Yesterday morning I stumbled across a 1982 Suzuki GS400E. I am lucky in the fact that my area is full of junk, hacked up non titled bikes. Add to that no means of which to go get one.
I quickly sent an email in the wee hours hoping for a reply. You know how CL can be. Well, he did call, we talked, made a deal and I deposited the money in his account. I mentioned the fact that I would have to make arrangements to pick it up of which he replied "for a few bucks" he would deliver it. Great! $100 cover it? Yup. Would cost me a lot more to rent a U-Haul not to mention a 260 mile round trip. No brainer. With purchase with delivery $650.
Original owner since new, 11K on the clock, original minus the luggage rack and sissy bar, original owners manual and bill of sale when new. Stored inside it's entire life. Big plus. States the bike will run if I have a battery. I do, will see.
Still working on just what year this thing is. Titled 82 but the parts fische say 83. Working on that before ordering parts.
Specs as I know it:
The 1982 Katana styled GSX400E was offered in the Katana silver or red. Appart from the "sweet Katana" estetics, there were some technical changes:
1) New ignition fully electronic (previous one had a mechanical centrifugal advance system) and ignition advance goes to 30º from previous 20º
2) Carburation tuned to adapt it to exhaust modifications
3) Electrical fuel tank gauge
4) New frame, special mention to rear swinging arm getting 40 mm longer
5) Steering column strongly triangled, turning on conical bearings
6) Anti-dive front fork
7) Engine cover screws changed from cross to hexicon head
The changes in the motor and cycle parts make it a more consistent and brilliant bike.
Originally the GSX400E was offered with a single disk front brake and a anti-dive system fitted on the left side only. Because of the construction, according to some owners, the front fork felt strange at full braking from high speed. The single disk was good enough for stopping the bike but a version with double-disk and anti-dive system for both sides was available for the GSX400E from 1982 year's model in order to get rid of the odd behavior. I'm afraid I don't know if the double disk version was standard in some countries or if it was a option, the pictures here below shows the both versions.
The 1982 GSX400SZ colors (in France) were Red and Silver Grey.GSX400E 1982
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 095 mm (43.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Dry Weight: 173 kg (381 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves. 44 hp/ 9.500 rpm, 3,7 kg-m/ 8.000 rpm. Factory photo.
Top shot, looks pretty clean. 9500 redline. Diggin the fuel gauge.
Rear view.
Left side. Bike needs a bath. Bad!
Right side. Ouch! Told me on the phone it was not that bad, could be pulled out. I don't think so. Maybe? No idea at this time. Still wasn't a determent for me. Man, that's a whack alright. Looks like a fix and repaint to me at some point unless I can score one in better shape.
So, plan on taking my time with this one. No hurry to get it done but rather something to keep busy in the Shop.
To be continued.
tt
