Older Japanese inline 4's

[Two Checks]

Suzuki still carries a lot of parts for the GS models.

[LowRyter]

For the Suzukis, the GS series was the first generation of 4 cyl.  GSX series was the 2nd. 

The GS engines are big and robust.  This design (+ Vance & Hines) is still used in NHRA prostock racing.  Suzuki built 2 and 4 valve versions.

The GSX series came out in '86 and represents the final iteration of performance air (& oil) cooled 4 cyl motorcycle engines.  These engines were more compact and performance oriented.   The other Japanese manufacturers' performance bikes were water cooled.  Suzuki later came out with water cooled versions, starting with just the heads and then entire engine.  Valve adjustment are just like Guzzi for all 16 valves, very simple.

Suzuki engines are bullet proof and have tons of performance parts. The bikes are cheap.  It won't hurt any ones feeling to cut them up and modify them.  There are plenty of different model to choose from.  The original GS had touring and performance models, even shaft drive.  The GSX series is performance oriented with Katana being sport touring and the more a Bandit standard/naked.   

Probably the most collectable are the original GS series Katana, early GSXR sport bikes (like 750 with "slingshot" heads), and the 400 Bandit (water cooled).

[Rough Edge racing]

 The local bike salvage yard has nothing of interest.....I am leaning towards the older GS two valve engine bike...

[Two Checks]

Easy valve adjustments like a Guzzi?
If you consider shim over bucket (GS) and shim under bucket (GSXR) valves easy.
If you go the 2 valve GSs route the 80 GS switched to transistor ignition and CV carbs.
In all cases the big reason when a GS starts to run ratty is improper valve adjustment and bad intake boots.
Beware of the inline 4 dreaded hydrolock from bad float needles flooding the cylinders with fuel.
Shims and boots are readily available from Suzuki.
Check out the gs resources for good info.

[cruzziguzzi]

Hands down!.... Find a two valve Suzuki; 750, 850 or 1000. you will fall in love with those bikes.


I just VERY grudgingly sold one of my older and ignored project 850Gs to a friend and have had seller's remorse ever since. As a side bonus, the "G" models have a very fine shaft drive set up.



Todd.

[wymple]

I have the 850G, a 1981. It is a bucket & shim setup for valve adjustment. The 4 valve motors are simple as it gets, like the Guzzis, screw adjustable. There are lots of vendors for Suzuki parts and darn near anything is only days away. There are gurus on the GS forums who will rebuild your carbs with genuine Mikuni parts (that is important) for about 200 bucks. Rewound stators 80-100. Drive shafts are near indestructible.

[kevdog3019]

I have the 850G, a 1981. It is a bucket & shim setup for valve adjustment. The 4 valve motors are simple as it gets, like the Guzzis, screw adjustable. There are lots of vendors for Suzuki parts and darn near anything is only days away. There are gurus on the GS forums who will rebuild your carbs with genuine Mikuni parts (that is important) for about 200 bucks. Rewound stators 80-100. Drive shafts are near indestructible.

MESS WITH VALVES!!  The Nighthawk has 4 (hydraulic) valves per and outsider oil filter.

[LowRyter]

Easy valve adjustments like a Guzzi?
If you consider shim over bucket (GS) and shim under bucket (GSXR) valves easy.
If you go the 2 valve GSs route the 80 GS switched to transistor ignition and CV carbs.
In all cases the big reason when a GS starts to run ratty is improper valve adjustment and bad intake boots.
Beware of the inline 4 dreaded hydrolock from bad float needles flooding the cylinders with fuel.
Shims and boots are readily available from Suzuki.
Check out the gs resources for good info.

my 1200 Bandit has screw adjusters just like the Guzzi.  It's even easier to find TDC.   The adjustment interval is like 7500 miles,  I did about 40k.  Two #1 intakes were tight, two of the other 16 valves were loose.  Bullet proof. 

