Here is a photo showing the placement of washers that have been in described in the first few messages of this thread.
http://www.postimage.org/aV209bri.jpg

NOTICE. My bike is a 2006 and I do not have the selectable circlip grooves that have been described in other posts on the forum.

Re: Needle shim modification
 

So far i have done the 16t and the Needle Shim

Having ridden awhile with the 16t I decided to try this shimming idea.

I'm pretty happy with it.. cruising in 5th gear is smoother and toned down abit
At minimal throttle before the shim i went from 60 kms down to 55 km at the same setting so it was definitely a great change.

not sure how i feel about the loss in mileage as noted by badbob but we will see..

Re: Needle shim modification
 

That depends a LOT on your riding conditions and habits.
I predict that, unless you keep really good records, you won't notice any significant difference.
I didn't......with just the 16T and no carb mods, that is.

Re: Needle shim modification
 

I took the washer and put it underneath...

Is it better to keep the stock washer on top and get another one for underneath...does it matter or will it be alright with the switched stock washer...??

any bad experiences yet with the needle shim modification? or is everyone all thumbs for it ?

Re: Needle shim modification
 

I switched the washer position about 18,000 miles (guess) ago. No problems yet.

Re: Needle shim modification
 

Switched back my washer position to original and now only with a 16 tooth modifying the bikes gear.

Just wasnt worth the lost gas mileage and probably isnt great for overall longevity of the bike.. ? perhaps

I did like the flat spots eliminated but.. it wasnt that great of a different overall.

Re: Needle shim modification
 

OK, so now that you are getting closer to stock, how does your idle speed act? Is it a LOT different when thoroughly HOT than it is when just coming down off the choke?

Re: Needle shim modification
 

Easy, since the valve adjustment the bikes only problem is needing new rear brake cables and rear hub rubber shock absorber

running great at idle but i do miss the flat spot elimination.

not gonna bother changing it back
and the next sprocket i have in the toolbox is a 15t so.. this summer will be stock riding all the way.

Something tells me i shouldn't have messed with a good thing. haha

Ill see how it goes and see if i can keep my hands off the shim mod.

Re: Needle shim modification
 

Have you decided that you don't like the 16T......or are you just cheap? :biggrin:

Re: Needle shim modification
 

hahahah no not cheap Easy.

I always think back to Pacific Motorcycle schools fleet of GZ's

I know most motorcycle schools obviously have the know how on what to do with a GZ to keep it running optimal. Lesson after lesson those bikes have to be near perfect.

My GZ does not ride like the GZ i rode back then.

I know it is my own fault. 90 bucks an hour at the shop just doesn't suit my budget when something goes wrong everytime. Perhaps frugality does play a factor in what happens to the bike. I try my best with the greatest of intentions for the bike. Obviously somewhere along the line Ive neglected the wrong problem(s).

I just know that those bikes had a 15tooth and were well maintained or pulled off the lineup if faulty. Mark was a 5 time super bike champion who has his own Q and A on the schools website. I am sure his decisions were best among anyone I have met or discussed the GZ with. However he is a busy man whom i do not want to bother on a constant basis when i have problems. Opening to a variety of people who have shared my beginner status and are on the same level if not a few tiers higher seems more plausible and to also allow others to read a learn from my mistakes and what led to a solution seems beneficial.

I want the bike the way that school ran theirs if not closer to it. I liked the 16tooth with the Shim Mod.
But I THINK you can get a similar ride that was originally designed for the bike ( by the engineers who built it) without wondering if your screwing the bike up in the long run.

Maybe there is a reason the GZ has been unchanged and unmodified from 99-present....