FINALLY have the money for a GS450 or a GR650.

[Boogywstew]

Merry Christmas ! I have been lurking here, on and off for years, with only a very few comments.
1st: Is it safe to go to "gstwins" ? My browser keeps warning me not to?
2nd: At this point in time, are there parts not available for the GS450 or GR650 that would keep me from riding for a few weeks? I'm not caring about body work such as side covers, fenders, cowl? I think it would be prudent to buy any parts that are especially hard to get ahead of time and keep on hand. Electrical components come to mind. I'm not adverse to utilizing used parts and I would probably be mechanically talented enough to jury rig some parts from other bikes.
I own the Clymer GS450 manual now and will pick up a Haynes and a factory manual. I also intend to buy a parts bike since I will now have a 2 car garage.
I am well aware that the GS500 bike is much easier to get parts for but I am willing to tolerate some inconveniences to ride the bike I want.
Any input is welcome.

 

[salty_monk]

You can upgrade the brakes on either if that snippet helps.

Bwringer may be a good source of info on the GR650. Only thing of note I remember is bizarrely I think it has a slipper clutch.

 

[Cipher]

You can upgrade the brakes on either if that snippet helps.

Bwringer may be a good source of info on the GR650. Only thing of note I remember is bizarrely I think it has a slipper clutch.

No?15characters

 

[salty_monk]

Maybe the wrong terminology......

- And the most unique feature on this engine: A "dual mass" flywheel with a centrifugal clutch that disengages above 3000 rpm. So light flywheel above 3 k for good acceleration, and heavy flywheel below 3 k for steady idle and smooth low speed running.

 

[Nessism]

Don't bother stocking up on parts. Search out a nice clean bike, then go from there. From my experience, it's worth paying more for a good starting point.

I don't have any experience with the GR, but I wouldn't be afraid to buy one if it fell my way. They are quite rare, though. 450's are more common. One hassle with those bikes is carb parts. Suzuki changed the carbs over the years, and one version is hard to get parts for, the other is better. And while you say you aren't interested in a 500, they are a vastly improved bike over the 450; much newer tech. You can always make a project out of customizing the looks to match your desire. It's amazing what a cool paint job and small faring can do!

 

[Boogywstew]

I understand the GS500 engine will fit in the GS450 frame with the exception of the head which has the exhaust ports angled differently and they would hit the GS450 frame. I've read here and other sites that the GS450 head will bolt right up to the GS500 engine, solving that problem. I thought carbs and various electrical components taken from the GS500 could be installed on the GS450, especially charging components? I have seen only one, in my opinion, customized GS500 that looked appealing. It was basically a stock GS500 with a non Suzuki small fairing where the bottom of the fairing was extended along parallel to the bottom of the GS500 gas tank. It was approximately halfway in size between a stock GS500F fairing and a stock GS450S fairing. This isn't the exact bike I was thinking of so apparently there are more than the one customized GS500 that I find appealing.
https://motoridersuniverse.com/news/1255069-suzuki-gs500-cafe-racer-by-h2-moto.html
I only ride in the rain when I have to, but typically, it seems to happen no matter how I try to avoid it! My bike will keep it's fenders and the stock air cleaner under the seat behind the stock side covers like the Good Lord intended!
Thank you for your response!!!

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I have seen only one, in my opinion, customized GS500 that looked appealing. It was basically a stock GS500 with a non Suzuki small fairing where the bottom of the fairing was extended along parallel to the bottom of the GS500 gas tank. It was approximately halfway in size between a stock GS500F fairing and a stock GS450S fairing. This isn't the exact bike I was thinking of so apparently there are more than the one customized GS500 that I find appealing.

Dunstall style fairing, then.

 

[GRich]

Personally I would lean towards a GS450. I owned a few GR650's and engine parts were tough to find. But the 450 is still easy to get almost all parts for. There are some parts from a GS500 that will swap right over (carbs, R/R, etc) to a GS450.

What else are you looking for?

