So confused... 6 Speed 650E?

[Guest]

I was out riding last night and as I was going down a back road, my spedometer read 65 and I noticed that the gear indicator was blank. I downshifted and the "5" lit up. This confused me so I downshifted again and the "4" lit up. I then upshifted back to fifth and then upshifted again into "sixth". There is a clear clunk as it shifts into this mysterious sixth gear and at about 65mph my RPMs dropped ~500 between fifth and sixth. Can anyone explain this?

[cowboyup3371]

Some of the smaller GS's come with a 6th gear; I know the 550s do but I'm not sure the 650 did.

[huntb]

The 650 manual says 5 speed.

[JTGS850GL]

Some PO might have put a 550 engine in. Could have a 650 top end.

[huntb]

Some PO might have put a 550 engine in. Could have a 650 top end.

Case stamp stays its a 650

[tkent02]

Six gears it's a 550. Five it's a 650. How many do you have? Don't look at the idiot lights, count them.

The only 650s with six gears are 550s with 650 top ends. I think GR650s also had six. Then you would have to count cylinders.

[cornishgs]

does it say 650 on crankcase or on the cylinders.

if it a shaft drive it would be 5 speed I think if its a six speed chain drive it might be 550 with 650 top end.

or a funny gear indicator!!

[huntb]

does it say 650 on crankcase or on the cylinders.

if it a shaft drive it would be 5 speed I think if its a six speed chain drive it might be 550 with 650 top end.

or a funny gear indicator!!

It says 650 on the crankcase. Its a 650E (chain drive). The factory service manual says it is a 5 speed but there is an obvious sixth gear. I have been told before though, that the 650E is basically a 550 bottom end with a 650 top end

[recycled64]

Sort of begs the question, would a 550 transmission fit in a 650E? Apparently not at all, even though they have the same clutch basket part number, the clutch actuation configuration is on opposite sides of the engine between the two. Countershaft sprockets also the same, but everything in between that and the clutch is different. I can just imagine a young(ish) curious and intelligent Suzuki wrench with two totaled bikes in front of him in the early-mid 80's, (and lots of time!) actually attempting the swap. (is my description of said 'wrench' an oxymoron? There must have been SOME to fit that description,lol)

[tkent02]

The factory service manual says it is a 5 speed but there is an obvious sixth gear.

You have actually gone through the gears 1-2-3-4-5-6 and counted them? Or still looking at idiot lights?

[huntb]

You have actually gone through the gears 1-2-3-4-5-6 and counted them? Or still looking at idiot lights?

Yes, defintely. Several times as I was on my 90 minute ride last night I cycled through all six gears. I wish I had a way to record a video while doing it to show everyone. There is no idoit light for sixth, but the 5th gear light does turn off (so no idiot lights are on) when the bike is in "sixth" gear

[tom203]

Well, use your fingers to count! I got a spare console that lights up in 6th gear spot, but I don't expect it to add a sixth gear if I use it. No sign of a sixth gear here in this parts fiche

http://www.alpha-sports.com/spst/1982%20GS650E/53.htm?q=suzuki-parts

[huntb]

Use my fingers to count what? There is a physical clunk into a sixth gear with a noticable RPM drop

[tom203]

I'm envious, cuz I sometimes wish that I had another gear! The clutch actuactor is on right side of crankcase (as you sit) ?

[Jedz123]

Sounds like you got lucky... That is a pretty sweet configuration to have... 6 speed tramny and the near 700cc top end. Bet it's quite quick... Horray for owning a MC that's been around for 3 decades, only a select few ever truly knows the bikes full history.