Suzuki GS450 --- Cafe Build

Alrighty then, no intention to make anyone feel like an idiot, you can troll all my posts here, and you will not find a bad word about anyone, not from me, I don't roll that way.
Good luck with it, will be keenly watching for the thread........give it heck.

Get that 1100 man. Id love to see you on a real bike not a scooter

Just know this... I will forever love the smaller bikes as it's my preference. I am moving up to a bigger bike for now but later on in the future, I will get another small bike to build another cafe. Most likely a CB...

Can't wait to get my hands on the 1100. SHould be this Monday....

Get that 1100 man. Id love to see you on a real bike not a scooter

You're making me feel like I'm an idiot... No hard feelings but I know where you're coming from. Let me explain myself.

OK. There is no ****ing title for the GS450. I got screwed over from the DOL for my 3 year title thingy. I know that I can do a title process for around $200 but then I'd still have to deal with the GS450's spark issue. Yes, I could make my own wiring harness but it's getting harder and harder to find an igniter. Pete is doing the HEI igniter too but hasn't quite solved it yet. The tires are crap and pretty old. Chain is about to fall apart (o-rings are piling up under the sprocket cover). So new tires, title process, chain, igniter, new wiring harness: around $400-$600. Believe me, I would keep the bike if I had the title. I thought I had the title sorted out which is why I proceeded with all the work I did but nooo.... ****ers gonna screw me over.

As for the new owner of the bike, I was honest with him. He understands what needs to be done. He knows that there is no title. He knows it all. I did ask that if he's gonna sell the bike that I'd be first to know.

Now about the 1100E. Clean and clear title in his name, ready to be transferred. It is complete, everything is there. Freshly painted parts although I'm not really digging it. Comes with two motors. One is grenaded and one is running. Kerker 4-1 exhaust. Brand new tires, chain, SS brake lines, etc. as of 7 months ago. This bike was well cared for.

Some info here on the 1100E here.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=169316

The 1100E was running as of like a few months ago and was a daily rider. The current owner's previous owner let his friend ride the bike then his friend blew the motor because he didn't know how to ride. But he has a running engine from a GSR member that is ready to be swapped in. I understand that some problems will need to be sorted out. But it's not too big of a project that should only take a few weeks to do. Rebuild the carbs, check valves, and check all the other stuff too. I know the procedure.

Not like I'm gonna go crazy if I don't ride a bike. I don't mind a project and the 1100E isn't too much. Besides, the guy literally lives 6 mins away from me. That is so cool!

The big bike bug has gotten me too. Been doing a few track days on some of my friend's newer sport bikes. I will say that the feeling is intoxicating...

ill bet on it aswell

Methinks you have hit one to many roadblocks in this rebuild, and the fustration as gotten enough, that I understand.
But, you running away from the problems again, by your own admission, you love ths bike, and rightly so, you put a lot of loving into it.
Then you said, yourself, you don't want a project bike, you just want to ride, understood, but now you want to go buy a bike that does not even have a motor in it????????????? WTF dude??
You don't seriously believe it is going to be a case of slapping the motor in, tighting up a few mountings, hooking up a few cables and pipes and you ready to roll, do you???
Come on, you been around here long enough to know that is not going to happen, there are going to be a bunch of issues to sort out once the motor is in, you know that.
I say, park the bike for a week or so, sleep on it, let the frustration work itself out and let your head clear and look at it in a different frame of mind, objectivly.
Think about it, what are you going to tell the new owner????
The bike is great, just a spark issue, sort that and she is good to go.........now what makes it "just a spark issue" for the new owner and not for you, trying to tell me it is something you can't sort out? I don't buy it, sorry, I see you running from your problems again.
Do as I said, leave it for a week or so, clear your head and then tackle it with renewed vigour.
Even make up a whole new wiring harness if you must, damn, its only a 450, how hard can it be?
You have a wiring diagram and a bunch of people here to walk with you through it...................lets see you make this happen boy, I'll put money on you if no one else will.

Id go with the 1100e myself but then again look at my bike.... bigger is better

If your trying to build another cafe then get the cb... but if you want to build some testicular fortitude go for the 1100.

Exactly. CB's are much easier to build and work on.

If I get the 1100E, I plan on keeping it stock. No hacksaw .

Thanks but my mind is made up. Very hard to let this bike go but I must...

Here is the 1983 GS1100E I'm looking at. It's complete, titled, comes with one grenaded engine, and one good engine with extra pistons and cylinders.

Then here is the CB400.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/2402145652.html

Which one do I pick?

If your trying to build another cafe then get the cb... but if you want to build some testicular fortitude go for the 1100.

Just out of curiosity, but have you pulled out a multimeter and really checked everything? I would start by checking the frame and other hard parts for voltage. Could have a parasitic leak that's screwing up all your levels. Then check any parts that should have resistance. There's a heckuva lot more the electrical than just voltage i/o. Ohms, amperage, resistance, capacitance...

Just saying.

Dont sell it!!!

Thanks but my mind is made up. Very hard to let this bike go but I must...

Here is the 1983 GS1100E I'm looking at. It's complete, titled, comes with one grenaded engine, and one good engine with extra pistons and cylinders.

Then here is the CB400.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/2402145652.html

Which one do I pick?

Dont sell it!!!

I was asking $700 but for a GSR or DTT member, I'm willing to do $600. I'm not one of those guys that will sell a cafe bike for $3,000 here. Just being realistic. We all know how much work was put into this though...

The bike has no spark because of a fried igniter. Again, I've checked everything. It has good compression and gets fuel to both cylinders.

If you can fix the spark issue, then the bike is ready for the road...

Meh... Been a whole year rebuilding and replacing everything. All wires checked and good. Good grounds. Duaneage R/R. Good electrical components. What else is there to check? I literally went through the whole electrical system with new parts. Even spent $500 for a brand new igniter.

I know I sound like a lil' bitch right now but I don't want a project. I just want to ride... Hope you guys understand that. Don't worry, I have my eyes on another GS I spotted on craigslist... A GS500.

At this time, I am not parting out my GS450. Only selling as a complete package for $600.

Just seems like a lot of wasted time and effort...and only $600 for the bike? I'd buy it from you in a heartbeat if you were in my area.

[pete]

On the one hand, I hear ya'... on the other, only a year?! Try 9 without a ride and 6 since you started on the "project"...

As to the issue, if you have spark then logic dictates it would probably be a fueling issue.

So, this brings to mind the fact that you've put a different tank on that has had lots of bondo put on it, a coat of primer, and a new fuel tap.

Was this the first time you've put a fresh full tank of fuel in since this work was done? I mean full tank, not just a bit to get her to run for a little while. Could be it's flushed some crud that was missed into the carbs or fuel line etc.

The other thing is if the little breather hole in the tank neck has been bondoed or painted over, which will likely stop the tank breathing and then prevent fuel from flowing...

Could be other things too of course, but that's where I'd be starting...

Hang in there, it will be worth while once you get it knocked on the head and go for your first good ride