BRM Official Blog

Suzuki GS-550 motorcycles first hit the roads over 40 years ago. The bike’s original four-stroke engine was an air-cooled, 549-cc powerplant with dual overhead camshafts. The 674-cc Suzuki GS-650 eventually replaced the GS-550, but some bikers are still rebuilding Suzuki’s original engine blocks.

At Do the Ton, an on-line forum for motorcycle mechanics, a user described a GS-550 engine teardown and rebuild. Cylinder resizing requires rigid honing, but achieving an ideal final finish means using Flex-Hone® tools from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM).

Cylinder deglazing breaks the “glaze” or overly-smooth finish on cylinder walls that’s caused by the reciprocating movement of the pistons. In motorcycle and other vehicle engines, a cylinder wall finish that’s free of cut, torn, and folded metal is essential; however, a cylinder wall surface that’s too smooth is also problematic because the piston rings will fail to seat and seal properly.