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Suzuki GSX400E
Suzuki GSX400S
1980—1987
| I have tried to tell the Suzuki GSX 400 E model history on this page, as I know it. The page is still under construction.
I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads,
magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material
in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send
them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible.
If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these
instructions.
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Suzuki was the last of the ”big four” Japanese motorcycle manufacturers to enter the four-stroke engine field, being earlier known for its two-stroke machines. Following the four-stroke four-cylinder GS750 and GS550, Suzuki released the in-line two-cylinder GS400 in December 1976. The new GS machines were reliable and popular among customers but Suzuki was determined to catch up and surpass its rivals. It developed the GS machines further, the next move being developing the GSX series — similar to the GS machines but four valves
per cylinder instead of earlier two and two camshaft instead of one.
The sporty new models GSX750E and GSX400E appeared in 1980. The basic layout of the GSX400E engine remains the same, with an air-cooled parallel twin cylinder with a 180-degree crank, but the stroke has been shortened from 65 x 60 mm to 67 x 56.6 mm. It now had four valves per cylinder and a DOHC system.
Furthermore, Suzuki adopted TSCC (Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber), a new technology to improve combustion efficiency that creats two vortexes in a cylinder head during the intake stroke and increases the combustion speed. As a result, the engine output increased from 39 hp on the GS400 to 44 hp on the GSX400, and the redline was raised from 9,000 rpm to 9,500 rpm, resulting in a sportier engine that responded more sensitively to the rider's throttle input.
Inherited from the GS400, the GSX400 was equipped with a gear-driven balance axel, which meant that the engine was free of unpleasant vibrations and offered sharp acceleration.
The GSX400E also had an advanced suspension system, and together with the GSX750E, it was the first in the world to adopt the anti-nose dive mechanism, also equipped on the RGB500, which had won the manufacturer's championship in the 500cc class of the World GP for four consecutive years at the time. Anti-nose dive fork was abbreviated to ANDF in the catalog. ANDF increases the compression damping force of the front suspension during braking while the soft suspension (when not braking) gives for better ride comfort.
The turn signal switch was unique. Moving it left and right would normally indicate whether to turn right or left, but it could also move up and down to switch the headlights between high and low. The horn button also functioned as a passing light when slid inward. The GSX400E inherited the gear position indicator from the GS400.
In February 1981, the front was fitted with double disc brakes (not standard in all countries). The anti-dive mechanism and brake calipers were also changed. Tire sizes were changed from 3.00S18-4PR and 3.50S18-4PR to 3.60S18-4PR and 4.10S18-4PR. The tire brand IRC, which was popular in North America, continued to be used.
While 400cc twins were popular as entry-level models in the North American market, in Japan the mid-class was shifting to four-cylinder bikes around this time, and Suzuki also launched the GSX400F in May of the same year as its first mid-range four-cylinder. The GSX400E was short-lived, but its strong individuality still shines brightly today.
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1980 Suzuki year code:
T
The Suzuki GSX400E with four valves
per cylinder was released in January 1980. It replaced the GS425
with two valves per cylinder. The style of the middle range street
sports bike had the same styling as its smaller brother GSX250E,
released simultaneously.
A version with a small cockpit fairing, GSX400S (internal model
code: GK53C), was presented in 1980. GSX400ST colors (in France anyway) were: Black (with Red and White stripes) and Metallic Grey (with Red and Black stripes).
Model name: GSX400E
Internal model code: GS40X
Launched in Japan: December 1979
Selling period: 1979–1981
Initial frame number: GS40X-10001~
Retail price in Japan: 345,000 yen
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| 1980 Suzuki GSX400E, Solid Black (019) |
 1980 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 750 mm (29.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 140 mm (44.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Weight: 175 kg (385 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Here's even larger picture.
|
 1980 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 750 mm (29.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 140 mm (44.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Weight: 175 kg (385 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
1981 Suzuki year
code: X
In 1981 the GSX400E and GSX400ES models got a sister model called
GSX400F (four) that had an inline-four DOHC engine and the custom
styled GSX400L with the twin engine, all with four valves per
cylinder.
Reliability was often on a par with the old and somewhat infamous
GSX400E. The engine worked much better in 250 form but such is
the reputation of the bigger bike that few made it to Europe.
The 1981 GSX400SX colors (according to French specs) were: Black (with Red and Orange decoration) and White (with Blue decorations).