Adding to it.   The Bandit has cartridge forks, mono shock, aluminum swing arm, 4 piston front brakes,  radial tires.  The newer version has Keihn rather than Mikunis and gets better mileage.  you can find them all day for a couple of $ grand. 

[Two Checks]

Noice I said GS and GSXR. The Bandit is a whole nuther animal.
A few years ago I bought a complete 80 GS 1000 GT with Windjammer and Shoei bags. Had a bad carb which filled he crankcase with gas. The bike looked almost new.
Drained the engine, fixed rhe carb, set the valves (it needed 3 shims). Rebuilt the brakes, put on new intakes and tires. Dumped the aftermarket stuff. Paid $400 for it and sold it for 1400.
Great bike.

[hcso617]

I just saw a cherry 82 GS1100E sell for $2000.00 in a Mecum auction.  Wish I would have know about it earlier. I just happen to catch it on TV.

[cruzziguzzi]

I have the 850G, a 1981. It is a bucket & shim setup for valve adjustment. The 4 valve motors are simple as it gets, like the Guzzis, screw adjustable. There are lots of vendors for Suzuki parts and darn near anything is only days away. There are gurus on the GS forums who will rebuild your carbs with genuine Mikuni parts (that is important) for about 200 bucks. Rewound stators 80-100. Drive shafts are near indestructible.

Nice thing is, you may do them twice in the bike's life and when you do, they are incredibly simple.

Todd.

[Rough Edge racing]

 So far I have inquired on about 10 bikes with descriptions claiming "clear tile"................It goes something like this  " Is the title in your name?" ......."Uh...no it's in the previous seller's name"      "Do you have a Bill of Sale signed by the previous owner?"  "Uh...no but I rode the bike all last summer and it runs great "   
 I guess clear title means "clearly, you will have a hard time at DMV trying to deal with a 4 year second hand title" 
 

[JJ]

So far I have inquired on about 10 bikes with descriptions claiming "clear tile"................It goes something like this  " Is the title in your name?" ......."Uh...no it's in the previous seller's name"      "Do you have a Bill of Sale signed by the previous owner?"  "Uh...no but I rode the bike all last summer and it runs great "   
 I guess clear title means "clearly, you will have a hard time at DMV trying to deal with a 4 year second hand title" 

I have a friend who says: "Never buy ANY vehicle without a clear title..." 

It's just one less PITA (Pain-In-The-A**) issue one has to deal with...and I agree...

[Rough Edge racing]

I have a friend who says: "Never buy ANY vehicle without a clear title..." 

It's just one less PITA (Pain-In-The-A**) issue one has to deal with...and I agree...

 Yes, I am the self proclaimed  king of pushing suspect paper work through NY DMV....But if you don't have a signed bill of sale of the previous owner to go along with the signed title of the same name, you are dead in the water...

[surffly]

My main focus in this hobby has been SOHC Honda CB750s for a while. 
When I got into bikes they were cheap, now........not so much.

The DOHC bikes offer better real world performance and are often cheaper.
The 900F is the way to go.  Easier to find then the 1100F, and better then the 750F.
Dont waste your time with the K or C bikes.  They are just standards and kinda lame.

Smart money is on an early GS though. 
Hipsters can only spell Honda, and as such driven the prices way up.
For a fair bit less you can get a wire wheeled GS

Again avoid any of the L or E models with the leading axle front end if performance of any kind is valued.

[Dilliw]

Hands down!.... Find a two valve Suzuki; 750, 850 or 1000. you will fall in love with those bikes.


I just VERY grudgingly sold one of my older and ignored project 850Gs to a friend and have had seller's remorse ever since. As a side bonus, the "G" models have a very fine shaft drive set up.



Todd.

I always thought the round cam ends looked cooler than the later TSCC models for a cafe. 

I had a 2v 550 and that bike would run with most anything up to about 80mph.  Maybe it was due to gearing but I wouldn't look past the 550s especially if you find a deal.