 

[Boogywstew]

I want an air cooled Japanese twin or thumper with belt or chain drive and between 400 and 650 cc. That's the sweet spot for me. I would buy a late 70s model bike if parts weren't too much trouble to get. I have been looking at the Suzuki GS450, GS500, GR650 and the LS650 Savage - Boulevard 40S. I am turned off by forward controls and the lack of a center stand on the Savage. I've been researching center stands that would fit on the Savage but I've yet to find any instances where it's been done. I just turned 72 and getting my leg over a high saddle might be a problem so it makes me look twice at the Savage.
I'm also looking at Yamaha XS650s because I've had 5 of them and parts are still easy to obtain but they are relatively heavy at 470 lbs wet. I had a Kawasaki KZ 750B years ago but it was even heavier. I had a Yamaha SR500 years ago which I loved but any bike I buy now must have an electric starter. Kick AND electric would be perfect but they are rare nowadays.
The GS450 is looking like the best bet at this point but it could very well happen that I stumble over another bike that I never considered. Everything is a tradeoff it seems but it isn't always bad. I do all my own maintenance and all my own tire work. I've never had to adjust wire spokes or lace up a wheel but I can mount and balance tires.
My first and only new motorcycle was a 1980 Kawasaki KZ440 which I put 33,000 miles on in 3 years. I rode it from Central, FL to Central WY, Albuquerque NM to Lander, WY, Albuquerque NM to Central FL with no windshield or luggage. I had the self control to drive 12 hour days at a constant 65 and never had any problems with other motorists. Some times I'd speed up to keep from backing up traffic. The blow by from tractor trailers or even high winds never bothered me. Since the KZ440 was my first bike, I paid too much attention to other motorcyclist's remarks that my bike was a "girl's bike" and a "beginner's bike" (Which it certainly can be!). Years have come and gone and I have ridden thousands of miles on V-Rods, 1200 Sportsters and a few big BMWs. Now, through experience, I certainly know what I like. My KZ440 would have been a perfect bike at the time if I'd only changed the handlebars and the seat! My KZ440 was the "A" model which is very similar to the GS450L in appearance.

 

[Nessism]

Splurge before it's too late...https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...-triumph-speed-400-and-scrambler-400-thoughts

 

[Boogywstew]

If I've learned one thing already it's that a few people will buy that bike and decide it's too small and/or under powered. I might consider a used one then? The street 400 market is heating up, what with the Royal Enfield Guerilla 450 and the Harley Davidson X-440 . Anyone here have personal opinions about the Yamaha Seca400? I didn't think it sold well in America and parts would be tough to find?
These Triumph, Harley and Royal Enfield models are helping sway my opinion that the GS450 is the right bike for me.

 

[oldGSfan]

Finally, you have how much money? Do you want to work on a bike first or ride it? I like Ed's idea on that Triumph. I haven't seen a Yamaha Seca since the 80s. Suzuki GS's appeal to us here because they are sort of plentiful, cheap, and strong. GS450 or 500 would seem fine, if you can find one. There are new bikes like the Vitpilen (sorta weird looking IMO) that might be interesting. But except for my weakness for Ducati *err, too big displacement wise... I feel nervous about anything out of Europe other than Triumph in that displacement range. The Triumph is hitting the UJM marks for me. That H2 Moto looks good but that nuevo-cafe style has gotten so cliche, big NO to that brown seat. I don't know why but they bug me haha. Get off my lawn!

 

[Boogywstew]

I have over $5 K to use but I won't buy anything new. I'll let others take the hit on depreciation. I am living right now in Erie, PA in a house on the busiest road in the city and there is no garage, shed or even a basement. I'll be moving 41 miles away into a 14 X 68 mobile home with a 2 car garage in Northeast Ohio before February is out, maybe sooner. There's just me and my cat and the MH is surrounded by farmland on an acre of land with no residences in sight. I'm a musician so seclusion is important to me. I am a good neighbor. I can utilize a bedroom in the MH for hobby work and I can heat the garage. I don't mind working on a good used bike from now until late March or April but I want to be out riding when there is no snow on the roads. I usually ride in all 12 months. I have always done spectacularly well at buying used cars, trucks and motorcycles. I feel you when you mention the "nuevo-cafe" style being so cliche. That bike would be an inspiration but not a blueprint. Got to have a center stand, stock side covers and fenders that fender. I'll probably install a bikini or a dunstall fairing which will be a first for me. I've never had or wanted even a windshield. I was still wearing an open face helmet and goggles 10 years ago. My bike will almost certainly have a completely stock engine, especially the air cleaner and mufflers.
I have my eye on an '82 GS450T on Marketplace but the seller won't respond. It looks bone stock and in great condition with the seller claiming it needs nothing.

 

[oldGSfan]

That's great, I hope you find something that suits you well. I have made some good sales and purchases on FB marketplace recently, but Craigslist is still king if you live in a big market like I do (LA area). Stock air cleaner and mufflers is how I go, if possible. Makes setting things right much simpler if you aren't a super tuner wizard.