Model name: GSX400E-2
Internal model code: GS40X
Launched in Japan: February 1981
Selling period: 1981–1982
Initial frame number: GS40X-110729~
Retail price in Japan: 375,000 yen
|
 1981 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 095 mm (43.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Dry Weight: 173 kg (381 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
 1981 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 095 mm (43.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Dry Weight: 173 kg (381 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
 1981 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: ?
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Dry Weight:?
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
The models received a major facelift in the first half of the 1982. The design of the new ”Katana” styled GSX400E and GSX250E derived from the stream flowline of the GS650G, a departure from Suzuki's traditional style. The models looked the same, but the 400 had a 19-inch double disc front wheel and a double cradle frame. The 250 had a single 18-inch disc front wheel and a semi-double cradle.
In Japan, the model was called GSX400E Katana.
Both models still had a twin-cylinder engine, which can produce large torque from low revolutions, and has better acceleration than an inline-4 engine. The
GSX400E had performance that was not inferior to the 4-cylinder sports GSX400F that appeared in 1981. Both cars were DOHC and used a twin swirl combustion chamber (TSCC) cylinder head with a two-swirl intake system, but the GSX400E (45ps for the 400F and 44ps for the E), which had a slightly lower maximum output, was actually faster. At least that is correct for the Japan domestic models.
The meter cluster inherited the gear position indicator from the first-generation model. An analog fuel gauge was also built in, a luxury item at the time. |
1982 Suzuki year
code: Z
The 1982 Katana styled GSX400E was offered in the Katana silver
or red. Appart from the "sweet Katana" estetics, there were some technical changes:
1) New ignition fully electronic (previous one had a mechanical centrifugal advance system) and ignition advance goes to 30º from previous 20º
2) Carburation tuned to adapt it to exhaust modifications
3) Electrical fuel tank gauge
4) New frame, special mention to rear swinging arm getting 40 mm longer
5) Steering column strongly triangled, turning on conical bearings
6) Anti-dive front fork
7) Engine cover screws changed from cross to hexicon head
The changes in the motor and cycle parts make it a more consistent and brilliant bike.
Originally the GSX400E was offered with a single disk front brake
and a anti-dive system fitted on the left side only. Because of
the construction, according to some owners, the front fork felt
strange at full braking from high speed. The single disk was good
enough for stopping the bike but a version with double-disk and
anti-dive system for both sides was available for the GSX400E
from 1982 year's model in order to get rid of the odd behavior.
I don't know if the double disk version was standard
in some countries or if it was a option, the pictures here below
shows the both versions.
The 1982 GSX400SZ colors (in France) were Red and Silver Grey.
Model name: GSX400E-3 (GSX400EZ outside Japan)
Internal model code: GK51C
Launched in Japan: March 1982
Selling period: 1982–1983
Initial frame number: GK51C-101091~
Retail price in Japan: 409,000 yen
A European repair manual tells that the initial frame number for the 1982 GSX400EZ is
GK51C-100001. That indicated that the first batch of the updated bike could have made for made for export only. A 27 hp version of the GSX400E was made
for the German market. It had a slightly different frame number, starting with GK53C-100001.
|
 1982 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 095 mm (43.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Dry Weight: 173 kg (381 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
 1982 Suzuki
GSX 400 E
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (33.5 in)
Overall Height: 1 095 mm (43.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Dry Weight: 173 kg (381 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
1983 Suzuki year
code: D
In 1983 the GSX400E got new type of cast wheels and a black-coated
engine. Probably even the instrument panel got a new design. The paint scheme was new but mechanically the model remained
unchanged.
A model version called GSX400S with a small fairing
was offered for those who wanted some protection against the wind.
Model name: GSX400E-4
Internal model code: GK51C
Launched in Japan: March 1983
Selling period: 1983–1985
Initial frame number: GK51C-105782~
Retail price in Japan: 434,000 yen
|
| 1983 Suzuki GSX400E, Candy Gupsy Red No.3 (00J) |
1984 Suzuki year code:
E
1984 was the last year for the Suzuki GSX400E in many countries. The GSX400S (GS400S in
North America) lived on for a couple of more years. The GSX-R400,
the liquid-cooled GSX400FWS and the GSX400X Impulse were other
400 cc four-stroke motorcycles Suzuki had to offer in the mid-eighties.
