AutoXR
Reader
12/2/11 6:33 p.m.
about 6 mos ago I bought my first bike - a GS450. I posted a thread up here... bike had 14,000 miles on it and I have since put 2000 on it>> I even lugged it from Canada to the $2011 Challenge to ride around in sunny Flordia..
I have done small mods to it, mostly removing stuff. I love cafe's (trendy I know) but never liked the way a rounded tail flowed with the very square tank. Well I think I have a solution to my issues - just need some insight Basically using the stock tail and moving it fwd. The biek is far too nice to paint the tank or tail - I have ever receipt and it's only had 2 owners since new -
lmk what you think - need to use your imagination with the actual seat - basically shortened it up
Lack of a seat pad is gonna hurt your nadz.
minimac
SuperDork
12/3/11 6:03 a.m.
Chrome front fender needs to be replaced with one painted to match the bike, but looking good!
Sargent Cycle redid the seat on my son's GS 450, nice job.
Dan
AutoXR
Reader
12/3/11 7:57 a.m.
I have a friend who is gonna trade some parts for powdercoat work. Gonna get a shorty front fender - PC the wheels black and other bits as well. Also going to shorten the stock exhaust - will look stock - only shorter (same trumpets)
Those pipes look pretty minty...I'd hesitate before cutting them up. One of the hardest things to find when restoring an old Suzuki is a decent exhaust. Find some beat up pipes and modify them instead.
edit: also, remember that modifying the exhaust will likely mess up the carburetor jetting, bikes of that era were pretty sensitive to that sort of thing.
AutoXR
Reader
12/3/11 9:25 a.m.
I took the silencers out and noticed a dead spot between 4500 and 6. I am going to take it to a local guru in the spring and have it re-jetted and change the sprocket. All my riding is city and rarely above 50mph so Id like it to pull harder.
I noticed a flat spot on Ian's bike when I liberated the pipes. Put the silencers back in but open them up a bit with a Dremmel or drill, it's cheaper than hiring a tuner.
Dan