Engine cases

[ryott52]

Random question: Are the GS's cases aluminum or steel? I pulled the motor out of my CBR over the weekend and it seemed lighter than the GS's engine. I'm not sure if that's just bad memory or if the GS has an unusually heavy engine.

[weedahoe]

Aluminum and they will crack

[ryott52]

Aluminum and they will crack

Speaking from experience there?

[weedahoe]

Kinda. I bought an 07 from a guy who slung a rod out the front of the block. It punched a hole out of it.

Also seen threads where guys broke front engine mounts from the bolt being seized

[craigs449]

Random question: Are the GS's cases aluminum or steel? I pulled the motor out of my CBR over the weekend and it seemed lighter than the GS's engine. I'm not sure if that's just bad memory or if the GS has an unusually heavy engine.

Aluminum as stated above......remember, the GS is AIR COOLED, so there is alot of extra weight on the motor with all the cooling fins, whereas, your CBR is probably water cooled and the weight is saved when you disconnect the rads and A/F hoses from the motor itself.

[burning1]

Aluminum. The cases are incredibly light. However, the crank, balancer shaft, transmission, stator, starter, etc... not so much.

The GS500 engine is way over-built.

[sledge]

They are made from an aluminium alloy, and there are dozens of grades and subgrades of aluminium alloys available. All have different qualities, advantages and disadvantages.

A360/380/383 are regarded as the most suitable alloys for die-casting, machining and corrosion resistance, my money is on one of them 

http://www.kineticdiecasting.com/tech.html