• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

78 GS1000: mod or Stock?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sschering
  • Start date Start date
S

sschering

Guest
OK folks I can't make up my mind here..

I plan to get my 78 going by spring but I can't decide on what direction to go with the exhaust and carbs..

I have the stock exhaust, carbs, air boxes.

I also have a Kerker 4-1, super trapp 4-1 and a set of K&N pods on the shelf

No matter what it'll get a Dyna ignition, green coils & coil relay mod.

If I go with the pods and 4-1 pipe I need to buy a jet. Plus if I don't use the stock pipe my wife will expect me to get rid of em.. She gets a little testy about my ever growing pile of bike parts.

On the other hand there is something to be said for how nice a stock bike runs.

Just to add another wrinkle.. IF I had a correct 78 tank Id be more inclined to go the stock route.. All I have at the moment is a GS1000S tank so I'm planning to do a skunked (black white/red/gold pin stripe) wess cooley style bike.

Following that theme the 4-1, pods, tarozzi rear sets, daytona bars all feel like the thing to do. That is unless someone wants to trade a rough GS1000S tank for a rough Skunk tank :)


I've stripped the bike down since this pic.. The highway bar and home made pipe don't be going back on.
IMGP7904.JPG
 
If the stock exhaust is nice, I would use it. On the other hand, if it is nice, you can sell it for pretty good money. The stock airbox is inconveniently located over the battery, which to me makes the pods more attractive than usual.

Which will be more fun for you? If you are sticking with the rearsets, the pipe makes sense. I have a '78 with an '80 tank on it painted to match the Skunk tail. It looks great, and frankly, you would have to be on this list to know the difference almost.

Her's mine with the '80 tank. (The '80 petcock does suck).
 
Go stock to start with, get it running right and if ya dont like it you can always convert.
At least ya wont have to mess around with getting it to run correctly with the stock setup.
 
Octain said:
Go stock to start with, get it running right and if ya dont like it you can always convert.
At least ya wont have to mess around with getting it to run correctly with the stock setup.
Click to expand...

+1. Go stock (those exhausts! :eek:), then round up a set of smoothbores later on jetted for the pods/header setup. You can then swap out bolt-ons for the best of both worlds.

...as for wifie, buy her some nice flowers and big box of Whitman chocs for Valentines...
 
Last edited:
Keep it balanced...make One bike for each of your requirements.

There's something rebelious about the 1st Gens...I just wanna make em drag bikes or Rat bikes.
I love the way a Kerker 4-1 sounds....especially with a glasspack, woooo!

But I also like the way my stock 650 zips around the back roads.
 
Whichever exhaust you don't use, sell it to me!

I'm a big fan of staying stock on these. My 78 has the airbox, 26s and stock exhaust on it and I love it for the torque. Heaps of torque from 4k on past redline.

That being said, I got a 79 that I'm converting to 17" wheels. It has 29SB carbs and a Yoshi exhaust. I rode it for a while and it's Ok, but I prefer the stock throttlle response

I think you'll get more out of degreeing your cams for max torque than the 5 HP you'll get from pods and a pipe.

Shasta09002.jpg
 
Last edited:
I can't help it, I like stock. I guess it's because to me they're easier to work on from a manual. I also love your pipes, sell them to me!
Here's my stocker. Took a little work to get it that way as I had to de modify a few things.
100_1272.jpg


Now this was my stocker from years gone by, and it was pretty close to new when I got it, I only added a luggage rack, recessed levers, and a cruise control.
scan0003-1.jpg
 
Stock or 4>1...Hmmmmm......Ones a Supertrapp......Hmmmmmmm........Love Old Yeller's 'trapp.Have to say if I had a really nice set of stock pipes I'd go that way.I'm not doing that on mine because I don't have the money or patience to find a decent set.I'm doing stock headers with a pair of long Dunstalls I got in a package deal.If those pipes are as good as they look.............................
 
Those pipes look nice. They will buy you a lot of stuff. It wouldn't be easy to part with them for me though. Tires, RR and Stator probably if they are as nice as they look.
 
OK ya got me convinced to go as stock as possible.. I like the idea of not having to mess with tuning it all that much. Reliable is good :)

I probably could buy a lot of cool parts with the $$ for the pipes but I don't think I can part with them. Odds are I won't see another set any time soon.

I still plan to use the Tarizzi rear sets and super bike bars on it though..

If I want to start playing the HP game I'd be better off building up a 16v 1100 anyway.

Who knows I may setup the spare rack with a jet kit and see how the supertrapp sounds on the 79 L

Thanks for all the input!
 
Rover said:
Is your tank the 79 or 80....which petcock does it take?
Click to expand...

Took me awhile but I got the tank out to check the petcock.

Bolt spacing is the same as my 79 L

This tank needs a little work :)

IMG_20120210_165213.jpg


IMG_20120210_165239.jpg


IMG_20120210_165250.jpg


IMG_20120210_165310.jpg


IMG_20120210_165331.jpg
 
They can run very nicely with pods and pipes. I didn't have much choice that way because mine came with a Vance and Hines 4to1, but there were times I wished it had been stock until I finally got everything sorted out. I do have a skunk tank, looked much like the bottom of yours. Turned out there are a lot of holes lurking under the paint. It is most likely a little too rough though. No dents is all it has going for it. I am thinking hard about Daytona bars, but I don't want to give up my grips, you can't get them anymore. https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JuQYiaX-xt7wpPYo6_5QzkSZDkUcVTs9uJaEULWC518?feat=directlink
 
Stock is good from the standpoint of you don't have to second guess the jetting; if the bike doesn't run right, it's something else. Stock is also quiet so you can use the throttle without attracting so much attention. Considering your stock pipes are so pristine I think you made the right decision.

As for that tank, looks like a failed Kreem liner inside. I've stripped out failed liners on more than one tank now and it's a lot of work, but doable. There are extensive threads on this subject in the archives, with lots of posts by me;), so won't bore you again but let me know if you have any specific questions after you research the topic.

Looks like a fun project.:D
 
I've a spare 78 tank as well. although mine's rough, I don't think it's quite as rough as the one you have.

PM 7981GS, He might a spare tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top