 

[Boogywstew]

I live in Erie, PA, the center of a triangle defined by Buffalo, NY - Pittsburgh, PA -Cleveland, OH which puts me 100 miles from each market, On average,I find the used bikes sold on Craigslist to be more expensive than on FB Marketplace. My search parameters are 500 miles out from Erie on Marketplace and Craigslist which covers those 3 markets. Reading comparison tests and watching videos of the Harley Davidson X-440, Triumph Speed 400 and the Royal Enfield Guerilla 450, I find these are great days to be fans of this displacement bike.
https://turbocharged.in/retro-rumble/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3_So4BQzN4

 

[LAB3]

One thing I can assure you of, the GS450t will get a TON of compliments and positive comments over the newer bikes! People just seemed to gravitate toward mine! Needless to say this would tick off people with $20k+ bikes at the rallies.

 

[Boogywstew]

Would there be any chance if you would know whether a GS450T fuel tank and seat will bolt right on a GS450L ??? All I'm seeing lately are the "L" models, at least the only bikes I would consider buying. We all have various "red flags" and one of mine is I won't buy a bike that the owner has "hopped up". I also won't buy a bike unless the owner has a clean title for that exact bike.I found a hot prospect 450T model but the owner doesn't respond on Marketplace. .
I still go to local bike nights in Erie, PA during the warm months. At least twice, I walked amongst all the motorcycles present where every motorcycle, out of over 70 bikes, was a V Twin. No transverse twins, no thumpers, no triples and not even any transverse 4 cylinders. Every single bike was a V Twin. I thought bikers were supposed to be a bit rebellious? I owned a Yamaha XS650 at the time but I was always stopping in on my way home from work so my bike never made an appearance.

 

[650Skull]

Have you thought about an XS650. For the money you have you could het a good XS650. Parts are plentiful, good aftermarket suppliers. Easy to work on and a good forum with helpfull people like on here

Not trying to turn you off the Suzi's just that 400's are small and underpowered for highway or secondary road cruising

 

[Boogywstew]

My first bike was a 1980 Kawasaki KZ440, and the only new bike I ever owned. I put 33,000 miles on that bike in 3 years. I drove it from Central FL to Central WY via Augusta, GA ... 2,600 miles. Albuquerque NM to Webster, FL ... 1,800 miles and Lander, WY to Albuquerque, NM 800 miles, all on the Interstates with no problems. I had the self control to keep it at 65 mph and under and I only drove faster if, on occasions, I was slowing up traffic. I hate Interstate driving on a bike and only do it if I'm pressed for time. My next bike was a 1978 Yamaha SR500. Great bike but I felt the kick starter only deal was a nightmare if you stalled in traffic ... especially on a hill. Then I bought 2 Yamaha XS650s, one a '79 and the other an '80. Next was a 1980 Kawasaki KZ750 B which I didn't keep long. It was heavy, about 500 lbs, but also top heavy. Then I went back to 2 more Yamaha XS650s, another '80 and a '78. I had to sell my XS650s about 5 years ago because I had no where to store them or work on them.
Looking back at everything, I never appreciated what a great bike my KZ440 was. It was my first bike and everyone told me it was a "beginner bike" or a "girl's bike". True, it was too slow and bogged down with a passenger but I have come to realize I don't like passengers on my bike, anyways. I enjoy upshifting and downshifting at exactly the right times while cruising hilly, country 2 lane roads so I loved the 6 speed transmission. The KZ440 top ended at 100 mph and would do the quarter in 14.5 seconds. That's faster than I want to go.
I have decided that being 72 years old it might be better for me to go back to riding a 400 lb. bike. Yamaha XS650s are what ... 460 - 470 lbs.? I'm not doing the brat - cafe thingy to save weight. I love fenders, side covers, factory air cleaners, tachometers, batteries etc. I decided the GS 450 was a better bet than the KZ440 because Suzuki had it in production longer and many parts from the GS500 will work on the GS450. Specifically, I'm thinking the GS450T is the right bike for me.
John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans." It is not impossible that I end up with another Yamaha XS650. In many ways I felt it fit me to a "T" !!! The vibration never bothered me, ever. I saw a Honda FT500 Ascot for sale on Marketplace that is cherry but parts would be a nightmare. Water cooling is a resounding "NO!" and I won't own anything over 2 cylinders.

 

[Nessism]

2nd gen SV650N is the same weight, or maybe lighter, than a GS450T. There are other lightweight modern bikes also.