2AM Tire Debate and Introduction

[MrKatz]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on here after lurking and searching. I bought my first motorcycle about a month and a half ago a gl1000 goldwing and my second one a 1983 Suzuki GS450L D about two weeks ago I bought the bike in sitting condition and am in need of new tires and some history education. I cant find a whole lot on the bike I mean I've got a manual and all but it just doesnt seem like they were popular or abundant. My bike was produced 9/82 though titled as an 83 year model consequently some real quirks have shown up. I've got old style carbs the ones with the weird gasket not the rectangular gasket like suzuki parts house shows, and I'm not sure how much further the differences go.

I'd love to convert to an h4 headlamp I've got the odd sized sealed beam like 6 5/8 currently is there a good replacement to put in?


Tires... oh the fun of finding tires for this machine here is what we have. The tag states on the machine as follows.

Front: 90/90-19
Rear: 120/90-16

I have found it Impossible to find a matching set of tires for this machine I can find one or the other but not both. So the question is which way do I go. Options in those sizes are limited but doable.

Option 1: OE sizes but mismatched

For the front bridgestone spitfire 90/90-19
For the rear IRC durotour 120/90-16

Option 2: SAE tires matching in converted size this is the design tire the bike currently has from 1983

For the front IRC GS11 3.5x19
For the rear IRC GS11 4.6x16

Technically the front converts to 3.6 not 3.5 but is there a difference between them really?


Option 3: deviate from OE size

If I move to a 100/90-19 the options open up greatly there is alot of 130s for the rear I've seen too in my hours of scouring.

Option 4: Pay 100 dollars over the tires to have European made tires DHL shipped to me.

Pirelli City Demon the equivalent of our Street Demon has both matching OE sizes but they are not sold in the US they must be imported.


Any and all information will be helpful about this bike how many were made? Why did they skip 1984 production? What other strange things are on this model it's quite the odd bird hunting some parts, the parts switch between 82 and 83. Ive seen the brochures for 1982 and some of the other advertisements and such going through google as much as I can but its left me wanting to know more.


Thanks for yalls time I hope to be of help on here at some point. Answer one question answer them all. Any info is a great help.


Thanks,
Mr.Katz

 

[Steve]

Congrats on the recent purchases. What year GL1000?

On the 450, the headlight can be changed, but be aware that it will reqire a new bucket for the headlight. Since the new bucket will be larger, it will require different arms that have a different offset. If you are interested in an H4 light, I would guess that you are interested in a better light. Look into installing an LED headlight, instead. There are a few threads here about installing a TruckLite 27270C. Not cheap, but SO worth it. :encouragement:

Yes, the carbs were changed on the 450 during the transition from '82 to '83. Sorry about your luck getting the old ones. They should be fully dismantled and cleaned properly. There is a tutorial available on BassCliff's site or there are a few members here that can do that for you (for a modest fee, of course) if you don't want to do it yourself.

On the tires, verify your wheel sizes. The front is likely 1.85 wide. If the rear is a 2.50, you can upsize both tires to 100/90 up front and 130/90 at the rear. If you are interested in decent tires that also happen to be rather inexpensive, look into Shinko. Either the 712 or the 230 TourMaster.

.

 

[Redman]

Welcome to TheGSR.

09/82 manufacture date would be a very early 1983 Model Year. so GS450LD .

Good that you figured out (basd on what Steve said) that for the carbs, I quess, you will need to look in 1982 (GS450LZ).

I cant help much with the tires (but I would never doubt Steve).

Where, in general, is Sadler ?
Texas? North Carolina?

 

[MrKatz]

Thanks for the replies I bought a 79 gl1000 goldwing and Sadler is far north Texas. I have a 2.15 width rear rim not a 2.5 I'm concerned a 130 will hit the chain guard there isn't much room on the rear width wise.

 

[LAB3]

Having an 82 450t I can sympathize with your lack of tire choices. Mine has a 17" x2.15" rear and everything I've read says that a 120 is as wide as you can go on that rim. A quick check on eBay shows you have three choices for a 120/90-16, Kenda, IRC and Duro. Having run Kendas last year and from pretty much everyone else's experience here don't waste your money.

Next I did a search for 120/80-16 and that opened up a LOT of choices for you, if it where my bike I'd be looking at that size. Keep in mind that a front tire can be run on the rear as long as you mount it "backwards" meaning the opposite direction the rotation arrow shows.

As for the front, a 100/90-19 would be a great choice, don't think twice about going with that size.