Lean and Inexperienced: A slick Suzuki GS500 from Slovakia

Earth Bikes solely popped up on our radar throughout the final two years, however the Slovakian store has already made their presence identified. With only a handful of builds to their identify to date, they’ve managed to ascertain a robust signature model. Their vibe is low-key stylish, with bikes which are restrained, slick and completely proportioned.

It’s a method that this classic Suzuki GS500E wears extraordinarily nicely. First launched in 1979, the GS500E was the youthful sibling of the extra generally identified GS550. Constructed particularly for international locations the place rules favored sub-500 cc bikes, it used a re-sleeved model of the GS550’s four-cylinder energy plant.

This specific GS500E is a 1979 mannequin, and was nicely and really displaying its age when its proprietor rolled it into Earth Bikes’ workshop. “The bike was a wreck, unused for a years,” says Aleš Tomis, who runs the store alongside Vladimir Dinga. (Aleš is the resident wrench, whereas Vlad takes care of the corporate’s design and advertising and marketing.)

The shopper initially needed one thing flat tracker-esque, however was finally pleased for Aleš and Vlad to take the mission in any course they needed to. With an open transient, they envisioned a stripped-down day by day runner with the compact proportions of a road tracker, however a extra conventional aesthetic.

Aleš notably appreciated the thought of perching a slender, tapered gas tank—the kind you’d discover on a flat tracker—above the GS500E’s broad inline-four motor. So he rummaged by means of the store, and located a 2,4 gallon unit of undetermined origin that match the invoice. With a little bit of encouragement, the tank finally match the Suzuki’s body.

“I’ve all the time needed to construct a motorcycle with such a slender tank, in order that I might see the sides of the four-cylinder engine whereas driving,” says Aleš. “Additionally, the quite small 500 cc engine appears to be like a lot larger now.”

Subsequent, Aleš lopped off the Suzuki’s subframe, to eradicate the ‘dip’ within the bike’s silhouette. He then fabricated a brand new subframe to interchange it, leveling out the transition from the tank’s baseline to the seat’s. The seat itself can also be a one-off, upholstered in a fake leather-based cloth.

If the thought of open area beneath a {custom} motorbike’s seat leaves you apoplectic with rage, look away now. The one seen part right here is the rear brake’s upgraded grasp cylinder; Aleš went to nice lengths to tuck every part else away. Hiding underneath the seat are a Motogadget mo.unit Blue controller and a tiny Lithium battery from Aliant.

Shifting to the chassis, Earth Bikes stored the GS500E’s star-shaped wheels—however powder coated them black. They’re not the prettiest inventory wheels on the market, however with a recent coat of powder, and throughout the context of this construct, they really look nice. Avon Roadrider II tires add fashionable ranges of grip.

Aleš managed to sneak in some suspension upgrades too. The forks are from the newer (and greater) 1994 Suzuki GS1100. They’re a few inches shorter now, and are held by the yokes from an excellent newer Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

A tiny entrance fender sits on a brand new fork brace, which Aleš constructed from 10 mm metal for max rigidity. “The unique forks have been so weak,” he tells us, “that I might simply twist the entrance wheel about 30 levels away from the handlebars.”

The Royal Enfield additionally donated its rear shocks, however the zinc-plated bits have been stripped down and chromed as a substitute. Aleš overhauled the inventory brakes, and fabricated a pair of brackets to match the calipers to the GS1100 forks. He additionally put in new Venhill hoses, banjo bolts and bleeders.

As for the bike’s 43-year-old engine, it now appears to be like clear sufficient to eat off. Earth Bikes handled it to a full rebuild, with some considered vapor blasting for a better-than-factory end. Look intently, and also you’ll spot the sides of the recent seals and gaskets; it’s hardly been run in.

The inventory carbs have been upgraded with larger jets, and tuned to compensate for the pod filters and new stainless-steel exhaust mufflers. The fellows stored the inventory headers, however Cerakoted them black.

Aleš took care of modernizing the cockpit too, with a mixture analog/digital Daytona speedo, new Biltwell Inc. grips, micro switches and neat Discacciati levers. The LED flip alerts are from Highsider, mounted in CNC-machined aluminum brackets up entrance, and on a custom-made license plate holder out again. (As an added contact, the wiring for the rear LEDs runs by means of the tubes of the license plate holder.)

Curiously, the brand new headlight makes use of an excellent quaint H4 bulb, regardless of the variety of good LED choices at present available on the market. “The shopper mentioned ‘no LED, I would like to have the ability to change the bulb by myself’,” explains Aleš.

That was certainly one of only some requests that he made. One other was the colour scheme; a easy coat of British Racing Inexperienced, with successful of brown on the seat. Good for a good-looking road tracker designed to amble round city on.

The mission wasn’t with out its hiccups although. Earlier than Earth Bikes might button it up, the shopper’s monetary scenario modified, and he couldn’t proceed funding it. So the fellows organized to purchase the donor bike from him, and acquired it over the end line on their very own dime.

Aleš and Vlad are stoked with the way it turned out ultimately, and have already snuck in a number of check rides. “The bike could be very mild and really straightforward to experience,” says Aleš. “The sound is great, not too loud, and it’s a pleasure to shift by means of the gears.”

He’s not getting too connected although, as a result of this Suzuki GS500E is now on the market. events, please type an orderly queue.

Earth Motorcycles | Instagram | Photographs by Marian Svitek