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suzuki question

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:36 pm
by johnakay
it appears that Suzuki didn't supply grab rails for the GT125 OR GT185?
are the 2 share the same frames?

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:16 pm
by H2RICK
That's a toughy, John, because the GT125 wasn't sold in North America, to the best of my recollection.
The GT185 was basically a GT125 bottom end with a larger block with bigger pistons and the addition of the combination starter/generator. To the best of my knowledge, both bikes shared a LOT of other components, as well.
There WAS an optional parcel rack available for the GT185 in North America, though so one of those would give you an idea of what the grab rail dimensions qould be.
The UK/Euro market MAY have gotten both bikes with grab rails depending on the model year and what Suzuki's marketing department felt like....but you'd really need the parts books/fiches to figure that question out.
Sorry I couldn't be more definitive.

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:14 am
by johnakay
cheers Rick.I would have thought the frame would be the same.
I can't see that Suzuki would have made different frame for every bike.
the cost would be astronomical.

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:14 pm
by H2RICK
The frames MAY very well be identical....but because the GT125 wasn't sold in North America, my crossover book does not list any part number
crossovers for that particular model. You would have to look at the Euro/UK parts books/fiches for BOTH models to see if the part numbers are the same....if you can get access to such info.
IF/IF it turns out that the frame part numbers ARE different, that doesn't mean it's a totally different frame, of course. The main frame members and the frame dimensions COULD be identical (which is what you need to know)...
BUT the 185, for instance, may have additional brackets for the extra electrical bits required by the electric starting. This, of course, would make two "different" frames as far as the parts books/fiches were concerned.

Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:47 am
by johnakay
as it happens they did not fit grab rails to these bikes just offered racks as accessories.
this is what Suzuki Simon says about these tidlers.

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:08 am
by Suzsmokeyallan
Ah Rick i think i'll have to disagree with you on that one. The 125 and 185 engines were vastly different especially the lower ends.
As you noted, the 185 had a starter and the 125 didnt which meant a completely different lower main case casting, engine covers, crank etc.
We did bring in both of the GT125 and GT185s back in the days of selling Suzuki and from my recollection the bikes were not the same size.
The 185 was always a slightly bigger machine physically over the 125.
John id try to make a rail for the GT185 and then see if it can work on the 125, its very possible the distance between the rails may be slightly narrower on the 125 in which case some spacers could be adapted rather than cranking one open for a 185.
John I'd have to pull the parts books and see what i can find out, and see if rails were available or racks as options in the old books.
I have not looked into those books for over 20 years, it will be a trip for the memory of those days...

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:53 pm
by johnakay
aye please check Allan.