@@jimmyizquierdo3447NGL that's how a lot of my bikes end up lol. The ones with the biggest issues get pushed to the back of the garage and then I buy more, same with a couple of cars. It's a vicious cycle 😂
Video idea: Switch places. Find a relatively easy bike to get running, and Craig film Dan going through the process with minimal help. See what Dan has learned. Could be fun
Its a vintage Japanese twin. Of course the biggest hurdles to overcome were not having a key and rust in the tank. These things are going to continue rolling on so long as we're producing gas to make them go. Wonderful machines.
like mine 1980 Honda CX500. done over 300k km, ie 140k miles. The valve adjusting screws are now at their end, can't adjust more, need replacing. But the engine runs perfectly. Daily driver. Next adjusting needs new screws.
@@sys-administrator Fuel injectors clog just like carburetors if you let them sit long enough. Granted, they aren't all that hard to clean once you get them out (just like carburetors), but they aren't fool-proof. One of the real advantages of EFI over Carbs is that EFI tended to come along after the introduction of ethanol, so they usually take longer to gunk up.
soak on what (plural of what) .. white vinegar, w.v+bak.soda, kerosene, kerosene + ATF oil, ... or a little bit of all methodes and depending of what it is and what it looks like It beats all commercial chemicals and hard work of scrub, scratch, rub, chisel, sand, blast ..
I built a '78 GS400 from two dead ones in the late '80s. When done and de-bugged I found it to be robust and reliable with better-than-advertised performance and good handling once the high wide bars were swapped for some narrow straights. Frames good, swing arms rust from the inside and can collapse. Main stands can seize but if you weld in some abutments and add grease nipples, they're fine. Forks good and parts from Honda Superdreams go in if you run up the arse of a brake checker in a Ford Orion in Merton at midnight (oops). Zillions of Superdreams in the UK. Superdream carbs improved the carburetion and performance at a stroke - the diaphragms in the Suzi carbs are frail. Electrics poor - mine got used Kawasaki coils, used Honda indicators, used Honda switches and a headlight bowl off a CB200 (goes straight on) with a Cibie halogen conversion cheap from a bike shop bargain bin. Zorst was a used Motad 2 into 1 lightly 'de-restricted' with a big drill. Engines easy to work on and all-bearing cranks make them incredibly robust if you change the oil. Mine was still running well and everything working when parked with 78k showing. I'm stunned your 'digital gear indicator' works. They were poo, often giving random numbers and saying things like '7', '8' and 'E'. Best disconnected.....
Soak the chain in evaporust, stick it in an oven at 400 for 15 minutes, then drop it in some fresh oil (while it's still hot) and let it soak overnight. Boom. Works like new (provided it's not an O ring chain, obviously)
There used to be a thing called gunk for chains I remember using it in an old pot on the stove I'd get scrap bikes as a kid and re use old chains on my feild bikes .
I have brought many bikes back from the dead. Gives a guy great pleasure to do. My favorite was an old Honda CB750. I got it for free with title and all. But it had been sitting for over 20 years. I put a new battery in that I already had and points where stuck closed. So cleaned those up. Tank was perfect. No rust which was a miracle. Seat was just the pan and the vinyl cover was about 1" wide around the pan. No foam left. But had keys to. About 1 hour cleaning and getting things ready and I fired it up! To my surprise it was idling and running perfect. I hopped on and took it for a ride. I was thrilled it rode great. So I rebuit the seat. Got a new foam at the upholstery shop. Recovered it then sanded and painted the tank with a new black base and the realistic airbrushed flames then clear coat. Went over everything on the bike in detail. Lubing, oil change, brakes new all done including registration. Ready for the road. Man it was a terrific old girl. I listed it for sale. Got a call right away from a Japanese fella that could only speak a couple words of English. Enough to set a meet time. We arrived and he had a checklist. He brought an interpreter with him. He was from Japan here in the USA to buy great condition vintage Japanese motorcycles. He goes over the checklist making sure each item is good and gives it a rating 1-10 on its condition. He got done used those ratings on his little checklist to give the cash offer. He offered $1200 which at the time I was hoping to get $700 for the bike. This is 30 years ago. Anyway we shook hands they loaded the bike and he said it was on its way with about 12 other bikes he had purchased in the area on a ship heading BACK to Japan! They said vintage bikes are the rage then and you couldn't find anything anymore. So he goes to the USA and buys as many as he can find of the popular bikes in running condition. Ships them back to Japan where they sell for 10 times the value in USA. Then they restore the old bikes back to 100% original. So he said the seat would not work being I recovered it. And the awesome paint he said might stay with the right buyer. But most likely sanded down and painted factory color. It was fun to bring that old bike back to life and know it had a great future ahead of it. It would never be neglected again. Nice job on the old bike revival videos fellas!
