SMALLKAT

Working on a nut and bolt restoration, or just a lick of paint.
Post your pictures and stories in here.
User avatar
Uncle Bob
Site Admin
Posts: 1667
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:05 pm
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Has thanked: 634 times
Been thanked: 228 times
Contact:

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Uncle Bob » Fri May 21, 2021 5:34 pm

Smallkat wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 11:36 am
Wow, they are posh. But a bit expensive! Your Kat is very pampered.
8-) well it is for running parts, not cosmetically (yet)

I did put them to full use about 2 weeks after fitting them at a track day at Cadwell park - especially a late cheeky overtake on a GS750 coming into corner 4 (Park). I didn't have enough Oomph to overtake on the straight but was faster in the corners as caught him up but then would get left behind (just a little) on the next straight bit, so out braking him was the only way to pass.

Anyway as we are taking caliper pistons, I need to get new ones for the 250 Katana and want to get Stainless ones but I haven't found any that come with those black plastic inserts (see below) - have you any idea where I could get those? I'm not sure the old ones will prize out...
GSX250SSN brakes.JPG
Cheers

UB

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Fri May 21, 2021 11:09 pm

Hmm... I wonder what the purpose is of those? The 400 just leaves the pistons open.

I will check and see if I can source them.
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Sat May 22, 2021 8:29 am

For info, It's an older GS500 (89-96) caliper. Those plugs only come with the piston and seal set. The good news is that the retail price is only £29.84 for that kit. In one of those odd things that Suzuki does, the price in Europe (where I get my parts) is 43.16 Euro, so I can't help you with any extra discount.

The other option is to go stainless and leave them open. Are the IDs of the stainless pistons the same as original? Another option is to buy the Suzuki kit and don't worry about stainless as you won't do enough miles to need another rebuild?

I don't need particularly good brakes. But I do like pretty ones. I ride very slowly now. Even when I raced, your grandma could have out-braked me. I am a believer of slow in, fast out. All my crashes (and there were plenty) involved losing the back!
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Sat May 22, 2021 8:32 am

Martin at Crooks Suzuki would give you 10% off if we still have that agreement with him.
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

User avatar
Uncle Bob
Site Admin
Posts: 1667
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:05 pm
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Has thanked: 634 times
Been thanked: 228 times
Contact:

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Uncle Bob » Sat May 22, 2021 10:57 am

Thanks for all that info Smallkat - I might just go with the Suzuki kit at that price but will ask about the ID on the Stainless (or possibly Titanium if I can get them, I just like it!) to see if they will fit.
I think they might be there to stop heat transfer from the pads to the piston, possibly as the 250 is a single disk there might be more heat generated to trying to stop?

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Sat May 22, 2021 4:47 pm

You could be right about the heat transfer, but I found shutting the throttle was a fairly good brake on its own!
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Sun May 23, 2021 8:01 pm

I got a GSX250SS left hand sidepanel to replace the broken one. It seems 250 and 400 sidepanels are not the same. The panel needs to be cut to fit the frame and the top bolted mount is slightly in the wrong place. Or my frame is badly warped.
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

User avatar
fossie
Club Member
Posts: 4837
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:16 pm
Has thanked: 133 times
Been thanked: 676 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by fossie » Mon May 24, 2021 12:09 am

They are not the same though a 400 does fit a250 , it dosen't work vise versa .
CLUB Chairman


My Gallery

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Tue May 25, 2021 1:05 pm

250 sidepanel:
P1110721.JPG
400 sidepanel:
P1110722.JPG
You can see the cutouts to clear the frame on the 400.

Anyway, I modded the 250 panel to fit.
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

Smallkat
Club Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:40 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 113 times

Re: SMALLKAT

Post by Smallkat » Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:43 pm

The wait is over! I finally have my new top yoke for use with conventional handlebars.
P1110781 lowres.JPG
Last night's 'mechanicing' has revealed the most stupid thing I have done in a long time. It took about an hour to fight on the pull/push throttle cables. I don't ever remember it being so hard, which should have given me a clue something was wrong. Anyway, I finally get the buggers on and twist the throttle. It's solid. Huh?? The cables can't be put in the wrong way at the grip end as the fittngs are different. That only leaves one end. So I twist the throttle the other way and it's perfect! I'll have to have a fight at the carb end tonight.

The worst thing is that I labelled the cables when I took the carbs off for the rebuild, so I must have managed to get my front and back mixed up!
GSX250SS Tinykat (gone, but the hole in my wallet not forgotten)
GSX400SS Smallkat
GT250 X7
GT200 X5
BMW R1250R

Post Reply