Re: Suzuki GS150R

Hey Raja, how are you? I hope your GS is healthy as a horse and going strong for 20 times those kilometers or more! I believe you are going at least as fast as me in that department! Mine touched 10,000 Km last month in about 1 year. Anyway, I hope it's been a trouble-free ride and a great experience. So long, Gil.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Hi fellas!
It's been a while with GS150R. Always liked her company on the road.

Anyway, lately I have been noticing a grinding sound coming from the chain. I actually didn't care it at first and have been riding it with for a short while. I tried tightening the chain and I can confirm it's still there but less prominent. The sound is absent when the chain is very loose (tried that too). Can someone confirm about that sound, or have anyone experienced anything like that? I took my GS to a newly opened Suzuki service centre here and the mechanic there just said it's fine. But I dont remember having heard any sound at all like that before. The sound is like something is grinding between chain links.

Interestingly I noticed something when I was checking the chain at home a few days back. When the bike is in centre stand and rear wheel is free to turn, and the transmission in neutral, if I spin the rear wheel, it turns very freely in the reverse direction and much less freely in the forward direction. By forward direction I mean the direction in which the wheel rotates when the bike is moving forward. Is it like that?

Another thing I noticed is regarding the disc brake. It has been 20k KM and I haven't changed the brake pads before. I admit I use quite a lot of front brake than the rear. When the bike is at rest and I squeeze front brake, I hear a sqeaking sound at the disc. When I inspected closely I was able to see that, when I squeeze the front brake hard, the disc is slightly bending inwards! It returns to normal position when I release the brake lever. The moving half of brake shoes pushes the disc towards the stationary part. And that seems to create the noise! Is that normal? The service centre mechanic didn't even comment on that!

I am planning to take the bike to a better service centre soon. Hope to hear your comments soon! Oh hey, does anyone know what causes gear slips, one of my friends is experiencing that at times on the highest gear on GS. That's a lot of questions

Lal

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Hello, Lal,

Regarding chain and gear wear, I would say 20k kilometers sounds like you probably need to replace sprockets+chain, especially if they have not been maintained regularly. The whole set needs to be properly inspected/adjsted and lubbed every few hundred kilometers to guarantee noise-free operation and on-road safety. By the way, forward rotation of the wheel is usually harder than the other way, except probably when the chain is too tight; 3 full rotations with your hand without much effort are good enough, or 30mm slackness in the tightest wheel position, you know, the point where the wheel stops after rotation.

Have you inspected your front sprocket, if it is properly greased? That little guy can make lots of noise itself. Mine was making a buzzing sound a few months ago and I could hear the noise with the engine at idle or at low speeds, and the Suzuki mechanic said that could be fixed by greasing it, about 600 rupees. I did not pay for it and instead lubbed the part that connects to the shaft very carefully with chainlube--problem solved. I just do the same thing every 500 Kms. or so. Other than that, the wheel bearings can be a bit dry after a while. I had mine greased at 8,000 Km (my GS was stored for several months by its first owner and I just wanted to feel safer).

Concerning your disc brake, you should have that thoroughly checked by a qualified mechanic, especially one with experience with this type of bikes; I've heard of people whose Gixxers are having that kind of problem. I do not think this is something that regular owners can fix, but you can of course see what is happening and tell your mechanic.

I hope you are able to figure out the problems with your bike.

Gil

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Gil, thanks! Great reply.

Usually I inspect and lubricate chain regularly and had checked the front sprocket too. I couldn't find anything wrong! Don't know if I overlooked something. I suspect that the chain links have undergone non uniform elongation for some unknown reason. Usually they all elongate 'kind of' uniformly. I figured that some links are not smoothly mating with the sprockets, but snap in suddenly making that weird noise. Not sure though if that is the only cause for that grinding noise.

I'll take my GS to service centre tomorrow and try to fix things. Will let you know the results.

Lal

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Congrats. Find a way to cover the SET/ADJ button's hole - dust/water should not enter - is there a automotive scrap market in Bangalore, you could try your luck there. Also, why is your GS idling at little over 1500 rpm or is it camera angle?



Gilbert, If am not wrong - there are 3 bearings at the rear wheel set-up. One the sprocket bearing with a superman-tough dust seal. Did you repack grease there ?

Also, did you remove the bearings (the 2 in the rear wheel) for re-packing grease because one of them (LHS) has a metal cover that cannot be removed with the usual screwdriver.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

There is a part number specifically mentioned for the SET/ADJ button. Refer the spare parts list shared a few pages ago.

We might need to tell the part number to get it sourced. Difficult but all the best.

I had to change the break pedal and front right indicator because of an accident. Spare was not easily available.
My first accident since i started riding. Had a torn finger as well. 2 idiots jumped the signal and hit me when i was around 40 KMPH mark.
Luckily i did not fall down, nor the bike. Thanks to the heavy weight. it stood still.
Also heard that GS will be discontinued in a months time. Online posts also suggest the same.

Changed the Air filter for the very first time @ 43500 Kms. Did not feel any difference compared to the old one which i clean regularly at 2000 Km interval. Costed me Rs 250.

Its time for all of us to source few wear & tear parts if we plan to keep the bike for long.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

1. 34124-30H00 RUBBER, SWITCH

2. Happy nothing major happened to you. The brake pedal in GS - I have replaced it once after a fall.

3. Bike advice blog? But won't they continue exporting it ? Re-sale value will go even more down

4. IMHO, this design can never be cleaned effectively. Mine looks the same before/after cleaning with pressurized air. Am planning to switch to Apache's oil-foam filter.

5. Given my running per month, am going to keep it really long even if I have to manage a decent 50K on the odometer. Should not the manufacturer supply all the spares for 10 years post stopping a model - there is some rule I guess?

You mean its better to stock some wear and tear parts? like?

Lets make a list.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Thanks Ashwanth for your help with identifying the spare part number. Will check with the service center.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Bike advice & automotiveindia I guess. I don't recollect as we bikers read a lot of forums.

I asked about Apache's filter, but the spare parts shop gave a rectangular one. How will it fit our bike ?

I too heard that the manufacturer should supply parts for 10 years after production. When we had issues in parts when the bike is in production, it will further go worse after the production stops. Suzuki Zeus was stopped in 2011 I guess. A month ago, a bike was parked for more than 2 months to get a swing-arm replacement. I had issues getting a replacement right indicator. Got it after a week of search from a local spare shop.

My priority would be:

Engine timing chain & chain guide
Clutch plates
Timing chain tensioner
Chain Sprocket set
Filters
Clutch cables
Break linings

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Anand,

Both Apaches (160&180) use oil-foam air filters similar to TVS/Suzuki Fiero. What the spare parts guy gave you, I think, is the foam that has to be oiled and placed in the mesh housing. It is little difficult sourcing the mesh housing as most spare parts shops/TVS SVCs only stock the foam or the complete air-box assembly.

None of the local spare parts shops in my area have GS150R's spares. Some common spares of access are available- thats it. But usually, it is not difficult to find replacement parts from another brand.

Engine timing chain & chain guide, Timing chain tensioner - will last at least a lakh kilometers in GS if not abused. Brake linings - rear drum brake shoes should be easily available, especially the standard 130 mm ones. Disc pads - I have no idea. Clutch cables and plates.

Which engine oil do you use in GS? Keep changing the brand or do you usually stick to one?

Cheers.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Hi Ashwanth,

It is Mobil1 10W40 for the last 6 changes. I usually change oil between 1800 KM and 2200 KM.

As i did not get Mobil 1, I got shell AX7 10W40 this time. Will change it at 44000 Mark.

Last week after doing a 180 Kms ride (90 One way) constantly in 80-90 KMPH, i saw reduction in oil level. Topped up with Castrol Mini Truck 15W40. I could find a great difference in gear shift. The thud noise while downshifting has reduced. I am not recommending to add a diesel engine oil to GS but just my observations.

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By the time we reach the 1L Km mark, GS production would have stopped before 3-4 years.

Same would be the reason for Clutch Plates.

I have bad experience with Clutch cables in GS. I always carry a spare under my seat. Got cut thrice while on the go.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

I have a bottle of Mobil 4T 10W-40 (SS). I think the oil you are referring is FS. But 1800-2200 kms is too short for a FS unless you do a lot of high speed runs are constant city stop and go.

CRB Mini-truck: Oil for your Nano? It should be one of the best HDEOs to be used in a motorcycle. What I understand from Castrol's site is that this Mini-truck oil is better resistant to breaking down with heat compared to others and we need that quality in a motorcycle.

My clutch cable snapped at 4k kms and the SVC blamed by driving style refusing warranty replacement - in any case, it was a wear and tear item. I had to push the 150 kg GS to home (from Kotturpuram bridge via a short-cut to Adyar bus stand in Chennai .. how many kms was that). If that happened now, one could always can start the bike, push it a little, engage 2nd gear and keep going by clutchless upshifts. But stopping at a signal will stall it (Am not comfortable downshifting without clutch) - but its better than pushing it.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

The chain and sprocket were replaced by the SC and now I feel the bike quite smooth. Additionally while trying to clean the air filter, the mechanics snapped two screws and SC replaced the complete air filter assembly. I rode the bike for some 150 - 200km after these changes. I can say, it feels much smooth. For some reason I feel my bike is responding better to the throttle twists now.

Re: Suzuki GS150R

Fellas,
How long would the tyres last usually? Mine has clocked 19.5k and still looks good. I had my bike idle (kind of stored) for quite a while in the past and hence it has been around 4.5 years on the same tyre. Some sources say, bike tyres dont last more than five years whether you use it or not. I would love to hear from you guys!

Re: Suzuki GS150R

No. Mobile 1 10W40 used on GS is not Fully Synthetic. I reach high speed (80+) very rarely.

Yup. Using the Minitruck oil for my Nano. Used it for 8000 Kms without issues after which I changed it again before 1200 Kms. It is going good. Overall nano is running with the minitruck oil for last 9200 Kms.

Next time planning to shift to Shell. Service center was using Mobil 1 which i could not source locally. Also 15W40 was not available when I wanted to change oil.

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Heard Tires develop cracks after 5 years. Even I see many cracks on the tires of my 4 1/2 years GS Tires. If inflated to correct tire pressure and monitored at least once in two weeks, the tires should last 60K KMs.

At 49K kms & 6 years, my Unicorn's rear tire is still having enough thread for another 20K kms but with many minor sidewall cracks. I purposely changed the front before 2K kms.