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Suzuki GS450 --- Cafe Build

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flaming Chainsaws
  • Start date Start date
Today was a nice day. 64*F, sunny, blue skies...

I bled the front brakes again just to make sure. I checked for any loose bolts, bad grounds, put parts back on, etc. Done and done!

My petcock is not leaking. Turns out it was because I didn't use that special gasket washer. You guys saved me some money :). Thanks!
DSCN3309-1.jpg


And here's the relocated igniter. I need to make an electronics tray soon...
DSCN3336.jpg


Then gave the bike a nice wash.

I like how the forks are so shiny.
DSCN3325.jpg


And the engine too!
DSCN3312-1.jpg


DSCN3317-1.jpg


DSCN3327-1.jpg


Finally... Today was it's first real ride of the year. Got my gear on and bike on the streets. Runs perfectly. My only complaint is the pink gas tank :o. Well, I still feel better riding it than when it was in it's stock condition. Believe it or not, it's quite comfortable for that 1 hour 30 min ride.. Even with the clubmans and no seat pad.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to ride next week. Still gotta finish up the gas tank and seat. Forgot to to mention this too but the engine doesn't blow blue smoke out anymore :).
 
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Lookin' good FC! Just gotta get that tank painted.

In the meantime until you do your electrics tray, you might want to move that ground for your ignitor... that mounting has a rubber grommet and it would be much safer grounding it to the bare metal of the ignitor bracket itself or the same location as the R/R ground.
 
Lookin' good FC! Just gotta get that tank painted.

In the meantime until you do your electrics tray, you might want to move that ground for your ignitor... that mounting has a rubber grommet and it would be much safer grounding it to the bare metal of the ignitor bracket itself or the same location as the R/R ground.
Thanks!

I tried putting the ground wire on the igniter but it wouldn't start. Then I moved the ground to where it is now and it starts. And I can't move the ground to where the R/R is because the wire is too short and I don't want to extend wire. I will look around for more bolts to put the ground on. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Weird... maybe there's nothing under the ignitor bolt to ground it to? Either way, just make sure you have a nice solid ground and it will be fine :)

I just don't want to see your new ignitor get damaged...
 
Weird... maybe there's nothing under the ignitor bolt to ground it to? Either way, just make sure you have a nice solid ground and it will be fine :)

I just don't want to see your new ignitor get damaged...
Yup. That's it. You know how the other side of the electronics plate has a bump so that the wires can got through it? Yeah... But I made sure not to over tighten the bolts. I will change the ground point though!
 
Looks good FC and glad you found that washer. When is it due for grade? Has the instructor said anything so far?
 
Looks good FC and glad you found that washer. When is it due for grade? Has the instructor said anything so far?
And thank you and Pete for telling me about this washer :).

OK. So you guys know that I go to two schools right? One is a regular high school and the other is hands on skills school. I am presenting my project at the skills school since that's where I've been working on it and since I'm in the automotive class.

Now here's here I misunderstood. The regular high school presentations are on May 19th-20th. But at the skills school, presentations are going to be on June 2nd-3rd. I've got about 3 weeks left.
 
Do you have any close up pictures of that plate mount? Do you know which one it i?

Also, do you have a link for those tail lights?
 
Do you have any close up pictures of that plate mount? Do you know which one it i?

Also, do you have a link for those tail lights?
I think I have an extra sideways plate mount somewhere. But the one I'm using right now, I bought on eBay.

Maybe this pic will help you out.
dscn2686v.jpg


I got those lights from smileta on eBay. Here's one! If you buy one, you can choose either chrome or black.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moto...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb7cb98a7
 
wow

wow

Looks great. Nice to see another nice pint here! Hard to believe that started out as an L
 
Looks great. Nice to see another nice pint here! Hard to believe that started out as an L
Hehe... Another pint and another Seattle'r :).

I was thinking... My bike is really tough to get on the center stand! Since I chopped the rear frame and all. What if I bought this? The left hole goes to the top shock mount and the right hole goes to the frame, which I'd need to drill through the frame.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977...2889118QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
 
Hmmm you may be getting it on the stand not using the best method if it's really hard...

I use that handle myself on my E, but only as something to steady it, I don't use it to pull on.

Make sure you stand on the centre stand bit that pokes out and use your body weight to lift the bike onto the stand if that makes sense.

You shouldn't need to lift the bike onto the stand with your arms. That's what I did initially years ago and it wasn't until somebody told me to stand on it that I figured out how much easier it was...

This guy yammers on a bit, but you get the idea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDNqCMNau9A
 
Hehe... Another pint and another Seattle'r :).

I was thinking... My bike is really tough to get on the center stand! Since I chopped the rear frame and all. What if I bought this? The left hole goes to the top shock mount and the right hole goes to the frame, which I'd need to drill through the frame.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977...2889118QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories


I like to think of us as the "Brotherhood of the Pint". Everyone needs a pint and life is better with twins, right? Get that thing painted! I'm dieing here waiting. Lookin good.

cg
 
Hmmm you may be getting it on the stand not using the best method if it's really hard...

I use that handle myself on my E, but only as something to steady it, I don't use it to pull on.

Make sure you stand on the centre stand bit that pokes out and use your body weight to lift the bike onto the stand if that makes sense.

You shouldn't need to lift the bike onto the stand with your arms. That's what I did initially years ago and it wasn't until somebody told me to stand on it that I figured out how much easier it was...

This guy yammers on a bit, but you get the idea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDNqCMNau9A
Yeah, that's what I do. But it's just a little harder with nothing to grab onto on the rear side. At least the 450 is light enough :).

I agree with pete just stand on it. Dont drill holes in your frame
Yeah... I don't want to be like Shervin! :eek:

I like to think of us as the "Brotherhood of the Pint". Everyone needs a pint and life is better with twins, right? Get that thing painted! I'm dieing here waiting. Lookin good.

cg
There should be a group specifically for pints :).

I am going to paint it next week. Imagine how I feel riding a pink bike :rolleyes:.
 
So I rode the bike home this weekend just because I can now :). But while riding, I noticed there wasn't as much power as I remember. Got home and felt the pipes. Left header is hot. Right header is warm. Warm enough to grab with your hand and not get burnt.

So I checked for spark. Very nice spark on both sides. Checked the sparkplugs. Left sparkplug is tan. Right sparkplug is silver as in brand new and unused. Also dry and has no smell. So this tells me that gas is not getting to the right hand cylinder.

Think a carb clean would be the solution? It must have gotten dirty from sitting all winter.

I will refrain from starting the bike up this weekend but on Monday, I will have to ride it for 5 mins to get to school. Don't want to warp the heads! :eek:

Here is another thing I noticed. Remember when I first got my bike, only the left hand cylinder worked? Why is this problem back again? I will clean the **** out of the carbs again with Berryman's and leave it dipped for 24 hours. Then spray it with compressed air. Hopefully I can remove the o-rings!
 
that is an awesome bike. hope you don't mind if i steal some of your ideas and use them on mine.
 
I just finished putting my carbs together after I dipped it but I broke the drain screw.

This is what happens when you overtighten a screw.
DSCN3346.jpg


Luckily I was able to get the drain screw out and re use the float bowl.
DSCN3348.jpg
 
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