Greetings from Arizona...

[tkent02]

Shady deal, as long as it's not stolen you can get around title issues. We have ways.

 

[Runeight]

Engine looks the same from the case down. I bet a 450 engine fits right in, it's a fantastic engine.

I have yet to find this model anywhere. I have a picture of the head stamping which is 399 cc. The body work from a 1983 GS450E looks correct. A 400cc is yet to be found.

Just covering my behind. Thanks for the reply.

r8

 

[tkent02]

Possible someone put a Canadian 400 engine in an American 450 motorcycle. I guess we need the VIN off the frame to figure it out.

 

[Runeight]

Shady deal, as long as it's not stolen you can get around title issues. We have ways.

Completely agree. I think it's legal but odd. He is the original owner with original sales receipt. I have a picture of the title which is a VA replacement title. I know it's easy to title a bike in some states but Arizona not so much.

I don't want to post title picture due to..well you know.

I defiantly don't want a bike that is nothing more than parts. Sure you understand my concerns.

r8

 

[Runeight]

Possible someone put a Canadian 400 engine in an American 450 motorcycle. I guess we need the VIN off the frame to figure it out.

Im having him do just that. Suppose it's ok to post the vin off the title huh?

r8

 

[tkent02]

I suppose it could be used by someone somewhere for nefarious purposes but for an old jap bike worth a few hundred bones it probably won't happen.

 

[Runeight]

I suppose it could be used by someone somewhere for nefarious purposes but for an old jap bike worth a few hundred bones it probably won't happen.

I called Babbitt's this morning. No records found for that vin number from Suzuki. I would think regardless where it was sold it would at least show up.

But then again what do I know.

r8

 

[tkent02]

This is the title VIN? Could be a typo in the number somewhere. Do you have the frame VIN?

 

[Runeight]

This is the title VIN? Could be a typo in the number somewhere. Do you have the frame VIN?

Working on that now. Let me upload some pictures.

r8

 

[Runeight]

Gs400e

Gs400e

OK, here are some pictures of the bike in question. I can fix the tank so no worries there. Rest looks pretty good.

Another thing that is odd. VA title, NV plates. Can't get NV plates without NV title. Odd.

r8

 

[Nessism]

It's probably a Canadian bike. I doubt US dealers will have any info on the VIN.

http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gsx400_model13612/

http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gsx400e-1982-z_model13618/partslist/

 

[Runeight]

That second link is the correct bike. Thank you so much.

r8

 

[SVSooke]

For some reason Suzuki Canada seems to have "forgotten" they imported bikes here that are different to the US models.It can make life difficult here to.Glad Ed (Nessism) linked you to the CMSNL site as I knew they'd have the fiches but couldn't remember the site name:chargrined:Bookmarked for future reference. BassCliff http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/ has a VIN decoder but it hasn't worked for a while,I checked our 86 400 with it and it worked.

 

[Runeight]

This forum is a life saver for me.

I just received a picture of the vin on the frame. It does match the title. Good thing.

This is a "go" for me. $550 for the bike is not bad either. I'll start a build thread when it arrives this week.

r8

 

[Nessism]

That's a good looking bike. Seems to be in really nice shape. Check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature for a list of issues to look out for. Hope you plan on keeping the bike mostly original. It would be a shame to hack that thing up.

 

[SVSooke]

That's a good looking bike. Seems to be in really nice shape. Check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature for a list of issues to look out for. Hope you plan on keeping the bike mostly original. It would be a shame to hack that thing up.

+1 on that,this will be quite a rare bike down there.A bit of a sleeper to as most will think it's just another 450.

 

[tkent02]

Another thing that is odd. VA title, NV plates. Can't get NV plates without NV title. Odd.

r8

Not true, at least not always. My truck is still licensed in Arizona, it's been registered in Colorado about eight years. I lived in Nevada before Arizona, remember a bike or car or something with a different state's title, they didn't make me switch the title to Nevada. There's not much revenue in switching titles, as long as they make their money off the registration they don't care about the title at all. Since as the same guy owned it in the previous state, it's not required to switch. If you sold it they would then get the new state's title.

At least that's how it works in some cases. Congrats on having the two VINS match. I wouldn't hesitate for any of these paperwork reasons.

 

[Runeight]

That's a good looking bike. Seems to be in really nice shape. Check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature for a list of issues to look out for. Hope you plan on keeping the bike mostly original. It would be a shame to hack that thing up.

When I did Honda's they were all stock. Only original once of which this will be right down to paint. I do like red however.

No cafe stuff in my Shop. Some bikes that are to far gone maybe but not this one.

r8

 

[Runeight]

Congrats on having the two VINS match. I wouldn't hesitate for any of these paperwork reasons.

Yeah, it's a go.

r8

 

[mikerophone]

That's a great looking bike, personally I'd go through the electrical (weak point on these bikes) and dip the carbs, replacing the o rings like mentioned above, throw some new rubber on it, flush and potentially replace the brake lines, fix that crease in the tank like you say and remove that silly backrest.

Welcome to the fun house, as you've noticed, it's a great place to learn about all things GS. I was a Honda man for years too, Still have a few, but the GS prevails for me now. Great machines and very well built.