Kansas City 1980 Suzuki gs450s

[eil]

I didn't think I would need tubes with the tubeless tires...? Is it a fit/safety issue?

Take a look at the parts diagram and/or manual for your bike. If you see tubes in the pictures, then your options are:

1) buy new tubes
2) take your chances with the old tubes
3) adapt your rims to run tubeless

And as I learned on my 850GL, just because one tire has a tube in it doesn't mean the other will as well.

There are people here who have done #3 above and say everything has been hunky-dory ever since. Apparently you have to make the valve stem hole wider. And buy new valve stems. Others say it's riskier (from a safety perspective) for reasons I don't fully recall. I myself run tubes, even though they're a thorough pain in the ass when it comes to fitting new tires.

 

[gs450s]

Tires have been mounted and balanced. Went with no tubes.
Brake parts should be delivered today too.

 

[Gorminrider]

oh sorry I forgot which bike I was looking at! too many tabs open-No spokes! -your rims are the cast-same as mine to look at except mine are just alloy finish with dark grey paint-not gold like yours.Mine are supposed to have tubes BUT others here have been successful just putting tubeless on and when I compare the rims to some slightly newer Tubeless rims the only mechanical difference I see is the airvalve...So you found a valve to fit or drilled them out..?because yours seem to have the tube-valve in the pix.

 

[gs450s]

Not sure if you can tell what kind of valves the new ones here.
I talked to the tech before he mounted them and he agreed I wouldn't need tubes.
I know he put new valves in but he didn't mention what kind or anything about them.

 

[Guest]

Hey mate, not sure how I missed this but nice find! I haven't caught up on the details but I do run tubes in my '82 450E (same wheels as yours). I run Avon Roadriders, 90/90-18 front and 100/90-18 rear.

 

[850 Combat]

The spacers are dampers. They are there to glued the motor to stop the "fin ring", which is the transmitting noise from within the motor out to the surrounding area by damping their vibrations. Yamaha RDs were the first bikes I remember them on, but there well may have been earlier bikes using them.

 

[Gorminrider]

those look an awful lot like tube valves to me,gs450s, so I wonder if the mech didn't have second thoughts...but they will work fine,if so.

The spacers are dampers.

and these are news to me,850combat- this is only the second Suzuki in this forum I've seen these on, though I do see them on all the new Royal Enfields... now I am wondering if I should get some to see what they will do for me! I learn stuff here- I do!

 

[gs450s]

Bike is fully back together.
Plastidipped the wheels black while they were off.
Rebuilding the brake caliper did the trick so everything now works as it should.

 

[gs450s]

Took the bike out today and put a little over 50 miles on it.
Couldn't believe the difference the new tires made.

 

[Gorminrider]

but Where's the fender? you'll get dirt all over a pretty bike? and lose what fork-bracing it has too.

 

[gs450s]

The front fender will likely go back on at some point but I haven't decided if I will shorten it up or not.

Has anyone found a replacement bolt kit for this engine?
Ive heard of them existing but can't seem to find one anywhere online.
Looking at replacing a few gaskets soon and would really like to replace the stripped phillips head screws with solid allen heads.
If at all possible, anything but chrome.

 

[Larry D]

Z1 has them. Search 450 bolt set.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/Home.aspx

 

[Hooptie]

Howdy from Mission. I'd love to meet up with some other GS folks at some point.

 

[gs450s]

Thank you Larry. Exactly what i was looking for.

On another note, has anyone had issues with scraping the kickstand on turns?
I've dragged it on a few sharp turns now and I'm far from knee scraping style leans.

 

[Gorminrider]

No, I haven't but my sidestand is worn down at its mount and has "receded" such that Its end foot-push barely clears the muffler. I put a piece of vinyl hose on it to be able to get it with my heel. Goes without saying, it needs the original bumper on itas well so as not to melt the vinyl I am using.

I can't see a left side view of your bike to compare with mine,
BUT I did read somewhere (in some review) that you are not alone per sparking the stands. I have thought the centrestand foot lever sticks out too much too and makes me wary.