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Gear shift lever length

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    Gear shift lever length

    I've got my 82 Suzie 750e back on the road and it's riding very well.
    But I have big feet size 13 wide and I'm having a difficult time shifting.
    I noticed the gear shift lever on my KZ650 is one inch longer than the lever on my Suzie.
    I can't swap out the KZ650 lever because the splines are a different size.
    Does anyone here know what model Suzie might have a 6 inch or longer lever?
    1982 Suzuki GS750E
    1979 Suzuki GS750E
    1978 Kawasaki KZ650 C2
    1977 HD CR1000
    1977 Kawasaki KZ400
    1974 Honda CB750

    #2
    I am considering after I get home tonight to try and switch around the foot pegs.
    1982 Suzuki GS750E
    1979 Suzuki GS750E
    1978 Kawasaki KZ650 C2
    1977 HD CR1000
    1977 Kawasaki KZ400
    1974 Honda CB750

    Comment


      #3
      Foot peg idea didn't work because the left and right sides are spaced differently.
      1982 Suzuki GS750E
      1979 Suzuki GS750E
      1978 Kawasaki KZ650 C2
      1977 HD CR1000
      1977 Kawasaki KZ400
      1974 Honda CB750

      Comment


        #4
        Maybe just buy a used one off ebay and take it to a machine shop and have them lengthen it an inch or 2?
        1982 GS1100E "Jolene"

        Comment


          #5
          I just may have to do that.
          1982 Suzuki GS750E
          1979 Suzuki GS750E
          1978 Kawasaki KZ650 C2
          1977 HD CR1000
          1977 Kawasaki KZ400
          1974 Honda CB750

          Comment


            #6
            I have a few levers in a box somewhere, will have to see if any of them are about that long.
            If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.

            Comment


              #7
              I bought a long lever from swap meet that was probably from a Harley, took lever that was on bike and cut off lever part just leaving part which slipped onto spline. Took to welder had original piece welded to new lever on the inside of it, where it would line up with the spline and slipped old piece back on spline. Sticks out a little more and doesn't look perfect, but I polished everything up, and it's good enough for me. Just have to be sure to line up new lever on old piece so it lines up right to get your foot under it. I have floorboards instead of foot pegs so works great for me.

              Comment


                #8
                That a great idea, I know the lever on my 1978 KZ650 is just about the right length, so I will look up one on ebay and cut that lver and weld to a suzuki base.
                That should work. The things we must do when one has big feet.
                1982 Suzuki GS750E
                1979 Suzuki GS750E
                1978 Kawasaki KZ650 C2
                1977 HD CR1000
                1977 Kawasaki KZ400
                1974 Honda CB750

                Comment


                  #9
                  Problem Solved.


                  Today I received two gear shifters I bought on fleabay, one from a 1978 Kawasaki KZ650 and one for a 1982 GS750.
                  Side by side the Kawasaki lever was about one inch longer and had the same angle as the stock unit. At first I thought the splines on the KZ650 unit were different but then I noticed the ID was just a hair smaller than that on the Suzuki lever. So with the help of a big flat head screw driver I was able to spread the KZ650 lever and increase the ID just a little. That was all it needed, the Kawasaki lever fit. I took Suzie on a test ride and what a big difference that one inch made, my big size 13 boots were finally able to make shifts and the extra leverage make shifting a little easier.


                  Rick
                  1982 Suzuki GS750E
                  1979 Suzuki GS750E
                  1978 Kawasaki KZ650 C2
                  1977 HD CR1000
                  1977 Kawasaki KZ400
                  1974 Honda CB750

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by 82Suzie View Post
                    Problem Solved.


                    Today I received two gear shifters I bought on fleabay, one from a 1978 Kawasaki KZ650 and one for a 1982 GS750.
                    Side by side the Kawasaki lever was about one inch longer and had the same angle as the stock unit. At first I thought the splines on the KZ650 unit were different but then I noticed the ID was just a hair smaller than that on the Suzuki lever. So with the help of a big flat head screw driver I was able to spread the KZ650 lever and increase the ID just a little. That was all it needed, the Kawasaki lever fit. I took Suzie on a test ride and what a big difference that one inch made, my big size 13 boots were finally able to make shifts and the extra leverage make shifting a little easier.


                    Rick
                    Thanks. I will have to give that a try. I wear size 15 clodhoppers...

                    Comment

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