GS Production Numbers

[93Bandit]

Does anyone know of a document or database that records the production numbers of each GS model and year? I'm trying to find out how many of a particular model were built.

Is there a way to decode the VIN to indicate how many were built?

I searched the forum to no avail, and Google didn't turn up much either.

 

[allojohn]

This site has some pre 17 digit VIN info... not sure how much it helps....

 

[93Bandit]

This site has some pre 17 digit VIN info... not sure how much it helps....

Thanks. I came across that site while searching but it didn't really give me much to go on.

 

[93Bandit]

... So its a big mystery?

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

There is a site, something like Ozebooks or ??? edit, I didn't open the link above but that was the one, read my info below to see how that info is as good as you will get, not so good for anything after 1980.

BTW which Model, if it's the GS1000S I have the answers for you.

David.

Edit, found this.

http://www.classicjapcycles.com/japanese-motorcycle-serial-number-codes/suzuki-serial-numbers

So find the model and the year, the starting VIN is listed, look at the following year and find the same model, the new starting number will give you the theoretical number of units produced, it's just a guess though and more research is needed but it's a start.

For example the 1979 GS1000S starting VIN (frame number) is 521285, the starting number for 1980 is 528511, so that gives the number of units maximum possible as 7,226 units for 1979, could be less but not more.

You can not do it with engine numbers as the engine numbers are shared with many models using the same engine, but the models have their own frame numbering series which are usually reserved for just the one model, except the 1980 GS1000ET and GS1000S share the 52XXXX/ 53XXXX series, which makes research a bit more difficult.

Suzuki did not keep very good records unfortunately.

 

[Rob S.]

Why can't they just tell us? There's many sites that will tell you exactly how many Camaros, Mustangs etc. were sold each year. Even specify Z28s, etc.

 

[93Bandit]

There is a site, something like Ozebooks or ??? edit, I didn't open the link above but that was the one, read my info below to see how that info is as good as you will get, not so good for anything after 1980.

BTW which Model, if it's the GS1000S I have the answers for you.

David.

Edit, found this.

http://www.classicjapcycles.com/japanese-motorcycle-serial-number-codes/suzuki-serial-numbers

So find the model and the year, the starting VIN is listed, look at the following year and find the same model, the new starting number will give you the theoretical number of units produced, it's just a guess though and more research is needed but it's a start.

For example the 1979 GS1000S starting VIN (frame number) is 521285, the starting number for 1980 is 528511, so that gives the number of units maximum possible as 7,226 units for 1979, could be less but not more.

You can not do it with engine numbers as the engine numbers are shared with many models using the same engine, but the models have their own frame numbering series which are usually reserved for just the one model, except the 1980 GS1000ET and GS1000S share the 52XXXX/ 53XXXX series, which makes research a bit more difficult.

Suzuki did not keep very good records unfortunately.

OK, I see what's going on. So basically the only real number we have is a max number produced, even though actual production numbers could be much less.

I'm specifically curious about a 1979 GS425L

 

[Gorminrider]

in your case, you might be better off looking at the engine number ...Your engine was put in only one model, wasn't it? The suzuki parts fiche may indicate whether they started the motor number mid-series of the 400 or started a new number specifically for the 425.

In my own case (gsx400 engines) this does not work so well as the same engine went into 4-5 different models (E,S,T,L and TX too?) over several years...

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

Looks like the 425cc engine was put in 3 models, M, E and the L model.

BTW what is your engine number?

You can always start a registry, which is what I did for the GS1000S to find out how many bikes were made over the 2 years of production, after about 5 or so years, I was able to get a pretty good estimate and it was fun too.