From: willey@sumax.seattleu.edu (   wotan)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: HELP: mechanical problem + general ?
Date: 22 Nov 92 01:22:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: sumax.5896
Organization: Seattle University

hi
my name is steve and i became aware this year.

however, i have an '81 Suzuki GS450E that i bought this this summer and have a
few problems, questions and comments as outlined below:

1) HELP w/ repair - currently not starting w/o pushing. 
2) is this bike ever going to be as nice as i want it to be?  if not what to
replace it w/. 
4) some suggestions for new riders (the blind leading the more
recently blinded).  and a reply to TOO MUCH POWER.

1) #@!$^*%@# won't start.  for a while my bike has been occasionally not
starting easily, recently however; the frequency of the problem has
increased to 100% of the time.  went i try to start her all i would hear
was the starting circuit go 'click'.  i don't think starter motor is
fried, b/c occasionally it would try to turn over but just go 'wwwwruuut',
and on the next try 'click'.  sometimes by putting the bike in gear and
pulling it back hard (netting a 'wwwwreeee' gear moving kinda sound) would
be enough to get it started on the next try.  now ever try is a 'click'. 
i can push start it, and it runs fine after that.  it like it's
freezing/jamming/sticking.  when it does start it's a very pronounced
unsticking feeling.  i was thinking that it might be doing some funky
pressure thing in the combustion chamber, but i pulled the plugs and it
was still stuck.  Also, (and perhaps most importantly) when it put it in
gear and pull in the clutch and try to push the bike it it very difficult,
as if the clutch was not fully disengaging from the engine.  could this be
the problem?  as you can see my mechanical knowledge is limited any help
would be appreciated.  please e-mail willey@seattleu.edu.

2) as you have read my clutch might be history or the whole tranny could
be caput or something else could be wrong.  i bought this bike, my first,
in july, for $400 (cheap), and have since spent about $600 in parts and
shop labour.  the suspension is fairly shot, one of the pipes has a large
whole (in addition to the one in the end), it's basically not the
classiest bike on the street.  my question is will it ever be a nice bike?
if i fix this starter problem, fix the pipe, and replace the suspension;
will this be a o.k. bike.  i don't race, i don't plan any huge touring, i
enjoy riding very much, i now dislike being 'caged', i plan to continue
commuting all season (note: were talking Seattle here).  heading out of
town at highway speeds and having my hands practically virbated into a state
of numbness is not my idea of a pleasant little motorbike  excursion.  so,
should i ditch the two cylender (sp, i don't care) 450 and not buy any xmas
present except for one for me, or just fix the fucker? 

3) as for the blind leading those who have been recently blinded.  take
the Motorcycle Safety Council's (Federation or whatever) course, now.  not
after you start riding but now.  in reply to past postings concerning TOO
MUCH POWER?, if your worried about too much power try punching a whole in
one or all of the pipes, or maybe as i did try a d-i-y carbourator rebuild
(make sure to do it over a deep-shag carpet or sewer grating for maximium
power loss).  there are any number of ways you can fuck up the performance
of a motorcycle, i'm sure i have found only but a few.  really get into
the sport and get your hands dirty.  (plus your local repair shop will
love you).  

send suggestions, comments, and love letters to:
*************************************************************************
* stephen willey        206.324.5090		*  friends don't let 	*
* willey@seattleu.edu				*  friends use windows.	*
*						*			*
*************************************************************************