GS450 Cafe Jobbie: Sprockets forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 2, 2011 6:33 p.m. AutoXR Reader

about 6 mos ago I bought my first bike - a GS450. I posted a thread up here... bike had 14,000 miles on it and I have since put 2000 on it>> I even lugged it from Canada to the $2011 Challenge to ride around in sunny Flordia..

I have done small mods to it, mostly removing stuff. I love cafe's (trendy I know) but never liked the way a rounded tail flowed with the very square tank. Well I think I have a solution to my issues - just need some insight Basically using the stock tail and moving it fwd. The biek is far too nice to paint the tank or tail - I have ever receipt and it's only had 2 owners since new -

lmk what you think - need to use your imagination with the actual seat - basically shortened it up
Dec. 2, 2011 6:50 p.m. RealMiniDriver Dork

That's shore purty. 8)
Dec. 3, 2011 2:37 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork

Lack of a seat pad is gonna hurt your nadz.
Dec. 3, 2011 6:03 a.m. minimac SuperDork

Chrome front fender needs to be replaced with one painted to match the bike, but looking good!
Dec. 3, 2011 6:38 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

Sargent Cycle redid the seat on my son's GS 450, nice job.

Dan
Dec. 3, 2011 7:57 a.m. AutoXR Reader

I have a friend who is gonna trade some parts for powdercoat work. Gonna get a shorty front fender - PC the wheels black and other bits as well. Also going to shorten the stock exhaust - will look stock - only shorter (same trumpets)
Dec. 3, 2011 8:12 a.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

Those pipes look pretty minty...I'd hesitate before cutting them up. One of the hardest things to find when restoring an old Suzuki is a decent exhaust. Find some beat up pipes and modify them instead.

edit: also, remember that modifying the exhaust will likely mess up the carburetor jetting, bikes of that era were pretty sensitive to that sort of thing.
Dec. 3, 2011 9:25 a.m. AutoXR Reader

I took the silencers out and noticed a dead spot between 4500 and 6. I am going to take it to a local guru in the spring and have it re-jetted and change the sprocket. All my riding is city and rarely above 50mph so Id like it to pull harder.
Dec. 3, 2011 7:23 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

I noticed a flat spot on Ian's bike when I liberated the pipes. Put the silencers back in but open them up a bit with a Dremmel or drill, it's cheaper than hiring a tuner.

Dan