (the end of your lunch hour) just unplug the instrument cluster. At 1:00 pm plug it in again. Your clock will read correctly.

And no, I am not joking.

When I purchased my GS1200SS I was unable to adjust the clock. I mentioned it to the mechanic at my first service, and he wasn't able to adjust it either. In fact no-one could get it to adjust by any method what-so-ever. There was a fault with the clock, so Suzuki replaced the entire instrument cluster under warranty. Once the new cluster was installed the clock was still unable to be adjusted except by the method I've outlined above.

Thanks for that.

I find it a bit of an unusual fix but I believe it. Will sort it tomorrow :scooter:

[Lil_Byte]

I have not changed my clock yet but the 'manual' (well 17 pages of photocopies) says -

1. at the clock display, push the select and the adjust buttons together for two seconds until the minute display blinks.

2. Adjust the display by pushing the select button
- if you push the select button the minute display gains (one minute per push).
- If you keep pushing the select button, the minute display gains by 10 minutes.

3. After adjusting wait five seconds and push the select button.

Let me know if it works!


The above worked a treat - Thanks for that :done:

[Lou Girardin]

My K2 Bandit used a smidgeon between oil changes. (A smidgeon is a little more than a drop and less than a tad)

[sillywilly]

speaking of gs1200 instuments, my brother has one and the speedo only goes to 180kph,i know it goes faster than this(on private roads of course) any ideas to get it reading past this?
also awesome motor, pops wheelies like nothing else,much easier than my zzr1100

[beyond]

I never have to top up the oil between services on my GSX1400 and I don't ride it like a Nana either. Similar engine, oil/air cooled.

These motors go for ever. (I hope) :)

[Silage]

I had no problems changing the clock time on both of my dashes. Just scroll to the clock and press and hold one of the buttons till the time flashes then change it with the other. It must have been something like that cos I managed to set the time.

And sillywilly, you are correct that the speedo reads up to and stays on 180kph. I am not aware of any way to make it read higher other than fitting a bicycle speedo which I have seen done, or get a GPS and then you have an accurate speedo as well as knowing where you are.

[roogazza]

AllanB , Numbers i have for oil burners which were only in a batch that went to American market..........vin # JS1GV77A 22102179 and higher ?? Thats all I have , if those numbers make sense ? Gaz.

ps. I've had two Bandits , no oil use recorded .

(Pistons were machined with holes too big behind the oil rings on 2001 only batch. )

[AllanB]

Ha - the Americans can afford a bit of oil!

Bloody sight glass - on bikes with only a side stand why not make the sight class and 'fill' levels on the same side as the stand. The clutch side is a easy one for the makers I guess but setting up a oil gallery and glass on a new engine design should be within their grasp!

I have an idea - support a vertical mirror on the right side so you can see the glass when sitting on the bike and holding it upright. Or buy a race stand ......

Hmmm 180km restrictor still fitted to mine :whistle: My first thoughts - get it removed - then - do I really need to go faster - I'm thinking its only because I know it will go faster that the temptation is there, after all my previous bike I owned for 23 years would have been lucky to do that down hill with a tail wind and I was happy at mostly legal speeds. Not to mention alive.....outta court.......with license

The curse of a bigbore engine I guess. If I ride like a nana my tyres will last longer:2thumbsup

[Silage]

I am happy to be a nanna most of the time although in a rush of blood earlier this week happily sailed past some boi-racer pretender. To me the GS gives good power throughout the whole rev range.

Will catch you around some time AllanB and welcome to KB. Need more GS's around the Chch group to dilute the Europeans. Come along to some rides/meetups. I will not be around for three weeks as am off to India tomorrow (not the Nth American one or is that Indians).

[craigs288]

I was under the impression there is a mod to remove the speed limiter, something like a diode that blocks the signal to fire the coils when you get to 190km/h.
And to get the clock to read above 180 it needs a larger value capacitor.
Which capacitor and what value, I don't know.
Why would you want to look at the clock at speeds above 180?
I just work off the tacho.

In top gear,
6000rpm = 180
7000rpm = 210
8000rpm = 240
8500rpm = 255.

Or at least it would if I was willing to admit to having gone that fast on it round Kaiawa. Which I won't!