GS650GL + 90's katana 600

[Old guy]

More good news. These bikes weren't cool enough, and aren't old enough for the parts to be expensive. Picked up 2 front calipers, w/ lines and mounting bolts (bike was missing a caliper) for $18 shipped on eBay.

[Old guy]

Looking for a bandit 600 exhaust before I can build the mounts. A 1200 will work but it'd be a speed bump magnet. It's 1.5-2" longer from the inlet to the collector.

Going to to end up going with a GS swingarm fitted with the katana 3 spoke wheel and brakes.

The shaft drive frames are 12" wide at the pivot. It pushes the foot pegs out quite a bit and ground clearence suffers, but if I eventually throw a 750 motor in there 106hp will help me forget about it.

[Old guy]

Scratch the exhaust hang up. I put the bike on my work table so I don't have to work on the ground and low and behold the exhaust clears the downtubes. Pretty surprised seeing as how a katana doesn't have downtubes, might be off a different bike, don't know, don't care, it's a good thing.

not working on the ground, it looks like going to the mono shock won't be too hard either. The lower cross bar is in a good spot, the upper cross bar needs the middle cut out, but I can tie what's left to the upper shock mount for some bracing.

Wish i I still had a plasma cutter.

[Old guy]

Figured out the exhaust is from a first gen GSXR 750. Cool.

[Old guy]

I couldn't find a metric tape. I brought back a few when I moved back from Germany, because they don't have them in the states, and I HATE the standard system.
The distance between the stock front mounts was close. needed to modify the Katana mounts to lose some distance. that'll be a good enough start to do the rest of the mounts. The design was set up with the rubber between the inner and outer tabs to allow movement, and I guess to reduce vibrations..... I might end up loosing the rubber and going to a solid material if it causes an issue. From mocking things up the rear suspension link will mount between the existing centerstand mounts. The upper mount will need to be fabbed. The plan is to move the swingarm pivot foreward a coule of inches.

[Old guy]

I don't know about dropping other forums names, but old school suzukis has a ton of awesome swap a roo and suzuki mix and match projects on it. Lots of good motor and suspension swap stuff.

[Old guy]

My short adjustable levers came in today. Should be able to get the front end on my running bike soon.

[Old guy]

Picking up a 650GT seat and tank in great shape
for $25 on Tuesday. The GL tank and seat need to go.

The mounting points are a little different but it's no biggie. They look way better for where I'm taking the project and the extra gas capacity will be nice too.

[witttom]

Picking up a 650GT seat and tank in great shape
for $25 on Tuesday. The GL tank and seat need to go.

The mounting points are a little different but it's no biggie. They look way better for where I'm taking the project and the extra gas capacity will be nice too.

If there is a T after the G (like GS750GT or GS850GT or GS850GLT) it would mean the model year (T=1980), but Suzuki didn't import a 650 in 1980, so I'm kinda curious what you're getting. Hehe... unless I'm mistaken, the only GS650 models in the US would be E, G, and GL, imported in 81(X), 82(Z), and 83(D). So a 'straight up' G model (non-L), could be a GX, GZ, or GD.

Your GL tank aughta be pretty easy to sell. The tanks are usually one of the first things to go, no matter what model I'm parting out. The L seats on the other hand, tend to linger. Hehe...

[Old guy]

There was a GL and a GT model.

the GL is the Harley looking funky handle bar model.

the GT is basically a shaft drive styled like an E

GS650GT.jpg

[witttom]

the GT is basically a shaft drive styled like an E

[ATTACH=CONFIG]38783[/ATTACH]

That would be the straight-up "G". Even shows 650G on the side cover.

Not saying the GT doesn't exist. Just that I don't believe they were ever imported into the States. A "G" model (US) is essentially the same as a "GT" model elsewhere in the world.

When I bought my 1980 GS850G, the previous owner referred to it as a GT as well (because T means 1980 and that sometimes shows up on the title). But it was just a G.

[witttom]

For future reference, if you want to compare US-imported models:

http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

This is been a huge help for me over the past couple years, particularly in figuring out what parts are shared among models.

[Old guy]

Sounds reasonable.

That would be the straight-up "G". Even shows 650G on the side cover.

Not saying the GT doesn't exist. Just that I don't believe they were ever imported into the States. A "G" model (US) is essentially the same as a "GT" model elsewhere in the world.

When I bought my 1980 GS850G, the previous owner referred to it as a GT as well (because T means 1980 and that sometimes shows up on the title). But it was just a G.

[Old guy]

Well, apparently swap +$25 on Sunday doesn't mean the same thing on Tuesday.

[Old guy]

Not it much real progress. I still don't have a welder, or it'd more or less be done. The swing arm pivot needs to be moved down and foreward, and the rear mounts need to be done. Then I can pull the titled bike down and get to the real business.

Where a 600 goes so will a 750 or a 1200.