Info on the GS400E

[Sebulba]

Hi,

I'm the new owner and operator of a '93 GS400E.
I was wondering if anyone could give me some more information on it, like what kind of engine it has, because the net is unusualy scarce when it comes to information about this bike.

Thanks

[sledge]

GS400E?? A very very rare bike indeed.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/GS-series/GS400.shtml

[Sebulba]

Thanks, I have seen that page.
I guess I was wondering if it's the same engine as in the 500, before the increase in the displacement.
Also, do you have any ideea the model is a japanese only model? I'm worried about parts availability.
I live in Romania and I heard stories of grey market imports sitting still for lack of parts.

[Trwhouse]

Hi there,
It's more likely an '83 or so GS400. You can check the tag on the steering head. It will have the date of manufacturing stamped on it there.
The GS400 preceded the GS500.
The evolution of the breed.
Best wishes,
Trwhouse

[sledge]

Thanks, I have seen that page.
I guess I was wondering if it's the same engine as in the 500, before the increase in the displacement.

Nope.............It probably shares a lot of common parts but the top and bottom ends are different. From the info I have got the GS400E used an 8 valve head with rocker-arms, original GS400, GS425 GS450 and the corrent GS500E/F use a 4 valve head with buckets and shims. Bore and stroke for the GS400E is 65x60 against the 74x56.6 of the GS450 and GS500E/F. I would guess that the 400E had the roller bearing bottom end and this explains the difference in stroke.

Whats interesting is that the GS400E was credited with 41.5hp against the 39.5hp of the GS500E........must have been the extra valves.

[makenzie71]

It was a lot of little things...not just the valves.  The 400E was a monster for a 400, especially in that era.  Great little bikes.  I'd get it if it were cheap.

[Sebulba]

Hi, thanks for all the replies.
I don't think it's a '83 model, since it looks exactly like a GS500, only it seems to have a different displacement engine (see the last entry in on the page linked by Sledge). Also the suzukicycles.org page on both the GS500E and the GS400E mention a 4 valve head for '93. There is a mention on Wikipedia (which isn't very reliable, I know, that's why I'm asking here) that there were certain markets where the bike has a 400 cc engine due to restrictions on learners. I was thinking this was the case with mine.
I tend towards the same engine as the later GS500, only debored/altered stroke, because all the pictures I've seen of the GS500 engine match my engine.

[makenzie71]

Show us a pic...

[sledge]

Compare this........
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gs400e%2091.htm

to this..........
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gs500e%2089.htm

[fred]

Woah, those are crazy similar.

[97gs500e]

A GS400?   Sweet!  Let's see some pics!

[Sebulba]

As requested by you, my faithful readers here are some pics.
Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to get it washed (I've only had it a week), so it looks worse than it is. Not the exhaust pipes, those are as bad as they look (they work ok, but I'm thinking of replacing them next season)

[yamahonkawazuki]

Damn, i want one. would be a good stablemate for my 500 

[Sebulba]

Why would you want a 400 when you already have a 500? There's not that much diference between them.

[yamahonkawazuki]

i konw, damn near identical. BUT it would be something different, like not many other people would have 

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

I could be wrong, but to me it doesn't look like it could have 8 valves. Cam cover looks identical to the 500, and on the page sledge posted it says 4 valves. I think it may possibly share some parts with the 500.

[bettingpython]

When an engine is referred to as a 4 valve engine it means 4 per cylinder. And It's very possible. My truck is a 2 valve motor, the motor in the wifes mustang is a 3 valve motor, they look identical on the outside.

[sledge]

There are 3 grades of license in Japan, upto 125cc, upto 400cc and unlimited cc. The GS400E was obviously intended for the grade 2 license holders in the home market. I know they were never officialy sold in the Uk but there are a few greys about. Dunno about Europe and other parts of the world.
From the pics posted by Sebulba I seriously doubt there are 8 valves in there, particularly if they are rocker-operated. I think the 8 valve head was fitted to the previous generation GS400E twin which was available more or less everywhere. A lot of the information on the net is confusing and contradictory.

http://www.eurospares.com/gsfaq.htm

Perhaps if Bruce Brown is still around he may be able clarify this issue and at least one person in here seems to think the 400 and 500 cc engines are interchangable.

http://www.visordown.com/forum/forummessages/mps/utn/14790/v/1/cp/1/

[Sebulba]

I'm fairly confident that it's a different engine that the '80s GS400Es. I think that most people, when they hear "GS400" think of the predecessor to the GS500.
Well, I'm going to assume it's a smaller displacement GS500 engine in an otherwise normal GS500 chassis and hope that my local Suzuki dealer doesn't drop the ball when the time comes to change something on it.

Thanks for all the help

[97gs500e]

ooh it's got clip-ons.  nice.