1981 Suzuki GS450 Basket Case

[Guest]

I just purchased my first project bike and I will be turning it into cafe racer/bratt. pictures will be coming soon.

[pete]

Hey mate, welcome! Will be interesting to see what shape she's in and how you go...

[Wolf3985]

Thanks Pete, actually was just looking at your build. Question how has the dynatek worked out for you in the long run? I think I may go that route as I have to redo all electrical on the bike, including the writing harness.

[pete]

Unfortunately not so good... just bad luck I think but I ended up going through two Dynatek setups and going back to a stock ignitor. Then one of the coils started failing under load so I have the stock coils back on too.

If I was in the US then I would've got in contact with them and found out what was going on, but being over here means I'd have to have the bike off the road for too long so I just went back to stock.

I know others have had Dynatek stuff running for years without issue so I'm not going to say don't do it as obviously my circumstances have been different to most.

You do have other options though such as fitting the signal generator and ignitor from the later 450's or even the 500's. The 500 advance curve is a little different but shouldn't be a problem, and aside from the harness connectors all should be a straight bolt on replacement as far as I'm aware.

If you do this, just remember these use electronic advance so you will need to replace the rotor and mechanical advance on the end of the crank.

[Wolf3985]

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This is how I picked her up.

[Wolf3985]

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Starting to tear her down

[pete]

Aaaah yup, basket case alright! Looks like she got run hard and put away wet... a lot...

[Wolf3985]

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After stripping down and a quick preview with tank and mock up bars to get ideas flowing.

[Wolf3985]

Yes you are right Pete. The entire wiring harness was rotted along with my coils, that is why I was asking about the Dynatek conversion. I am at the point trying to figure out how to do my electrical and placement. My plan is to try and put everything under the seat. I decided to completely start fresh with all new electrical preventative headaches down the road.

[pete]

Definitely a good idea! My 450's harness was in reasonable shape, just used contact cleaner on all the connectors and replaced a couple of connectors where the plastic had turned brittle and cracked. I did the coil relay and headlight relay mods and am running a SH775 R/R, all modifying the stock harness. I also had to wire the Acewell 2853 dash into the stock harness.

While all that works ok, it ends up being a little messy, especially with my electrics being relocated under the seat. The harness is designed to sit a certain way on the frame so relocating things can be awkward with the pre-formed curves in the harness etc.

For my Kat, I'm going to make one from scratch as there will be quite a large number of differences from a stock harness. I've got a first draft design done but that's as far as I've gotten so far...

[Runeight]

What happened to the exhaust? First picture shows it, later pictures do not. I'm looking for a clean set.

[Wolf3985]

I plan on doing my own wiring harness from scratch. Just trying to figure out exactly what electrical to buy. Trying to find ignition coils is not easy. They should be a 4ohm coil but I have been finding 3ohm and nothing that exactly is a match with gs450.

[Wolf3985]

I am planning on rerouting the exhaust, either along the bottom or getting crazy and going up and out the back of the seat?

[Runeight]

I am planning on rerouting the exhaust, either along the bottom or getting crazy and going up and out the back of the seat?

OK, I will have some assorted take off parts in the future if you need them. I could use the muffler bracket on the left side if you don't use it. Want to fabricate something up. TIA.

I'll follow the thread. Where in Nevada? Vegas?

[Wolf3985]

I will have to see if I still have it laying around or if it was thrown away with the old rusty/broken parts.