My '83 750E was a fantastic all arounder but by then they had gone to monoshock, 16" wheels, and anti-dive.  Probably not cool enough to café

[Rough Edge racing]

  I found a 82 Kawasaki  750, looked like a winner...I asked about the title, same old story, title was in a past owners name..Then the guy says it's not problem at DMV............So I ask if it's no problem why didn't he transfer the title and ask more money....He just answers  "the bike is 700 bucks firm"...
 It appears many older Japanese bikes are simply abandoned when they need tires and maintenance items...They pass through a few buyers who never update the paperwork...Eventua lly they wind up as parts bikes, but no one wants worn out parts...
 

[Scud]

Sometimes a bike without paperwork can be a great deal - if the seller will work with you. One one occasion I was concerned about the legitimacy of a license plate on a dirt bike (being California....).

Short story - the owner agreed to go to AAA office with me. When AAA's DMV services verified and transferred title to me, I gave the cash to him. So, if the bike doesn't have any problems with the title, perhaps the owner would be willing to meet you at AAA to do the paperwork.

PS - Damn you for making me look at Craigslist. I am finding all sorts of things that are calling my name, including a Honda CB1100F and a Suzuki GS1100ES.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/6161909775.html

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/6161521962.html

The Suzuki looks like the better buy of those two. But it deserves to be kept stock.

[bacongrease]

  Most of the info you will need for the  Honda sohc Inline4   

http://forums.sohc4.net/

http://www.hondachopper.com/

[Dilliw]

This would be nice:

[Rough Edge racing]

This would be nice:

  Building a bike this is no problem for me  but my version would reflect my  "clever hillbilly engineering" as my friends call it...
 

[Mark Harpell]

I have an 1980 XS Eleven I picked up a few years ago...TONS of low end.....you can almost shift up to fifth before you get out of the driveway.......smoo oth as glass.....shimmed valves but long intervals....you have to check second gear shifting because the dogs chip sometimes and it wont shift into second, or it will be difficult.....fixab le but fairly big job....I'm currently setting it up as a tug...plenty of torque....standard frame....shaft drive...easy.....



I have seen these used to cafe but it is a big bike......

[SmokinJoe]

I enjoyed the dual overhead cam 750 Hondas. Parts still pretty easy to get. I renovated 2 of them and rode them for a combined 15 years. Both are still out there running today. the last one before I got too crippled up to deal with the work:



You redo the brakes completely, rotor for alt, wheel bearings, maybe stem bearings, swing arm bushings/bearings [1980 saw bearings replace bushings], rebuild suspension, really nothing unexpected after many decades of use. The valve adjustment is usually way off, restoring that will often cure most of it's running problems. The carbs are pretty easy and the ignition is simple. Then it'll run good get good mileage and stop well. They handle pretty good too. I had a ZG100 kaw Concours and it was great  but a lot heavier and a little harder to deal with.

[chuck peterson]

Here ya go...found one for ya...

Bandit 1200, right price

https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/mcy/6168622376.html

[Two Checks]

Thats a steal!

[jas67]

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/6132639410.html

1992 Kawasaki zephyr 750 with ~20k miles. Clean bike and clean title in hand. In good condition, could use a summer tune up (fork seals, and rear tire is getting low). Rode great last season with a couple trips into the Poconos, perfect bike in those twisties! Not many miles since winter, too many bikes - this one needs a rider! $1600 obo

[jas67]

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/6132639410.html

1992 Kawasaki zephyr 750 with ~20k miles. Clean bike and clean title in hand. In good condition, could use a summer tune up (fork seals, and rear tire is getting low). Rode great last season with a couple trips into the Poconos, perfect bike in those twisties! Not many miles since winter, too many bikes - this one needs a rider! $1600 obo

[DaSwami]

+1 on the Suzuki GS....owned an 850G and a GSX1100G, awesome no fuss machines

[bacongrease]

 SOHC is what you want. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfl8zWdnUQo