You can make your own evapo-rust with water, citric acid, sodium hydroxide and detergent (dish detergent works fine). Works just as well if not better, won't dissolve the base metal, lasts longer and is by far cheaper and you can buy the ingredients in bulk.
My favorite part of your videos is watching you do the carb clean/repair/rebuilds. It's a lost art these days, and watching you get them sorted out is like ASMR for me.
i too was born in 1980, and i have an 81 GS450 scrambler project that is stagnant... pulled top end for compression, and decided to put GS500 jug, cams, and pistons in it. gotta get back out there when the temps are not almost 100F
Man, I really like that bike! Perfect starter bike for anyone wanting to get into cycle riding. Reminds me of my first bike. I started on a 85 Yamaha Maxim 550. Loved it til my kickstand came down on me while making a left hand turn. Because of some bad kickstand spring, I spent a week in the hospital after rupturing my spleen because that darn bad spring on the kickstand kicked the bike out from underneath me while making that left hand turn. Definitely a learning experience to say the least, lol!
I bought a brand new 1979 Suzuki GS 750E and loved that motorcycle. I put 19,000 miles on that bike in 2 years. The only "trouble" I had with it was the positive cable came undone from the battery. It took 30 seconds to diagnose and go.
so thanks to you Craig I bought a 2005 honda VTX1300 with 13000 miles that had been sitting for 2 years after countless times of taking the carb out and messing with tuning it... i got it running...
I've recently fought a couple of old bikes - an 82 CB650 and a 78 CX500. Watching you work has kept me positive as I restore them, and taught me a lot about things. Some I knew I'd have to address, some I wouldn't have thought of. I just wanted to say thanks for the content you create, and fod your positive attitude about working on these old machines. Really give me confidence that I can do it!
Soooooo....true story. I owned that sweet peach way back say 16/20 years ago. I paid too much and put way too much money and time into it. I did have it running decent and put those sweet ammo boxes on, $5 bucks at the flea market back in the day. I also added those sweet trailer lights for turn signals. Anyway the tank was always rusty and had 15 million pin holes, could not get a new one as this was even before eBay. Anyway I sold it and then my buddy sold it and so forth and so forth. And here we are....
I agree. The XS650 is my favorite. I built a regulator/rectifier using Bell Telephone diodes and thin strips of wood once. It worked just fine. It was one of my proudest moments as a young mechanic.
Since you guys split, I've enjoyed this channel more than Bikes n Beards by far. It helps that you're a fellow Pennsylvanian and didn't abandon us too. 😂
With all the old beat up seats, it'd be cool to see a video where you get comfortable with some foam, adhesive, and a staple gun. You do a great job keeping these old machines running!
My dad has always had motorcycles, very fast bikes, but he wouldn't let me ride them cause he was afraid of an accident, so I just sticked to cars. Watching you guys wrench and revive bikes has grown a little on me, I would love to do that, maybe start with a 200 or 400 cc bike, I have drivers license for them
I just got me a Benelli 400. A cheap, new, easy ride that looks like a classic. Have a look at those, also Royal Enfield Bullet. Don’t shy away from them being built in China/India, think where today most motorcycles are used daily and not just for fun and see that having a bike from the far east is a pro rather than a con. No nonsense builds, easy to fix and cheap to maintain. Not fast, but comfortable and easy.
