Suzuki GSX400E 1979—1987
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.
|
 
1979 Suzuki year
code: N, GSX400EN, GSX400E-1
The air-cooled twin GSX400E (frame code: GK51C) with four valves
per cylinder was released in 1979 in Japan. The style of the middle
range street sports bike had the same styling as its smaller brother
GSX250E that was presented the following year.
|
 Suzuki
GSX400E 1979
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 type: 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. |
1980 Suzuki year code:
T, GSX400ET, GSX400E-2
The air-cooled twin GSX400E (frame code: GK51C) with four valves
per cylinder was presented in Europe in 1980, replacing 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).
|
Suzuki
GSX400E 1980
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 type: 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, GSX400EX, GSX400E-3
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).
|
 GSX400E
1981
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 type: 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.
Here's
even larger picture. |
 GSX400S
1981
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 type: 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.
Here's
even larger picture. |
1982 Suzuki year
code: Z, GSX400EZ, GSX400E-4
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'm afraid 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.
|
 GSX400E
1982
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 type: 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. |
 GSX400E
1982
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 type: 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, GSX400ED, GSX400E-5
1984 Suzuki year code:
E, GSX400EE, GSX400E-6
1984 GSX400S
1985 Suzuki year code: F
| In Spain Suzuki introduced GSX400E, and only the E model, starting in 1985 — t oo 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 Championsip. 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 i n 1989 with the very successful GS500E. Suzuki did not import the GSX400S version in Spain. (many thanks for the info, Eduardo!) |
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...
|
 GSX400E
(GSX400S) 1986
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 type: 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.
Here's
even larger picture. |
|
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 type:
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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
& adverts
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