Once upon a time...
... in 1980 a few days after making it to my 16th birthday in October, I bought my very first motorcycle -- a 1980 GS450E with about 2014 miles on the odometer. I paid for it with money I had saved for years from odd jobs and my first real job helping the maintenance guy at the apartment complex were my parents, my little sister and I lived.
I'll never forget that day. I forked over the cash, the salesman gave me a new red open face Bell helmet and the keys to the bike. I had no clue how to ride... or shift gears... complete newbie. But after only stalling the engine a couple of times in the parking lot, I eventually was rolling out onto the road. My mother of course wasn't keen on me having the bike and if not for my father, the idea would have been nothing but an idea in my mind.
In no time I was ripping around like Randy Mamola.
A couple of months later in December of 1980, the family moved from Charleston, SC to Oklahoma City, OK (I'm originally from Canada). My parents didn't have much money when I was a kid. What few possessions we had went into storage and my mom's sentimental stuff was loaded into the old car. It was suggested that I place the bike in storage as well but I wasn't about to do that. Good thing considering that we never went back to SC to retrieve what was in storage. Instead, I opted to just tag along on my bike behind the parents and little sister in the car as we traveled to what would be our new home. The weather gods found favor as the trip was pleasant and the ride a great new experience for me.
I was enrolled in my 13th and final school a couple of weeks later. I was a sophomore at the time. Within days I found a job at a nearby grocery store that if I recall paid $3.10/hr mimimum. Half of what I earned went to help the parents make ends meet. More times than not I'd do a full day of school and then 4-6 hours at the store. Worked 8 hours on Saturday's and Sundays for a minimum of 36 hours a week. That left little time to ride leisurely. Of course, riding to school and to work was fun regardless but just not enough. So after coming home from the job during those weekday evenings, I eat the leftover dinner mom had made the rest of the family then I'd hop on the bike and go ride at night for a few hours.
After finishing my sophomore year, I decided on doing a road trip. Loaded up my sleeping bag, a duffel bag with clothes and hit the road. Mom asked where I was going and I said to Toronto where my oldest sister lived with her husband and kids. 1300 miles one way between OKC and Toronto. I slept at rest areas, unrolling my sleeping bag on top of picnic benches listening to the engine of the bike tink and pop as it cooled off from a day of riding. The trip was a blast for a 16 year old kid.
That first year of bike ownership saw 20,000 miles added to the original 2K.
Fast forward to my senior year in fall of 1982. I rolled up to the high school on the bike. I had a friend who had a RD350 who rolled up about the same time. A new kid with a Honda CM400 was already in the bike parking area. We soon became a 'gang'... lol.
Since it was my senior year and I was doing my best to skate through it with the minimum class load to earn enough credits to graduate, I needed an elective class to get me over the required 28 credits to put my education process behind me. I chose typing. Figured I'd meet a few cute girls in the process...
... and I did. I was already at the back of the class when "she" walked in. For me, it was love at first sight. I was a goner and my life would never be the same after that day.
She on the other hand didn't even know I existed nor did she care. Bummer.
Anyways, I stalked her at lunch, said hi, told her my name, learned hers was Pamela... and asked if she'd be interested in chatting? She said no. Shot me down. And so it went throughout my senior year. No budging on her part. Nothing but the cold shoulder.
But I had my bike. Or at least I did for the first half of the year until some piece of sh8t stole it one night. With money tight, I wasn't able to buy a new bike so I was regulated to riding the school bus the remainder of the year. But I never forgot about my bike.
So with my bike gone and the girl of my dreams snubbing me... I left for USAF basic training within weeks of graduating thinking that was that. Didn't know if I'd ever go back to OKC to live. Maybe visit the parents but likely not to live.
Turns out that after finishing Basic, I then found myself going through six weeks of training to become an 81130 (Security Specialist). Then a week of M60 gunner school (which was a blast), followed by six weeks of Air Base Ground Defense training. And getting my first base assignment... Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. So much for my seeing the world. I was headed right back home...
... where a cute little gal named Pamela lived.
Once I get back to OKC it was time for my 19 year old self to get some wheels. Now that I was making some real money (I think it was about $850 per month as an E1) I headed down to my local Suzuki shop and bought a brand new 1983 GS550E. Four cylinders and fast. Eat your heart out Randy Mamola!
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s465/dweyrich/GS550E2_zpsus8p2ys3.jpg) (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/dweyrich/media/GS550E2_zpsus8p2ys3.jpg.html)
Next thing to do was to make a little visit to a girl named Pamela. :kiss3:
Fast forward to June 1985 and a little church. My parents and sister, her parents and three siblings. Knot was tied a month after she graduated. She was 18, I was 20.
