Kropatchek wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


Cool.  I never noticed that and no one that has changed bars has mentioned it.  Is it a functional thing or just a simple difference?

And let's not forget that you discovered that after 1996 the starter gears were changed too.  Here's the pic, again.

5C16 jet needle:
3 e-clip grooves (late model LS650)specs:

0.118"- in diameter from the c-clip to the start of the taper.
1.450"- length from start of taper to the smallest diameter-
0.100" - in dia. at the little end of taper (base of the cone that forms the point) and the point is about  
.050" from the point back up to it's base.
2.269 overall lenght from tip to tip/
0.087-white spacer thickness

5C17 (1986 parts) needle jet specs
one e-clip groove
0.118"- in diameter from the c-clip to the start of the taper.
1.450"- length from start of taper to the smallest diameter-
0.100" - in dia. at the little end of taper (base of the cone that
After close inspection (under a magnifier and reading glasses),
The business end below the c-clip appears to be the same all the way to the tip. The only difference appears to be that the 5C16 has three grooves and the 5C17 only one. The center groove on the 5C16 is in the same location as the 5C17.
I have no means to check the i.d. of the X-6 or X-7 needle jets (emulsion tubes) but they appear to be the same piece.

I see another change (without going to the showroom).

The license plate lamp is black, and there is a Suzuki decal on what used to be a plain fender.  I guess that since they removed the backrest, Suzuki wanted to put it "somewhere"

Also, notice that the reflector is gone, but it looks like the bracket is unchanged...holes.  Why did they do that?

cphilip wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


It was told to me that these are lower fork seal shield. Designed to keep bugs and road grime/grit off the leading edge of those seals so they will not get dragged into the seal when the fork compresses and chew em up. Apparently a major cause of lower fork seal leaks. A simple plastic shroud is now there to help that issue and prevent seal damage.


Keep you fork tubes clean folks! Wipe em down after each run....

Also the "Old style - pre 95" and the "new style-after 95" bikes have different el. components. Even if the color coding and the # of wires is the same, the plugs don't fit.
Yes, the pre95 bikes have decompressor solenoid. If You pish the starter button and You hear a knock and a second latter the bike cranks , the first thing You hear is the solenoid , retracting the decompressor cable.
Also all the 4 gear Suzukis, that I had and worked on, had a slipping clutch problem, so I had to change the plates and for the pease of mind to shim the springs/more preload/.

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


Is it possible to install the new startergears in an old crankcase?

I read somewhere that the kickback can damage not only the gears but also the crankcase (then the engine is total loss I suppose). As a preventive measure I would like to "upgrade" to the new gears (which seem to have some clutch mechanism to avoid overstress on the gears).

Has anybody done this? or even considered it?

Pascal

The mirror rods from the old flat bar are longer/flatter than the mirror rods on the buckhorns I believe. The Savage on the front of the Clymer manual has the flat bar and the mirrors are way out towards the ends of the bars. I put my mirrors and mounts from my 96 on a stock flat bar and they are mostly up rather than out. I can hardly even see behind me.

If you mean the push in to cancell feature... my '96 has it, my '88 doesn't.