Difference between revisions of "Suzuki GS450GA"

|photo=Suzuki-gs450a-82.jpg

|photo=Suzuki-gs450a-82.jpg

|aka              =  

|aka              =  

|parent_company  =

|parent_company  =

|production      = 1982

|production      = 1982

|predecessor      =

|predecessor      =

|successor        =

|successor        =

|engine          = Four stroke, parallel twin cylinder, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.

|engine          = Four stroke, parallel twin cylinder, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.

|bore_stroke      =

|bore_stroke      =

|fuel_system      =

|fuel_system      =

|ignition        = Transistorized

|ignition        = Transistorized

|battery          = {{battery|YUASA YB12B-B2}} '82-83, '85-88

|battery          = {{battery|YUASA YB12B-B2}} '82-83, '85-88

|transmission    = 2-speed [[automatic transmission|semi-automatic transmission]]

|transmission    = 2-speed [[automatic transmission|semi-automatic transmission]]

|wet_weight      =

|wet_weight      =

|fuel_capacity    = 12 Liters / 3.2 US gal / 2.6 Imp gal

|fuel_capacity    = 12 Liters / 3.2 US gal / 2.6 Imp gal

|fuel_consumption =

|fuel_consumption =

|turning_radius  =

|turning_radius  =

|related          =

|related          =

|competition      =

|competition      =

}}

}}

The '''Suzuki GS450GA''' was a [[automatic]] [[motorcycle]] produced by [[Suzuki]] from 1982 to 1988.

The '''Suzuki GS450GA''' was a [[automatic]] [[motorcycle]] produced by [[Suzuki]] from 1982 to 1988.

impeller blades so torque is transmitted from the pump impeller to the turbine

impeller blades so torque is transmitted from the pump impeller to the turbine

runner hard enough to spin the turbine and move the motorcycle.

runner hard enough to spin the turbine and move the motorcycle.

Until the engine is spinning near its torque peak, some of the oil scooped

Until the engine is spinning near its torque peak, some of the oil scooped

through the stator and hitting the turbine gets conducted back through the

through the stator and hitting the turbine gets conducted back through the

of the torque converter equals the torque of the engine wouldn't spin

of the torque converter equals the torque of the engine wouldn't spin

any. That's the stall speed.

any. That's the stall speed.

Suzuki is expecting about a third of the Automatic owners will be women.

Suzuki is expecting about a third of the Automatic owners will be women.

Beginning riders of all kinds will make up most of the Automatic owners, and

Beginning riders of all kinds will make up most of the Automatic owners, and

having a low seat height is important for ease of control, especially at the low

having a low seat height is important for ease of control, especially at the low

speeds involved in learning to ride.

speeds involved in learning to ride.

Beyond that, the Automatic is an easy motorcycle to ride. It starts instantly

Beyond that, the Automatic is an easy motorcycle to ride. It starts instantly

with the choke lever on the left handgrip turned on. Suzuki has had carburetion

with the choke lever on the left handgrip turned on. Suzuki has had carburetion

With the choke still on and the bike cold it can be nudged into gear and ridden

With the choke still on and the bike cold it can be nudged into gear and ridden

away without concern.

away without concern.

Of course starting is handled with a button and electric motor. There is no

Of course starting is handled with a button and electric motor. There is no

kickstarter. Ordinarily motorcycles without kickstarters can be bump started

kickstarter. Ordinarily motorcycles without kickstarters can be bump started

when the battery goes dead (when, not if), but the Automatic doesn't allow for

when the battery goes dead (when, not if), but the Automatic doesn't allow for

bump starting. When the battery goes the bike doesn't go.

bump starting. When the battery goes the bike doesn't go.

The rest of the time the Automatic is marvelously easy to ride. Fire it up,

The rest of the time the Automatic is marvelously easy to ride. Fire it up,

click it in gear and twist the throttle. As simple as that, it moves. Twist the

click it in gear and twist the throttle. As simple as that, it moves. Twist the

where it runs out of steam. In high, it won't keep up with other motorcycles

where it runs out of steam. In high, it won't keep up with other motorcycles

ridden hard. Faster acceleration calls for low range.

ridden hard. Faster acceleration calls for low range.

