This is FINAL! THIS is Tracey's ride!

Well.. after an XS650 (which is now for sale... and probably headed for the GTA via ) and a failed shot at a CB350 we settled on this cafe (this tank is screaming bobber though ) diamond in the rough...

This summer it's going to stay stock as Tracey will have her license come Sunday... it won't be ready by then... needs a new bucket, chain gaurd, speedo cable, clutch lever and battery strap... but come winter... well cafe or bobber... we'll have to see what the two ladies decide!

What's interesting is that the GS400 uses dual points, DOHC... and alternating TDC's... which is why after having a machine shop re-face the heads, block, new valves etc.... it wouldn't start... no one thought to reverse the wires from the coils... The timing plate was also advanced as far as it would go... I set it back to factory, reset the gaps...purrs like a tiger!

Tracey says the GS stands for Girl Size... and yes... this one will be pink come next spring!

1977 Suzuki GS400

Displacement: 398.00 ccm (24.29 cubic inches)
Engine type: Twin
Stroke: 4
Power: Some sites report 27.00 HP (19.7 kW)) @ 7400 RPM Others 36 hp (26,86 kW)/ 8.500 rpm, 33 Nm (3,2 kg-m)/ 7.000 rpm
Compression: 8.5:1
Bore x stroke: 65.0 x 60.0 mm (2.6 x 2.4 inches)
Valves per cylinder: 2
Fuel control: DOHC
Cooling system: Air
Gearbox: 6-speed
final drive: Chain

Front tyre dimensions: 3.00-18
Rear tyre dimensions: 3.50-18
Front brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes: Expanding brake

Top speed: 150.0 km/h (93.2 mph)
Fuel capacity: 14.00 litres (3.70 gallons)

Overall Length: 2 080 mm (81.9 in)
Overall Width: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Overall Height: 1 125 mm (44.3 in)
Seat Height: 780 mm (30.7 in)
Wheelbase: 1 385 mm (54.5 in)
Dry Weight: 172 kg (378 lbs)
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 185.0 kg (407.9 pounds)

Audio is bad... but you get the idea ;D

[youtube=425,350]IwdoVyshG2o[/youtube]

OK... this is pretty cool for 1977!

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Wow!

Not knocking the bike in the least, but it is kind of wierd that a 400cc Engine bike has almost the same specs as my 1993 250cc

My Specs
BHP: (Stock) 24 at 7600 rpm

Top Speed (Stock) 87.3 MPH

Compresion Ratio 9.2:1

But, I guess it helps that mine is only 320 lbs Wet

Hope she likes it

New tech vs old tech

So... anyone know of a better looking tank I can drop on this frame? This is one of the more boring tanks I've seen and before I start cutting and welding (considering this would be the my first attempt) I'd like to now my options.

Hell, throw the clubmans on, shorten up the signal lights and you're done. Looks fine the way it is. I'm buying my next bike in Winnipeg.

Take the tank off and let's see the frame. I've got an XS750 tank up in the rafters. GS450 tank is a great cafe tank too, as is the CB750F but it would be HUGE on that bike.

Here's something for inspiration.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D320130882573%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1&item=320130882573

The clubmans I had on the shelf look great on this bike... Tracey's just has to decide how radical she wants to get in rifing position. The drag bars looked pretty good too. And with no internal wiring I might swap them around for her until she finds the right ones.

That GS450 tank is nice... would flow with the boxy look of the seat cowl... what year?

The right paint job and striping could make the original tank look alot better. The cool thing about the seat is there is enough space in the cowl for a gel battery and still run two-up. Grind out the battery cage & airbox, thow on some pod filters and it would change the look to.

I'll pull the tank next week... headed to the lake for a few days after football practice tomorrow.

I'm stoked about this project... and for $500 it's a great starting point! ;D

Last two $500 bikes I bought were my CB550F and the current XS650. Neither ran when purchased, and both ended up costing me WAY TOO MUCH to complete But I'm loving my project and it's gonna be KILLER when complete.

Great starting point for Tracey, and with 6 speeds she may outrun you!

BTW - WASH YOUR BMW!

Tintin said:

Last two $500 bikes I bought were my CB550F and the current XS650. Neither ran when purchased, and both ended up costing me WAY TOO MUCH to complete But I'm loving my project and it's gonna be KILLER when complete.

Great starting point for Tracey, and with 6 speeds she may outrun you!

BTW - WASH YOUR BMW!

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Maybe I'll start shipping old bikes to the GTA!

I'll leave her behind at around 90mph... but I don't think we'll be drag racing any time soon!

The dirt... she got left in a quick shower while I was setting up some shelving in the garage... just haven't had the chance to wash it... even rode it like that

NOOOOOO SMOKE!!!
is that a cheap shot at me and my 2stroke lookin 650?

grimz said:

NOOOOOO SMOKE!!!
is that a cheap shot at me and my 2stroke lookin 650?

Click to expand...

More a shot at the PO and his mechanic... between the bad timing and the reversed plug wires when I did fire it up there were FLAKES of carbon floating in the garage... like a candle with a long wick... crazy shit!

Well Tracey passed her test this afternoon with flying colours... no bike to ride yet but she's licensed!

The GS needed a few things to safety and while I was ordering parts I added a set of head bearings as they are toast... going to a set of tapered bearings form the OEM ball system (You have to order the balls individually? Sheesh).

So $170 in parts to get the $500 bike safetied and safe... not bad!

Sweet. When is it gonna be on the road? We could do a road trip when I'm there, with Tracey's permission of course

Tintin said:

Sweet. When is it gonna be on the road? We could do a road trip when I'm there, with Tracey's permission of course

Click to expand...

48 hours after BikeBandit gets me the parts.... need time to install and get the safety done.

I could always throw a vintage plate on the XS (no safety that way) and we could ride to a mechanic (need a valid reason) in some far off town who specialises in old bikes

Well how about that... Bike Bandit is going to make a liar out of me!

The parts arrived yesterday. After an 11 hour day doing a kitchen reno for my sister I arrived home with a pizza and a plan... eat, shower and sleep... but nooooo.... there were new parts in fed-ex boxes... who the hell could sleep?

So I ate... skipped the shower and headed to the garage. 2-3 hours later...

Cut the old seat from the lower triple clamp... my Dremel almost burned out on that one. I need an air die grinder.

Had the new tapered roller bearings greased, seated and the triple tree back on. Here's my personal way of seating bearings... I keep a variety of diameters of ABS drain pipe in the garage for plumbing jobs around the house and at friends. The GS bearings are ~ 1 1/4 inches across. I slip the pipe over the stalk and drove the bearing down using the pipe and the flat side of a hatchet (it's what I found that was big enough to hit the pipe fully). The pipe will not damage the bearings at all. Works great.

When I mounted the fork tubes I reversed the head light ears to lower the headlight.

Mounted the instrument pod to the bottom of the upper triple clam to lower them. Now the front flows instead of having the pod and bucket sticking way up.

Mounted the new chain guard.

Mounted the bucket.

Now it was 11pm, I was dusty from the reno, greasy from the bike and the mosquitoes had started to drive me to distraction so I quit for the night. Headed for that shower and bed.

Will have the bike done tonight/tomorrow. Unfortunately I'm leaving town Monday for a week so I will safety it when I get back.

I know... pictures... to damn tired last night... will get some later today

You've got 12 days I'm packing my helmet!

Re: This is FINAL! THIS is Tracey's ride! 1977 GS400!

Tintin said:

You've got 12 days I'm packing my helmet!

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That means I have to sort out the bucket wiring this weekend... after another day at Sara's kitchen... and safety & plate the bike in two days when I get back... no problem

BTW... you better have a running bike the next time I come to Toronto Last time I packed my gear for nothing

So long as you visit in the fall we should be just fine. I hope to have it on the road in September.

DONE!

All ready for safety! My brake switch fix worked, sorted out a few electrical gremlins, balanced the carbs, replaced all the broken bits and she's ready for the road!

Total is $700 for the bike and the misc parts it needed (more than half of that was the bucket, light, chain guard & shipping) New $40 tapered head bearings in the total as well.

A nice parking lot is just a back street block from us... so off we went for a little pre-plate riding so Tracey could get the feel for the GS...