Suzuki
GS400 Gallery
Suzuki was the
last of the Japanese motorbike-factories to
aim for 4-stroked engines and the GS400 was
together with the GS750 the very first 4-stroked
Suzuki's to be launched on the market. Time
had showed how reliable and durable the GS-engines
is and thus making it able for Suzuki to remain
in competition, even though the 750 had to compete
with the contemporary launched and evenly powered
Z650 from Kawasaki. The only remarkable changes
on the GS-models was done in the early years
and covers electronic ignition; CV-carburetors
(as: also for the four-cylindered models) and
aluminium alloy rims incorporating rear disc
brake.
The Suzuki GS400 twin was presented in October
1976, being one of the first four-stroke Suzukis
since the Colleda COX in the 1950's. The other
Suzuki four-strokes that were introduced that
year were the GS750 and GS550 fours. All three
of them had similar appearance and specification
other than the GS400 had a cross-mount inline
twin, six-speed gearbox and drum rear brake.
The 550cc and 750cc versions had five speeds
and disc brakes front and rear. All GS models
had two valves per cylinder, double overhead
camshafts, tubular double craddle frame, telescopic
front and pivoted-fork rear suspension, fuel
gauge, gear indicator and electric start.
Although Suzuki had earlier been known as the
home of two-strokes and for years let other
manufacturors go ahead with their complicated
and not-always-that-reliable four-strokes. Honda
presented its CB750 already in the late sixties
being a emmidiate success. Suzuki's answer,
in form of the great new two-strokes in the
T and later in the GT family were great bikes
in the early seventies but were soon hopefully
out-of-date. When even the RE5 with rotary engine
turned out to be unsuccesful, it was time for
Suzuki to think again. New harder emission regulations
were arriving in the USA killing the eventual
plans of making even more powerful two-stroke
machines. No, Suzuki had to swallow its pride
and go with the flow. The name of the game was
four-stroke.
With the new four-strokes Suzuki showed that
the firm had no problems with that engine type.
In fact, the new engine family was conventional
and based on established practice but carefully
refined to meet or beat the older rivals. The
Suzuki GS engines received soon a reputation
being strong and reliable with great gearboxes,
GS400 engine being no exception.
Bike |
Image |
Description |
1976 Suzuki GS400 |
 |
Air cooled, four stroke, parallel twin
cylinders, DOHC, 2 valve per cylinder. |
1977 Suzuki GS400 |
 |
|
1978 Suzuki GS400 E |
 |
In the past, the Suzuki created a negative
first impression in the area of overall
fit and feel: the Suzuki seat—on the
1977 GS400—burned a hole in the average
backside within 50 miles. However, for 1978,
Suzuki is replacing the seats on the entire
GS line; the GS550 and 750 have shared the
same ailment. On the positive side, the
handlebar position is good and Suzuki's
sportier seating position directs the rider's
feet up and back. The bike also has nice
soft grips. And, in noticing details, we
recommend some practice in using the kill
switch: its roller action is inferior to
a flip switch design. |
1984-86 Suzuki GS400 S |
 |
Air/oil cooled, four stroke, parallel
twin cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder. |
1991 Suzuki GS400 E |
 |
Air cooled, four stroke, parallel twin
cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder. |
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