Suzuki GZ125 - Cylinder Head Compatibility

[Ambergnat]

Hi People,

Complete noob at this, so apologies in advance if I'm doing it wrong. You can prolly skip the first bit - as this is a bit of a long one

The Situation:

I Recently passed my CBT (at 47) & bought a lovely little Dark Blue GZ125 (k4) - she runs beautifully (given what she is) and as my first foray into biking I couldn't ask for more. She pulls well (I'm 90+ kg) handles slow traffic beautifully and will do 65 on the flat quite happily (I even got 73 on a long downhill but the vibration scared the shit out of me so I'm not trying that again!)

I've just started a 58 mile roundtrip commute to work (properly in at the deep end!) and on my 8th day I committed the cardinal sin of relaxing, as I thought I'd got the hang of handling the Bike

Overtaking a lorry on a hill - (which in itself wasn't a massive issue, but...) dropping from 4th to 3rd to accelerate past, left my foot on top of the gear lever and instead of going back up to 4th, dropped to 2nd - panicked and dropped further into 1st...at 40mph... (yeah, ouch! - proper screamer!) After recovering quickly I overtook the lorry and the bike took me to the top of the hill before cutting out...

The Problem:

I took it to a local bike garage and It turns out I've damaged the valves and cracked the head. So I need a new one...

so what you ask...just get one then, right?

The Garage quoted me £507.00 for a new part from Suzuki - but I only paid £900 (delivered) for the bike in the first place!

Sooo, I looked online and just missed a 2nd hand K4 head on eBay for £75 (mutter mutter grumble grumble) but I also saw quite a few 'pattern' heads, (with valves) going for similar amounts (circa £75) but they all seem to be for different years ('92 - 98' or 98 - 02' or '01 - 03' '06 - 07' etc but no '04 - 05' which is bloody annoying!).

However there are a couple of pattern heads which claim to cover the whole age range, which worries me greatly as they all have the 'don't blame me if it doesn't fit' disclaimer on them

I have been in touch (online) with an intermediary bike breaker contact website (who claimed to contact over 200 breakers on my behalf) but I've only had one reply and that was for £180 for a (complete) k4 head - that with the £170 quoted for the fitting by the Garage makes for a hefty bill! .


The Question (s)

(1) Has anyone had any experience with 'pattern' cylinder heads - and given that I have no way of QCing them or the retailers, should I just leave them well alone, bite the bullet and get the used part (New is way off my radar)

(2) Also I am aware that the engine design has changed very little over the years, but I thought that since there see to be so few GZ k4 heads about maybe a Head for a '04 GS, GN or DR might fit, as the Haynes manual has them all in the same book with 'minimal' differences?

(3) Has anyone out there come across a GZ125 (k4 or k5) cylinder head for less that a ton (£) they can point me at?

I know I should probably wait for another one to come up on eBay or something but every day I'm without the bike I'm back to using the train and cycling 25miles a day (which lost any appeal it had a long long time ago!) and the weather has finally got decent!

(4) As I'm reasonably competent physically and know which end of spanner is which - is it worth thanking the garage, paying for the diagnosis and doing the repair myself (saving ~£120) or is it too much of a risk for a novice to take on... I'm not sure if I would need to eff around with the timing and the carb etc... (proper noob - see )

5) Is there a pattern head which will fit on all versions of the GZ or is that just opportunistic bullshit from the sellers?

I Think That about covers it - Sorry to write a bloody novel, but there's a lot I don't know /need to know - or can't seem to get straight answers to.

Cheers
____________________
Never Willingly Overworked
CBT (Retake) - Suzuki GZ125 (k4)

[moonzoomer]

507.00 quid my arse
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Cylinder-head-SUZUKI-GZ125-Cylinder-head-GZ125-/390294188805?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item5adf58b305

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-GZ125-GZ-125-Marauder-98-00-Cylinder-Head-Assembly-Read-Description-/380602504782?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item589dad564e

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Stock-SUZUKI-GS125-GN125-DR125-GZ125-Cylinder-Head-/221222317593?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3381e0ae19

[Spudly]

There is also the point that even if you buy off ebay, if it turns out the head doesn't fit and it was advertised as doing so, the distance selling regulations state that the item was advertised incorrectly and as such, you can return it.

Just buy from an established ebay shop and you'll be fine
____________________
The Old Apprentice

[moonzoomer]

[Ambergnat]

Hi Chaps,

Thanks for the quick replies.


I had actually looked at all of those listings earlier today - the first two are for the earlier models (98-00 and 01-03) the last one claims to cover 2004 but it's from Ireland (I'm not sure if the DSR still counts if it turns out to be crap?) but thanks for pointing me at them anyway.

You're right about the 507 quid though - I've found complete heads myself for £470 brand new and a whole (2nd hand) k4 engine for £420!
____________________
Never Willingly Overworked
CBT (Retake) - Suzuki GZ125 (k4)

[moonzoomer]

[Ambergnat]

[humanbeing]

Find the compatible in cmpo.co.uk. It's used on K157FMI (Dafier / Sinnis...)

[Spudly]

On a different note, how did you get your Passive Aggressor to an indicated 73mph?

I just recently managed to get my 2006 GZ125 to an indicated 61mph while going down a hill with a very strong tailwind. The engine was howling like a banshee at the time.

I love that little bike, but I can't wait to get on something bigger.
____________________
The Old Apprentice

[Ambergnat]

[Ambergnat]

[humanbeing]

[Spudly]

I have a feeling it may have a bit to do with the weight the bike is carrying. I'm six feet tall and only just on the correct side of 25 stone.

I find a headwind drops me back to 40mp/h and as I said, a tailwind can push me up to previously unheard of speeds. It's a grand little bike. Just a tad slow.
____________________
The Old Apprentice

[Ambergnat]

[Ambergnat]