Now the proud owner of a 2016 S40 with just 100 miles (whoo hoo!).  Aside from basic maintenance like cleaning the carb and a new battery (although it started right up), I'm looking for some thoughts on what to do to make the bike even mo' betta (before I start really modding it)!

My priorities at the moment are:

1. Handling (Not to disparage the namesake of the forum but good grief, do all cruisers steer like paddleboats? This is my first cruiser... I've been riding sport bikes and standards forever).  I'm thinking longer shocks (12.25") and shortening the forks as required (probably about 2").  Using spacers at first until I decide on the setup and then cutting the uppers.

2. Exhaust / Carb.  I have a simple chrome cone with a baffle that will fit and am planning on a DynoJet Stage 1 kit.  I already have the exhaust (I have read that the Harley Dyna exhaust seems to be the upgrade of choice but am going to try what I have first since I already have it).  Not looking for obnoxiously loud, just want to open it up a bit... any thoughts on airbox, pod filter, etc... along with these other changes?

3. Cockpit.  I'm planning on the ditching the stock bars and doing a "standard" bar and risers for now but will probably change them later, when I decide what direction this project is going to take.

Any thoughts, guidance, opinions, comments, questions, snide remarks, etc... are welcome (well... you know, except the last one).

A quick p.s. about me...  I've been modding GS500s for a number of years (see pics) and am fairly experienced with a wrench.  I don't shy away from most mechanical projects, but still can't weld despite my best efforts.  I'm an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of guy and like to tinker and do things on the cheap when possible.... so no expensive suggestions that require welding.  lol.            

Some people like the pod air filter. IDK if anyone ran timed tests to sixty mph before and after.
I spent some time reading about intake theory . Seems like exhaust theory is more popular. The long and short of what I came away with was
The volume of air between the filter and carburetor needs to be at least equal to the volume of air the intake stroke is gonna be suckin in.

Ahhhh yes... the petcock (good catch).  That was already on my list (and ordered), I just forgot to include it.  

As far as the carb goes, my experience with carbureted bikes over the years is that when you change the pipe... a re-jet is almost a requirement to get it running optimally.  The Dynot Jet carb kits have always been spot-on for me in the past.  

I'm not too concerned about the achieving the "rumbly" sound. I did read on the forum that low idle is problematic, so I'll keep it where it belongs. I would like at least a little bit of noise coming out of the pipe though (and to lose a few pounds).  On the ride home from picking it up, every time I stopped at a light, I thought it has stalled (shhh.....).  lol.  

I'm going to hold off on the seat for now.  I suspect this is going to be a bobber or cafe build eventually, so I think I will end up replacing the seat anyway... don't want to do it twice.  

In regard to the triple tree, I've already got an extra lower and am prepared to do the top conversion depending on the bars (and build) I end up with. If I go in the cafe direction, I'll probably use the converted bottom so I can raise the fork legs and clamp some clip-ons above the top yoke.  If it ends up a bobber, I'll shorten the fork uppers and keep the stock yoke.

And I'm too cheap to change the front wheel.  lol.  

Thanks for all the input!  I'll post a build thread once it gets going.  

B.          

p.s. Not sure if I'm an "ace" mechanic... how many kills does that take?  

p.p.s.  And the key comment was ironically poignant.  I did exactly that about a month ago on my Benelli and have been getting a low voltage fault code ever since, which requires a Benelli code reader to reset, which is on back order, and which no dealer within 200 miles from me has.  Yet another reason to celebrate carbureted bikes.      

.s. Not sure if I'm an "ace" mechanic... how many kills does that take?  


Duh,five,hello,
Talk about settled science..
And, yeah, substituting a wrench for a hammer Does count.

I suggest you go with genuine Mikuni jets vs. the DynoJet Kit, you will find jetting and tuning to be easier with them than with the DynoJet on this bike.

Do you have to park it for winter or can you ride?

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/07/22 at 20:46:28:



I ride as long as the temperature is above 35 (ish).  I went down on some black ice about 25 years ago and once was enough to make me stop riding when the temps are low enough to freeze the roads.  I was "just riding along" and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I was on my a**.   (ouch!)

Do DBMs double wide rear pulley conversion. I’d it before you need to.
Machining the lower tree to work on the top is cheap and easy.
Kawi front pulley is nice for lower highway revs.
Lose weight wherever you can. Lots of places.