Gs 450S Project in the making....

[Sabideefoo]

Hey guys, well I guess I'll get a start on the build thread. Not much going on yet....Just got the rear tire on and went for a little ride seeing how the weather was fair....... Heres some shots I took today.....








So what is to come on this bike?

Well Prob here in the next too weeks I'll be tearing the tank and rear fairing off to do some painting....Trying so hard to decided on a color choice...Maybe you guys can help with that.... I would like to stick to a vintage color.

Then Hopefully if funds are available, I would like to order a cafe racer tail to go with also.

Most likely going to paint the engine in Wrinkle Black.....and maybe have the wheels in a gloss black.


Other things I will be ordering in 2 or so weeks.....

Rear Sprocket and Chain
Header wrap
Left Side Handle bar switch control.
Handle Bar Ends
Speedo from DimeCity (since I am using a GPS right now)


Also....While I was riding today my bike seemed to just cut off on me. Tried to start her up but she was just cranking and not firing. Then I wiggled some wires and boom....she started....So I must trace down this missing link here. :-(



Thanks for checking in....Hopefully I'll be able to have more updates for ya.

[pete]

Tuning into this one for sure...

[Sabideefoo]

Thanks Pete.... I was just reading over in the Suspension section; It looks like I have alot of work and planning ahead of me with this whole GSXR Conversion on this Lil 450. But I guess I'll get the Cosmetic out of the way first.

[FreshStart]

Add some proper boots and pants to that list. Other than that its looking good.

[spyug]

Add some proper boots and pants to that list.

Big plus 1 on that. You will find we are all big on proper gear on this forum as most of us are old dudes who know how easy it is to injure yourself when riding.

As to the bike build, I'd suggest you get it running right before you start hacking into it. Its nice to have a pretty bike but if it doesn't run right why bother.Start by cleaning the carbs and adjusting the valves. Clean all your contacts and make sure your battery is good and your charging system is healthy.

A smaller seat would look better but I think you can keep the tank. It has a nice shape to it IMHO I think I'd shorten the front fender as well. For a speedo I've used Catseye (wired) bicycle speedos with a lot of success.

You don't seem to be running any turn signals and I'd suggest they are important and will help you stay safe in traffic. Even small aftermarket ones are better than nothing.

Colour wise, I think silver or two tone silver over pewter or pewter with silver stripes ( like some of the new Ford Mustangs).

Whatever you do have fun with it.

cheers,
spyug

[Big Rich]

Subscribed......

[pete]

Thanks Pete.... I was just reading over in the Suspension section; It looks like I have alot of work and planning ahead of me with this whole GSXR Conversion on this Lil 450. But I guess I'll get the Cosmetic out of the way first.

All depends on what you want... but I'll pass on my little opinion for what it's worth (probably not alot).

If you're going a true "cafe" path, then GSXR conversions don't really suit if you want to be true to the whole "Ace cafe" thing. If that's what you really want, then just get some new springs for the forks (progressives are a popular improvement) and some nice replacement shocks for the rear and do something with the duck tail.

Take note that that really is just my opinion, and if you've seen Scottychop's 450, you will see that doing radical stuff on a 450 can definitely look good.

Also, definitely do what Spyug suggested with valves, carbs, etc. Make sure your mechanical is 100% so your good looking 450 won't leave you stranded on the side of the road...

[SVSooke]

Add some proper boots and pants to that list. Other than that its looking good.

Add proper leather motorcyle gloves to that gear list.

[FreshStart]

Add proper leather motorcyle gloves to that gear list.

Good eye. Is this your first bike? Those skate shoes that you didnt bother to tie will come right off if you put your feet down to fast let alone if you take a spill. Those gloves will literally disintegrate and so will that jacket. Ask me how i know. And the pants.... well i wear some close fittin pants. Most of my jeans are some sort of stright leg or bootcut. But i cant see how its even comfortable to ride in a set of ball huggers like that.

Dont go out and spend a ton of cash really tho. But i bet youve got some snazzy lace up docs or somethin similar. Any leather glove will do and for the jacket any vintage store find would work just make sure its THICK.

If your gonna keep the half helmet invest in good goggles. Ones that are 3M impact rated.. again ask me how i know...

