SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> LS400 vs LS650
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1331751864

Message started by iceracer on 03/14/12 at 12:04:22

Title: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 03/14/12 at 12:04:22

I have 2 LS400 in various states of disassembly trying to build one good bike out of it. I can only get LS650 info & parts. Does anyone have info &/or parts source for LS400. I belive they are very simmular but need more info. Thanks

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by Oldfeller on 03/14/12 at 15:46:03

400 was never sold in this country, no dealings with the 400 at all. Sorry.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 03/14/12 at 22:00:51

Yes it is a problem as I can not get info out of Japan & all N. America info is for LS650. It is a "gray import" here (illegal) so I get no support in Thailand either !! Thanks Brian

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by LANCER on 03/15/12 at 02:51:33

One of our forum members is "Red_Wine", who lives in Chile if I remember correctly, and he has a LS400 too. He has rebuilt the engine and made assorted mod's on his bike. He would be a good contact for info.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by Bubba on 03/15/12 at 06:48:36

I think there are a ton of them in New Zealand...just sayin'

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by teabowl13 on 03/15/12 at 07:20:03

You might try looking for a LS400 forum out there on the internets?
And by the way... POST UP SOME PICS FOR US!
We'd still like to see what you have and what you're working on.
If you have more specific questions to post, some folks here might be able to help anyway, at least a little...
Cheers!

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 03/15/12 at 17:32:40

yes New Zealand has a lot also Russia & England (I belive) Has to do with the container shipping out of Japan. There is a graduated drivers licence issue in Japan (and some other countries) that make it very difficult to qualify for bigger bikes. So the mod to 400cc - Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki all do this. I am trying to put some pics on here for you. I have 2 LS400 at the moment - due to Thailand "strange" big bike laws !! Lets see how this goes.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 03/15/12 at 17:51:47

I am not having much luck with this pic thing - I need to reduce the size of the pics ?? I will work on this. One bike spec I do need is the length of the cylinder from base gasket to head gasket, & if possible the length of the skirt below the base gasket & the outside diameter of the cast iron linner. It will help me document just exactly the differences between the 400/650. Thanks Brian

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 03/15/12 at 17:55:41

Yes - I will get a hold of Red Wine - I see his bike pic on Gregs work. I must say this site is "FANTASTIC" there has been a lot of work go into it & it is very, very good - I am finding it extremly usefull - I hope I am able to contribute back. Thanks Brian

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by wambr on 04/12/12 at 10:37:02

Hi all! I'm from Russia. I bought my savage ls400 with mileage 2000 miles at the end of 2010, I am very happy with them.. If someone can help, write. sorry for my English.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by verslagen1 on 04/12/12 at 11:40:31

50464A4555270 wrote:

Hi all! I'm from Russia. I bought my savage ls400 with mileage 2000 miles at the end of 2010, I am very happy with them.. If someone can help, write. sorry for my English.

We have quite a few international savages here.
Don't be afraid of bad grammer... no one here is either. ::)
Or even post in your native language, just give us a hint what it is so we can google translate.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 04/12/12 at 12:19:43

Parts supply for the LS400 is very difficult - the good news is that 95% of the LS400 is LS650, and there is a very good supply of LS650 parts. So far as I know to date only the crankshaft, counter balance, rod, piston, cylinder, primary drive gears, secondary drive (chain) are LS400. All other parts are LS650 - I am working on the camshaft (650/400?) but so far am resonably sure the gears are 650. The head is 650 but without the decompression shaft & hardware. The cylinder appers to be a resleeved 650, & cc indication change. All frame parts, electrics, etc are 650. Years the LS400 was produced is still unknown ?? Hope that helps. Brian (iceracer)

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 04/12/12 at 12:25:18

This means the LS650 Owners, service, & parts manuals are very useful and are available online. I have not been able to locate any LS400 books.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/12/12 at 12:29:08

LS 400 Vs. LS 650? The 400 is gonna get dusted,,

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 04/12/12 at 12:42:45

Ha ha ha - yes that is very true & a given - the reason for the 400 is the driving regulations in Japan. Up to 400 is easy to get, a drivers licence for over 400 is very difficult to get (a few other countries have simmular laws). Soooo there are no 500 - 650 cc bikes in japan, (750 & 1,000 cc - yes). Many of the 500/650 cc N. American market bikes have been re-engineered to 400cc (Honda shadow-Yamahe SR etc). The illegal export business (gray market bikes) has spread these bikes out around the world - that is what I know about the situation to date ??

