New project 1982 GS1100GL

[cra-z1]

Decided to try something different. Been tearing this bike apart the last few days. I love what PO's do to these things. Looks ok but a lot of little problems. The PO says he was an Aircraft Mechanic for American. Alls I can say is I hope I do not fly in any plane he has worked on.The bike came with a full Vetter package which is sitting in my trailer. Going to put a 4 into 1 on this one and sportier handlebars.

Anyone interested in fairing/trunk/side bags.

 

[Mailman]

Nice bike and a shaftie too! I love shaft drive bikes, they’re just so clean and easy to live with, and one of the all time great motors too! Keep us updated.

 

[X77S]

Pretty good looker right there.

 

[Boog]

It's hard to see where the PO put the rust on this one. Looks good for sure.

My history with the GS1100 is answering the phone in 1982 and my HS buddy asking me if I want to see his dad's new GS1100. I said sure and he left his house to come to mine. I went out side a few minutes later I hear a bike at WOT coming up the hill. It was my buddy who proceeded to loose control on the curve, hit the curb and went airborne. He and the bike took out the entire wood fence in the back yard next to the road. I ran over and could not recognize him. The lady at that house called the ambulance and they took him away. He finished high school in the hospital. Took 5 weeks to leave that place but he did. His mom would not allow motorcycles in their house again after this mishap. His dad was upset about the bike especially since it had not even been broken in yet. But as with most parents, having his son survive such a brutal crash makes everything else seem petty.

Sorry to toss water on your thread here brother. I have admired this machine for many years and can't wait to see how you freshen it up.

 

[650Skull]

Lots of good information and people on here. Pretty much GS Suzuki specific
https://www.thegsresources.com/

Member Bikecliff also has this tech site
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

 

[Adamc]

Decided to try something different. Been tearing this bike apart the last few days. I love what PO's do to these things. Looks ok but a lot of little problems. The PO says he was an Aircraft Mechanic for American. Alls I can say is I hope I do not fly in any plane he has worked on.The bike came with a full Vetter package which is sitting in my trailer. Going to put a 4 into 1 on this one and sportier handlebars.

Anyone interested in fairing/trunk/side bags.
View attachment 201365

I had a brief association with a GS1100 in my 'youth'.
On a test ride down a long 3 lane dual carriageway, going well over the speed limit, I got tagged by a police car who gave chase.
As I was not the owner of the bike, nor insured, I decided to make a run for it.
At over 130mph the bike thought it would be exciting to show me how well she handled.... which was CRAP!
I needed all three lanes just to hold a straight line!!!
Luckily the cops in their Panda car, a puny Ford Escort, gave up the chase.
I returned the bike to the owner, and went home to change my underpants....

 

[irishlord99]

Nice find! I just picked up my own last year. They're a bitch to tune, but fun to ride. Enjoy!

 

[cra-z1]

Lots of good information and people on here. Pretty much GS Suzuki specific
https://www.thegsresources.com/

Member Bikecliff also has this tech site
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

Im already on the gsreources site but that's a good link to Bikecliff. I have a factory manual on the way so that should help

 

[cra-z1]

Nice find! I just picked up my own last year. They're a bitch to tune, but fun to ride. Enjoy!View attachment 201455

You would have better luck tuning that bike if it had carbs

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Whatever you do, ignore any "expert" advice telling you to ditch the rubber plugs in the pilot jet bores.

 

[irishlord99]

You would have better luck tuning that bike if it had carbs

Once the carbs were back in I was too busy riding it to take pictures.

 

[cra-z1]

Progress so far,& Preview of the paint

 

[cra-z1]

Started work on the XJ550. What did I get myself into. Parts are getting hard to find on this model. Iv been collecting for the last year or so. This will also get a 4 into 1. Paint will be basic dark silver which has been curing for the last year. Might paint the engine black.

 

[Grewth]

I never thought much of Suzuki's styling on the Lowslinger series, others may disagree.
To me, it looked like Suzuki's stylists had no idea what they were supposed to acheive (or why) and just copied what Yamaha had already done, but badly.
Maybe Yamaha had made their stylists watch Easyriders and other biker movies repeatedly before they started work ?

 

[MacMcMacmac]

It might be a good idea to throw a Shindengen SH775, or SH847 regulator on it while it's still charging correctly. I think the Z1 guys are on that already so you probably know all about it.

I am a massive GS fan, but the L's were never my favourite. I think some seat and bar work would work wonder for the styling, like later Specials.

I am sorry to hear your parts issues with the XJ. I've had a couple and they are fine bikes. It's sad to see so may low mileage bikes with years of life left in them going dark because of parts availability. There are many from my youth I'd love to own.

 

[Grewth]

I had two GS750's and a GS1000 in my youth, in their day they were strong, fast, powerful, and handled and held the road better than anything else for the same money.
Mechanically they were built like tanks, despite their light weight.
But their one failure was their harsh engines with tingling vibration through the footrests.
Fast but unrefined.
Of course that didn't matter to me when I was a twenty something.
Now 40 years later I really don't want to put up with those harsh high frequency vibes.
My CB750F1 was quick and dead smooth at speed, so was the Z1000A1 that I borrowed for a month.
So it's not necessarily a four cylinder thing, just Suzuki's priorities at the time.
Strangely, I don't find the vibes from a 360° vertical twin offensive, at least not in moderation.

 

[cra-z1]

Yes the Suzuki GL is not my favorite style. So I decided to dump that hump seat, pullback bars and ugly exhaust. Should look a lot better once i'm done.
Len from XJ4ever said I probably got the last rear cam chain guide in existence. The bike dosen't have very many miles so I hope I can get by with just a hone because you cant get oversize pistons. I do have the option to use Radian 600 pistons which have the same dimensions other than bore. Those piston are at the very max for those sleeves. Its been done so that's an option. I always like to go through the whole engine and replace things like the cam chain and chain guides, seals. The XJ550 will be very stock other than the 4 into 1

 

[cra-z1]

It might be a good idea to throw a Shindengen SH775, or SH847 regulator on it while it's still charging correctly. I think the Z1 guys are on that already so you probably know all about it.

I am a massive GS fan, but the L's were never my favourite. I think some seat and bar work would work wonder for the styling, like later Specials.

I am sorry to hear your parts issues with the XJ. I've had a couple and they are fine bikes. It's sad to see so may low mileage bikes with years of life left in them going dark because of parts availability. There are many from my youth I'd love to own.

Yep have a new Shindengen coming my way.