'85 GS700e restoration

[soundsource]

Just joined the forum after buying this lovely GS700e with only 10,000 on the clock. She's got some surface rust and could use a good polish. Hasn't been ridden since 1998 so I'll start with BassCliff's Newbie list to guide me on my way back to the road. My first proper bike when I was a teenager was a GSX250 which was a lot of fun so I'm looking forward to getting this one back up to speed. I'll keep you posted with pics as I go and I'm sure I'll be back for questions once I dig a little deeper! Thankfully she started first time with a freshly charged battery and petrol so that's a testament to the bike as a whole considering the 15 year period on pause... Here she is:

Looking forward to being a part of this little community of GS lovers - thanks to all for giving me the confidence to get my teeth into this project!

 

[jwhelan65]

Subscribed, these are great bikes, plenty of power and they handle great.

Good Luck!

 

[steve murdoch]

Still starting after a 15 year nap? I've got a bike that doesn't start after a 15 minute nap.
A U.S. import? Looks like the 8" headlight is still there.
Welcome to the site.

 

[soundsource]

Subscribed, these are great bikes, plenty of power and they handle great.

Good Luck!

Thanks Joe! Just check out your beautiful restoration - you've set the bar seriously high with that piece of work... too high for me for now! I'll have to settle for just having a bike that works as it should before I start thinking about adding new bits. What most impressed me with your project was your patience! Thanks for being inspiring. Hope you don't mind if I ask a question or two when I inevitably get stuck along the way?

 

[soundsource]

Still starting after a 15 year nap? I've got a bike that doesn't start after a 15 minute nap.
A U.S. import? Looks like the 8" headlight is still there.
Welcome to the site.

Hi Steve - Amazing after 15 years eh? Yeah the bike was first registered in the UK in 1997 and last ridden 98/99. You know best about the headlight, I'll get the measuring tape out tomorrow!

 

[Slowhand]

Hey Sound, she looks sweet ! Started without a carb overhaul, that is amazing. Mine sat for 17 years but I had to replace all the rubber and clean the hell out of the carbs before I even tried to start her. But she did fire right up after the rebuild/cleaning. Yours must have at least been stored correctly, meaning no fuel anywhere in the system. Good luck and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do.

 

[Billy Ricks]

Seems strange seeing one of our tariff beaters in England. The design still looks fresh today. I had a guy approach me the other day and ask if mine was for sale, it's not.

 

[soundsource]

Hey Sound, she looks sweet ! Started without a carb overhaul, that is amazing. Mine sat for 17 years but I had to replace all the rubber and clean the hell out of the carbs before I even tried to start her. But she did fire right up after the rebuild/cleaning. Yours must have at least been stored correctly, meaning no fuel anywhere in the system. Good luck and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do.

Hi Slowhand, well she starts fine but floods as soon as you twist the grip so the carbs definitely need a clean. On the plus side the rubber looks in pretty good order (photos to follow) but can't really tell till I open her up... Also no air filter present so that's another minor issue. Really like what people have done by fitting the K&N pods - seems like it's a must if the airbox really is that difficult to pull as people make out! Guess I'll find out soon enough...

 

[soundsource]

Seems strange seeing one of our tariff beaters in England. The design still looks fresh today. I had a guy approach me the other day and ask if mine was for sale, it's not.

Hi Billy, well I feel honoured to be flying the flag for little ol' England on the GSR forum. Are there any more Brits out there? You're right about the design! What you and Joe Whelan have done to your 700's is really quite something. I only hope that I'm able to do mine justice and have something that looks even a quarter as good as yours! Parts seem like they might be an issue over here though reading through GSR it seem that I might be able to pilfer a few bits from the more available 750s, am I right?

 

[Billy Ricks]

Hi Billy, well I feel honoured to be flying the flag for little ol' England on the GSR forum. Are there any more Brits out there? You're right about the design! What you and Joe Whelan have done to your 700's is really quite something. I only hope that I'm able to do mine justice and have something that looks even a quarter as good as yours! Parts seem like they might be an issue over here though reading through GSR it seem that I might be able to pilfer a few bits from the more available 750s, am I right?

