Any 1980 GS400S owners out there?

[Oldspooneye]

I recently picked up a 1980 GS400S and I am having a heck of a time finding parts for it. None of the local Suzuki dealers or part suppliers have any record of the bike existing. I'm wondering if it is essentially the same bike as the 1980 GS450S. If so, are all the parts interchangeable?

 

[Guest]

If the bike you're talking about is the one in your sig, it looks like the 450 we had here in the states, but it doesn't appear to be something partsoutlaw.com has a listing of.

 

[BigD_83]

No need to reinvent the wheel:

http://www.suzukicycles.org/visitors/index.html?visitors_suzuki_page_107.shtml~isoraami



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[TD]Daryl thought I could use a picture of a Canadian Suzuki 1980 GS400S picture. I surely could... The model was sold in Europe under the name GSX400S, as were all the other 16 valve GS series bikes.[/TD]
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[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFF9"]1980 Suzuki GS400S

Owner: Daryl Park, Canada

Comments: “Prior to my obtaining this GS400S, I couldn’t find anything on the internet that would indicate the GS400S came in red or even existed in 1980. The VIN didn’t seem to match anything out there and trying to cross-reference a replacement battery was a chore at the local Suzuki dealerships.

The closest I could come to finding a replica picture of this bike was on your web site for a 1981 GS450. I later found out from the dealerships that the GS400 was converted to the GS450 and all parts are identical. None the less, the original bill of sales does indicate that this little GS400S is truly 1980 here bought here in Canada.

I’m in the process of selling this bike as I’m not a collector of old bikes, but just an individual wanting to ride.

The bike was ridden for a couple of months back in 1980 and accumulated 977 km. It was then stored in a garage for the next 27ish years unridden.

When I took ownership of this bike in July of this year, 2007, I added another 446 km. It’s like riding a brand new bike.” [/TD]
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[BigD_83]

Given the proximity of the poster above to the OP of this thread, with those funky bar-end mirrors, this could be the same motorcycle

 

[Oldspooneye]

If the bike you're talking about is the one in your sig, it looks like the 450 we had here in the states, but it doesn't appear to be something partsoutlaw.com has a listing of.

Apparently the 400 was never imported into the states. I'm not sure if it was only for Canada.

 

[Oldspooneye]

So Daryl says all the parts are identical but would that include carb parts? I'm fairly new to motorcycles so I could use some help here. Wouldn't the jets be different?

 

[Rijko]

is this the same bike, with an incredibly low number of km's still ?

Did you buy it from Daryl ?

What parts are you looking for ?
And why - like are the jets no good anymore ?

 

[Oldspooneye]

is this the same bike, with an incredibly low number of km's still ?

Did you buy it from Daryl ?

What parts are you looking for ?

I didn't buy it from Daryl, I was just referring to that comment. It may be the same bike but I don't think so. Mine has 33000 Km on it.

So far I've just had to get an oil filter, battery, and master cylinder and they have matched the GS450S but I think I will have to rebuild the carbs so I'm not sure if they will match. The local dealer hasn't been any help. They want me to bring in the parts to match them up but I don't want to disassemble my bike if it's going to be weeks to order the parts I need.

 

[Rijko]

at 33.000 km the carbs probably need a good cleaning,
usually there is no need for new jets.

The dealer is right to want to see the parts,
the 450 may have been rejetted.
But with new float bowl gaskets the carbs can be
put together again, no need to wait for weeks.
The dealer will probably order some o-rings and other parts.

Will you rebuild the carbs yourself, do you have
experience with that ?

 

[Oldspooneye]

Will you rebuild the carbs yourself, do you have
experience with that ?

I'll be doing it myself. I have rebuilt the carb on my single cylinder snowblower but never on a twin cylinder motorcycle. Hopefully I'm not in over my head. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Rijko]

you may want to read this guide to see if you want to do it yourself :
http://gsarchive.bwringer.com/cbsaunders/gs/gs450_carb_cleaning_guide.pdf

O-rings can be ordered here : http://www.cycleorings.com
I would order the o-rings that go between intake boots and cylinder
head, too. The old ones are likely hard and if the carbs are off the
bike anyway, they should be replaced.