Low range in the Suzuki is the surprise. Medium small motorcycles with

Low range in the Suzuki is the surprise. Medium small motorcycles with

automatic transmissions have been slow, and they feel especially sluggish. Not

automatic transmissions have been slow, and they feel especially sluggish. Not

range is good up to 50 mph. It will keep on accelerating up to about 60 in low,

range is good up to 50 mph. It will keep on accelerating up to about 60 in low,

but high range works better.

but high range works better.

One of the few shortcomings of the bike occurs when it is shifted from low to

One of the few shortcomings of the bike occurs when it is shifted from low to

high range under hard acceleration. Remember that the torque converter is still

high range under hard acceleration. Remember that the torque converter is still

upshifts are noisy and require effort. Shift at 20 or 30 mph and it's relatively

upshifts are noisy and require effort. Shift at 20 or 30 mph and it's relatively

quiet and easy, but motorcycle-like acceleration is missing.

quiet and easy, but motorcycle-like acceleration is missing.

Another shortcoming of the bike is easier to fix. When Suzuki substituted the

Another shortcoming of the bike is easier to fix. When Suzuki substituted the

torque converter for the clutch, the clutch lever remained. Only it's now

torque converter for the clutch, the clutch lever remained. Only it's now

a sore hand for the next week. The level can be removed easily, but it would b<

a sore hand for the next week. The level can be removed easily, but it would b<

better if Suzuki mounted the parking brake lever somewhere else. It could b( on

better if Suzuki mounted the parking brake lever somewhere else. It could b( on

confused for something it' not.

confused for something it' not.

Like the other guys, the engineers at  Suzuki are concerned that

Like the other guys, the engineers at  Suzuki are concerned that

riders might hurt themselves somehow. So in addition to the parking brake, the

riders might hurt themselves somehow. So in addition to the parking brake, the

another person could twist the throttle and send the bike lurching off its

another person could twist the throttle and send the bike lurching off its

stand.

stand.

Some maintenance chores on the Suzuki aren't easy to do. Removing the rear

Some maintenance chores on the Suzuki aren't easy to do. Removing the rear

tire, for instance, could hardly be more work. Even though this bike has a shaft

tire, for instance, could hardly be more work. Even though this bike has a shaft

shocks have to be disconnected or the exhaust removed in order to pull the axle

shocks have to be disconnected or the exhaust removed in order to pull the axle

and remove the rear wheel.

and remove the rear wheel.

Even removing the seat requires unbolting, unlatching and sliding it off

Even removing the seat requires unbolting, unlatching and sliding it off

hooks. There is no storage area anywhere under the seat like that found on the

hooks. There is no storage area anywhere under the seat like that found on the

Convenience and serviceability may not have improved, but the suspension has.

Convenience and serviceability may not have improved, but the suspension has.

The original GS450 suspension was soft in front and firm in back, the

The original GS450 suspension was soft in front and firm in back, the

Automatic there's no need for triple discs, and the forks control front end dive

Automatic there's no need for triple discs, and the forks control front end dive

well enough without anti-dive hardware.

well enough without anti-dive hardware.

In a way, the whole bike is like that. It does its job without excess or

In a way, the whole bike is like that. It does its job without excess or

without difficulty. There are few technical fads on this bike. Handlebars are

without difficulty. There are few technical fads on this bike. Handlebars are

automatically stepping up the effective gearing whenever the throttle is cranked

automatically stepping up the effective gearing whenever the throttle is cranked

open.

open.

Like other Suzukis, the operation of controls is unobtrusive. Nothing is

Like other Suzukis, the operation of controls is unobtrusive. Nothing is

stiff or difficult to use. Vibration is minimal, though more than the standard

stiff or difficult to use. Vibration is minimal, though more than the standard

transmission GS450, due in part to lower than normal gearing.

transmission GS450, due in part to lower than normal gearing.

All of this makes the Suzuki GS450A more than a good beginner bike. After the

All of this makes the Suzuki GS450A more than a good beginner bike. After the

beginner learns how to get the most performance out of the Automatic, he'll find

beginner learns how to get the most performance out of the Automatic, he'll find

== Photos ==

== Photos ==

{{Suzuki}}

{{Suzuki}}

[[Category:Suzuki motorcycles]]

[[Category:Suzuki motorcycles]]

[[Category:Automatic transmission motorcycles]]

[[Category:Automatic transmission motorcycles]]