Hey, who can educate me about the history of Suzuki motorcycle charging systems? What did the 1960s-70s bikes use? A magneto? Generator? Alternator? When did they change from one to the other?
I watched a few videos about charging systems, how alternators create AC and the rectifier converts it to DC, vs a generator that makes DC but is not suitable for high speed engines...and what is the deal with magnetos? How do they fit in?
Suzuki charging systems?
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- Scorch
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Suzuki charging systems?
Suzuki: '18 V-Strom 1000, '75 GT380, '85 Madura 1200
- jabcb
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Re: Suzuki charging systems?
A lot of bikes of that era used single-phase alternators, but even these had variations:
lighting coil, full-wave rectifier & no voltage regulator (see T250, T350, early GT250)
lighting coil, full-wave rectifier & AC voltage regulator (see later GT250, GT500)
lighting coil, full-wave rectifier & DC voltage regulator (see T500)
lighting coil, half-wave rectifier & no voltage regulator (see B100P)
Some models had combination starter/generator. (see GT185)
GT500 had PEI as did some dirt bikes.
lighting coil, full-wave rectifier & no voltage regulator (see T250, T350, early GT250)
lighting coil, full-wave rectifier & AC voltage regulator (see later GT250, GT500)
lighting coil, full-wave rectifier & DC voltage regulator (see T500)
lighting coil, half-wave rectifier & no voltage regulator (see B100P)
Some models had combination starter/generator. (see GT185)
GT500 had PEI as did some dirt bikes.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
- jabcb
- Moto GP
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
- Country: USA
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
- Location: southwestern Pennsylvania
Re: Suzuki charging systems?
GT triples used a very reasonable design for the time: three-phase alternator with field coil, full-wave rectifier & voltage regulator.
But they went "creative" with the GS bikes of the mid 70s. Had three-phase alternators with permanent magnet rotors & full-wave rectifiers. One phase was used as the lighting coil and they used an AC voltage regulator on another phase.
But they went "creative" with the GS bikes of the mid 70s. Had three-phase alternators with permanent magnet rotors & full-wave rectifiers. One phase was used as the lighting coil and they used an AC voltage regulator on another phase.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE