Upgrading a 1982 GS650E’s body to a GS650GX Katana’s

[moderntechnician]

Does anyone know how feasible it is to replace my 1982 Suzuki GS650E’s tank, side panels, airbox, seat and tail section with one from a 1982 Katana GS650GX? (I can’t use the front fender because I have a fork brace that won’t allow the higher humped Katana fender, but I can trim and paint my current fender to match up fairly well and it looks a whole lot better than the Katana fender from the start.) Do you think the parts will come close to a bolt on? A neighbor of a friend from my office has one that is a basket case complete with lost parts. But the afore mentioned pieces are there and in fair shape, save for the seat (which I am sure my upholstery guy can redo.)

[hp1000s]

Actually, Suzuki had a stamped steel fork brace that went on the inside of that 650 front fender. I think you can still get it...I looked because I have a 650 Katana fender that I want to use. I think it looks kewler that the 1000/1100 S fender(don't flame me).

[moderntechnician]

I meant that my front fender was in better shape than this gentleman's front fender. All of his bodywork is faded and in need of help, the front fender has cracks where it mounts and sadly may be too far gone. I never looked under the thing! (I'd sure hate to loose my Tarozzi fork brace though!)

Thanks for the info!

I'm not a flamin' kind of guy...

[moderntechnician]

Oh, and I should have mentioned I had a 1980 GS1000S (red and white) that I used to race at P.I.R. and Firebird many many years ago. (I had a lot more mid-range than the Kawi's did and on the twistier configurations was fresher at the end of the main than they were. Had to play with the sprockets for top-end though.)

My now ex' let a friend borrow it for a quick ride up Mount Lemmon and he totaled it. I kept it in the back yard for years, still safety wired up, broke my heart every time I looked at it.

Finally a kid in the old neighborhood wanted it for the smoothbores and I gave it to him, at least some the parts got a new outlook on life!

[waterman]

First off, welcome to forums. What a sad story to share about any bike let alone a precious S. Life happens. She would likely me my ex too.

As for the 650 kat parts grafting to 650e, I don't know. The 650 kat was based more on the shaft drive g model but that doesn't mean anything since they built a different frame for it. My best guess would be to borrow a piece or two say a tank or seat and see how it lines up. As plenty here will tell you, almost nothing is impossible. If they do fit, or require a little modification please post some pics, we all like to see projects.

[moderntechnician]

Thank you, every one here has been good to me so far...

We did bring the Katana tank and side panels over this morning and it is exactly as you said, it needs a little modification.

Now I have some pondering to do, as I can get a 1983 GS1100E silver tank, side panels, tail section and front fender in very nice condition for less money and it gives me an excuse to mount that BIG beautiful headlight up front...


It would look more like this: http://www.ontariocyclesalvage.com/2...kiGS1100E1.jpg


Despite campaigning with a BMW R100S, I'm not a fan of shaft drives. (I have no problem with those that are though.) That's partially the reason why I was considering the GS650E to Katana project. A chain drive 650 Katana would be nice (for me at least.) However $200 for a GS650E to GS1100E body swap compared to a $700 GS650E to Katana body swap if I have to modify the parts anyway...

(I have a nice nice nice Blue 1982 GS650E; we had a radiator place boil out the corrosion in the gas tank in their vat. They did an exceptional job on it but it removed the paint (man, you really need to seal that tank fast!) So now it has an acid dipped tank with Suzuki Blue side panels tail section and fender.

I have a set of smoothbores sitting on a shelf that were stored right and even a box of various teethed (toothed?) race sprockets. And a nice set of Italian rear sets and fork brace. But I'd like to do something special for the body work, in that I have to replace the tank anyway.)

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[moderntechnician]

Parts & Paint

Wow, you guys pay a LOT more for tanks and painting than we do here in Tucson!

My Tank man charges $150 now (without decals or pin striping) and he throws clear coat over the job. I answered an ad for a GS1100E part out and purchased the tank fender and side panels talking the guy down to $200. (Getting hammered by a friend for the parts now, oh well...)

Bud from Bud's Outback had a new '83 GS750ES faring on his wall for 150 bucks and it sat for years!

I guess it helps to have been a junkyard racer and have lots of friends in low places...

(If I hadn't got parts for the RD400 free or nearly so, it would have sat. Of course I reciprocated.)

[moderntechnician]

With the GS1100E’s bodywork going to a friend’s project (and a Ducati Scrambler project in the winds) I’ve decided to paint the GS650E.

I’ll go for the Yellow and Blue Water Buffalo treatment, see the attached photo! (Anyone have a source for the seat?)

Thanks!