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/sh...ad.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.