SuzukiMad

I dont have of them.

Thanks. Sounds like a good plan.

Nice pictures and yes that is the sort of thing I am thinking. While watching the videos I have a front and rear wheel from a 1995 RF900 and front forks too. Might be a little short in length though. No yokes (tripple trees for the USA guys.) I'm not keen on upside down forks. Mono shock might be nice but then if a standard box section 1100 swinging arm can take an RF900 rear wheel then the original sprocket carrier should fit with the cush drive rubbers in the wheel.

Short story shorter, is it worth the hassle without the tools and skill? FInding a fabricator will probably be more expensive than I can afford.

OK. To set some ground rules here. I am a mechanic, so I can fault find and replace parts, I am not a fabricator. I dont have lathes, presses, pillar drills etc and was never taught fabrication so what I am about to talk about is beyond my ability and I have never tried this before. A few years ago I bought my 1984 GSX1100E back that I saw on facebook marketplace. I 'umm' and 'arrr'd' about what to do, take it back to stock, leave alone or do something else with it. 2 years have passed and nothing has been done. I have searched for parts and despite intensive searches what I need to make her original are not available. The only option is find another GSX1100E and use that as a parts donar bike but they are few and far between to find. So I am having to think of changing tack. I need your help. I am thinking I want to keep the GSX1100 look but put new rolling stock to it, so 17 inch wheels, smaller chain, modern brakes. Going to start with original frame, engine, carbs, airbox, wiring, tank seat, fairing and tail that I have. Then standard front end from another bike but I don't know what one. Rear end from another bike. I have a JMC braced swinging arm and a standard box section swinging arm. What front and back end should I use? B6? B12? Another bike? Rear end? Stay twin shock or go mono shock? Spacing? How do I get it right for chain and rear brake? I am guessing I can use the original rear brake master cylinder on a modern rear brake. I can also use the modern front master as the original is dead and obsolete so needs replacing anyway. Wiring is sorted for a front brake light so thats just finding the connection. As I said earlier I am not a fabricator and dont have the tools to fabricate. (I do have access to a welder and welding machine but thats it.) I have also never done this before and it is a little scary for me and its pushing my comfort zone. If anyone has done this before and would be willing to share their knowledge I would be most grateful.

There's also a bit of confusion on the models. 1983 GSX1100ESD, twin shock, 1074cc engine with square cam covers and old style points cover like GS1000/850/750/550 and the GSX1100ET/EX/EZ plus the SZ models. 1984 onwards GSX1100EFE/ESD/ES, Mono shock, 1135CC engine also with square cam covers. Different points covers too. Often the 1983 ESD and the later mono Shock ESD get mixed up for aftermarket parts that dont fit the models.

Cheers gsx. Everything into the collective thinking pot is useful.

Thank you. WIll have a look.

Just for info:- RF900 later adjustable forks 773mm long Mk1 Bandit forks 775mm long Mk2 bandit forks 800mm long. GSXR1100 fork length ? GSXR750 fork length?

Taking it I can find a set of GSXR1100 forks and use the JMC would a set of B6 wheels work? Just a questions of spacing? If I cant find a set of GSXR1100 forks whats the next best option that would be standard looking? But them I am guessing they have to be shorter with the 17inch front wheel against a standard 19inch thats in the bike. Putting a B6 wheel in the rear there's no need to change the rear shock lengths so keep to the standard 330mm twins

Frame and swinging arm guy I was suggested to try is this guy:- Lee Steel Hart Engineering Unit 27 Chislet Business Park, Canterbury Kent CT 3 4BY 01227 711234 My Mk2 Bandit has adjustable forks like the RF and are about 30mm longer. How much longer are the GSXr1100 forks? Now I like the idea of B6 parts to run smaller looking tyres than big fat ones...... Frame now has its gear change on so thats a good start. Cheers for all the ideas guys. I can now see what people were saying about only buy one. Could have bought 3 bikes buy now and still swapping bits around.

OEM is definately OUT with this restore but thanks for the offer. This is one of the only options I can find for exhausts new here in the UK. https://www.wemoto.com/bikes/suzuki/gsx_1100_esd/83/picture/marving_master_4_1_complete_system_chrome Would prefer to find a period so 1990's exhaust that would work with it. I mean the bike is a 1990's time capsule with the JMC and Micron fork brace. Something will come up thats for sure. The link for Ripple Rock Race worked out at $1075 without shipping hence the UK supplied Marving maybe a lot cheaper option. Forks wise, as I have bandit stuff here plus RF stuff I could use that. Not sure about an RF front end but then they all look the same to me. It would be nice to have a good feel front end though. Guess thats where the GSXR11 front end comes in once again.

Bike is off to the menders as I cant weld! They are fitting a replacement stub for the gear change lever to fit to as the PO CUT it off. Then its playing with the 1990's Motad Neta from a GSX750ESD to see if that will fit the headers. I'm hoping it will but think it wont. Does anybody have an guidance or know if it will go in? My budget doesn't allow me a custom exhaust. I will keep my eyes out for a period exhaust that will fit this build. I know I haven't posted enough yet so hopefully in time I might be lucky on the for sale and wanted page later..... At the moment I'm thinking keeping the JMC and possibly going with a Bandit 1200 front end as I have one here. (No yokes just forks.) Thoughts. Is it an improvement or I really need a GSXR1100 front end? I have also chatted to a local guy who makes aluminium frames and swinging arms. He knows the JMC arm and understands my issues with it. He's kindly offered to sort it and to space it out to what ever wheels I want. I just have to bring the original spacers and wheel I want to use and he can set it up for me. As I have a spare set of RF900 wheels/tyres here I wonder..........Can I keep the original rear brake or do I have to swap it for a later RF900 one? Sorry guy's I'm using what I have here than spending loads of cash. Thoughts......

Cheers Slayer for the post. Now I know what I am looking for when I pull the filter housing.

I put synthetic oil in an old GS1000 and it caused an oil leak from the head, clutch and rocker gaskets plus made the clutch slip. Went back to mineral oil and the leaks went away. On a newly rebuilt GSX1100 had no issues at all with leaks or slip with synthetic oil.

As an aside I chatted to the local Suzuki garage as I was picking up a couple of missing parts of the bike to make a rolling chassis. I took the JMC arm in and they very quickly gave me a number of a local frame and swinging arm manufacturer local to me to help modify the rear axle and set the JMC arm up. So......brain thinking and its not often it does this.............. if I measured my RF900 wheel and sprocket housing against the 1100 standard the only real issues is spacing for the chain as the rear brake only needs to line up spacer wise from the wheel to the brake holder. With smaller spacers its possible an RF900/B12 Mk1 rear wheel would go it the JMC as its built for a 17inch wheel...... Or am I totally off beam here?

So oil cooler help please..... Two photo's of the oil filter housing and the aftermarket oil cooler pipework which does look rather new to me. I've been told an EFE housing has a diverter to be able to use an oil cooler where my model engine doesnt. The only way to know is to look at the filter housing when its removed. Is this correct? If the bike is using an early ET housing and an oil cooler how much damage can you do to the lump? Can somebody advise me please. Cheers.

Cheers Guy's. This is certainly showing me what can be done.

Now thats what I'm talking about. Looks stock, looks original but its not. Subtle but altered. Nice! What front end, what back end? Tell me more.

Tony, what did you have to do to what looks like an OEM swinging arm to get a Bandit 600 (i'm guessing here) rear wheel in? Do you make the spacers? What about measuring to aline the sprocket to the gearbox? I know as standard you can get a 130/90 in and at a push a 140/80 but any bigger rubs the arm. Coming towards more modern sized tyres would bring costs and types of tyre down thats for sure. I'm also guessing that its keeping the steering centre spindle and having the bottom yoke pressed off and a upside down one pushed on instead. Do the steering stoppers have to come off the frame or can they stay? GSXR front end.......ummmmm.....I'I have a nose on Eblag.

Thanks Tony. You can see the old bike but also see its been upgraded. I'm guessing thats the sort of thing I want to do but keep it looking like the old bike on the outside.

Cheers Old Skoolers for the welcome. As I said I have always gone stock on my bikes so this one is a bit different. This bike is too far gone for me to do that with so I'm going to have to customize it but to a taste that I can live with and I don't know I have. Its going to be a struggle for me thats for sure. I've seen older bikes with BIG tyred 17 inch modern wheels and I don't like the look. I mean the RF900 front wheel is bigger than the back on the bike. Shoving some upside downs on and a brake upgrade seems interesting....... Front master cylinder is shot, parts or after market parts aren't available as it was such an odd ball bike so I will have to find an alternative. Somebody suggested B12 brake and B6 clutch so I had matching levers but modern. So what else might look OEM original but be a later upgrade? Thanks for the offer of the EFE exhausts but I'I pass on them. I like the idea of a Mk 1 bandit/BOS headers. Any other options other than custom pipes? I've managed to get an OEM GSX1100ET swinging arm. I how have a rolling chassis and the JMC swinging arm can get sorted of its issues. Then I can decide if I keep it or let it go. I may not go as far as you guy's but I am hoping you might understand where I am coming from even if I cant explain it very well of where I want to end up. Yep, a fully OEM GSX1100ESD will probably fetch £2,000 if you are lucky. Most want the 1074cc engine and thats it. I guess I am trying to create something that is a 1983 bike thats lived its life and had period upgrades along the way. Showing its scars of life and whats been altered but kept it alive. I have the OEM nut and bolt fully restored on and I never ride it. I want to ride this one.

Thanks for the welcome.

Yep. I get it. Round peg in a square hole. Cheers