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"suzukimatic"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Harrop
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark Harrop

Guest
My brother-in-law just gave my wife a "SUZUKIMATIC". Year unknown, 80ish I think. I don't know much about them, but it starts(carbs need cleanin'), and shifts into gear. It looks like a GS450 engine, and is in descent shape (it was raining when I looked at it for about 5 seconds). Does anyone know anything about these bikes? What to look out for? That funky automatic tranny? Any info would be appreciated.
Mark
 
This may help

This may help

Here is the info I recieved from a different forum.
I hope it is helpfull, Sounds like what you have.

Thanks,
Gavin


The model you have is known as the GS450GAD 1983 starting VIN
JS1GL51K_D_100001.The bike was introduced in 1982 and the model ended in the USA in 1985 due to poor sales.It was built as a copy of the
GS450 with the auto trans added.Topend parts interchange with the
standard GS450.It has 2 CV carbs (BS34SS)with a accelerator pump.The
cams used were special low lift and less overlap units to increase
mid range power.The Suzuki shaft drive system was used for minimum
maintenence and smoothness of ride.It has air forks;the low seat
height of the GS300(29 1/2");parking brake;and a 16" rear tire .The
automatic is really a small torque converter,that looks like a very
small automobile torque converter.This unit is located under the large
RH engine cover(would be called a clutch cover on a normal bike).Stall
speed of this converter is between 3800-4100 rpm.Only 10W40 engine oil
is used in the engine-No ATF- the oil does double duty lubing the
engine and driving the converter.This bike had no warrantable problems
during its 4 year life.New OEM parts are going to be hard to come
by,and salvage yards may be the only solution.
 
rick romero said:
is that a clutch lever or an extra brake?
Click to expand...
Rick, I think you would still need a clutch to engage the transmission so that when you start ther bike it will not be in gear. Not everyine is a louisiana wheelie champ. :lol:
 
GS450 automatic

GS450 automatic

I have one of these and really like it. I bought it for my wife,but she's too chicken to ride. The right side lever is a parking brake. there is no clutch. Very easy tor ride and lots of power too for just a 450cc
 
GS450 automatic

GS450 automatic

I mean the left lever is the brake, not the right lever!!!
 
automatics dont have clutches...

i saw one of these on ebay a while ago...i really like the idea of them. i want to get one of these someday or at least go for a ride on one. i think it'd be a fun bike to have around for short little across town trips. its gotta be a blast.

~Adam
 
I had a 450 Hondamatic for a while back in the 80s. It was a blast! I used to run it around on our Iowa rock roads, taking the S-curves like Jay Springstein. Yahoo! Luckily, I'm still alive.
Until about a month ago I didn't even know Suzuki had made one. My girlfriend was born without her right hand, and has been bugging me to rig up a bike for her with a left-hand throttle, just for running around on the farm. I had wondered what to do about the whole clutch/throttle on the same side problem. I think i just found the answer! If I can get an auto with a drum brake, it wouldn't be too hard to move the brake lever to the left side.
 
Suzukimatic

Suzukimatic

I love my little 450. It gets about 55 mpg and is sooo easy to ride. Problem I have is I also have a '79GL1000 which I love too. The 450 is actually my wife's bike, and she is kinda scared to ride. If you were closer maybe I'd sell it to your girlfriend.
 
You could take a thumb-throttle off of a snowmachine or ATV. That may be workable along with the brakes with one hand. There are also companies that make lockup clutches specifically for replacing clutch baskets. These have the option of replacing the clutch lever with a rear brake lever.

Cheers, Steve
 
AOD said:
automatics dont have clutches...

i saw one of these on ebay a while ago...i really like the idea of them. i want to get one of these someday or at least go for a ride on one. i think it'd be a fun bike to have around for short little across town trips. its gotta be a blast.

~Adam
Click to expand...

Are you saying that this motorcycle starts with the torque converter engaged and during a warmup or some sort of engine repair or test, if you rev the engine you will go foreward?????
 
i guess its like a clutchless VW bug, you just put it in gear and give it gas
 
rick romero said:
i guess its like a clutchless VW bug, you just put it in gear and give it gas
Click to expand...

Rick, My dad had a super beetle like that but the device was an electeric clutch which dis engaged when you grabbed the shift lever and engaged whenyou let it go. Neat but definitely had a clutch mechanism. ill bet that these suzukimatics have a slip clutch in addition to the torque converter and you start it in neutral then when you are ready yo go you just push it into gear and give it the throttle. A hydramatic is shifIted into a gear position and as the pressure builds up, the bands/clutch tighten up. I would have a hard time imagining just wacking something into gear.
 
Probably more like an auto-tranny car...

Start in Neutral (doiubt a bike would have 'Park'), and put it in 'drive' when you wanna move...
 
Suzukimatic

Suzukimatic

It has a low and a drive shift position, but i only ever use the drive. It works just like an automatic car except that it's a torque converter like on a snow machine. I never uderstood why they never became popular.
 
If I had to guess why they didn't catch on, I'd say it was because people who wanted automatics just got scooters. If you are intimidated by the idea of a standard transmission, then the idea of riding a 'big, powerful, dangerous' motorbike would probably be even more intimidating. Scooters on the other hand cute little things that even my grandmother wouldn't think twice about hopping on and taking for a spin. :lol:

I can actually see a modern version of it coming back as an option on some of the really big touring bikes like the Goldwing. Afterall, it sounds cool, it can be marketed as an added luxury item, it might help sway rich boomers who think bikes are cool (but never got one) to part with their cash, and it wouldn't fall into the 'it's for newbies' catagory which is the kiss of death in North America.

-Morgan
 
I read an artyicle last year i think saying that Honda had a fully auyomaic transmission under construction for release at some later date. I dont remember any details though.
 
It seems like I remember Polaris introducing an auto when they first started that Victory line, then they trashed it due to lack of interest. I can't imagine an automatic bike selling too well in the US. We have kind of a macho thing going here, you know. I know I feel pretty macho in my little Nissan Sentra with my bad-a** 5speed and 110 HP! :D Ya know, my '94 GSXR1100 I used to have had 128HP at the back wheel, and weighed about 2300lbs less than the Nissan. Cars bite. Even my old 850G rocks the Nissan.
 
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