GSx1100 Dresda Solitaire (I may have had a Clivecident).

[Paulm]

Clives right Larry,get the 1170 in it,me I'd slap that motor in,get it running and riding and use it as it is,survivor bike style if you like. Don't need to be pretty for now and you'll see if you like/need to alter anything whilst using it.

[imago]

1 hour ago, clivegto said:

You are assuming you might find a good GS motor which your more than likely to strip down for a look see anyway. Build the 1170 up for it, there's no chance you get it up and running in 1 month even if you find a mint motor which will cost you a fortune anyway. 

Was that the sound of a gauntlet hitting the floor? 

I do take your point though, and no offence to those involved but we're talking about a 'Tom month' and a 'FBM month' so I fancy my chances. 

[clivegto]

29 minutes ago, imago said:

Was that the sound of a gauntlet hitting the floor? 

I do take your point though, and no offence to those involved but we're talking about a 'Tom month' and a 'FBM month' so I fancy my chances. 

I see said the blind man 

[imago]

15 hours ago, Paulm said:

Clives right Larry,get the 1170 in it,me I'd slap that motor in,get it running and riding and use it as it is,survivor bike style if you like. Don't need to be pretty for now and you'll see if you like/need to alter anything whilst using it.

If I add together all my plans, intentions, speculation and put £15 quid to it I'd be able to buy a packet of fags. 

Once all the stuff is cleared out to the various people who're doing their bit for the throwback and the Dresda is in the workshop I'll see what I'm dealing with and have a better idea on how long it'll take to do whatever's needed. 

[clivegto]

Nice to have a look see at it, definitely got a lot of potential. Look forward to seeing how it evolves 

[imago]

After 4 hours kip and a four hour drive it's back to the workshop I had enough 'awake' left over to pull the bodywork for a good look at what I'm dealing with. First impressions are that I'm not going to get away with stuffing an engine in it and running it for a bit as a 'barn find'. It definitely needs forks, brakes and a rewire along with a full suite of bearings. To do that lot properly it needs stripping, and if I strip it I'm not going to bung it back together in a shit state.

[FJD]

Seems like a lot of work, but i am sure it will be worth it 

[DAZ]

Yep , do it once do , it properly , I'm sure that in the waiting period for the big bits of the Throwback to return there's enough bits to rebuild and refinish rather than pull this into its constituent parts just yet. I have to say with your black ET, the Throwback, and now the Dresda it's quite the GSX collection 

Edit : maybe trial fit one of the GSX motors just to make sure everything lines up ok ?  

Edited November 3, 2023 by DAZ
Addition

[imago]

22 minutes ago, DAZ said:

Yep , do it once do , it properly , I'm sure that in the waiting period for the big bits of the Throwback to return there's enough bits to rebuild and refinish rather than pull this into its constituent parts just yet. I have to say with your black ET, the Throwback, and now the Dresda it's quite the GSX collection 

Edit : maybe trial fit one of the GSX motors just to make sure everything lines up ok ?  

I have another GSX frame on the racking painted and everything else in boxes ready to start building too. 

 

[Dezza]

Does it have a bespoke alloy tank to fit the frame? It's difficult to see from the pics. Also, if it used to have a GT750 engine in it, won't the mounts have to be altered in order to fit a whopping great aircooled GS/GSX four?

[imago]

Right, now that the fug of sleep deprivation is wearing off this is the plan:-

1. Apply for the logbook and get it legitimate.
2. Try some air cooled cases in the hole to make sure that it will fit and the mounts line up. If they don't try Bandit ones to see if it went air cooled. If neither do then start looking at engine options and alterations to suit.
3. Strip it to component level.
4. Start looking for parts.

It is definitely going to need a front end as those forks are shagged. Maybe USD, maybe not, but they need to be something decent and light. 
Replace the brakes, with what will probably be driven by the front end.
The swing arm is truly fucking hideous, so that's going not sure what'll replace it yet but JMC/Metmachex seem the most likely candidates as it's staying twin shock.
Wheels are an unknown at the moment, nothing too wide 5.5" will do nicely.
Full rewire.
I'm not keen on the RG bodywork so that'll go in favour of a boxy tail piece and something along the lines of a Mag 2 bikini fairing as it's practical and I like the look.

