Early 1978 GS1000E project B/G

[7981GS]

She gets some bling and I tore her all apart again.

Tank badges arrived today.

Close enough to looking like steel? What cha think?


Got the new GG pads to match the new front brakes.

Mommy likes a backrest while riding so she gets one!

Tomorrow, I'll try to finish that part up,
install the new '82 1100E brake caliper and pads and throw on the new rear tire.

It is a little bit nippley out with high's in the low forties.
I just didn't feel like turning the heat on in the shed today...

going to save the fuel for when it gets cold.

Daniel

 

[Frank Z.]

Really enjoying this build... Decal looks great!

 

[cowboyup3371]

Looks good Daniel.

It is a little bit nippley out with high's in the low forties.
I just didn't feel like turning the heat on in the shed today...

going to save the fuel for when it gets cold.

Daniel

Dang, I wish ours would warm up that high. We only got to 24 today and that was at 8am. Highs for most of the next week will be lucky to see 25

 

[7981GS]

I had him make them to the exact factory size/ spacing.
I was pleased with the tank stickers that I had him make for the
'92 GSX1100G at 2.5" instead of the factory 2" size also.
Reasonable pricing for custom work.

He can be reached directly at: pcolema7@gmail.com Paul Coleman

Daniel

 

[Guest]

+1 on the decals. I like stickers over chincy chromed plastic decals any day. It's coming along real nice.

Sci85

 

[ged]

Hey Dan nice decals, are they the original shape and style?

 

[Charlie G]

Who is Daniel? Isn't your name Eric? 67fire?

Quiet................................ :-$

 

[7981GS]

I had them made exactly as the original steel letters without the black out-line and the black between the letters.
They are individual letters.
They come spaced out on a sheet that you carefully peel the back off and apply pressure over the paper coating on top until firmly applied.
Then, carefully peel the top sheet off.
If you take your time and get any air bubbles out, they look great.
I had a set made for Goldy also in gold to match the paint that I used on it. I'll probably try to get them on her tomorrow also.

Daniel

 

[Guest]

Nice work Daniel! And yeah those decals look the goods indeed

 

[Flyboy]

great work there Daniel, that bike turned out extremely nice, and those stickers do really just set it off, I do like, too much.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

I had thought about that style of decal more than once myself... very nice!

 

[7981GS]

Got around to throwing the new rear tire, caliper/pads on today.
I couldn't just leave the nasty looking parts looking nasty so the fine wire wheel on the die grinder had a small work-out.
Most will recognize these parts.

One of the chain adjusters was missing the adjuster bolt! I should have noticed that before the last ride!

It speaks volumes as to the QUALITY of Suzuki OEM parts when after thirty plus years they can be made to look like this.

Continued...

 

[7981GS]

Got her all back together and bled the rear caliper so it was off to break the new rear pads/rotor and tire in.

A little dirt bike riding...

Stopped for a picture at a local Church...

Back on pavement...

Mommy did the seat test on the new back rest and it passed with flying colors!
I still have TONS of room to move around on the seat when she is comfortable.
I am not liking the low handlebar with the taller seat so they will have to get changed soon.
I have to hunch over WAY TOO MUCH!

Forgot. I also changed the broken kick stand for one with the arm and rubber baby buggy bumper for the exhaust.
I also changed the rear sprocket for a 40 tooth one changing the final drive from 2.80:1 to a more leisurely 2.66:!.

She is starting to look more like a bike now.

Daniel

 

[Guest]

She looks real nice 7981GS. That engine is super clean. I hope to get mine looking like that someday. Love that Nevada scenery too. Must be some awesome riding there.

 

[Guest]

The bike is really looking good! Now how does she ride?

 

[7981GS]

The suspension is damn near ideal.
I need to remove a little pre-load off of the rear springs as I had them set for spirited 2-up riding. (3 clicks)
The front is a tad too stiff and I will be adjusting that when I change the handlebar real soon. (I added a wee bit too much pre-load when I replaced the springs)
I am going to try an experimental idea on them. We'll see how that works out.
It worked well on the dirt road but was hell on the wash boards!

It seemed to take forever to get the rear brakes seated in. LOL.
After a dozen light jabs and a few long steady downhills, they are plenty grippy now.
I almost seldom apply much pressure to the rear in normal riding and had to mentally concentrate on breaking them in.
I rode 1 to 2 gears higher going downhills to help FORCE me to use them more.
I basically ride with engine braking and a light touch on the front and rear.
Perhaps that explains how I have never had to replace the rear brake pads and only once had to change the front pair on my 750E/1100 in over 30 years and 150,000 miles.

Daniel

 

[Guest]

Love it Daniel, I really should've wire wheeled my wheel adjusters and bolts too

 

[7981GS]

Love it Daniel, I really should've wire wheeled my wheel adjusters and bolts too

Projects are never really completed.
I had misplaced one of my S & W shocks that I was going to try yesterday and it would have been the most opportune time
to change them as all of the parts will have to come back off to change them at a later date.
I was hoping to raise the rear end a half inch or slightly more. And, to see how those shocks work.

Daniel

 

[Guest]

Projects are never really completed.
I had misplaced one of my S & W shocks that I was going to try yesterday and it would have been the most opportune time
to change them as all of the parts will have to come back off to change them at a later date.
I was hoping to raise the rear end a half inch or slightly more. And, to see how those shocks work.

Daniel

True indeed! I know mine's not completed yet too

That's real frustrating when that happens, I've had similar happen also...

 

[7981GS]

I am getting tired of tearing her apart.

Before I started the heater, it wasn't exactly warm out. Temp. in shop when I started working on her.

I removed the hard PCV spacers in the forks and replaced them with springs!
These were the old rusty springss that I took out of the 750E when I put in the Progressive Suspension springs years ago.
I thought that I might find a use for them some day. Today was that day.
Has anyone else tried this before? What were the results?

Cleaned up and ready to install.

Literally waiting on the paint to dry on the handlebar. I didn't have any straight chrome ones laying around that suited me.
So, for now, they will have to be black.

Daniel