Well done! Another fantastic episode. Back in the early 90s I owned a Suzuki GS 650LS for a short time while living in Austria (EU), very similar to this one. Unfortunately I didn't have such knowledge and resources to make it running and have sold it thereafter. YOU ARE MY REGULAR CHANNEL TO WATCH EVERY WEEK, Keep the positive vibe running in the times of single-use-throw-away-things. BigUp & Respect!
Amazing save... These old bikes just want to live... push them a bit and they just work... and gear indicator in this 80's bike... a lot of new bikes still don't give you that. AWESOME! Thanks for the education and entertainment that you're providing on your channel!
Been watching your videos forever. Found a 1983 Yamaha xv920 on Facebook for 300 bucks and currently have it torn apart in my garage chasing leads to hopefully give this bike another chance at life. Thank you for the inspiration from your videos!
I'm not sure what it is about fixing up ugly, boring, run-off-the-mill UJM bikes, but you make it so entertaining! Your content and humor always make your videos the first ones I watch. Keep up the great work!
My first bike was a 4 cylinder 550 L Suzuki, a great starter bike to learn on. I wish I had it back. Love watching your videos. Dan is great at downplaying everything. You two work great together.
For people following at home - There's a REALLY GOOD diy "Evaporust" recipe made by the guy from Backyard Ballistics. I tested it with a tool just to see if it worked and it did about as well as name-brand store-bought. So this weekend I'll make a larger batch and use it proper. Do recommend. Will use again.
Having fun working on stuff I grew up working on, and riding, and am so done with. priceless. Still got my 71 R5 B Yamaha 350 2 stroke, and my 92 Vmax. They will stay rusty, not running, till I die. Have fun Craig.
Not sure if you follow Cleetus but they have a 1,000cc Kawasaki that came with the freedom factory. He's been trying to get the thing running but it's obvious him and his crew are not motorcycle guys. Would love to see you go down there and get things going for them.
Good job, Fellers! I miss doin' exactly what you just did. Gotta get myself and my tools together and scout out some crusty classics. Thanks for bringing me back.
I'm so stoked to see this! I have the same bike, same year too! Mine was a bit less rusty when I pulled it out of the barn. I'm turning it into a scrambler. Its a super fun bike! Best 400 bucks I've ever spent
Hey Craig, love you vids, keep up the great work. on the pc, when your pic is too small, hold down CTRL and tap the + key next to the backspace. It will make the pic larger.
Easy to recover seats by placing a sheet of material over seat and use the bolts holding seat to hold fabric over seat, front of fabric is tucked under front of seat holding it in place.
I saw a video where a guy made his own rust remover like the stuff you use. It’s mush less expensive, works better and lasts longer. Look up Beyond Ballistics.
I did the same thing and put my chain in Evapo rust brushed the crap out of it sprayed it with WD-40 cleaned it off and I’ve been running it on my bike for the last 5 months 😂
Back in the early 70's I ran a chopped 650 Yamaha. Because I spent so much money to chop it, I didn't have much money for a chain. I would pick up a roll of chain from a farm implement dealer. Maybe not as good as a motorcycle chain, but was dirt cheap.
I always smile when i see brass floats! I've only been lucky enough to find a brass float in my 1986 LS650 i restored. Blew mine, and my fathers minds cause he an old timer like 64 years old so he aint seen brass floats in a carburetor since he was a youngster hahahaha
So glad I found this channel! Craig & Dan, you're an awesome double act - the witty repartee is the icing on the cake of all the "get 'er running" episodes! Thanks for the great entertainment!
Nice! ❤ those twins. Phosphoric acid works better than Evapo and conditions the metal. I usually spray fogging oil in the cylinders before trying to move them. There's an ebay seller in Vietnam that might have a new seat for that bike 👍
I have a low mile 81 GS450T I bought several years back. Didn't run cause PO knackered the automatic cam chain adjuster and someone (his wife?) cut all the wires in the main harness in two (2) places. Replaced the harness and cam chain adjuster and guide. All stock with new IRC tires and looks and runs well.
Craig you just made me feel old. Born in 80 I was supposed to graduate high school in 1980. Never owned a gs 450 but I had a 1980 GN 400 that was the funniest 50 bucks I ever spent.
in 86 I learned to ride on an 82 GS450L I loved that bike. Had a school bus back over it and I took the money to buy another one. Great memories on that bike.
We used to take a shallow pan on top of a hot plate with STP in it and soak the chain in it at low heat for several hours. Amazing how it freed a stuck chain (it often was to slippery to pick by hand.
I had a 1980 Suzuki GS450E that I absolutely found delightful. I rode it to work, to vacations, did a couple of 1,000 mile days on it, and so forth. Comfy seating position and it just ran and ran. Got reasonably good MPG. Handled ok for being the basic UJM that it was. I'd acquired a matching fairing, tank, and tail piece from a 450S and it never failed to put a smile on my face. After putting about 30,000 miles on it (definitely not a trailer or garage queen), alas, I was struck from behind by a driver in a GMC Yukon in July 2023. I'll give you one guess which vehicle survived. I miss it. I've got other bikes to ride, but I see more and more bikes coming out in the 450 cc range now....I felt like I had kept the bike long enough that it was gaining "new" status again. Did I say I miss my 450?
The turbobusa in the background watching you start another bike
😂 It's quietly bragging about its parts that got sent away to a specialist.
What you do with the bikes you fix?
@@jimmyizquierdo3447NGL that's how a lot of my bikes end up lol. The ones with the biggest issues get pushed to the back of the garage and then I buy more, same with a couple of cars. It's a vicious cycle 😂
That made me chuckle 😂❤
That bike is ridiculous. I do not want a bike that I have to work on more than ride.
Video idea: Switch places. Find a relatively easy bike to get running, and Craig film Dan going through the process with minimal help. See what Dan has learned. Could be fun
Its a vintage Japanese twin. Of course the biggest hurdles to overcome were not having a key and rust in the tank. These things are going to continue rolling on so long as we're producing gas to make them go. Wonderful machines.
Replacement key set is super easy to put on this bike
like mine 1980 Honda CX500. done over 300k km, ie 140k miles. The valve adjusting screws are now at their end, can't adjust more, need replacing. But the engine runs perfectly. Daily driver. Next adjusting needs new screws.
I will never get tired of these types of videos by you guys!
I think the standard "carb cleaning" is my favourite part. It's 90% the solution to all the problems.
60% of the time, it works EVERY time.
@@sys-administrator Fuel injectors clog just like carburetors if you let them sit long enough. Granted, they aren't all that hard to clean once you get them out (just like carburetors), but they aren't fool-proof. One of the real advantages of EFI over Carbs is that EFI tended to come along after the introduction of ethanol, so they usually take longer to gunk up.
Either that or electrical issues
It's a 1980 GS450....that's been sitting since the early 70's.
"soak" is my favourite four-letter word. Solves a lot of cleaning issues.
soak on what (plural of what) .. white vinegar, w.v+bak.soda, kerosene, kerosene + ATF oil, ... or a little bit of all methodes and depending of what it is and what it looks like
It beats all commercial chemicals and hard work of scrub, scratch, rub, chisel, sand, blast ..
It must have been parked next to a DeLorean.
Those ammunition box bags are awesome.
Yeah, I Ike 'em too.
I built a '78 GS400 from two dead ones in the late '80s. When done and de-bugged I found it to be robust and reliable with better-than-advertised performance and good handling once the high wide bars were swapped for some narrow straights. Frames good, swing arms rust from the inside and can collapse. Main stands can seize but if you weld in some abutments and add grease nipples, they're fine. Forks good and parts from Honda Superdreams go in if you run up the arse of a brake checker in a Ford Orion in Merton at midnight (oops). Zillions of Superdreams in the UK. Superdream carbs improved the carburetion and performance at a stroke - the diaphragms in the Suzi carbs are frail. Electrics poor - mine got used Kawasaki coils, used Honda indicators, used Honda switches and a headlight bowl off a CB200 (goes straight on) with a Cibie halogen conversion cheap from a bike shop bargain bin. Zorst was a used Motad 2 into 1 lightly 'de-restricted' with a big drill. Engines easy to work on and all-bearing cranks make them incredibly robust if you change the oil. Mine was still running well and everything working when parked with 78k showing. I'm stunned your 'digital gear indicator' works. They were poo, often giving random numbers and saying things like '7', '8' and 'E'. Best disconnected.....
Please get that bike all cleaned up and running good. It's so beautiful
Soak the chain in evaporust, stick it in an oven at 400 for 15 minutes, then drop it in some fresh oil (while it's still hot) and let it soak overnight. Boom. Works like new (provided it's not an O ring chain, obviously)
There used to be a thing called gunk for chains I remember using it in an old pot on the stove I'd get scrap bikes as a kid and re use old chains on my feild bikes .
Was thinking the same, just needs some heat.
How expensive can a new chain be to warrant such headache?
I've seen cake recipes requiring less steps than this.
I have brought many bikes back from the dead. Gives a guy great pleasure to do. My favorite was an old Honda CB750. I got it for free with title and all. But it had been sitting for over 20 years. I put a new battery in that I already had and points where stuck closed. So cleaned those up. Tank was perfect. No rust which was a miracle. Seat was just the pan and the vinyl cover was about 1" wide around the pan. No foam left. But had keys to. About 1 hour cleaning and getting things ready and I fired it up! To my surprise it was idling and running perfect. I hopped on and took it for a ride. I was thrilled it rode great. So I rebuit the seat. Got a new foam at the upholstery shop. Recovered it then sanded and painted the tank with a new black base and the realistic airbrushed flames then clear coat. Went over everything on the bike in detail. Lubing, oil change, brakes new all done including registration. Ready for the road. Man it was a terrific old girl. I listed it for sale. Got a call right away from a Japanese fella that could only speak a couple words of English. Enough to set a meet time. We arrived and he had a checklist. He brought an interpreter with him. He was from Japan here in the USA to buy great condition vintage Japanese motorcycles. He goes over the checklist making sure each item is good and gives it a rating 1-10 on its condition. He got done used those ratings on his little checklist to give the cash offer. He offered $1200 which at the time I was hoping to get $700 for the bike. This is 30 years ago. Anyway we shook hands they loaded the bike and he said it was on its way with about 12 other bikes he had purchased in the area on a ship heading BACK to Japan! They said vintage bikes are the rage then and you couldn't find anything anymore. So he goes to the USA and buys as many as he can find of the popular bikes in running condition. Ships them back to Japan where they sell for 10 times the value in USA. Then they restore the old bikes back to 100% original. So he said the seat would not work being I recovered it. And the awesome paint he said might stay with the right buyer. But most likely sanded down and painted factory color. It was fun to bring that old bike back to life and know it had a great future ahead of it. It would never be neglected again. Nice job on the old bike revival videos fellas!
That’s a cool story! Crazy he offered more than you u were hoping! Got me thinking I should change my selling strategy!
You can make your own evapo-rust with water, citric acid, sodium hydroxide and detergent (dish detergent works fine). Works just as well if not better, won't dissolve the base metal, lasts longer and is by far cheaper and you can buy the ingredients in bulk.
New T-shirt- "6 Minutes from Riding this Thing for Ice Cream"
That should be on shop rags.
*checks timestamp, grabs popcorn, and settles in laughing*
My favorite part of your videos is watching you do the carb clean/repair/rebuilds. It's a lost art these days, and watching you get them sorted out is like ASMR for me.
i too was born in 1980, and i have an 81 GS450 scrambler project that is stagnant... pulled top end for compression, and decided to put GS500 jug, cams, and pistons in it. gotta get back out there when the temps are not almost 100F
I have. 71 cb500 four project I am doing a big bore on also. And just like you in the stagnant stage. No motivation when it's too hot
I have a 82 450 in my garage too, close to running!
I graduated from SLH (Michigan) in 1980. I've liked this motorcycle since it was brand new. Craig, you do great work. Thanks so much for sharing. J 🤠
Why do I watch these, I don't even have a bike?? Still a fun watch!!
Another saved ride for someone to enjoy , nice job men.
Man, I really like that bike! Perfect starter bike for anyone wanting to get into cycle riding. Reminds me of my first bike. I started on a 85 Yamaha Maxim 550. Loved it til my kickstand came down on me while making a left hand turn. Because of some bad kickstand spring, I spent a week in the hospital after rupturing my spleen because that darn bad spring on the kickstand kicked the bike out from underneath me while making that left hand turn. Definitely a learning experience to say the least, lol!
That bike is not a "perfect starter bike" for anyone. It's a cobbled-together death machine.
I bought a brand new 1979 Suzuki GS 750E and loved that motorcycle. I put 19,000 miles on that bike in 2 years. The only "trouble" I had with it was the positive cable came undone from the battery. It took 30 seconds to diagnose and go.
so thanks to you Craig I bought a 2005 honda VTX1300 with 13000 miles that had been sitting for 2 years after countless times of taking the carb out and messing with tuning it... i got it running...
Making old abandoned bikes go is my favorite kind of episodes. Cheers!
I owned a 1980 GS850G, only had 1300mi on the clock when I got her in 1981. Never let me down in 4 years.
I've recently fought a couple of old bikes - an 82 CB650 and a 78 CX500. Watching you work has kept me positive as I restore them, and taught me a lot about things. Some I knew I'd have to address, some I wouldn't have thought of.
I just wanted to say thanks for the content you create, and fod your positive attitude about working on these old machines. Really give me confidence that I can do it!
Soooooo....true story. I owned that sweet peach way back say 16/20 years ago. I paid too much and put way too much money and time into it. I did have it running decent and put those sweet ammo boxes on, $5 bucks at the flea market back in the day. I also added those sweet trailer lights for turn signals. Anyway the tank was always rusty and had 15 million pin holes, could not get a new one as this was even before eBay. Anyway I sold it and then my buddy sold it and so forth and so forth. And here we are....
The felt satisfaction of the keys working in the ignition switch is so sublime.
Incredible!! Hoping to see an old Yamaha road bikes being brought back to life one of these days.
I agree. The XS650 is my favorite. I built a regulator/rectifier using Bell Telephone diodes and thin strips of wood once. It worked just fine. It was one of my proudest moments as a young mechanic.
Since you guys split, I've enjoyed this channel more than Bikes n Beards by far. It helps that you're a fellow Pennsylvanian and didn't abandon us too. 😂
We all do the same.
The sound of that ultrasonic cleaner in the background is killing me 😂
The small talk comments is part of what makes these video great to watch.
With all the old beat up seats, it'd be cool to see a video where you get comfortable with some foam, adhesive, and a staple gun. You do a great job keeping these old machines running!
I love the way Craig works and Dan films. These videos rock.
I have risen for this
Good morning
I watch a fair number of channels but this one always makes me chuckle when watching you two and is one of my favorites. Great job as always.
These barn find videos are by for the best on the channel
My first bike was a GS450T. Thanks for the trip back in time!!
My dad has always had motorcycles, very fast bikes, but he wouldn't let me ride them cause he was afraid of an accident, so I just sticked to cars. Watching you guys wrench and revive bikes has grown a little on me, I would love to do that, maybe start with a 200 or 400 cc bike, I have drivers license for them
I just got me a Benelli 400. A cheap, new, easy ride that looks like a classic. Have a look at those, also Royal Enfield Bullet. Don’t shy away from them being built in China/India, think where today most motorcycles are used daily and not just for fun and see that having a bike from the far east is a pro rather than a con. No nonsense builds, easy to fix and cheap to maintain. Not fast, but comfortable and easy.
Well done! Another fantastic episode. Back in the early 90s I owned a Suzuki GS 650LS for a short time while living in Austria (EU), very similar to this one. Unfortunately I didn't have such knowledge and resources to make it running and have sold it thereafter.
YOU ARE MY REGULAR CHANNEL TO WATCH EVERY WEEK, Keep the positive vibe running in the times of single-use-throw-away-things.
BigUp & Respect!
Love watching Craig bring the oldies back to life
Amazing save... These old bikes just want to live... push them a bit and they just work... and gear indicator in this 80's bike... a lot of new bikes still don't give you that. AWESOME! Thanks for the education and entertainment that you're providing on your channel!
Dan is learning a lot ... soon he will be able to do the initial diagnoses
Sand the tank young Danielson .Paint the fender Wax on Wax off young Danielson. Mr. Craig Augie you are the motorcycle master
And then he will have his own channel; Dan the Mechanic Camera Man.
Been watching your videos forever. Found a 1983 Yamaha xv920 on Facebook for 300 bucks and currently have it torn apart in my garage chasing leads to hopefully give this bike another chance at life. Thank you for the inspiration from your videos!
I was also born in 1980. Best year to be born 🙏
Sorry, nope. 1973. Lol
WolfmanVegas!
The best decade to be a teenager, it was awesome riding them old bikes when they were new.
I must say that 55 was the best year to be born in, it isn’t now
Were you kept in a barn since the early 70s ?
I have an 82 Gs 1100e
Those old Suzuki’s are great bikes.
Great job getting running and going for a ride.
Love the Hero music in the background while barely doing 15mph 😂
I didn't skip to start up. Watched the whole video. Loved it.
Dan & Craig, so seamlessly funny together.
a) never skip to the cranking, here for the process and b) looks so much better without the daft ammo cans 👍😊
I'm not sure what it is about fixing up ugly, boring, run-off-the-mill UJM bikes, but you make it so entertaining! Your content and humor always make your videos the first ones I watch. Keep up the great work!
Craig. You need a plotter to print out wire diagrams and a magnetic board to slap them on so you can see them from anywhere. Just turn the board.
Anybody else notice greg in the background at the computer while craig was working? I thought greg only came in on the night shift
My first bike was a 4 cylinder 550 L Suzuki, a great starter bike to learn on. I wish I had it back. Love watching your videos. Dan is great at downplaying everything. You two work great together.
You should call the bike Escocarb for its smuggling ability
For people following at home - There's a REALLY GOOD diy "Evaporust" recipe made by the guy from Backyard Ballistics. I tested it with a tool just to see if it worked and it did about as well as name-brand store-bought. So this weekend I'll make a larger batch and use it proper.
Do recommend. Will use again.
Nice one!
i love your vids. can you fix a VESPA for a video.
Having fun working on stuff I grew up working on, and riding, and am so done with. priceless. Still got my 71 R5 B Yamaha 350 2 stroke, and my 92 Vmax. They will stay rusty, not running, till I die. Have fun Craig.
Not sure if you follow Cleetus but they have a 1,000cc Kawasaki that came with the freedom factory. He's been trying to get the thing running but it's obvious him and his crew are not motorcycle guys. Would love to see you go down there and get things going for them.
Pretty sure his is also a Suzuki
Good job, Fellers! I miss doin' exactly what you just did. Gotta get myself and my tools together and scout out some crusty classics. Thanks for bringing me back.
Who else watched from the beginning, without skipping ahead???
Want a cookie?
With these videos I can start my weekend!! Love it! That bike is great for a total restoration!
My first big bike was a gs550e and i loved it! Traded it in for a gpz900r and that bike rocked my world!
I would love a series on you Fully resorting a bike like this. You could redo the paint and everything and have it looking awesome!!!
I owned the cafe racer version of that year back 1982-85. Fantastic bike! You guys crack me up...
Haven’t had a bike since I was 16 yet I’m in love with this channel. What was my bike? A 1980 Suzuki GS450 😊
oh man these bikes deserves more love and a new life! That's so nice that you do these kind of stuff. You're the best
I'm so stoked to see this! I have the same bike, same year too! Mine was a bit less rusty when I pulled it out of the barn. I'm turning it into a scrambler. Its a super fun bike! Best 400 bucks I've ever spent
Hey Craig, love you vids, keep up the great work. on the pc, when your pic is too small, hold down CTRL and tap the + key next to the backspace. It will make the pic larger.
I have a 1979 GS425L I just bought. I love these old Suzuki twins.
Easy to recover seats by placing a sheet of material over seat and use the bolts holding seat to hold fabric over seat, front of fabric is tucked under front of seat holding it in place.
You are getting so many projects to work on! I love watching you guys work through all the challenges… :)
I saw a video where a guy made his own rust remover like the stuff you use. It’s mush less expensive, works better and lasts longer. Look up Beyond Ballistics.