Many of the '83 and up 750 parts will fit. The biggest difference is the body work. You can even drop a 750 crank and rods in the cases to have the full 750. If he valve cover looks the same then the engine parts will interchange. Just don't use a 750 rod on a 700 vrank and vice-versa. The short stroke of the 700 makes it rev nicely though. I have some things I've taken off of mine if you need thinks like calipers and stuff.

 

[soundsource]

As promised here are the "Before" pictures:

As promised here are the "Before" pictures:

 

[soundsource]

And more...

And more...

And finally - where all the work will be taking place. Not least a good clear-out first!

 

[Billy Ricks]

It's not all that bad for a bike that has sat for 14 years. A little elbow grease and maybe a fresh coat of clear to take care of the places where the clear has let go. If you can sand through that without cutting into the decals underneath a coat of clear would make the paint look almost like new. If your gauge glass is cracked as it looks it is I have cut my own before. I broke mine once and managed to cut a new one out of glass and even drilled the hole in the right place for the tripmeter reset.

 

[soundsource]

It's not all that bad for a bike that has sat for 14 years. A little elbow grease and maybe a fresh coat of clear to take care of the places where the clear has let go. If you can sand through that without cutting into the decals underneath a coat of clear would make the paint look almost like new. If your gauge glass is cracked as it looks it is I have cut my own before. I broke mine once and managed to cut a new one out of glass and even drilled the hole in the right place for the tripmeter reset.

Considering she started first time I think I'm on to a winner - these engines must be bullet-proof! Thanks for the tip on the paintwork, what kind of papers should I use a) on the paintwork and b) on the aluminium covers etc.? In terms of the glass I might just go for some perspex, unless you think glass is that much better?

I just finished clearing some crap out of the garage to give me some space to work... Looking at pulling the carbs over the weekend (It's 4am here at the moment so can't be making too much noise right now), so I need a bit of room and a clear bench-top!

When I took this picture just now I noticed another scratch on the front mudguard and it looks like the headlight bracket is bent too. Another couple of jobs on the list...

Good to have you along for the ride Bill, I'm sure your knowledge will be invaluable! Just read on your signature that you've got some GSXR bits on your beauty, I'll have to check through your restoration pages again to see what I might benefit from for mine... Thanks for the tip on the 750s as well!

 

[GateKeeper]

Restores are so much fun.....

best of luck on this one, your off to a fine start...

Cheers

 

[Billy Ricks]

Considering she started first time I think I'm on to a winner - these engines must be bullet-proof! Thanks for the tip on the paintwork, what kind of papers should I use a) on the paintwork and b) on the aluminium covers etc.? In terms of the glass I might just go for some perspex, unless you think glass is that much better?

I just finished clearing some crap out of the garage to give me some space to work... Looking at pulling the carbs over the weekend (It's 4am here at the moment so can't be making too much noise right now), so I need a bit of room and a clear bench-top!

When I took this picture just now I noticed another scratch on the front mudguard and it looks like the headlight bracket is bent too. Another couple of jobs on the list...

Good to have you along for the ride Bill, I'm sure your knowledge will be invaluable! Just read on your signature that you've got some GSXR bits on your beauty, I'll have to check through your restoration pages again to see what I might benefit from for mine... Thanks for the tip on the 750s as well!

Sorry, I never did a build thread, most of my stuff was done pre GSR. The headlight problem is just bent ears. The turn signals are gone too. The stalks on them get brittle and fall apart. I just use some Lockhart Short Stalks on my bike. I'll post a few pics so you can see some of the things I've done.

As for sanding use some 600 grit wet and dry paper. Go over the entire surface but when you get to spots where the clear is in bad shape be careful with the decals underneath. Hit it lightly and try to feather the edges where the clear is in better shape. Use a good automotive clear if you have access to spray equipment. If not there is a two part clear that comes in an aerosol can.

