1987 Suzuki Impulse GSX 400 X GK71E Restoration

**Grumph** · 19th May 2021, 13:24

Hadn't looked at this for yonks. the pics of your wheels (nice...) brought back memories. Years back I got asked to participate in an evening for the BEARS club guys. Idea was to bring them up to date with new rules for scrutineering purposes. A couple of the example bikes there had impulse wheels fitted. Well, they were easily available 17's...and cheap.
I pointed out that they had wheel bearings on close centers - which on heavy bikes meant they cut out quite quickly.
One of the bikes there was already a fail with discernable play. An eye opener for some of them.

**Drew** · 19th May 2021, 17:56

Originally Posted by Grumph

I pointed out that they had wheel bearings on close centers - which on heavy bikes meant they cut out quite quickly.
One of the bikes there was already a fail with discernable play. An eye opener for some of them.

Is there enough meat left to pack the bearings out?

**husaberg** · 19th May 2021, 19:08

Originally Posted by Drew

Is there enough meat left to pack the bearings out?

The wheel bearings are ball-bearing drew.......How do you pack them out?

Originally Posted by Grumph

Hadn't looked at this for yonks. the pics of your wheels (nice...) brought back memories. Years back I got asked to participate in an evening for the BEARS club guys. Idea was to bring them up to date with new rules for scrutineering purposes. A couple of the example bikes there had impulse wheels fitted. Well, they were easily available 17's...and cheap.
I pointed out that they had wheel bearings on close centers - which on heavy bikes meant they cut out quite quickly.
One of the bikes there was already a fail with discernable play. An eye opener for some of them.

Funny i was thinking of that same story you had said before when i seen the impulse.
Mid 90's Yamahas had tiny bearings and axels i have no idea why they had so small axels then as they made them smaller from the 70-80's 15mm on a FZR1000 or FJ1100 wtf

**Grumph** · 19th May 2021, 20:16

Originally Posted by Drew

Is there enough meat left to pack the bearings out?

Look at the pics. They finish up flush with the outer surface of the housings.
Last time I went to a BEARS meeting I think there were still a couple of Nortons using Impulse wheels.

**RDjase** · 27th May 2021, 19:40

Originally Posted by Grumph

Look at the pics. They finish up flush with the outer surface of the housings.
Last time I went to a BEARS meeting I think there were still a couple of Nortons using Impulse wheels.

They are a easy retro fit to FXR150 for bucket racing too, fit 125 slicks.

**F5 Dave** · 27th May 2021, 21:17

But they are somewhat boat anchor heavy. Like really heavy.

**geoffm** · 15th June 2021, 17:41

Originally Posted by RDjase

They are a easy retro fit to FXR150 for bucket racing too, fit 125 slicks.

They fit pretty easily onto RG400/ 500s as well. Yes, the razor blade rims of the Impulse are actually wider than the "GP replica" 500cc 2 stroke stock rims.
There is a Facebook group for Impulse owners that gets a reasonable amount of traffic.
I was tempted to buy an Impulse for old times sake on Trademe a while back. It hadn't actually dropped much in value from what I remember them selling for new back in the day.
Geoff

**Mikael** · 5th April 2024, 08:54

**Mikael** · 5th April 2024, 09:00

Finished restoration. Side panels are done just keeping them off until Iv tidied a few small items.

**sugilite:Me** · 5th April 2024, 09:24

Well Done, that bike looks incredible - better than showroom condition!

**F5 Dave** · 5th April 2024, 09:49

Yes indeed.
But avoiding being 'that guy' I've seen White and Dark Blue with fairings. Bronze had the orange girder to headlight, no fairing.

Not to say I saw all the models, but applying for rivet counter badge . . . Now.

**release_the_bees** · 5th April 2024, 12:21

Originally Posted by sugilite

Well Done, that bike looks incredible - better than showroom condition!

It's definitely in better condition than the one that I briefly had in the early 2000s. I enjoyed it while I had it. It was a decent step up in performance from a KR150, that's for sure.

**Mikael** · 5th April 2024, 14:04

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

Yes indeed.
But avoiding being 'that guy' I've seen White and Dark Blue with fairings. Bronze had the orange girder to headlight, no fairing.

Not to say I saw all the models, but applying for rivet counter badge . . . Now.

This is actually the grey metallic version although it does look a bit bronzy in the photos. I have the Tokyo Tower front faring, head light and guages also. I plan to restore them next so I have both setups. But yes this bike was originally the Tokyo version.