Help with Model Identification GS650 G/GT/GX????

[canuck1969]

1st post as I am beginning my rebuild of a 1981 GS650G. All is going well and torn down to wheels and engine. Engine comes out today.

Started my list of part replacements and came across my 1st hurdle. Long time bike owner and this is the 4th bike I have restored in the last 3 years so not new to this game but this one has me stumped. Way to many options for a bike that was technically in production for 3 years.

The confusion comes in when I look up the parts diagram. The 650G on Partzilla or Suzuki parts house show the G having a different orientation for the air box. My filter is changed from the right side of the pike behind the panel. The G in those diagrams show if from the top. When I look at the diagrams on CMSNL, if I look up the GT model it shows the correct orientation but the serial numbers don't match what the diagrams are supposed to be for. To make it even more confusing CMSNL shows an oil cooler for the G model.

What the heck do I have here. Just want to be sure I am ordering the right parts for the right bike.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Burlington, what state or country?

 

[canuck1969]

Ontario Canada

 

[rphillips]

Go to home page, across to GS Info, then down to model information & you should find everything, but you won't. I just looked & there are 7 "81" 650 listings. 650 E is basic chain dr., 650 G is basic shaft dr., 650 GL is a shaft dr. cruiser "L" model, 650 GM should be shaft dr. Katana, 650 L is chain dr. cruiser, 650 M is chain dr. Katana. That dang 650GT has me stumped, as a rule anything ending in GT is a "G", meaning shaft dr. & "T" is, (I thought always) an "80" model should be an "80" model standard bike with shaft dr. No 650's in "80".... I just Du'no, not a clue.

 

[canuck1969]

That is where I pretty much ended up. Confused. If it was not for the air filter coming out the side I would be fine with the G designation but then the oil cooler throws me. Was not modified as all the screws to mount the box are in the correct orientation on the frame. The GT is an oddball. Perhaps European/Canadian.

pretty sure it is a G model with the X carbs. Perhaps someone else can comment on the air filter orientation being different. It is a Canadian model so that may make a difference?

 

[rphillips]

"G" means shaft dr. "X" means 1981 model. Is it chain or shaft dr.? Is it an "L" cruiser model? taller bars, 4" stepped seat, chrome rear fender, tear drop fuel tank? 0r standard 1" step in seat, plastic tail section W/ black plastic rear fender & lower bars?

 

[canuck1969]

"G" means shaft dr. "X" means 1981 model. Is it chain or shaft dr.? Is it an "L" cruiser model? taller bars, 4" stepped seat, chrome rear fender, tear drop fuel tank? 0r standard 1" step in seat, plastic tail section W/ black plastic rear fender & lower bars?

Not an L, that I am sure of. Share drive so it is a G. I suspect it is a GT. It makes no real difference. On difference I can see is the location of the air box. That is the confusing part.

 

[650Skull]

from the Clymer GS650 fours 81/82 models, G/E/L Shaft drive and chain drive

 

[650Skull]

from the Clymer GS650 fours 81/82 models, G/E/L Shaft drive and chain drive

 

[650Skull]

Will need to right click and open in new tab to get the full size.........Sequence i order Post #10,#9,#8

from the Clymer GS650 fours 81/82 models, G/E/L Shaft drive and chain drive

 

[650Skull]

From my understanding in 81 and 82 there was an X and Z model for each year. 81GX and 81GZ same as 82. Some of the differences are minor like Decals but also the Z models have a fuel gauge.

I have an 82E and it confused the hell out of me, Chain drive, shaft drive, crank roller bearings, crank shell bearings, a lot of changes in those 2 years...........Still a lo to learn.

 

[canuck1969]

Ok. That makes sense now. My shop service manual for the G also shows it on the side. Shaft is on the side. Chain is on the top. I suspect that some parts diagrams are referring to the 650 G Katana. When I went back and looked at the CMSNL parts diagram for the G and looked at the tank and side panels it was for a Katana. Just tells me that I will need to cross reference the part numbers just to be sure I am getting right ?G?. Thanks all. Will start to post my build in the project section once I get some time.

 

[canuck1969]

The XS was much less confusing.

I have the X model. That much I am 100% sure of. Even I can?t miss a fuel gauge.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Except that X isn’t the model. It’s the year code for 1981.

 

[canuck1969]

I did figure that part out. Some parts diagrams make it even more confusing by designating it as a GX and GZ. Go figure that Suzuki can mess up a 3 year production run.

I am good for now.

 

[rphillips]

OK, Now what the hell is the GS650GT listed in this sites model information?????

 

[canuck1969]

I have this sneaking suspicion that a straight G in the parts diagrams is the Katana variant. That coincides with some wiki sites I have seen on the GS history. They refer to the 81 G as a Katana. The parts diagrams I looked at follow that with the tank and side panels being the katana style and and a oiler cooler.

I suspect the GT model was the standard non katana G that we refer too. That is the only thing that makes any sense. At least that is what I am going with otherwise my OCD wont let me move any further.

I can?t believe this is the first time this has come up. Perhaps I am just too anal. :biggrin::biggrin:

 

[hank2]

I have the same model and year as the OP. Yes, it's a GS650G ( T), T indicating the 1981 model. Compact shaft drive, plain bearing crank with engine oil providing the primary lube, rather that separate gear oil. I do believe that the European and possibly Canada sold models of the same bike were named GS650GT as the entire model name regardless of year. The first "Katana" and only shaft drive one was the same drivetrain, with the Katana body work, seat, different bars, addition of oil cooler and different oil pan with cooler ports. None were sold in the US although a few found their way here. Without looking it up, I believe that Katana model was designated the GS650G-M.

That side cover access airbox of the shaft 650's can be lots of fun when attempting to get the hold down clips back on. At the moment I can't recall if it's the top or bottom clip that's very hard to access. The '81 model only has a few one year quirks of it's own. No fuel guage, different choke knob location and earlier '81's take a different cam cover gasket. Parts fiches show the serial no. break for that.

It's been my experience that US Suzuki parts listings do not show the GS650 Katana model at all. UK Suzuki listings do. Of course there's also the chain drive GS650E model which was sold in the US.

*After seeing Rich's post I see that I posted incorrectly above about T indicating '81. X-Z-D for the 3 years of GS650's. The "T" was part of the model designation, not used in the US.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

These are the Suzuki year designator letters for ?77-?85

77 - B
78 - C
79 - N
80 - T
81 - X
82 - Z
83 - D
84 - E
85 - F

source

 

[canuck1969]

Spot on with my findings also. The GT is just to differentiate it from the G Katana. Think I figured out the parts. I did see the valve cover difference although the frame number division is a little off. Mine still has the 16 bolt pattern. At first I though it potentially had an engine swap until I looked up the 82 and the part diagrams still have two different types of gaskets although in 82 they say X and Z variations instead of by serial number. Guessing they figured out that their serial numbers were off a bit.

as for the air box, it is the bottom clip that is a bit of a challenge. Good to know my swearing at it was not without cause.