B400: 50, 53, or 59 HP?

[Squishy]

Hi,

I've found many sources for bandit 400 specification, from forums like this or from japanese websites. However to me, it's still not clear which version has what HP.
Japanese websites say that from november 1992 the power was recuded from 59 to 53, for all models - not just the V.
However from other sources (like this forum: http://banditalleybbs.yuku.com/topic/3604/Differences-between-GSF-400-and-GSF-400V-#.TpH_h7J6D4Y) people say that the V model has 59 while the normal version has 53. There's also the german version that has 50HP?

My b400 has the black exhaust, one brakedisc up front. It's also from early 1992. Am I right in assuming that mine is the 59HP model?

Thanks,

Walter

[Chris H]

Hi Walter,
Only Japanese B4's went from 59 to 53hp, other markets had their own rules eg German 50hp and UK 5hp.

[Squishy]

Hi Walter,
Only Japanese B4's went from 59 to 53hp, other markets had their own rules eg German 50hp and UK 5hp.

Well, I assume they detuned them in the factory in japan..so that wouldn't matter?
How would I find which HP version I have?

[Squishy]

Nodody?

[400banditman]

Idunno Wtf mine is either lol...Mfg in Japan, 11-1991, and titled as a 92' ...maybe that would explain a top speed of 127mph? Another guy on here can claim no more than 105mph...?

[canyonbreeze]

Top speed is more a function of gearing:  Engine RPM -> Transmission -> Front Sprocket -> Rear Sprocket -> Wheel Size.  HP will get you up to that maximum quicker and hold you there better.  Changing the sprockets can improve the high end speed from the stock one at the expense of low end acceleration.  Increasing HP can get some of that acceleration back.  On a B400 a 16 front sprocket and 44 rear would get 128 MPH.

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

[Squishy]

Top speed is more a function of gearing:  Engine RPM -> Transmission -> Front Sprocket -> Rear Sprocket -> Wheel Size.  HP will get you up to that maximum quicker and hold you there better.  Changing the sprockets can improve the high end speed from the stock one at the expense of low end acceleration.  Increasing HP can get some of that acceleration back.  On a B400 a 16 front sprocket and 44 rear would get 128 MPH.

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

Not really, my b400 can't get to 200km/h because it doesn't have the HP to make more RPM in 6th gear. It's not like im hitting the rev limiter in 6th gear now.
It does about 185km/h on the speedo now

[Squishy]

Bump :(

[rider123]

Sound like a Japanese import model. They are limited to 180 by law. You can disable the limiter by doing a mod which replaces a wire and resister to one that fools the bike into thinking it's in a lower gear. I'll try to search around for the procedure. Even with 50 hp which is the lower figure you should be able to hit 200 at least. Sounds to me like you're hitting the limiter. Put it this way I had an 82 GS400 with LESS horsepower and I could hit 170 on the clock. The magical 180 is too much of a coincedence. What is the RPM level when you top out? Is it below redline by a few thousand RPM?

Hell there is a whole post on it with pictures here:
http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=11897.0

[Squishy]

Sound like a Japanese import model. They are limited to 180 by law. You can disable the limiter by doing a mod which replaces a wire and resister to one that fools the bike into thinking it's in a lower gear. I'll try to search around for the procedure. Even with 50 hp which is the lower figure you should be able to hit 200 at least. Sounds to me like you're hitting the limiter.

Hell there is a whole post on it with pictures here:
http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=11897.0

Apart from the fact that mine hits 185km/h, why would you say it's an import?
My bike has a E13 country code on it - which according to the internet is Luxembourg.
Also, japanese models have chrome exhaust and 2 diskbrakes and according to this site (below) japenese models don't have the rubber knee guard (which I do have)

Rubber knee guard on the frame pipe. (Not in Japanese models)
Front brake disk is single.(Japanese model is double disks)

So I don't think mine is japanese!

[rider123]

If a bike was popular sometimes they would be thrown together as most people don't run around at 180 it seems reasonable that it would be "enough" for most people. For example some european Bandit 1200s have a ignition retarder wire for 1st and 2nd to comply with some phucked up european emissions or noise law. You snip the wire and suddenly get full power. It might be easy to check if they were just short on European engines and threw a Japanese engine in there to meet some importation quota as it's the same engine. Or maybe it was mixed up at the factory. Considering it's only one resister it would be easy to miss. Who knows but you can check the wire that is necessary to see what resister is on there with the above post link.

The only other thing I can think of other than the engine has lost compression is maybe the fuel petcock has become tired and isn't supplying the necessary fuel at high rpms. For fun try putting the petcock on "Prime" then go on another high speed run and see if it helps.

[Squishy]

Problem is. All the sites are very clear about the different Japanese models, even with chassis-numbers.
However the sites are not clear about the "export edition". Are these Japanese models turned into European models, or separate productions?
E.g... my European 1992 has chassis number 107xxx. Can I assume mine is therefore BEFORE the 53hp restriction (since japenese restriction starts at 126917) or do the export editions have it's own numbers?

edit: Btw I'm not asking since I think my b400 is lacking power per se. I'm just curious which version I have.

[Chris H]

There was a USA model, UK model and German model. Then you have Japan and the eastern countries etc.
All were different, 1 disc/2 disc, clippons/risers, stainless exhaust etc. If you have a green/yellow wire from the gear sensor to the cdi then theres good reason to beleave it's there to allow restriction of some kind. The well documented being Jap model bikes with 180KPH restrictions.

[rider123]

Chris H has got it right just check the wire. If the wire is there it doesn't matter what the country code is as bikes get shipped around the world all the time. Say for instance there is a dock foreman and he says "Ok sheet says here we need to ship 100 bikes to France, ooops we only have 99" "Suzuki say ok we'll send over another bike, damn we only have the Japanese/restricted ones assembled for shipping. What the hell the customer probably won't notice or care" The limiter also only limits RPM sent by the ignition coil so if you can get 185km doesn't mean it's not restricted because it went an extra 5km over, it just shows the speedometer error as Suzuki clocks the bike at a track at 180 and just pegs the rpm at whatever that is. If you wanted to test it without going through wiring, but its alot more work, is put the smallest sproket you can on the front which will fool the CDI unit into thinking your going faster than you really are, if you speed now tops out at say 150-160 then you know %100 you're being limited. If not than thats all the bike will give you without jetting and piping it. What is the top rpm it reaches at 185? is it alot below redline?

[Squishy]

Okai.. well, what would be the fastest way to check for the wire? Is it easily accessible from the gear selector or easier from the CDI? I've done quite some maintenance on my 400 but never revealed either of these.

Although I doubt I'm limited. I think it's just the fact that it's 20 years old and probably lost about 10hp