Not tryin to be a fuddy duddy ive just been down enough times to know now

[Sabideefoo]

Thanks for all the comments guys...Yea I just didnt have enough time to find all my gear that day....I was sooo excited to be road "legal". But yes I am picking up all new gear here in 2 weeks.. Everything from helmet to jacket to gloves. And yes! I am working on getting the bike 100% mechanical condition before any chopping starts persay.

Also...Pete I'll take a look at the light for you sometime today. As for the carbs....Pssssssh. I need them rejetted forsure. She runs....But not like a champ.

Thank you guys for all your comments. They mean alot. Yes I am a young rider. 21 years to be correct.

:-) "ballhuggers" Freshstart that was a good one. You'll prob see alot of that with me.

[pete]

Cheers for that, no urgency at all on the light, just curious to see what replacements people have used.

As for rejetting, once I get my ignition issue sorted and my exhaust sorted, I'll be looking at that myself too.

[Sabideefoo]

So Pete....Took a look at the headlight...The Headlight itself reads Kyoto....the housing is Suzuki. I would take it has after market ears on it.

Now....On to my question guys. Pete you brought up a very good thing. Jetting. Yep. Im lost. So I must learn. Let me explain to you guys what my bike is doing. From throttle to about 40% shes fine. Then it seems to hit a flat spot, then After that she goes to full twist no problem. Any ideas there?

I've head from people that you just really cant re-jet your carbs yourself and get it down correctly. "Blah blah...You must take it to a shop with a dynometer blah blah" is what I am getting.

Pete care to enlighten me with some of your wisdom. :-)

[pete]

So Pete....Took a look at the headlight...The Headlight itself reads Kyoto....the housing is Suzuki. I would take it has after market ears on it.

Now....On to my question guys. Pete you brought up a very good thing. Jetting. Yep. Im lost. So I must learn. Let me explain to you guys what my bike is doing. From throttle to about 40% shes fine. Then it seems to hit a flat spot, then After that she goes to full twist no problem. Any ideas there?

I've head from people that you just really cant re-jet your carbs yourself and get it down correctly. "Blah blah...You must take it to a shop with a dynometer blah blah" is what I am getting.

Pete care to enlighten me with some of your wisdom. :-)

Cheers for checking the headlight, Google is not my friend in regards to Kyoto though Nothing returned for kyoto headlight, oh well.

It sounds like what you have is what I'm trying to achieve though which is the stock housing with a replacement 7" headlight. I shall keep researching... plenty of options in the US but very few here locally unless I buy a pair of car headlights...

Anyway, as to your jetting, I'll tell you straight up front that my wisdom in that area is severly lacking, and I was hoping you had done it already

I will be rejetting, but not until I get my new exhaust made. I may (not definite yet) have made a break through on my spark issue tonight.

Anyway, here's what I understand with jetting...

With good quality pod filters (freer flowing than stock) and a free flowing exhaust, you should be looking at 3 to 4 sizes up on the main jet, and 1 size up on the pilot jet. In addition, you will need to shim the needle to enrich the intermediate throttle positions, which is what your issue sounds like.

One word of warning is that there is a least one knowledgeable person on the forums that I'm aware of that won't help you out with rejetting when you have open pipes with no muffler. The reason for that is not because he's unhelpful or anything (in fact the complete opposite, he is extremely helpful and very willing to do so), but simply because these bikes are designed to have some back pressure from a muffler and I believe it is extremely difficult to jet the carbs right in that scenario.

As for your comment about needing a dyno, well, to get the 100% optimal result you'll probably need one, but with trial and error and plug chops, you should be able to get close. Or at least that's what I've read on a lot of the rejetting threads around the place.

Best bet is to post a thread in the carb section when you have questions, but be prepared to pull the carbs off many times while doing it and also be prepared to do plug chops.

There is plenty of info on BassCliff's site about this sort of stuff, and there is also another good reference www.motorcyclecarbs.com and also, the attached picture will help you identify which carb circuit could be giving you grief.

[Sabideefoo]

Thank YOU! I will take this info in stride. You defiantly helped me a lot for than me just sitting around and reading. I'm more of a visual hands on type of guy. But so far so good.

[pete]

No probs, I really hope it helps.

I definitely learn better by doing rather than reading as well.

I'm one step closer towards rejetting myself too because I actually got some spark last night