How to tell a 16 valve?

[Guest]

Ok, so I followed several ads recently that advertised 16 valve bikes, that after initial questioning were in fact 8 valve.
The owners were honest in there misunderstanding but got me thinking about the best way to verify 16 valve motor.
Example; owner advertised "1978 1000 16valve" in ad..

My question, is there a quick way to identify a 16 valve motor?
I have already stumbled upon two bikes the owner "unknowingly" thought had been replaced with a 16 valve- that, just looking at the chrome, round valve covers said otherwise.

[Nessism]

just looking at the chrome, round valve covers said otherwise.

You got it covered right here.

[eil]

16-valve GS engines either have rectangularish cam end cap covers or none at all. 8-valve engines always have round cam end caps.

[850 Combat]

It is never a "G" or "GL"

[rapidray]

NO 16 valve Suzukis before 1980 either!
Ray.

[Joe Guilbeau]

http://www.suzukicycles.org/_misc/identification.shtml

Above is a web forum post on VIN and Engine Serial Numbers that might help...

The Engine Codes starts with...

A-Z Alpha Character to identify displacement

and this alpha character is then followed by two (2) numeric characters

1	Two-stroke, single
2	Two-stroke, twin
3	Two-stroke, triple or four
4	Four-stroke, single
5	Four-stroke, twin
6	-
7	Four-stroke, four

I have a question on the above chart regarding Number 5 is a Four-stroke, twin and Number 7 is a Four-stroke, four.

It appears that both number 5 & number 7 are Four-stroke...so what is the -twin/-four designations....valves or cylinders?

[Steve]

I have a question on the above chart regarding Number 5 is a Four-stroke, twin and Number 7 is a Four-stroke, four.

It appears that both number 5 & number 7 are Four-stroke...so what is the -twin/-four designations....valves or cylinders?

Cylinders.

.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Thanks Steve!