In Japan, the model lived on until 1985, with unchanged specs and retail price.
|
1984 Suzuki GSX400S
1985 Suzuki year code: F
In Spain Suzuki introduced GSX400E, and only the E model, starting in 1985 — too late to have good sales results; Yamaha had introduced the XS400 with its nice cantilever rear suspension in Spain two years earlier.
Anyway, a GSX400E won the '87 Superstreet Spanish Championship.
In this market segment Suzuki Spain imported GSX400E models until 1987. In 1988 the GS450S was imported to Spain — with even less success — and was replaced in 1989 with the very successful GS500E. Suzuki did not import the GSX400S version in Spain.
|
1986 Suzuki year code: G
”One shall not change things just because you want to change
it”, says the Swedish Suzuki lineup catalog from 1986 about
the GSX400E — and shows a picture of the GSX400S without
the fairing. Apparently the naked version was still popular in
Sweden and the importer wanted to continue selling it in 1986.
No naked versions were longer manufactured but the problem was
quite easily solved by selling the bike without the bikini fairing...
|
 1986 Suzuki GSX 400 E
(GSX400S)
Overall Length: 2 105 mm (82.9 in)
Overall Width: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Overall Height: 1160 mm (45.7 in)
Seat Height: 755 mm (29.7 in)
Wheelbase: 1 420 mm (55.9 in)
Ground Clearance: 145 mm (5.7 in)
Dry Weight: 177 kg (390 lbs)
Engine: Air-cooled 398 cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves.
44 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 3.7 kg-m @ 8 000 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
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1982–1985 Suzuki GSX400E specifications (Japan)
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Overall Length:
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2 105 mm (82,9 in.)
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Overall Width:
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755 mm (29,7 in.)
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Overall Height:
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1 070 mm (42,1 in.)
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Wheelbase:
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1 415 mm (55,7 in.)
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Road Clearance:
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145 mm (5,7 in.)
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Seat Height:
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755 mm (29,7 in.)
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Dry Weight:
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175,9 kg (387 lbs) |
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Turning Radius:
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2,4 m (94,5 in.)
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Engine:
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Air-cooled 4-stroke, parallel twin
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Valves:
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DOHC, four valves per cylinder
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Cylinder Volume:
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399 cc
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Bore x Stroke:
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67x 56.6 mm
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Compression Ratio:
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10.5 : 1
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Power Output:
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44 hp @ 9.500 rpm
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Torque:
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3,7 kg-m (26,8 ft-lb)/ 8.000 rpm
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Carburetor Type:
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BS34
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Starter System:
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Electric starter
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Ignition System:
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Full transistor
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Lubricating Type:
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Wet sump
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Oil Capacity:
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3,0 liter
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Gasoline Tank Capacity:
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16 liter
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Clutch Type:
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Wet multiple plates, Coil spring
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Transmission Type
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6-speed constant mesh
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Gear Ratio: 1st gear
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2.461
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2nd gear
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1.777
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3rd gear
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1.380
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4th gear
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1.125
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5 speed
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0.961
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6 speed
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0.851
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Primary Drive Ratio:
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2.714
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Secondary Drive Ratio:
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2.933
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Frame Type:
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Double Cradle
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Caster:
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27” 50´
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Trail:
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102 mm (4,02 in.)
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Front Brake Type:
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Hydraulic double disk
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| Rear Brake Type: |
Expanding drum brake
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| Front Tire Size: |
3.60S-18 4PR
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| Rear Tire Size: |
4.10S-18 4PR
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Steering Angle (left to right):
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42° |
Comments about the specs:
The French manual for the SZ says the maximum power was 40.9 hp (not 44.0 as in Japan) and a 1985 "Motociclismo"magazine test says the power was 42 hp (refering to Suzuki catalogue data).
The given compression ratio in three different European sources is 10:1 (not 10.5:1 as claimed above). The same sources also say the tyres are 3.00 and. 3.50 wide, not 3.60 and 4.10 as in Japan.
The 1986 Owners Manual for the English, French, German and Dutch versions gives the following measurements for both: Height 1,060 mm (GSX400E) and 1,170 mm (GSX400S) Dry weight: 176 kg (GSX400E) and 177 kg (GSX400S). This is without gasoline, oil and other liquids. As to "full" weight the French study gives for the GS400SZ 191 kg for the E model and 192 kg for the S. |
More: GSX400E brochures
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