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What you guys like/hate about the 450?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fish
  • Start date Start date
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Fish

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Anything I should know about the 450 line? Guy at work says his dad has one in the shed, hasn't seen daylight since the 90s. Worth taking a stab at?
Thanks in advance fella's
 
Fish said:
Anything I should know about the 450 line? Guy at work says his dad has one in the shed, hasn't seen daylight since the 90s. Worth taking a stab at?
Thanks in advance fella's
Click to expand...
Which model and what year. I've only had on 450 and it was the sport model with the factory cafe fairing. It was a fun bike to ride and even though it was a little small for me and my taste. it wasn't too small and the flat long seat allowed me to slide back for more room. The only thing I didn't like was the weird petcock.
 
I've never heard of anything to "hate" except generally the old regulators on all Suzukis from the 80's... "suspension" is a common upgrade too.

But browse through the twins section...and everything really because all our Suzukis have much in common.
 
My only criticism of the 450 is that the seat is bolted on instead of hinged. Getting to the battery is annoying because of having to remove the hold down bolts for the seat, rear fender and grab rail. If you're using a standard/top off with water
type battery, checking electrolyte level is a pain in the butt.

I'm 5'9"+ and they fit me fine, but if you're 6'5", you would probably feel like a monkey on a football. heh
 
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The only thing I don't like about the 450 is that I don't have one! Everything ive read makes me think it would be a great bike. you should go look at it for sure!
 
earlfor said:
My only criticism of the 450 is that the seat is bolted on instead of hinged. Getting to the battery is annoying because of having to remove the hold down bolts for the seat, rear fender and grab rail. If you're using a standard/top off with water
type battery, checking electrolyte level is a pain in the butt.

I'm 5'9"+ and they fit me fine, but if you're 6'5", you would probably feel like a monkey on a football. heh
Click to expand...

Easy fix. Just saw open the bottom of the seat mounting tabs so you can lift it off after just loosening the bolts.

The battery comes out the side with the seat still on.....but the seat has to come off to remove the tank.
 
I haven't seen one for sale near me in decades that wasn't thrashed. It won't cost a penny less to paint or fix charging issues, or ignition, or switches, or brakes, or seat cover than it would to do those things on a GS1000C. The chance of not losing your butt would be less though. That said, it isn't like decent GS1000s, other than the S, are worth a lot of money either. If it is an L, it will be hard to sell to an enthusiast at any price, unless he has a short wife who wants a light bike.

I've never ridden one, but I really liked the S when it was new. The later version, that lookslike a smaller '82/'83 1100E, looks fantastic. Here is an old Cycle World road test:

http://www.yeoldecycleshoppe.com/roadtestlibrary/2017/3/28/1983-suzuki-gs450-e-road-test

Pretty fast, getting into the 13s inthe quarter.
 
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Interesting. I typically see several every year on local CL (set to 200 miles from home). Some nice, some hacked. Agreed on the typically low pricing. The ones I see for sale tend to hang around for a while.
 
I'm hoping to find a gem i can get up and running quickly. My other bike, 650, has been put on hold. The K &N filters threw me for a loop, carbs are not right. Hoping this 450 is an all original with all original parts and airbox.

The gem part may wishful thinking. Apparently they are wanting to tear the shed down very soon so makes me wonder how saved from the elements the bike might be. Don't know what model yet, will look at it hopefully Sunday and report back in.
 
I'm still lovin' my 450... owned it since '98, rebuilt it, over 80,000kms since the rebuild and she's still going strong.

Things to hate? Well, the clutch pushrod setup I don't particularly like going through the sprocket cover, the stock carbs are painful to sort out if the diaphragms perish, and if the ignitor is dead then it can be tricky getting a replacement as that particular one was only used on a handful of models. I'm talking about the 80 - 82 models of 450 here, 83 onwards got different ignition with electronic advance and different carbs too.

Good news though is a lot of GS500 stuff will bolt straight on, like carbs, ignition, so those problems are easy fixed.

Mine gets me to work and back every day and also provides plenty of fun out in the twisties on the weekends too.
 
pete said:
I'm still lovin' my 450... owned it since '98, rebuilt it, over 80,000kms since the rebuild and she's still going strong.

Things to hate? Well, the clutch pushrod setup I don't particularly like going through the sprocket cover, the stock carbs are painful to sort out if the diaphragms perish, and if the ignitor is dead then it can be tricky getting a replacement as that particular one was only used on a handful of models. I'm talking about the 80 - 82 models of 450 here, 83 onwards got different ignition with electronic advance and different carbs too.

Good news though is a lot of GS500 stuff will bolt straight on, like carbs, ignition, so those problems are easy fixed.

Mine gets me to work and back every day and also provides plenty of fun out in the twisties on the weekends too.
Click to expand...

One thing I keep harping on about the 450 is how well the 'cooling system' works. Lots of fins and air passageways and even a tendency to overcool in colder climates. That's a major reason why they last so long, along with a short and stiff crank, bucket and shim valves, 3L of oil and lack of vibration shaking the whole thing to bits like a Brit twin. Okay, the Norton Commando only shook its motor apart and left the rest isolated for future generations.

If you can get the equivalent of 50K miles on a rebuilt in a hot place like Queensland, the design can't be wrong. From a cooling standpoint its 'heaps' better than the single cam offerings from H, Y and K. Also better than the 500 that replaced it, especially the F.

And despite being labeled as a beginners/girls bike, I have guys catch up to me at the gas stop after a section of twisties wanting to know what is that thing?
 
Yep, for an approaching 40 year old small capacity twin, they certainly go pretty well! A mate regularly swaps his 1260cc Kat for my 450 for a run and always comments afterwards how well it goes.
 
I went and looked today. It's going to take some work to get it out into the light again but from what I can see it's in nice shape. One owner, he thinks it is an 82' or 83' but title is in safety deposit box and he is going to grab it tomorrow. 1800 miles, license plate says probably parked early 1990's, sticker says 92 on the plate. He says he tried to trade in with Harley in the 90s and they were not that receptive and only offered him $250 on trade. He will let me have for same $250. Bike looks like it will clean up. Has 2 speed tranny and wire wheels, tires look new. Fair deal?
 
Fish said:
I went and looked today. It's going to take some work to get it out into the light again but from what I can see it's in nice shape. One owner, he thinks it is an 82' or 83' but title is in safety deposit box and he is going to grab it tomorrow. 1800 miles, license plate says probably parked early 1990's, sticker says 92 on the plate. He says he tried to trade in with Harley in the 90s and they were not that receptive and only offered him $250 on trade. He will let me have for same $250. Bike looks like it will clean up. Has 2 speed tranny and wire wheels, tires look new. Fair deal?
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The 450 has a six speed transmission.
 
Yeah, but the 450GA has a two-speed semi-automatic. :-\\\

Personally, unless you NEED the automatic transmission to compensate for some phyical handicap or disability, pass on the deal.

That is, unless you want to buy cheap, spend a bit sprucing it up a bit and sell it cheap.
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