GS450A Questions

[93Bandit]

I've been trying to convince my wife to get a bike for a while now. When browsing the classifieds I found an 83 450A for sale that looks pretty clean and supposedly is road ready. Since you don't have to use the clutch I figured it'd be perfect for my wife to learn on.

I didn't know Suzuki made an automatic bike so naturally I wanted to know more. I logged onto GSR and began searching. I only found a handful of threads concerning these bikes. So I turned to Google which also has very little information.

From what I gathered, its a clutchless 2 speed that must be shifted by the rider. This being the case, I assume there is a torque converter of some sort instead of the clutch, and I imagine the two gears are similar to a regular GS transmission. The bikes were only made for 2 years so I'm sure some parts will be hard to find. I'd like to know if the automatic transmissions had any major issues or if they seemed to work alright?

Does anyone have extended experience with one, or know of someone who does that can speak to the reliability?

Also, I've not be able to find a shop manual for it yet. Basscliffs website has an owners manual, but it's low quality and hard to read.

Any information is appreciated!

 

[Steve]

I have experienced exactly ONE GS450GA. Since my son used to have an '81 GS450T, I do have a basis for comparison.

Let's just say that I was not impressed. At all. The basic 450 is certainly not an overpowering bike, but it is rather spunky. The 450GA felt every bit like a 250.

True, there is no clutch, but you do still have to shift. At idle, you move the lever from N(eutral) to L(ow). Holding the brakes helps keep it from lurching, just in case the idle is high or the oil is cold. Low range is good to about 50, but it's pretty wound out by then. The bike I was riding did not like to be shifted before 40, as there was simply no power available in High range at that speed. Shifting is a simple matter of rolling off the throttle to remove any loading from the gears, then moving the shift lever.

I think that a 450 is a wonderful bike on which to learn to ride, but I don't think the GS450GA is the proper model. Taking your wife to an MSF Basic Rider Course will teach her how to use a clutch, even if she has never experienced one before.

By the way, did you notice the second "G" in GS450GA? :-k Yep, it's a shafty. :encouragement:
I don't know if the final drive ratio is any different than the chain-driven 450, but it is VERY evident that there is less power available.

.

 

[tom203]

Get her a small dual sport bike ...learning to shift is easy compared to learning to cope with real world road fun. Then ,as her confidence builds, get her in those courses as Steve suggests.

 

[Guest]

I owned an 83 GS450GA twice! I bought it to make a learner's bike for son's sweetie. Took longer to rebuild than she lasted so I had an extra bike around. I bought some $20 side bags and put on a left over sport shield. Used it for my errand bike around town. Very easy to live with. Not much power, you really don't gain much by shifting from low to high. Just leave it in high. Took it out on several 300 mile days. It worked just fine (no Interstate speeds). Sold it to a first timer. He got his endorsement, the starter died (loose magnets) and he sold it back to me. I bought a used $45 starter off Ebay and sold it for asking price to the first guy that showed up. Use it to learn to ride. Learn to shift after. Less distraction.

 

[LAB3]

I've been trying to convince my wife to get a bike for a while now.

It'll be easier to get her to ride if it's her decision. If she needs convincing a moped might be a better choice since it's less intimidating.

As to buying a bike in "Ready to ride" condition, that often means different things to different people. If Steve or some of the other gurus here make that claim then I'd be all in! Everyone doing their own work is an award winning mechanic according to their Craigslist ad, the truth all too often falls short of that claim. With an upcoming trip on the horizon do you REALLY want another bike to sort through?

I've never had a Suzuki automatic but have had a Hondamatic. Great little bike to get around town on or as affordable transportation to get back and forth to work. Anything beyond that is asking a bit much.

 

[Grimly]

By the way, did you notice the second "G" in GS450GA? :-k Yep, it's a shafty. :encouragement:


.

<perks up>

Now... that's interesting.
I wonder if the shaft front bevel is in a seperate housing like some of the Kwaks / Yams and if not, whether that engine casing in its entirety could accept the top and bottom guts of a GS500.
Nah; probably too much work but I'm quite taken by the idea of a small shafty. After all, BMW made a 450 shart <- hahah, typo left in, as it was so appropriate.

 

[93Bandit]

It'll be easier to get her to ride if it's her decision. If she needs convincing a moped might be a better choice since it's less intimidating.

As to buying a bike in "Ready to ride" condition, that often means different things to different people. If Steve or some of the other gurus here make that claim then I'd be all in! Everyone doing their own work is an award winning mechanic according to their Craigslist ad, the truth all too often falls short of that claim. With an upcoming trip on the horizon do you REALLY want another bike to sort through?

I've never had a Suzuki automatic but have had a Hondamatic. Great little bike to get around town on or as affordable transportation to get back and forth to work. Anything beyond that is asking a bit much.

In my original post I said "supposedly road ready" which was sarcasm but sometimes sarcasm doesn't covey well through text. I'm aware of the typical maintenance items that would need to be address IF we were to buy the bike. My point in stating that it is "supposedly road ready" is that it from the pictures it appears to be well cared for, so it wouldn't need a full restoration to be road worthy.

Also, no, I don't want another bike to sort through right now. We're not in the market to buy another bike, but I'm always looking just because. I simply became aware of the 450A and thought it might make a good bike for beginners, so I thought I'd see if anyone has experience with them. If my wife warms up to the idea of getting a bike, I may look into getting one someday. I doubt this bike will sell so it may be around by the time that day comes.

Although, she is the type that has to do something before she'll actually come around to it. I had to convince her to ride on the back of my bike with me. She was adamantly against it at first, but after I finally got her to go with me around the block, I had to buy her a helmet and jacket. She's always asking to go for rides now. So I think she'd enjoy riding her own bike, she's just a little low on confidence at the moment.

 

[93Bandit]

I have experienced exactly ONE GS450GA. Since my son used to have an '81 GS450T, I do have a basis for comparison.

Let's just say that I was not impressed. At all. The basic 450 is certainly not an overpowering bike, but it is rather spunky. The 450GA felt every bit like a 250.

True, there is no clutch, but you do still have to shift. At idle, you move the lever from N(eutral) to L(ow). Holding the brakes helps keep it from lurching, just in case the idle is high or the oil is cold. Low range is good to about 50, but it's pretty wound out by then. The bike I was riding did not like to be shifted before 40, as there was simply no power available in High range at that speed. Shifting is a simple matter of rolling off the throttle to remove any loading from the gears, then moving the shift lever.

I think that a 450 is a wonderful bike on which to learn to ride, but I don't think the GS450GA is the proper model. Taking your wife to an MSF Basic Rider Course will teach her how to use a clutch, even if she has never experienced one before.

By the way, did you notice the second "G" in GS450GA? :-k Yep, it's a shafty. :encouragement:
I don't know if the final drive ratio is any different than the chain-driven 450, but it is VERY evident that there is less power available.

.

Yep, it's a shafty which is cool. Low power is OK because she'd only be riding around town with it, no highway business. It would be best if she could learn to use a clutch, but she has to warm up to the idea of being on a bike before she'll have the confidence to learn how to use a clutch. That's why I'm thinking something easy to ride, like an automatic bike, would be the best thing to get her comfortable on the saddle. Once she's confident, she could learn to clutch pretty quickly.

Also, for some reason I'm fascinated by the 450GA. I'm kind of turning into a GS hoarder and I like unique and uncommon things. The 450GA is definitely both of those, even if it is a lazy performer. For the right price, I wouldn't mind adding one to the collection.