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After 16 miserable years of marriage....I was finally able to get a bike..again. Back when I was 16 my dad died and left me his Harley low rider and superglide...my step father made me get rid of them or move out. At 17 I picked up a GS550..again was threatened with homelessness. At 19, GSXR750... thought I would kill myself on it so I sold it. Now... 25 (20 of which in the Navy) years later... I picked up an 81 GS450EX for a few bucks. The owner had it stored for the last 6 years in a shed, "found it" while selling an engine he also had stored. Over the last 3 weeks, I have replaced wiring, OEM cosmetics like acorn nuts, straps, screws etc., degreased, cleaned, cleaned tank, removed corrosion, polished, scrubbed, tuned, blah blah blah. you get the picture. Bike runs fantastic and I can't complain yet. Read the Top 10 Newbie Mistakes thread, already knew most of them. ADD A NEW FREAKING GROUND!!! can't stress this one enough. Suzuki Parts Warehouse... finding all my OEM part numbers. Keep an extra cheapo voltage regulator handy. Keep a flash light, zip ties, 10 in 1 screwdriver, metric multiwrench and a Gerber mulit-tool in the storage.
LINK TO PICS 1981 GS450EX
The best part of all this, having great friends to help as needed. Cost me a couple cases of beer to get some of the best motorcycle mechanics in the area over to give advice or help.
Carbs cleaned, rebuilt, tuned - cost ~$50 parts and a case of beer
NGK sparks - ~$3 - know the manager at the autoparts store
Tires - FREE brand new - guy had in his garage, sold his GS and forgot to give the guy the tires he just bought, found on CL.
Front brake rebuild - $22 kit $10 kevlar pads
Rear brake - $23 shoe/spring kit
Gel-Cel battery (new) - $60 Link to battery supplier Moto Part Hub I paid $60.14, its now $68... still cheaper than anywhere else for a gel
1 gal citrus degreaser - $20
1 spray bottle - $3
6 nylon tooth brushes - $3
6 Brass tooth brushes - $4
2 rolls of aluminum foil - $2 (removes rust from chrome like a champ...dollar store foil)
Light bulbs - FREE - bike store going out of business
1 small chain, tank clean solution, tank liner - $30 (same bike store going out of business)
Misc OEM parts(nuts/bolts/straps/fastners etc) ~$80
complete once over by 2 master mechs and myself - Case of beer, bottle of Fireball, 3 steaks and fixings.
Bike running to perfection - PRICELESS
Still getting rust off as I have time.
Did I mention I'm trying to keep this one as factory as possible. I can't stand coffee
.
Also, the front fender has this eagle on it along with both sides of the fork reflector... its like a hood ornament about 3 inches tall and about an inch round. Local suzuki mech said that they were popular add-ons in the 80's.... anyone have anything on this?
LINK TO PICS 1981 GS450EX
The best part of all this, having great friends to help as needed. Cost me a couple cases of beer to get some of the best motorcycle mechanics in the area over to give advice or help.
Carbs cleaned, rebuilt, tuned - cost ~$50 parts and a case of beer
NGK sparks - ~$3 - know the manager at the autoparts store
Tires - FREE brand new - guy had in his garage, sold his GS and forgot to give the guy the tires he just bought, found on CL.
Front brake rebuild - $22 kit $10 kevlar pads
Rear brake - $23 shoe/spring kit
Gel-Cel battery (new) - $60 Link to battery supplier Moto Part Hub I paid $60.14, its now $68... still cheaper than anywhere else for a gel
1 gal citrus degreaser - $20
1 spray bottle - $3
6 nylon tooth brushes - $3
6 Brass tooth brushes - $4
2 rolls of aluminum foil - $2 (removes rust from chrome like a champ...dollar store foil)
Light bulbs - FREE - bike store going out of business
1 small chain, tank clean solution, tank liner - $30 (same bike store going out of business)
Misc OEM parts(nuts/bolts/straps/fastners etc) ~$80
complete once over by 2 master mechs and myself - Case of beer, bottle of Fireball, 3 steaks and fixings.
Bike running to perfection - PRICELESS
Still getting rust off as I have time.
Did I mention I'm trying to keep this one as factory as possible. I can't stand coffee
. Also, the front fender has this eagle on it along with both sides of the fork reflector... its like a hood ornament about 3 inches tall and about an inch round. Local suzuki mech said that they were popular add-ons in the 80's.... anyone have anything on this?
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