It lasted 16 years to the day almost. Two days shy of our 16th anniversary the divorce was finalized. She had left me for someone else. Bummer. :sad:
Anywayz... long story short, this thread is about my going back in time a bit and reliving life with a 1980 GS450E.
Found this GS450E frame on ebay. Currently in transit as I compose this post.
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s465/dweyrich/Gessica1_zpslifitqnu.jpg) (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/dweyrich/media/Gessica1_zpslifitqnu.jpg.html)
This morning I ordered the following items to get this project rolling:
- 1980 GS450 engine
- 1980 GS450S forks (pair)
- 1981 GS450 triple tree (upper & lower)
- 1981 GS450S swingarm
- 1980 GS450E tank
- 1980 GS450S 18" wheels (front & rear)
- 1980 GS450 wiring harness
:woohoo:
Should have bought my friend Nick's 500 engine - or the whole thing.
450 motors and parts are a lot harder to come by these days. 500's are easier. It will bolt in - but of course exhaust wont directly fit on, that's about the biggest issue you'd have.
Cool.
Buddha.
Oh wow, what an awesome story! Love how many miles you put on that bike within the first year... way more than I have put on my GS in the past 5 :icon_eek: :icon_razz: Hopefully next summer I'll get to go on a longer trip for the first time.
I was so happy when you said about getting together with Pamela !! Sad then to hear about it ending :icon_sad: :technical:
Can't wait for updates :cheers:
The Buddha... I had considered that idea but knew about the exhaust/frame issue. And I really want to stay true to the fidelity of the GS450E.
SBW... glad you enjoyed the story. Sorry the ending didn't turn out to be a 'forever after' relationship. Although she and I have been divorced since 2001, I still love her. She just chose a different course for her life. I haven't stayed in contact with her since our divorce but have been given updates from her family members over the years. They weren't happy with her choice either ans sided with me on the entire situation.
And I've since gotten remarried (12 years next week Saurday) and moved on with life. She on the other hand ended up divorcing the guy she ran off with when he ran off with something younger. Karma? :dunno_black:
Anywayz, I'm looking forward to this restoration. It'll be a challenge and could take a few years but it should be fun too. Of course I still have Genny, Ginger and Gesa to keep me busy as well. :)
Welcome to the site Dwayne! I have to tell you though: the GSTwins site concentrates mostly on the GS500 - the GSResources knows every nut and bolt about your 450 (especially Pete.... the man is a legend!). But I do hope you update your progress here!
There is at least one person over there that used 500 cylinders in his 450 (TKent I think) for the bump in performance. Just need to mix and match some parts, that's all. I sold a 1980 GS450 "S" about a year ago, so if there's any help I can offer just let me know.
Big Rich... the purchase of the GS500 is what brought me here. I quickly noticed that it leaned heavily towards the new bike. At least I haven't posted a thread about my GR650. :D
Oh... it burns so deep! Haha.
You're going to fit in just fine man. Good to have ya.
Thanks man. :thumb: The poor Tempter model is for all intents and purposes is a GS. But since Suzuki already had a GS650, I suppose designating it with the GR prefix was a viable solution.
Hey Dwayne, good choice of bike! I like the newer 500's too (although have never ridden one) but the older 450 is still my favourite of the twins.
There's been two or three over on the GSR that have done the 500 cylinders/pistons on the 450 bottom end that I know of and it seems like it's a nice easy swap out as long as you pay attention to cylinder head gasket height etc. When my 450 finally gets tired again I'm planning on doing it myself. I already have the 500 carbs and cams in her.
Actually, there's two simple (but small) performance upgrades for you, carbs and cams from the 500. They literally bolt right on/slot right in. Just be sure to use the 500 intake rubbers and you may need to swap shims for the cams.
I would highly recommend the carbs at least if there are any issues at all with the stock carbs as the ones Suzuki used on the 80 - 82 450's are the redheaded step child of the Suzuki carb range. The diaphragms on mine started to crack and trying to get that sorted was a nightmare. None of the aftermarket ones from JBM industries fit and it was more expensive to buy new slides/diaphragms than it was to get a good pair of second hand GS500 carbs and new intake boots.
Anyways, enough from me... but I must disagree with Rich's legend comment... maybe in my lunchbox... :icon_lol:
peteGS... I'm on GSR and have looked at some of the projects you've mentioned though I haven't taken the time to do some serious reading yet.
Good stuff, you should find some good info there.
That's a heck of a story.
Good luck putting together the 450. Looks like a big project. Lots of little parts to source. But the nice thing is you won't put anything on it that you didn't decide it needed.