You can use a coarser grit on the aluminum that needs to be cleaned up. 400 would be fine. As you sand on the aluminum it's going to wear down to 1000 or finer anyway. I have about 60 hours of hand sanding on my wheels alone. The spokes were a rough sand cast finish with factory paint. I sanded one spot just for grins and kept going. After you have the oxidation sanded off use a foam polishing wheel on a drill with some aluminum polish and go nuts. You'll have it looking good in no time.

This is my bike with the '88 forks.

Left side with newer forks.

Doggie style.

Right side.

 

[soundsource]

Restores are so much fun.....

best of luck on this one, your off to a fine start...

Cheers

Thanks GateKeeper! Looks like you had fun with yours, she's a beauty! I am in awe, considering where you started... I'm a little afraid as well, because I'm at the point where you were in the beginning: Do I just clean her up so I can ride or go all-out and do a full restore?

Guess we'll find out soon enough. The truth is though I need her on the road as soon as I can.

 

[soundsource]

Thanks for the invaluable tips Billy, I had a good few hours on her today so some more photos coming up. Looking forward to starting the cleaning process, just having to consider how far to go! From where I am now it seems like it wouldn't be too much more trouble to drop the engine out, wheels and forks and start from a clean frame.

I'm just worried about how long it would take and how much money too as I don't have either! Has anyone on GSR ever gone back to do a full restore after first doing a semi-restore? Got to weigh up whether its better to strip her fully now or just a preliminary and then go back to bare frame when I've got the cash to do her justice!

Your beast looks lovely, how does she ride?

 

[soundsource]

Striptease

Striptease

So I got started on the strip down today and so far it has been a breeze. The only snag was a couple of bolts on the bracket that holds the airbox to the frame. I'm going to have to buy an impact-driver to get them out.

Now I know WD-40 isn't the proper thing to use but I've been spraying all bolts with this every day for the last few days now and they've all been really easy to pop out so far, even the exhaust manifold bolts, which I've read just now can be a pain to remove.

So here's some pictures of progress:

Everything ready to go...

Tank and seat come off really easy, just the turn of a key and a couple of bolts...

Next up, the headlight, which holds a bunch of electrical connections

Took apart what needed to to get the casing off, was suprised that the bracket on the forks is free and just twists around each fork. Once it's bolted onto the casing a guess it's nice and rigid...

Next up, footpegs and whatever you call it that holds them in place, chain guard and exhaust, then finally clutch cover and side stand (had to take the sensor for the side stand off as my ring spanner wouldn't reach and I couldn't find my 8mm socket).

Exhaust doesn't look too bad, nothing a good sand and polish won't fix anyways...

Ditto under the clutch cover, though it's really nasty inside:

Plus it looks like the front sprocket is worn, though thankfully chain and rear sprocket look pretty healthy.

Going to check this rust tomorrow, hope it's not too deep...

Same here, hopefully not too much of a problem. Soaked with WD-40 again anyway...

 

[soundsource]

Plugged the exhaust manifolds with plastic bags (cheap and in plentiful supply), then gave the sump plug a few squirts of WD-40 (No I don't work for them) because I'm draining the oil tomorrow...

Few spots of rust around the frame and fins here - I think I check this all round

Well it's not rust, but some pretty nasty gouges have appeared. Hope I can sand them out without changing the shape of the fins too much. Further confirmation of a drop at speed by PO.

And that's it for today! Feel pretty good about how easy it's been so far. Not looking forward to tackling the carbs tomorrow but on a slightly different note, my mate Dave at Warpspeedracing who I told about my new bike and showed a picture sent me a shot of some work he did for another mate's 750 and told me he'd made a brace to fit a GSXR-1100 engine into the frame! Is this a common mod?

Anyway, here's the billet work by Dave:

Beautiful stuff. Think I might just be able to afford those SS hoses!