LEAN AND GREEN: A SLICK SUZUKI GS500 FROM SLOVAKIA

[weeksy]

https://www.bikeexif.com/custom-suzuki-gs500

this should tick most of the hate boxes on here

[mangocrazy]

It has all the styling finesse of a park bench of the era.

[Count Steer]

It's ghastly.

(I don't hate it. But then, I don't have to own it. Often I think that even some of the bikes that have been beaten with the ugly stick might be fun to ride...but, that seat. )

[Skub]

If there wasn't a trend for bikes exactly like that and in exactly the same colours,then it probably would look tidy enough. Because everyone has jumped on the hipster bandwagon,it's now a poster boy for the generic. They've played the arse out of the game.

[The Spin Doctor]

It has all the styling finesse of a park bench of the era.

Tank's the right colour for one.

Front wheel looks HUGE.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Where's the battery?

Or the rectifier or ignition igniter box?

[ChrisW]

Where's the battery?

Under the seat apparently - little lithium unit.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Where's the battery?

Under the seat apparently - little lithium unit.

What is it, 8 AA batteries wired in series, that bike doesn't run.

[Skub]

Where's the battery?

Under the seat apparently - little lithium unit.

What is it, 8 AA batteries wired in series, that bike doesn't run.

Hiding under the seat are a Motogadget mo.unit Blue controller and a tiny Lithium battery from Aliant.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Under the seat apparently - little lithium unit.

What is it, 8 AA batteries wired in series, that bike doesn't run.

Hiding under the seat are a Motogadget mo.unit Blue controller and a tiny Lithium battery from Aliant.

Where are the regulator / rectifier and cdi hidden away, neither are small and both get hot (and don't like being hot), the Motogadget doesn't appear to replace either, in fact reading their webpage it just appears to be an electronic relay box.

[Skub]

What is it, 8 AA batteries wired in series, that bike doesn't run.

Hiding under the seat are a Motogadget mo.unit Blue controller and a tiny Lithium battery from Aliant.

Where are the regulator / rectifier and cdi hidden away, neither are small and both get hot (and don't like being hot), the Motogadget doesn't appear to replace either, in fact reading their webpage it just appears to be an electronic relay box.

Tis hipster magic. If you know,you know.

[Taipan]

Looks like a stolen recovered...

[Bigjawa]

It's a 550, it won't need a big battery because they're a doddle to kick, just enough to fire the ignition. Does it even have a CDI as they were points ignition originally IIRC.

The wheels look huge because they are, 19inch front.

[Taipan]

I like it. Few things i'd change, like the seat and i'd add side panels, but its a tidy, clean job.

[Rockburner]

It's a 550, it won't need a big battery because they're a doddle to kick, just enough to fire the ignition. Does it even have a CDI as they were points ignition originally IIRC.

The wheels look huge because they are, 19inch front.

I don't know why exactly, but the idea of an il4 having a kickstart just seems wrong somehow.

[Skub]

I don't know why exactly, but the idea of an il4 having a kickstart just seems wrong somehow.

My Z1 came with a kickstart. I recall when manufacturers began dropping them in favour of electric starts,we were all wary of losing the foot back up if the starter lay down.

How things change!

[mangocrazy]

The first generation of electric starters were very marginal. They either didn't work or took so much power drag that if it didn't start first prod, it was back to the kickstart.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Starting handle FTW! They're just like swans.

[Skub]

Starting handle FTW! They're just like swans.

It was a sign of manliness if you could start your bike by hand using the kickstart. Two strokes were cheating!

[mangocrazy]

Starting handle FTW! They're just like swans.

It was a sign of manliness if you could start your bike by hand using the kickstart. Two strokes were cheating!

I remember starting my CD175 by hand on the kickstart. A Velocette Thruxton; not a chance...