 

[Oldspooneye]

you may want to read this guide to see if you want to do it yourself :
http://gsarchive.bwringer.com/cbsaunders/gs/gs450_carb_cleaning_guide.pdf

Thanks for the PDF. That's awesome. Seems fairly straight forward.

 

[Rijko]

happy to help, the pdf is hosted and created by awesome forum members.

Lots of info on BikeCliff's site http://gsarchive.bwringer.com/
Also on carb synchronizing which you want to do afterwards.

 

[Guest]

There is one difference in what was sent to the states, our 450s were only 2 valves per cylinder.

 

[Gorminrider]

Goto a motorcycle store that is used to suzukis. Parts ordering should not be a problem IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE....many will not be except from wrecks.
In Canada, these were simply 1980 GS400 but YOU must know exactly what it is you wnt and look over their shoulder while they twiddle with fiches online...Your Bike is really a GSx400E (=4 valves per cylinder and TSCC (twin swirl combustion chamber) with a fairing -see suzuki.org linked above.
sometimes, your bike will have an extra letter added T being 1980 ,X being 81 but the 80 and 81 GSX400 are identical.

Your bike lso shares lot with GS250s and 300s sold in the States.They all use the same shop manual... The clue per GSX motors re the Square Cam Covers.
Body parts, tires electrics and more are same as 450 as you can see plainly from pix above

You can get part numbers to take to your supplier at this European site
https://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-motorcycle_model13053/

carbs are slightly different than 450...but also much is similar .

GOTO twins thred and look around in there.

 

[Oldspooneye]

Your Bike is really a GSx400E (=4 valves per cylinder and TSCC (twin swirl combustion chamber) with a fairing -see suzuki.org linked above.

You can get part numbers to take to your supplier at this European site
https://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-motorcycle_model13053/

I think this is exactly the info I needed. Thank you so much.

 

[Guest]

There seems to be a reflex to go after the carbs if anything isn't running right. But if the valves aren't properly adjusted, the intake boot o rings are hardened up and leaking or the fuel tap is wonky, it can seem as though the carbs need 'rebuilding'.

The fuel system rubber bits will either have been replaced by this time or will need to be replaced. But if the bike runs fine after the valves and intake boots have been serviced, you might consider enjoying the summer riding season and leave the carbs as a winter project.

These motors also are rather fuel sensitive as they are jetted very lean stock, which was fine back when gasoline was the old tradition brew; today's mix with ethanol pushes the mixture even leaner. Plus, with a 10:1 compression ratio you need to run 90 or better octane, and preferably ethanol free if you can find it. Mine would sound like a bad night at a flamenco cafe on regular.

 

[Rijko]

There seems to be a reflex to go after the carbs if anything isn't running right. But if the valves aren't properly adjusted, the intake boot o rings are hardened up and leaking or the fuel tap is wonky, it can seem as though the carbs need 'rebuilding'.

agreed, like the word 'reflex'.
Simple test i always do with old intake boot rubbers is start the bike cold,
let it run for a minute to settle so it runs evenly without choke,
and spray brake cleaner on the intake boots where they meet the cylinder head.
If the rpm changes, the boots and/or o-rings are bad.

Don't take off the boots to check old o-rings if you do not have new ones
to replace them, they will most likely not seal properly if you
put the boots back on.

 

[Oldspooneye]

There seems to be a reflex to go after the carbs if anything isn't running right.

Those are some wise words. You guys are probably going to laugh at this noob, but as I was going through the bike doing some general maintenance I went to check the air filter and it turns out the last owner didn't really believe in them. Who knows how long he ran it without one. As soon as I pooped in a filter the engine ran way better. I'll probably clean the carbs but like John said I'll probably "leave the carbs as a winter project."

You guys have already been a great source for info. Thanks again!

 

[Rijko]

nope, won't laugh at something like that..
po's can sure throw you a curve ball.
cool you found the solution !

I can relate to your amazement when you discovered
the missing airfilter - some time ago i bought a GS1000
non-runner and wanted to change oil and oil filter.
There was oil in the engine but no oil filter ???