Suzuki GR650

[rogson]

I just bought one.
Not the one below - same colour scheme but with 23 years of wear and tear.
Anyone got/had one?

[steved]

It looks like a GN with better paint. How's it go?

[XF650]

Hey Roger - did you start this thread before or after you told the wife you have bought another bike?

[rogson]

Shhhh........

[What?]

... How's it go?

Generally, they didn't.
Or not for long.
Not one of Suzuki's success stories...

[98tls]

Never seen one in all my years of riding..........theres something very Yamaharish about it........cant put my finger on it....kind of XJ ish........

[Aiolos]

The Suzuki Tempter... Oh dear.

[nudemetalz]

From what I remember when I used to work at a Suzuki shop, these engines were supposed to be revolutionary in the fact that they had a dual mass crank. Basically heavy at low revs and light at high revs.

They weren't a bad bike to ride, but definitely not a sports bike.

[rogson]

I don't know how it goes. I haven't ridden it - or even seen it.
KBer XF650 got it for me. He has ridden it and thinks it may have a carb/fueling issue.

Yes, they have a variable mass crankshaft. There is an extra weight on the end of the crankshaft that engages with the crankshaft and rotates with it at low revs (up to 3000rpm) giving it more flywheel mass and hence more grunt on take-off, low speed stall resistance, etc. It then disengages (by way of a centrifugal clutch) above 3000rpm, giving it better throttle response in the mid-range and higher.

Another point of interest is that they are only 175kg (dry) and have a wheelbase of 1430mm. They should be good commuters - which I think was Suuzuki's original intended use/role.

They were named the "Tempter" in the US market but "GR650" elsewhere.

They were a sales flop and were yanked from the market after three years (83 - 85).

I see it as a challenge to realise whatever potential it may have!

[XF650]

From what I have read on the interweb, the GR650 was Suzuki's attempt at the Yamaha XS650 market.
However the GR was more "sporty" & far more "advanced", featuring that variable mass crank thingy, oil jet piston cooling, air induction system plus has the 'full floater', remote pre-load monoshock suspension etc. Suzuki called it a "super lightweight".

My test ride on this bike was a lot of fun, even though there is a slight fuelling issue. Very comfortable yet agile.
It's now sitting in my shed, ready for Roger to add it to his Suzuki collection.

[merv]

My Bro' has had one a while. Last pics I took of it were on this ride when he basically took it where average Joe's take dirt bikes http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=37744

Its gone well for him for years with just all the usual Suzuki (and other make) electrical problems - burnt out reg/rec, alternator and stuff like that but nothing to complain about really for a bike of that design and age. He found it way too low geared when he got it - think they were geared for Santa Monica Boulevard - so he geared it up. He still has it and it still goes pretty well really. Not my cup of tea with its high rise bars, when I ride it I find I keep slipping back on the seat so I'm probably not big fat arse American enough for the riding position.

Depends on the price you paid which I'd guess wasn't a lot and for that its a good bike. My Bro paid something like $2,500 for his second hand with low kms back in about 1990.

[90s]

It looks like a GN with better paint.

Ouch!

(erm, message too short. Must file return correctly)

[rogson]

Suzuki were proud of the GR650..........they published a 20 page brochure on it (I have one). Any other Suzukis (single bike that is) have a 20 page brochure devoted to it?

[Bonez]

Think I've still got an old TWO WHEELS review on the GR650 lying around in the shed. I'll see if I can find it.

[rogson]

The GR650 is now going well - but it has been an adventure.

I had it shipped home (CHCH to AK) rather than ride it, and I'm pleased I did. It was running really rough with a major off-idle stumble and no power anywhere in the rev range.

I removed the carbs to clean them and checked the valve clearances, only to find a couple of the valves had no clearance at all. Its a DOHC with bucket shim type valves, and in the process of removing the camshafts (to change shims) one of the cam-cap bolts broke (leaving the threaded portion behind). I couldn't get onto it straight enough to drill it (frame tube in the way) so the head had to come off. I took the head to Alan at Colemans who removed the broken stud, reseated the valves, replaced the stem seals and reset the valve clearances - great service at a very reasonable price.

Unfortunately, on riding it first time after reassembly it was obvious the off-idle stumble hadn't been cured (mid-range and above was good). After much fiddling and fretting I finally traced the problem to a worn needle/needle valve in the LHS carb. I now have the needle in that carb set 4mm lower than the stock position. The off-idle stumble has gone and bike now pulls cleanly through the range. I have picked-up another set of carbs off ebay (uk) that will be delivered in about a month. I will then mix and match parts to put together the best carb-set I can from all the available parts.

Two other things I didn't like about the bike were the brakes (pathetic) and the bum down front-up riding attitude (to cruiser oriented). To fix the brakes I have replaced the standard single disc front-end with a twin disc front-end from a GS650 (major improvement). To improve the riding position I have lowered the front 20mm by raising the forks in the triple clamps, and raised the rear by about 20mm by a combination of lengthening the rear shock by a few mm and adding a spacer under the spring to increase the preload.

