andyroach

I owned one, but found it pretty slow. Maybe I had a duff one or it was just my perception at the time as I was riding a Guzzi Lemans 1 with a race tuned 950 motor at the time.

Always wanted a Kat1100. i bought one but it was too far gone and just moved it on. There used to be loads of them in the Nottingham area, but these days you just don't see them.

What is the update? I'm intrigued as to what the problem is on the 750. Did the Marvel (Which in the UK is a powdered milk. I'm assuming it's something else in the USA)cure it? Is the 1000 still running strong? Come on give the latest

Like I said, my motor had been put together by a chimp. There was no clearance on 4 valves and 3 had burnt out. The timing was pretty far out (I can't remember the degrees. it was 30 years ago). It was a problem of bad cam timing and the valves not having enough clearance to seat, hence burnt seats

I had the same issue on my first GS1000. Someone had fitted a set of high lift cams and not dialed them in. The bike was reluctant to start and slow for what it was. I stripped the top end and 3 valve seats were burnt. I recut all the valves, skimmed the head, slotted the cam chain sprocket holes and dialed the cams in. After that it went like it should. I know this is an extreme case and my engine had been put together by a chimp (there was no clearance at all on 4 valves), but it does highlight that we should always check a bike when we buy it.

OK, I have a jetting question. The carbs have been running the horrible cone filters and running 115 main jets. Standard fitment (according to the factory manual) is 95. It has a pretty free flowing exhaust, but does anyone else think 115 is a little excessive? I've just fitted the standard airbox and dropped it to 105. I've just balanced the carbs, but ran out of time to take it for a spin on a fast road to check the jetting. I do intend putting it on a dyno to set them up at some point, but I'd like to change the exhaust first. Carbs are a bit of a black art and whilst I've done quite a few in my life, I've never done it consecutively. It's always been one every few years or at most a few a year and being equiped with the memory of a goldfish, it always feels like I'm starting from scratch. So please, any input is welcome.

You and me both. As of a few weeks ago I am now the owner of a slightly tatty Alloy tanked GS1000, so I'm now up to my armpits in carb issues and electrical gremlins. But I'm making progress, even if it is of the one step forward two steps back kind.

The big bore, gas flow and a slightly bigger set of carbs is on the list, but I can't see me going all out like last time. I'm looking forward to seeing the for sale/wanted ad's on this forum, but I suspect my wife doesn't agree.

I know what you mean. Work on so many bikes and all of a sudden you can't remember what's what.

The GS has bolt on rubbers, Doesn't the GSX have seperate inlet tube type rubbers with a jubilee type clamp at either end? It's a very long time ago I worked on a GSX If they are like the GS, I can measure the inside bore of the inlet rubber for you. I'm taking my carbs off today.

Look's like you have plenty to occupy your time. Best of luck with the projects

I've always found that once you start doing serious tuning on a bike you will never be bored. There's always something else to do, check, modify, etc. I'm not going down the serious tuning route. At the moment I'd be happy with it running right. It's doing about 18MPG, which is probably down to the needle jets leaking (New ones have arrived about 10 minutes ago). I'm just about to go into the workshop now to fit the airbox, needle jets, clean the carbs again, drop the jetting, fit the GS1000s fairing and take some of the preload off the shocks as it is kicking off bumps in corners. Once I get it running right, I'll be making some luggage for it so I can do some touring. Got a lot of places I'm going to be visiting now I've dropped down to working 3 days a week . There are some advantages to getting old, but not many

I wish I could find my pictures. I have lost the envelope with all the bike pictures in. That looks like a beast. What kind of power is it putting out at the back wheel? I've decided to just adda gs1000s fairing, sort the carbs and ride it for the summer or until next summer. I'm finding it too much fun

Cheers, i found some on Eblag that look pretty good quality. I'll keep you all posted

I've got the standard airbox and will put that on for now. I've managed to find some new rubbers on Eblag, they have just arrived. Just waiting for the new needle valves.

Right, I've taken the GS out for a thrash and it's running rich, like very rich. Those stupid cone filters are strangling it. I have the original airbox, but the carb to airbox rubbers are so hard, there is no give in them at all. I tried putting one on the outside carb and still couldn't get it on. Does anyone know where I can get some from before I scour the internet and start calling shops? Cheers in advance. Andy

Hi GSX1100Dreamn, My journey on this and other mad quests has been going on for at least 4 decades. Starting with a cb125 and continuing through my lowrider/chopper phase into the race bike phase and then into general weirdness. Once I find the pictures of my bikes (lost in the move back from the continent) I will post some pictures of the suzuki's I've moded.

i'm going into the workshop today to do some more fiddling with the GS so will have a poke under the welding bench and check out the wheel situation. I'm in Beeston just off the A52 towards the M1. The Kettle is always on and you would be most welcome.

I think I would start with the basics. Check the plugs, points, timing, plug leads and caps. Then strip and clean the carbs, checking the jet sizes as you do. Then do a quick compression test. Once you have done that you will probably have more questions, if you don't find the problem. Best of luck

Well, that is the best set of rules for any forum I've read. Well done admin. Sorry for not reading them before posting, I was about to post a picture of my pet Squid, but managed to resist.....

Wraith, really chap? Reading rules? I'm a man, we don't do that. We flounder around asking stupid questions. I'll go read them now. I didn't know about the for sale/wanted section. But I'm torn about which way to go with it. I don't want to throw huge amounts of cash at it and then it turn into a garage princess and be paranoid about leaving it anywhere. I use my bikes all the time (1,200 miles in the last month and a half on a 1958 Triumph 6T. Yes I'm a pervert). I've done an oil/filter change, jumped it from my Guzzi battery and it sounds pretty good. A little bit smokey when warm, which could be the pod filters and crap jetting. I'm going to get the carbs off tomorrow and check the jet sizes and refit the original air box until I decide what filter and jetting to use. I think I'll also check the valves while I'm at it. I'm pretty sure I still have a load of GS shims in the shim box.

Thanks Wraith, If the GSX swing arm is 25mm longer, then I will probably wait for a lighter "right length" swing arm to come up. The GS is already long enough and doesn't need to be longer. I may look at swapping the forks at some point, but for the time being I just want to ride it and swap wheels if it isn't too much of a pain.

Hi PanzerWomble (Great name by the way), I'll let you know about the wheels, but I'm pretty sure they are going (I may still have a set from a different GS1000 race bike I owned. Will have to have a ferret about under the welding bench). I've had a couple of NCC frames in my youth. I saw Al a couple of years ago, he's got a place near Bulwell and was building beefed up Kat frames for classic racing. The older guy, who's name I can never remember, works at Robin Hood Harley dealers as a mechanic

Is the swing arm the same length? Does the Bandit wheel sprocket line up as well? Nice shocks by the way

Hi All, I'm new to the forum. I had a wander around before joining and was impressed with the level of knowledge, but above all the respect paid by everyone to each other. You guys set a fine example. So, I used to have a GS1000 street fighter, but before they were called street fighters, with a full Yoshi motor. Cams, 1260cc kit, welded crank straight cut primary gears, billet clutch, close ratio box and I threw so much cash at it, when I didn't have a lot of cash that it just had to go. I sold it for £800 at Newark autojumble in about 1999 as I was moving abroad. I've always regreted it and have now bought a GS1000 off Eblag last week (see picture). So first off, will Slabby GSXR 750 wheels fit in easily or are there any better/lighter wheels to fit, whilst still staying at 18"? How difficult is it to swap in a GSX1100 swingarm and is it worth it? Do people fit longer shocks to improve turn in and general flickability? I saw a great thread about brakes and have followed a link, so I think I have that covered. And now for the comedy question........Does anyone have my old engine and can I buy it back for £800? When I find a picture of my old bike I'll post a picture. You never know, someone may still have it. It was quite unique. Cheers Andy