Melba Toast, Gs400

[jelloelstone]

Just picked it up! Cant wait to tear it apart for a build. I bought it off of my buddy for $400. Other then dings and scratches (and dirt : ) it's in great condition. Runs good for what it is, has just the headers so it is a little sluggish, Baffles will be in the mail, along with a bunch of other parts from DCC.

Pictures will be up tomorrow!

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

As i promised here are some pictures of the bike. Sorry for the horrible cell phone pictures.

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

sorry for the dual pics, my computer likes f'n with me

 

[peteGSX]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Ok I'm gonna tag along for this one... what's the goal? Traditional cafe or something different?

Yeah I got a thing for these little Zuk twins

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

not so tradition cafe (changed to bobber). id like to be able to double up. i might make some "M" bars, they are the same as clubmans but are flat without any rise

upon closer look today i found out the rear shocks are newer! BONUS!

 

[Big R]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Good score Jello!

You have a fused disc or something in your back, correct? I would try some superbike bars or drag bars first. What size are the tires / wheels? And for TONS of info about how to make that motor run like a top, check out the GSResources - those guys know every nut and bolt on the older GS's.

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Rich, that was someone else on one of my threads saying that. My backs alright, layin down cafe hurts it though

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Did a little tear down work today. Well really, i didn't get much done because the air box is bigger then my head and i couldnt get it out of the frame. But shes out! heres that mamoth:

 

[peteGSX]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Ok cool, if you were here in Aus I could send you to an awesome exhaust shop who'll make you some sweet pipes ;D


But yeah, what Rich said about the GSR... do yourself a favour and get on over there for the mechanical stuff, they're awesome! That's my real home forum wise, DTT is now the second home


I went the scrambler path with mine due to my right wrist being a bit buggered, I was initially going to cafe it but that changed my mind as I figured the weight on my wrist would be a killer. Glad I changed my mind now regardless


And yeah, that airbox is a PITA... I have K&N's instead now!

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Thanks for the info! GSR is now favourited on my computer ;D

 

[clutch]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

oops forgot to load the picture :

Is this bike from this board? It's perfect...was hoping to get a better look at the seat!

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Ooooohhh another Zook!
Big R is right about the superbike or drag bars... they feel very comfortable to my old back. Don't get me wrong, I have had clubmans on a couple bikes in the past and love them for short jaunts.
I will look for you over on GSR.

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Clutch, you're right it is a bike from a guy here on DTT (Well it has been pictured on here). the seat is vinyl with a thin layer of foam on the bottom, stitched onto the vinyl in a big diamond pattern, seat pan is either flat fiberglass or sheet metal. Wish i had the link to the build thread. Whether it be on here or another thread, been sometime since ive seen it.

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Here are more pictures of that Honda:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.231128790237537.77480.189034807780269&type=1

The builders name is Andie. Check out some of the other pictures of bikes SomeGuy photagraphy did, there are some really rad ones!

 

[peteGSX]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- As promised Pictures!

Good stuff, don't forget to say g'day over on the GSR! I'm just plain "pete" over there, you'll probably recognise my avatar and sig... haha

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- Electrical update

Got some electrical work done today, started taping off wires to remeber what plugs into which. Surprisingly the gs400 is pretty simple wiring. Comes with a light that tells you what gear your in. Not needed but i think its kinda cool. As of right now im gunna keep it.

I dropped the forks through the tripple tree about 2 inches, i plan to use clip ons on the top of the tripple. Allows my back to be comfy and still has the cafe look.

i put some flipped renthal bars onto it to see what the stance was, looks really mean when its dirty like it is, im liking the stock tank look, as much as id like a littler one, zukis are hard to find a tank that fits...

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- Tear down

I pulled the rear shocks off today to further look at them, They are almost brand new! Really high quality aswell. i wanted to lower the rear of the bike a bit, but i want to keep these shocks. Im gunna have to make a shock mount higher on the frame to lower it a bit.

Suzuki triple trees are great for placing buttons, my new starter button fit right in there!

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- Tear down

I have decided on exahust pipes that come out both sides, like scrambler pipes, but one on each side. Ive seen a few Triumphs with this type on them. More on that later

 

[peteGSX]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400- Tear down

I have decided on exahust pipes that come out both sides, like scrambler pipes, but one on each side. Ive seen a few Triumphs with this type on them. More on that later

Mmmm sounds tasty! Just watch one thing on the right side... make sure you can still get the dipstick out, and if your carbs are like mine there's a choke lever on the left to keep clear of as well.


I put my 2 to 1 scrambler pipe on the left because my mock up was preventing access to the dipstick on the right, and I'd already planned on my 'bar mounted choke lever setup so I have no dramas with the choke lever on the left.


I did consider 2 pipes at one point because I love the Rickman Metisse look but I really wanted to try to get some guts lower in the rev range so stuck with the 2 to 1...

 

[jelloelstone]

Re: 1981 Suzuki Gs400

Pete i did some measurements, the dipstick will clear with the pipe relatively close to it. YES!!! i was also thinking of using some sort of flexible dipstick to attach to the previous cap, that way it can bend out of there. another ideas is to use a dipstick that actually is placed under the seat with clips. Functional? not really but you dont really check the oil excesively, so it is only used a bit, keeping the rad look of the pipes ;D