I'm fairly happy with the bike now. It is light and agile and has adequate and linear power. Although, as mentioned in a thread above it is very low geared - 100kph @ 5,000rpm. It could easily pull higher gearing and I have a bigger front sprocket on the way for that.

Oh, and one final gripe - the exhaust is too quiet - exhaustectomy yet to be performed.

[rogson]

Here's a picture of my GR650.

The double disc front-end is off a GS650 which improves the braking considerably over the single disc stock set-up.

The only other mod I have done is to open-up the airbox and rejet the carbs which I did in conjunction with changing-over the original worn-out carbs with a set I got off ebay.uk. Gives the bike a bit more midrange and top-end punch.

Otherwise the bike is stock - including paint, seat and pipes/mufflers.

I have also replaced the clutch and the bike is a honey to ride around town now. The extra flywheel mass at low revs means you can chug (or charge) away from the lights without slipping the clutch - in second!

I have never seen another GR on the road.

[tri boy]

Good honest bike you got there rogson.
Bike shop I worked at in Qld in the 80s had one as a loaner/shop hack.
As you could imagine, every ham fisted Aussie/Kiwi thrashed it as hard as they could, and it just kept going.
I used to comute on it for a few months, and from what i recall, it had ample power for that roll, and was comfy. It was a pretty good weekend tourer as well. Enjoy.:msn-wink:

[Badjelly]

I have to confess that it looks like a damn fine bike to me. Showing my age!

That flywheel-on-a-clutch thing sounds dodgy. Do they break? Do they make a whirring noise when they engage?

[rogson]

That flywheel-on-a-clutch thing sounds dodgy. Do they break? Do they make a whirring noise when they engage?

The extra flywheel makes no noise at all, and the transition from engaged to disengaged and back again is seemless. The only evidence it is there is the uncanny "chugging" ability and stall resistance at low revs.

As regards whether they break or not I can only go by what is posted about the bike on the GR owners forum which doesn't indicate they are prone to breaking or giving any other problems for that matter.

[Motu]

Good to see you finally got one,I was intrigued when you told me about them,but still haven't seen one in the flesh.Just to prove I researched them,check this one out.

[YellowDog]

Nice one!

Good work.

[Edbear]

Although, as mentioned in a thread above it is very low geared - 100kph @ 5,000rpm. It could easily pull higher gearing and I have a bigger front sprocket on the way for that..



My '89 GSX-F600 did 5200 at 100, but was redlined at 12000. What's the redline in yours?

Any details on the engine type?

[rogson]

Any details on the engine type?

Parallel twin - 180 degree crank.
Torque curve is virtually flat from 2500rpm to 6500rpm. Red-lined @ 8500rpm, but there's no point going there - no top-end power.

[Gunmetal]

Gday guys, Im currently converting a GR650 into a cafe racer, I got past the fuel lag and throttle response by eliminating the airbox completly, and going with 2 K&N 3 inch Cone filters.

Since I bought it in excellent nick for $1300, Ive lowered the front 2 Inches, cut the rear end away and fabricated a new arse end for the cafe racer seat, relocated all the electrical gear into a fabricated tray under the seat, moved the battery into a new holder in the seat hump, cut all the pegs and brackets away, and had new mounts fabricated and welded for the Yoshimura rearsets, had a custom 2-1 exhaust made up, removed the old guage cluster and replaced it with an acewell electronic unit and general tidy up of the wiring etc.

Next step is a complete pull down and repaint, might get some work done on the motor, but in general the motor runs well, especially since I have lost almost 30kg of weight etc, will post some photo's soon if you like.

Also while Im here, MSTriumph, get back to work! I can see you sitting in your office looking at these forums!

[nudemetalz]

Very interesting, Gunmetal.
Love to see some pics.

[manurewaboy]

According to www.davidreiss.com.au/Tempted.htm ghanging the rear sprocket from 38 to 36 tooth & 15 to 16 on the front will help Jaffa boy

[Jason2340]

Suzuki were proud of the GR650..........they published a 20 page brochure on it (I have one). Any other Suzukis (single bike that is) have a 20 page brochure devoted to it?

I have two of the GR650's and am a bit obsessed with them. Have several ad's, brochures, and articles. Where did you get the 20 page brochure mentioned earlier though? Would you scan it and send it to me?

[sjaak55]

Ouch!

(erm, message too short. Must file return correctly)

"Suzuki were proud of the GR650..........they published a 20 page brochure on it (I have one). Any other Suzukis (single bike that is) have a 20 page brochure devoted to it? "

Best Rogson

I own a suzuki GR650 sinds 1988
and i ride 223.000 km with it.
I am very interested in your 20 page brochure.
Would you considder to sell it to me ?
Or would you make a scan.
You can email me at sjaak55@hotmail.com


Thank You

Sjaak