Hayabuser Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Just picked up this '83 GS1100E for $500 to keep me busy... can you believe that it actually runs well, has a functional charging system and isn't a big ball of rust? I think it was quite a score! It has some really nice patina (if you're into that... I am!)... I'm not 100% sure what to do with it at this point... I was going to restore it but now I don't want to paint over the pockmarks! Thinking perhaps a vintage-style dragbike for the street might be fun. The planning is almost the most fun of a new project! 3 Quote Link to comment
R1guy Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 More modern, chunkier running gear/ wheels.Jack the back up a bit with some longer shocks.keep the panels all as they arejob done 1 Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) More modern, chunkier running gear/ wheels.Jack the back up a bit with some longer shocks.keep the panels all as they arejob doneAll good, but I kind of already built that bike... Edited September 13, 2015 by Hayabuser 1 Quote Link to comment
Locomotion Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Nice bargain there, why not ride it for a bit to enjoy the old skool muscle then improve as you go. 1 Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 Nice bargain there, why not ride it for a bit to enjoy the old skool muscle then improve as you go. Mostly because the chain IS a big ball of rust.... and the tires are age cracked... and if I'm going through all of the mechanical parts to ensure they're up to par, I may as well be building something out of the bike at the same time! 1 Quote Link to comment
Locomotion Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Fair enough good luck with the project keep the pictures coming 1 Quote Link to comment
Spike Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Change the running gear. Did it with mine... Edited September 14, 2015 by Spike 1 Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 I'm leaning this way... although the finished bike might not be doing too much leaning either way! 2 Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 Been tinkering with her, changed the oil/filter and checked the sump strainer for crap... it was actually spotless in there! Amazing. Swapped in some new spark plugs, popped on the seat and took her outside for some sun. I had soaked the rusty chain with ACF50 which surprisingly freed it up, it's still going in the bin though in favour of a 530 conversion at some point. I yanked the Yosh exhaust off of my 80 GS11 and installed it on the 83 (new pipes coming for the 80!) and was able to ride it around my neighbourhood.... man it runs well! Carburetion is smooth and the bike pulls with no hesitation. It's actually better than my 80 is! So much for my tuning skills.... Quote Link to comment
Swiss Toni Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Good find! One of those is next on the wish list! Quote Link to comment
Blubber Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 One i did... 10 ish years agoYup.....A katana fairing fits pretty easyLooked like this in its final stage, before I sold it. 5 Quote Link to comment
Swiss Toni Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Got an ET, and an EF. I've always liked the way the tank and sidepanels on these bike seem to flow together! Do them in the right colour, uprate the running gear, keep all the bodywork stock. Nowt better!!! Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 One i did... 10 ish years agoYup.....A katana fairing fits pretty easyLooked like this in its final stage, before I sold it. Please tell me more about how easy it is to fit the Kat fairing! 1 Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 https://youtu.be/DhqaizVSQiw Quote Link to comment
Blubber Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Please tell me more about how easy it is to fit the Kat fairing! Fit the katata fairing bracket to the ESD frame mounts, shave some plastic from the Katana cowling to clear the ESD tank and... TaDaaaahh.I made a small modification to the head race bracket to get the lines flow better.I don't think it took me longer than an afternoon in my humble shed to do the conversion.I know it took me longer to fabricate the windscreen in aluminium Quote Link to comment
Blubber Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Just had a closer look at your frame: you appear to have a original naked version.I has a ESD ; a faired version, the version just like Spike posted.Therefore you need to create mounting points on 3 locations:1) Head race ( above the frame tag, you can see a protruding nut - you need that on both sides )2) Left hand frame tube, behind your horn ( the perforated strip in the picture below) 3) Right hand frame tube, behind your horn (again the perforated strip) If you look at the frame below you can see the mount points Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted October 15, 2015 Author Share Posted October 15, 2015 Just had a closer look at your frame: you appear to have a original naked version.I has a ESD ; a faired version, the version just like Spike posted.Therefore you need to create mounting points on 3 locations:1) Head race ( above the frame tag, you can see a protruding nut - you need that on both sides )2) Left hand frame tube, behind your horn ( the perforated strip in the picture below) 3) Right hand frame tube, behind your horn (again the perforated strip) If you look at the frame below you can see the mount points Turns out that Suzuki was getting cheap by 1983 and my frame has the threaded bungs already welded on for the ES fairing... they're just covered with small black plastic plugs to keep the grunge out. That's got me thinking..... Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted October 15, 2015 Author Share Posted October 15, 2015 Anyway, ripped off the ugly tall MX bar and replaced it with a Renthal Ultra-Low that I stole from my white GS. Added the GSXR bar end weights to finish it off. Grips need some more thought, those gel Pro-Grips are nasty. Quote Link to comment
Captain Chaos Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I always put original Suzuki grips on my bikes. Gives a nice "factory" look without any ugly spaces on the throttle grip. 1 Quote Link to comment
Dukeman Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 What a find, unbelievably good value.I have one also that I am updating with modern running gear but the look of a long swing arm is mean... how un practical is a bike like that to ride on open twisty roads? Yes I have other bikes so why not something that looks like it should be doing 8sec... is the handling sooo bad around corners that I would never use the bike? Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted October 30, 2015 Author Share Posted October 30, 2015 (edited) I always put original Suzuki grips on my bikes. Gives a nice "factory" look without any ugly spaces on the throttle grip.I did exactly that today! Also tossed on a new 530 chain and sprockets. Edited October 30, 2015 by Hayabuser 1 Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Since day one the twisted headlight ears and resultant swept-back and cock-eyed front indicators on my '83 bugged me... it took me awhile to find a straight set of mounts with the right patina for the bike but I finally scored a pair off of evilBay. Popped them on today. So much better! And as a bonus, the headlight points straight ahead now too. Win! Quote Link to comment
IanC Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Nice score! One of these is on my list of bikes I'll own one day. Doubt I'll find a deal like that though. Quote Link to comment
Hayabuser Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Nice score! One of these is on my list of bikes I'll own one day. Doubt I'll find a deal like that though.You never know. A friend of mine got this bike for free and was planning on keeping it, but sold it on when I held the $500 in his face. Deals are still out there! Quote Link to comment
IanC Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 You never know. A friend of mine got this bike for free and was planning on keeping it, but sold it on when I held the $500 in his face. Deals are still out there! I recently bought an '80 GS1100 off fleabay for about $400. I only bought it for the motor to use in my GS1000 project but I may have to find another motor and resurrect the GS1100 sometime. Honestly I haven't seen the bike in person yet, it's stashed at my in-laws house until I can get by there to get it. Quote Link to comment
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