Overall aim, something a bit different that's reasonably light and handles well. Power will be provided by something normally aspirated (even though there's a huge blow through sized gap between wheel and frame). I'll see what fits before I think too much about engine choices.

All of which means there's not a chance in hell it'll be at Newark.

[imago]

1 hour ago, Dezza said:

Does it have a bespoke alloy tank to fit the frame? It's difficult to see from the pics. Also, if it used to have a GT750 engine in it, won't the mounts have to be altered in order to fit a whopping great aircooled GS/GSX four?

Yes it does, and yes they do but that's already been done by a previous owner who no doubt realised what an over hyped, under powered, thirsty, pile of crap a kettle engine is. 

[clivegto]

On 10/29/2023 at 6:42 PM, imago said:

Was that the sound of a gauntlet hitting the floor? 

I do take your point though, and no offence to those involved but we're talking about a 'Tom month' and a 'FBM month' so I fancy my chances. 

 

26 minutes ago, imago said:

 

All of which means there's not a chance in hell it'll be at Newark.

 keep you busy for a month though 

[imago]

3 minutes ago, clivegto said:

 

 keep you busy for a month though 

"Best laid plans ...."  

In theory it could be done, but it'd be a lot of work for an end product I wouldn't be happy with. The other danger being a temporary build turning into a permanent build. The safety net being that it's not going to lose money whatever I do or don't end up doing with it which is an unusual position to be in with a project bike.

[imago]

Good news, confirmation that a GSX engine drops straight in. So that's a home for the 1170 with flowed big valve head. 

[clivegto]

Fits just right by the looks of it. 

[imago]

57 minutes ago, clivegto said:

Fits just right by the looks of it. 

Like a glove. Which is good news because it removes any doubt about the choice of engine. As you and @Paulmpointed out, there's no point in spending more money to have less power no matter how it looks.

An early start means the frame is ready to go for stripping and either paint or powder. 

[imago]

This thing's led a busy life. Having stripped it down I decided to investigate the patch welded on the underside of the tank. I doubt it was cut for a sender, fuel pump maybe? 

[imago]

Just weighed the rear wheel as they're heavy to see what I save when I get the replacements. The rear wheel with tyre and sprocket weighs 15.5 kg, the bare frame only weighs 15.8 kgs. 

[GeorgeEI7KO]

On 11/2/2023 at 5:27 PM, clivegto said:

Nice to have a look see at it, definitely got a lot of potential. Look forward to seeing how it evolves 

What does the dog think of it? 

[imago]

16 minutes ago, GeorgeEI7KO said:

What does the dog think of it? 

The Dresda is 'Blue approved' which given the amount of bikes he's seen and his knowledge of special frames that's an impressive endorsement.  

[Dezza]

1 hour ago, GeorgeEI7KO said:

What does the dog think of it? 

Ruff

[imago]

There was an awful lot of knackered, ugly, not to my taste, bodged and way too heavy stuff to ditch. So basically I'm keeping the frame and losing everything else to start again.

For example (one for @davecara ) check out those lovely caliper adaptors 

The arm's not going to suit what I have in mind, so I may use it to start a @clivegto'stash' or more likely I'll accept that I can never attain such lofty status and move it on. It's in pretty good condition and surprisingly well engineered with key ways in the eccentric adjusters and a keyed spindle. It looks more like a Davida than an Dresda arm to me?

[Duckndive]

34 minutes ago, imago said:

The arm's not going to suit what I have in mind, so I may use it to start a @clivegto'stash' or more likely I'll accept that I can never attain such lofty status and move it on. It's in pretty good condition and surprisingly well engineered with key ways in the eccentric adjusters and a keyed spindle. It looks more like a Davida than an Dresda arm to me?

I don't recall Dresda making swingarms ..just frame kits 

But yeap defiantly a Period Davida Arm  .

[GeorgeEI7KO]

2 hours ago, Dezza said:

Ruff