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/12/12 at 12:45:16

Isnt the difference really just the jug & piston on the 400? I guess the counter weight would be a hair lighter..

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 04/12/12 at 12:48:03

Crankshaft & primary drive ratio & chain final drive as well

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/12/12 at 12:57:05

How "disassembled" are they? Whats wrong with the better one of the 2?
What do you need to know? Stuff thats left hand thread on the 650 will be on the 400, too.. How the oil pump gear goes on, cam & can chai9n setup,
whats got ya bothered?

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 04/12/12 at 19:53:24

The bigest problem is parts. I need to sort out exactly what is 400 - 650. The stuff that is 650 is easy to get info & supply of parts. I have not been able to get 400 parts/service books or a supply of parts. At the moment the bikes are VERY disassembled, soon one engine will be down to individual parts - both frames are completly disassembled.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/12/12 at 20:32:07

What parts do you need?

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by iceracer on 04/12/12 at 21:29:37

These bikes are almost 20 yr old and bikes in Thailand are very badly maintained. So we are doing a full resoration, the parts list is very LONG !! Some of big things - front fender, R/H side pannel & battry cover, S40 bar risers & bars, exhaust pipe, front & back rims & spoke set, front foot peg set, side stand springs, cam shaft, cam chain, speedomer cable, ignition switch, etc. And of course all consumables/rubber products - tires, o-rings, gaskets, etc We are on our way to Canada now (for 6 months). I am into this bike because it is the only big bike that fits my wife - 4'8"/90lb. We motorcycle tour NW Thailand & the Canadian Rockies. I have a Honda Shadow here and a Harley Sporster in Canada.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/12/12 at 23:15:33

Well,, Daang,, seriously? Okay,, people will think IM mean, But, here goes,, if we were face to face. it wouldnt come out mean,,

Why did the engines need taken apart? What is wrong in there?

What gaskets can you not make that must be replaced? OHH,, the head,, dang,,
Well,, I dont know that answer,, hafta find some place that sells parts,, call a dealership & ask them where , I mean where on the planet, parts are available, then see about getting some shipped.

Pretty good idea to have parts sourced before walking off into something too deep.,.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by wambr on 04/13/12 at 10:17:22

I think that has a lot of LS400 parts from LS650. as you have written here. only the cylinder, piston, crankshaft and cylinder head gasket. While I didn't do such a thorough overhaul, but our guys I was told. pad will repair itself if it will be necessary. and the remaining parts do not know yet how will buy but until repairs to my bike is not required

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by paulmarshall on 11/23/12 at 15:13:13

I started out with a LS400. I too was unable to find a owners manual/service manual. The only difference between the LS400 and LS650 is the bore size and the stroke length, and its chain driven. The LS400 was originally designed for the Asian market due to there either HP or licencing restrictions. I have just rebuilt mine and replaced the 400 engine with the 650 with no problems at all. Other than those 3 things I mentioned you can safely refer to the 650 manual.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by wambr on 11/23/12 at 21:54:39

thanks PaulMarshal.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by ralfyguy on 11/25/12 at 12:31:02

7B6A7E67666A7978636A67670B0 wrote:

So does the LS400 with chain drive have a shorter or longer final drive vs the LS650?

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by paulmarshall on 11/25/12 at 15:14:18

That is a very good question. I think the gearing in them is the same. Suzuki needed to produce the same machine with less horse power for the Asian market, so I would imagine that Suzuki would have done minimal changes to cater for this market.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by jvdb on 11/25/12 at 18:00:38

A lot of these parts are widely available because of the Ryca conversions. I know I have the following parts on your list:

R/H side pannel
battry cover
S40 bar risers & bars
exhaust pipe (excluding header)
front foot peg set
speedomer cable
tires

I'm guessing the shipping to Thailand would be really expensive.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by newriverjunkie on 11/25/12 at 18:51:53

What's the possibility of just putting a 650cc motor in the frame? The parts would be easy enough to find. I guess the question then is if your wife would be ok on it. I guess that's the thought behind the 400cc motor.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by paulmarshall on 11/25/12 at 19:44:16

Yes it is very possible because I have just done it.

Title: Re: LS400 vs LS650
Post by wambr on 11/25/12 at 21:06:23

engines savages 400 and 650 of the same size and they can be easily replaced between them. pinion gear savage 400 and the savage 650 is also the same (in microfiche partnumbers of one and the same).
most likely the difference horsepower savage 650 and the savage 400 smoothed due to a shorter stroke crankshaft of the engine.