Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: GS1200ss - couple questions

  1. #1
    Join Date
    14th July 2006 - 21:39
    Bike
    2015, Ducati Streetfighter
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    9,081
    Blog Entries
    8

    GS1200ss - couple questions

    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!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    21st August 2004 - 12:00
    Bike
    2017 Suzuki Dl1000
    Location
    Picton
    Posts
    5,177
    In 2 years and 30,000 km of fairly hard riding my GS1200SS used no oil between changes.

    And welcome to the site.
    Time to ride

  3. #3
    Join Date
    27th March 2006 - 09:22
    Bike
    2004 Suzuki GS1200SS
    Location
    West Auckland
    Posts
    168

    Depends how you ride it

    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.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    2nd December 2004 - 11:46
    Bike
    '04 GS1200ss, '08 DRZ400SM
    Location
    Christchurch, Hei Hei
    Posts
    449
    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!!
    I have just found out that they have removed the word gullible from the dictionary

  5. #5
    Join Date
    29th August 2006 - 11:48
    Bike
    2015 Triumph Bonneville America LT
    Location
    Wellington, New Zealand,
    Posts
    191
    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
    I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    1st April 2006 - 14:32
    Bike
    ex rider
    Location
    Around the next corner
    Posts
    196
    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

  7. #7
    Join Date
    21st August 2004 - 12:00
    Bike
    2017 Suzuki Dl1000
    Location
    Picton
    Posts
    5,177
    Quote Originally Posted by Lil_Byte View Post
    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
    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.
    Time to ride

  8. #8
    Join Date
    14th July 2006 - 21:39
    Bike
    2015, Ducati Streetfighter
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    9,081
    Blog Entries
    8
    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!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    29th August 2006 - 11:48
    Bike
    2015 Triumph Bonneville America LT
    Location
    Wellington, New Zealand,
    Posts
    191
    Quote Originally Posted by Jantar View Post
    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
    I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    29th August 2006 - 11:48
    Bike
    2015 Triumph Bonneville America LT
    Location
    Wellington, New Zealand,
    Posts
    191
    Quote Originally Posted by AllanB View Post
    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
    I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    20th August 2003 - 10:00
    Bike
    'o6 Spewzooki Banned it.
    Location
    Costa del Nord
    Posts
    6,553
    My K2 Bandit used a smidgeon between oil changes. (A smidgeon is a little more than a drop and less than a tad)
    Speed doesn't kill people.
    Stupidity kills people.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    5th August 2006 - 21:48
    Bike
    2007 bandit
    Location
    auckland
    Posts
    78

    gs1200 speedo

    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
    if you can't fix it with duck tape, you haven't used enough

  13. #13
    Join Date
    14th December 2005 - 21:09
    Bike
    2022 Triumph Speed Twin 900
    Location
    South of Bombays
    Posts
    2,099
    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)
    If the destination is more important than the journey you aint a biker.

    Sci-Fi and Non-Fiction Author
    http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/pcfris

  14. #14
    Join Date
    2nd December 2004 - 11:46
    Bike
    '04 GS1200ss, '08 DRZ400SM
    Location
    Christchurch, Hei Hei
    Posts
    449
    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.
    I have just found out that they have removed the word gullible from the dictionary

  15. #15
    Join Date
    12th September 2004 - 17:40
    Bike
    09 GSX1400.
    Location
    Horowhenua NZ
    Posts
    3,894
    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. )
    Last edited by roogazza; 20th September 2006 at 14:44. Reason: extra info

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •