What a nice gift, someone gave me a 1980 xs850 that sat in someone's yard for20 Years, I got it running , it had 6k miles, know it has 18k, miles. That old bike is fun too ride. Love it cause shaft drive, no chain to adjus or wear out
I don't know what the thing was with Suzuki gas tanks of this general time period, but I had to replace the fuel tank on my 1979 GS1000E. I had dinged up the top of the tank near the fuel cap, so I decided to strip it, fix the dent, repaint, and coat the interior of the tank while I was at it. When I stripped the exterior paint, I found that most of the tank was full of little pinholes. Not fixable, it was toast. So I paid the money, bought a new tank, and everything was fine. But I've never had that happen with other brands I've owned, mostly Hondas. But hearing this bike run (and run so well!!!) with the little brother engine to my old 1000 was awesome. It is a sound I remember fondly.
I found a company in India who hand manufactures petrol tanks for the domestic motorcycle market. They said could copy any tank sent to them. Appreciate sending tanks to India not a convenient thing but I’ve got their details for any future projects where reasonable OE tanks just not available anywhere 👌
I've watched a few people who work on cycles but seriously, I think you really try to create an intimacy for those who really truly want to understand the delicate procedures that you are doing for us. I don't even have a motorcycle! ☺️😜
I have a 79 gs550e, same bike just not the cruiser style. My brother originally bought it and it has straight pipes on it. You can hear it from 2 miles away when he shifted into 6th gear. And its plenty quick too, especially for an old bike. Suzuki dohc engines are some of the best ones out there.
The float bowl pin towers are very common breaking point, the 850 yamaha they gave me had one of those float bowl towers broken I made a very small splint, and it worked, but I like the way you did it, but you really have to be meticulous when you drill those hole.to insert pin or drill bit.
What a great runner! Except for, you know... On another note, you seem to have a nice, familiar test ride route. We all have places to "test" things, you gotta get revs up and have space to pay attention to sounds. Did that last week on my GL650 project bike, only to get threatened with a "criminal speed" ticket (+20 over) because a local PD was hiding in an unusual place. I'm not a hooligan, I'm a mechanic, sucks to be treated poorly when the dipstick in the cruiser doesn't understand. Oh well, be careful out there on your test routes!
You could ride cross country on that bike, I ran into a Chinese man , in belize city, he flew to Canada, bought s 250cc honda street bike road all the way to Belize city. He looked like he weighed all over 100 pounds. His final destination was argentina.
The bike runs great! Would love to see how it looks after juste a couple mods like bars, turn signals and maybe a reshaping the stock seat. Great work so far!
One day I was riding my GS the petcock fell apart and the gas ran out of the tank. Luckily it was an easy fix that time. Got one problem that lasted for 11 years for me. The membran in the petcock was gone so the gas came in the wrong way. Bought a new petcock and the long problem was gone. I have a few short movies of my GS550L here on TH-cam.
Cheers for the tour of the local area dude. That tank is 'Sketchy as' eh.. It's definitely a cool looking bike though & I'm curious to see what simple mods you do. 😉👍
Hey man good progress...first check back with you since you first picked it up. I also picked up a free 84 Suzy GS550L couple of months ago and am doing the same thing waking it up after 15 years sitting outside. Virtually identical to yours except it has the TSCC engine with the strange carbs(BSW 30SS) that are 2x two single CV carbs sharing one float bowl and each have 2 sliders under each hat). I have done the rebuild on them and had them off and back on like 4 times now (what a PIA these are with these air boxes right?). I would like to go to pods as you mentioned but these dual intake carbs are virtually impossible to find pods for. Anyways...have it running pretty good in shop now and on to other things before getting on the road like new fork seals/ tires and sort out some electrical issues like signal/brake lights etc. Rebuilt the front brake caliper with new pads etc. Rear is drum which seems fine. Looking forward to watching your progress especially making it a bit less "ugly" or Cruisee as you said... with those chopper like handlebars and the foolish looking back rest. Good luck.
I wish I had an idea of which exact pods may fit thos carbs. I've seen those carbs but never messed with them! My tells me to look in the automotive world as there are many oval throttle bodies that may have filters available. Good luck with it though and I appreciate you watching!
I got a bike just like that and I don’t know why but my tac cable keeps coming loose and I’ve tightened it was pliers it goes in the front of the motorcycle at least mine is right by and above the filter cover I just keep putting it back in and luckily I haven’t lost that little piece that little square piece on the end but I don’t really ride that bike much at all anymore it mostly sits but I try to ride it at least couple times a month keep it from I tell you this gas we got today is horrible I grew up in the days of leaded gasoline we had lead in our gas and have didn’t have worry about this crap I use a stuff called Dyno fuel injector and carburetor stabilizer and it’s got a octane boost in it and it seems to be helping a lot
Yea it sat with about a half tank of fuel in it. That fuel turned to brown crumbly dirt type stuff and the varnish left behind just messes with the metal. The carbs were nasty.
I've been watching your videos. TY, I was starting my 1980 550, my headlight and green neutral light, and running lights are not working. What can I do.?
Thank you so much for all of your videos are absolutely awesome. I have the exact same bike. I'm gonna have to take my air box off . It's not Runing very good rebuild carburetors about 3 years ago, and I let it set big mistake.. could just be the floats. When I was Reving up the motorcycle, I had my battery charger . that's when I blew. My fuses replace fuses now, the headlight neutral and running lights or not working.
Even though those old japanese bikes are well made, they don't fetch alot of money, and most of them are vintage but not classic,probably because they made so many.
I know this video is old now.. 1 year in TH-cam is 100 in real life 🤣 red-kote might have worked for a short term bandaid. But that’s 30 dollars for a quart or so.
Those japanese built some fine machines.
That they did!
What a nice gift, someone gave me a 1980 xs850 that sat in someone's yard for20 Years, I got it running , it had 6k miles, know it has 18k, miles. That old bike is fun too ride. Love it cause shaft drive, no chain to adjus or wear out
I don't know what the thing was with Suzuki gas tanks of this general time period, but I had to replace the fuel tank on my 1979 GS1000E. I had dinged up the top of the tank near the fuel cap, so I decided to strip it, fix the dent, repaint, and coat the interior of the tank while I was at it. When I stripped the exterior paint, I found that most of the tank was full of little pinholes. Not fixable, it was toast. So I paid the money, bought a new tank, and everything was fine. But I've never had that happen with other brands I've owned, mostly Hondas. But hearing this bike run (and run so well!!!) with the little brother engine to my old 1000 was awesome. It is a sound I remember fondly.
I cant say I've had the same problem with other brands but don't want to say its a brand issue. More a poor storage issue
I got a big smile on my face when you gunned it 7:24 then called out the turbo busas. 😁
So far no turbo busas have rose to the challenge
Glad you didn’t go up in flames, thanks for the tour!
I found a company in India who hand manufactures petrol tanks for the domestic motorcycle market. They said could copy any tank sent to them. Appreciate sending tanks to India not a convenient thing but I’ve got their details for any future projects where reasonable OE tanks just not available anywhere 👌
I've watched a few people who work on cycles but seriously, I think you really try to create an intimacy for those who really truly want to understand the delicate procedures that you are doing for us. I don't even have a motorcycle! ☺️😜
Hey I appreciate that. I really try to convey the thought process and then techniques I use to help demystify working on bikes
Let's go for a burnout, you said. You nearly did! Glad you got home safe, loving this series of videos.
For real! I was not far from being ghost rider lol
I have a 79 gs550e, same bike just not the cruiser style. My brother originally bought it and it has straight pipes on it. You can hear it from 2 miles away when he shifted into 6th gear. And its plenty quick too, especially for an old bike. Suzuki dohc engines are some of the best ones out there.
The E models were so great looking. Id obviously prefer to have that version.
The float bowl pin towers are very common breaking point, the 850 yamaha they gave me had one of those float bowl towers broken I made a very small splint, and it worked, but I like the way you did it, but you really have to be meticulous when you drill those hole.to insert pin or drill bit.
What a great runner! Except for, you know... On another note, you seem to have a nice, familiar test ride route. We all have places to "test" things, you gotta get revs up and have space to pay attention to sounds. Did that last week on my GL650 project bike, only to get threatened with a "criminal speed" ticket (+20 over) because a local PD was hiding in an unusual place. I'm not a hooligan, I'm a mechanic, sucks to be treated poorly when the dipstick in the cruiser doesn't understand. Oh well, be careful out there on your test routes!
Thanks Mike and true. I have some good spots to help sort the bikes out
Nice ride about town, bike sounds great, I have an 80 GS550L with 36K that I plan on refreshing. Great content for us someday tinkerers.
Awesome! Get in there and tinker!
Nice one BJ. Regards Ray in the UK.
You could ride cross country on that bike, I ran into a Chinese man , in belize city, he flew to Canada, bought s 250cc honda street bike road all the way to Belize city. He looked like he weighed all over 100 pounds. His final destination was argentina.
The bike runs great! Would love to see how it looks after juste a couple mods like bars, turn signals and maybe a reshaping the stock seat. Great work so far!
I plan to do exactly that this week! Already have some bars for it and I'll slim it down a bit without doing anything crazy. Very low-buck focus
That's awesome! I'll take notes for my XV500 then, how to un-cruiser it a bit
@@germaindageville9277 Cool, this bike won't a "build" so to speak but rather a good reliable rider to tinker on throughout the season
BJ I really enjoy your show informative fun
Glad you like it!
don't need naff music when the engine sounds this good
Follow the leader...he's on a Honda...and he's not leaking gas!
??
One day I was riding my GS the petcock fell apart and the gas ran out of the tank. Luckily it was an easy fix that time. Got one problem that lasted for 11 years for me. The membran in the petcock was gone so the gas came in the wrong way. Bought a new petcock and the long problem was gone. I have a few short movies of my GS550L here on TH-cam.
These vacuum petcocks seem to have more problems than not unfortunately. I like to convert back to manual when possible
Cheers for the tour of the local area dude. That tank is 'Sketchy as' eh.. It's definitely a cool looking bike though & I'm curious to see what simple mods you do. 😉👍
Yea a bit of a tour around the neighborhood is always fun! Also a good way to find bikes leaning up against sheds!
Hey man good progress...first check back with you since you first picked it up. I also picked up a free 84 Suzy GS550L couple of months ago and am doing the same thing waking it up after 15 years sitting outside. Virtually identical to yours except it has the TSCC engine with the strange carbs(BSW 30SS) that are 2x two single CV carbs sharing one float bowl and each have 2 sliders under each hat). I have done the rebuild on them and had them off and back on like 4 times now (what a PIA these are with these air boxes right?). I would like to go to pods as you mentioned but these dual intake carbs are virtually impossible to find pods for. Anyways...have it running pretty good in shop now and on to other things before getting on the road like new fork seals/ tires and sort out some electrical issues like signal/brake lights etc. Rebuilt the front brake caliper with new pads etc. Rear is drum which seems fine. Looking forward to watching your progress especially making it a bit less "ugly" or Cruisee as you said... with those chopper like handlebars and the foolish looking back rest. Good luck.
I wish I had an idea of which exact pods may fit thos carbs. I've seen those carbs but never messed with them! My tells me to look in the automotive world as there are many oval throttle bodies that may have filters available. Good luck with it though and I appreciate you watching!
I got a bike just like that and I don’t know why but my tac cable keeps coming loose and I’ve tightened it was pliers it goes in the front of the motorcycle at least mine is right by and above the filter cover I just keep putting it back in and luckily I haven’t lost that little piece that little square piece on the end but I don’t really ride that bike much at all anymore it mostly sits but I try to ride it at least couple times a month keep it from I tell you this gas we got today is horrible I grew up in the days of leaded gasoline we had lead in our gas and have didn’t have worry about this crap I use a stuff called Dyno fuel injector and carburetor stabilizer and it’s got a octane boost in it and it seems to be helping a lot
Strangely enough I had issues with this bike eating tach cables
Replace the tank is a much better option.
Yes but still fun to experiment
Did the tank basically rust from sitting with the cap on, collecting condensation, for 32 years?
Yea it sat with about a half tank of fuel in it. That fuel turned to brown crumbly dirt type stuff and the varnish left behind just messes with the metal. The carbs were nasty.
I've been watching your videos. TY, I was starting my 1980 550, my headlight and green neutral light, and running lights are not working. What can I do.?
I'd start by looking for power where you should have it, check fuses, and inpsect wire connections in the headlight
Thank you so much for all of your videos are absolutely awesome. I have the exact same bike. I'm gonna have to take my air box off . It's not Runing very good rebuild carburetors about 3 years ago, and I let it set big mistake.. could just be the floats. When I was Reving up the motorcycle, I had my battery charger . that's when I blew. My fuses replace fuses now, the headlight neutral and running lights or not working.
Even though those old japanese bikes are well made, they don't fetch alot of money, and most of them are vintage but not classic,probably because they made so many.
I know this video is old now.. 1 year in TH-cam is 100 in real life 🤣 red-kote might have worked for a short term bandaid. But that’s 30 dollars for a quart or so.
For the fuel tank issues*
I've never seen good results with red kote. I usually use KBS, POR15, or Caswells
@@BrickHouseBuilds I’ll keep that in mind. More options is always a good problem to have
Want to rebuild mine lol
Always tempting but I no longer take on customer work
@@BrickHouseBuilds I think I may have bit off more than I can chew with this ole girl
@@austinwathen1067 well the best thing is one bite at a time. Winter is coming so no rush
Toss the tank. Its toast. Not that expensive on ebay
Currently holding fuel with a putty repair but yea I'm likely sourcing a new tank
Dry cracked, no grip tires. AND no gloves. 😮
Yeah, first shake down rides are usually like that