1980 GS450 "Sport" - Resto / Mod

[Guest]

One thing I neglected to ask...

I notice eBay ad's have the 500 cam's as '88 to '03 or thereabouts and other ad's have '04 to '09 or so... any idea if there's a key difference here that I need to worry about?

If the only difference is for example the tacho drive then I don't care as I don't use it...

 

[Big Rich]

Hmmm.... I know the tach drive is different for the late model electronic tachometer. I think that's the big difference. There is a problem with camshaft float with the early GS500's, but I don't know if Suzuki changed anything, or it was just a bad production run...... Ben2Go would have a better idea about the cam float than me though.

 

[Guest]

Hmmm ok, will see what Ben has to say if he jumps in here otherwise I'll PM him... one thing my 450 doesn't have is camshaft float although I know they were susceptible for it as well, just not as bad.

Was in the garage yesterday and completely forgot to check the factory manual to see if it had duration in it

 

[Big Rich]

And it's done!



Here's the jetting info for anybody that may be searching for it......
First generation GS500 carbs on a GS450:
K&N lunchbox filter (part # RU-2970)
Pilot jets: stock 37.5
Mixture screws: 4 turns out
Jet needle: raised by .040" with washers (2 washers per needle)
Main jets: 132.5
MAC 2-1 exhaust with a 3" Supertrapp universal muffler (with 9 discs installed)

I would like to get some #40 pilot jets, possibly some 135 mains, and a different muffler. But for now, it's just time to ride the tires off......

 

[tkent02]

Excellent! Now ride it!

 

[Guest]

Great stuff Rich, looks good! Very much the every day bike

Now are you reading this or out riding?

 

[Big Rich]

Haha! Thanks fellas. Hanging out with my little guy today, so the bike is just sitting in the garage. After he goes to bed though....

 

[loud et]

Damn....I want one of these.
Nice build.

 

[Big Rich]

Thank you sir! I'm rather fond of smaller bikes, so this one fit the bill nicely.

 

[loud et]

Just found a titled 82' 450E.......
Another cafe' wanna be builder....he THREW AWAY the seat, pipes, tailpiece, side covers, gauges.....sheesh.
300$ could have been a good price.....but its the unique seat , covers and styling that make this bike so attractive.
I'll keep looking.....major congrats on yours for 250$....that's a win.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

These bikes are very cool, and Rich, yours is the bee's knees.

 

[Guest]

I'm sure you all know my sentiments by now... but yeah the 450's rock

 

[Big Rich]

Thanks gents - all I need is some imported 2-1 scrambler pipes from a certain 82 GS450E...... ha!

Loud: the guy that I bought mine from had another one that sold before I saw it. I think he said it was a black model though (1981?), and he raced them back in the day. It was running and mostly stock so he sold it for a little under $1000. But because he took parts off this red one to get the black model running (like the stator, R/R, and coils) he was selling it so cheap. And since those parts usually get replaced on an older bike, I wasn't going to argue!

 

[Guest]

Thanks gents - all I need is some imported 2-1 scrambler pipes from a certain 82 GS450E...... ha!

Hahahhaah yeah nice try Rich

 

[Big Rich]

Ok, I know I said this bike was done, but I found these gems for sale:



Custom made preload adjusters for GS500 forks. Here is one next to a stock fork cap (notice the solid round disc as well):



Because the adjustment bolt and steel disc are about 20mm longer than the stock cap, I cut about 25mm off of the PVC spacers provided by Sonic Springs.

 

[Guest]

Ok that's awesome Rich, where'd you get 'em? How much? Are they still available??? I still wonder if I could do with a touch of preload on my front forks...

 

[Big Rich]

Pete, get ready for the price......





$40 USD. Shipped from Germany. I should say though, they were made for somebody else on the Twins forum and they sold them to me after they sold their GS500. But the guy that made them is Jim Knopf - here's a link to some of his latest work:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=9730.580

I'm sure he could make some for your GS450 forks. He makes an oil cooler kit for the early GS500's (so it would work with the GS450 & GR650 coincidentally) as well.

 

[Guest]

Ah ok cool Rich, yeah I know who he is on the forum and he does some top notch work alright!

 

[Big Rich]

So I recently had my drive chain guard snap - right above the rear mounting bolt. Since I couldn't find another plastic one from an E/S model, I fitted a chrome guard from an L model. The only difference worth mentioning is the front mounting points aren't the same - the plastic guard has a tab on the inside (towards the tire) that helps to stabilize the guard. The chrome guard has a female peg hole - so I'm guessing the L model swingarm has a male peg to hold the guard.

Either way, I'll be looking for another plastic guard.....

 

[Guest]

I had exactly the same issue Rich... and I did an ugly fix... a piece of galvanised steel on the inside and outside and rivetted in place to sandwich the guard. Been holding for quite some time... ugly but serviceable!