Completely agree been doing it myself for years nothing comes close
Just looked at a picture of one of these all complete. Handsome little machine!
Absolutely incredible. I love watching these videos through and through.
Actually the 79 gs425 was the best year. Last year with a kick start, one year only 425cc , actual bearings for the crankshaft.
Loved the Suzuki bikes of that era. Great to see you working on these classics.
Love it, always had a soft spot for the old bikes from the 80s. Keep em coming guys! :)
I did the same thing and put my chain in Evapo rust brushed the crap out of it sprayed it with WD-40 cleaned it off and I’ve been running it on my bike for the last 5 months 😂
Always a pleasure following the troubleshooting and hear the result when the bike starts. Jakob from Denmark drive on a old Suzuki GS 500e.
Kudos! I always grin when you get an abandoned bike cranked up!
Back in the early 70's I ran a chopped 650 Yamaha. Because I spent so much money to chop it, I didn't have much money for a chain. I would pick up a roll of chain from a farm implement dealer. Maybe not as good as a motorcycle chain, but was dirt cheap.
I always smile when i see brass floats! I've only been lucky enough to find a brass float in my 1986 LS650 i restored. Blew mine, and my fathers minds cause he an old timer like 64 years old so he aint seen brass floats in a carburetor since he was a youngster hahahaha
My first bike was an '83 Suzuki GS450. This really brings back some memories.
Dude, you can make anything run, you're a true master of reality!
I had a 1972 125.
Awesome machines. Mine hangs on a wall in Sterling, Colorado, in a garage. ❤❤
So glad I found this channel! Craig & Dan, you're an awesome double act - the witty repartee is the icing on the cake of all the "get 'er running" episodes! Thanks for the great entertainment!
Nice! ❤ those twins. Phosphoric acid works better than Evapo and conditions the metal. I usually spray fogging oil in the cylinders before trying to move them. There's an ebay seller in Vietnam that might have a new seat for that bike 👍
Loving the banter. Always good seeing you ride a rescued bike. Great content
I have a low mile 81 GS450T I bought several years back. Didn't run cause PO knackered the automatic cam chain adjuster and someone (his wife?) cut all the wires in the main harness in two (2) places. Replaced the harness and cam chain adjuster and guide. All stock with new IRC tires and looks and runs well.
Craig you just made me feel old. Born in 80 I was supposed to graduate high school in 1980. Never owned a gs 450 but I had a 1980 GN 400 that was the funniest 50 bucks I ever spent.
Craig you are amazing for breathing new life into the 1985 Suzuki 500CC.
in 86 I learned to ride on an 82 GS450L I loved that bike. Had a school bus back over it and I took the money to buy another one. Great memories on that bike.
I currently have an '88 GS450S, it's a great fun little bike.
I was in the military in 1980. Man you make me feel old😢
We used to take a shallow pan on top of a hot plate with STP in it and soak the chain in it at low heat for several hours. Amazing how it freed a stuck chain (it often was to slippery to pick by hand.
I had a 1980 Suzuki GS450E that I absolutely found delightful. I rode it to work, to vacations, did a couple of 1,000 mile days on it, and so forth. Comfy seating position and it just ran and ran. Got reasonably good MPG. Handled ok for being the basic UJM that it was. I'd acquired a matching fairing, tank, and tail piece from a 450S and it never failed to put a smile on my face.
After putting about 30,000 miles on it (definitely not a trailer or garage queen), alas, I was struck from behind by a driver in a GMC Yukon in July 2023. I'll give you one guess which vehicle survived. I miss it. I've got other bikes to ride, but I see more and more bikes coming out in the 450 cc range now....I felt like I had kept the bike long enough that it was gaining "new" status again. Did I say I miss my 450?
I watch these videos, and i miss my old 77 Honda 360. It's such a beast. Please find one an save it , bro.
if you don't want them boxes you can send them to postage might be a bit much as I am in the U.K. but I am always grateful for free stuff lol
Mustie1 once boiled a stiff chain in oil. It worked 👍😃
Absolutely love those bikes, I’d buy one in a heartbeat if I could find one