First time GS1000 owner

[FLHGSRay]

Dang! That's a good looking bike. Can't decide whether to paint the tank to match the tail, or tail to match the tank. Or everything to match my vision. I'll probably just ride it for a while while I think about it. Need to figure out a seat. PO had a custom seat made. Good quality, I just don't like it. Don't need a passenger seat cause I always ride alone, and don't really care about originality. Like to find a bolt-on cafe style solo seat like I had for my Z1 back in the day. Wish me luck finding that. Bought it in a bike shop in Germany in '78-'79.

 

[FLHGSRay]

Went looking for a pic of that seat on the Z1. Couldn't find that, but I did find a pic of the Z and my '75 RD 350. Bought the RD new in '76 and the first-year Z used in '78. Also found a pic of my '69 BSA 650 Lightning, built from a pile of parts in '81-'82.

 

[Guest]

Here's a '79 GS1000E for ya, mine, one thing about black is it's fairly easy to match paint wise, should you have any scrapes, had this painted black and those pin stripes are painted on also.

 

[FLHGSRay]

Nice bike. I have that same rack and engine guards. Took them off, but may put the engine guards back on. Wish my bike was that clean, but I was never any good at keping them that way. Even my HD hasn't looked that good since new.

 

[Nessism]

The 1980 tank takes the lever-less petcock. Hard to tell from the photo but I guessed '79 because it appears to have a regular petcock.

 

[Guest]

The 1980 tank takes the lever-less petcock. Hard to tell from the photo but I guessed '79 because it appears to have a regular petcock.

I saw that too, it does appear to have the early levered petcock on it, maybe it's a '79 tank repainted as a '80 model. Closer pic of the left side
would let us know for sure.

 

[FLHGSRay]

Hope I don't have a tank/petcock issue. Tank doesn't appear to be repainted, But there was silicone around the petcock. Also, I've been wondering, when looking at the petcock, tank, and o-ring, what keeps fuel from leaking past the screws? It had fuel in it and it wasn't leaking when I got it, had been sitting for years. Have I maybe got a '80 tank and a '79 petcock? Is there a difference in the mounting and o-ring?

 

[7981GS]

There are 2 sealing washers that go on the 2 mounting bolts. Still available at your Suzuki dealer.

Daniel

 

[FLHGSRay]

You mean these? Took a quick trip to the Suzuki shop and they had them in stock. I knew something was up, had it in the back of my mind for a month. These were missing when I pulled the petcock. I know the PO lives about 75 miles from a dealer, I guess he was in a hurry to go for a ride, and just went with the silicone. Thanks!

 

[chuck hahn]

Those would be them..tighten them and give them a good firm snugging but dont crush them too much. They stop gas leaking from it migrating down the bolt threads.

 

[Guest]

That does indeed look like an '80 tank, but also the petcock looks like a '78/'79 from the back. Wished I could see the front of the petcock to see if it has that little lever. Very peculiar because the hole spacings were different for the two petcocks. Not interchangeable, I'm baffled.

 

[Rover]

If it doesn't use the 80 petcock it probably was repainted with 80 decal/stripes is my thinking.

 

[FLHGSRay]

If it's been repainted, someone went to great lengths to make it look like a factory paint job. Petcock is the lever style. I don't know about the differences in the tanks/petcocks, but it looks like the combo I have will work. This petcock came off this tank, so the spacing is correct. The o-ring along with the sealing washers look correct. Maybe it's a very late '79 with '80 paint, or more likely a very early '80 tank with a '79 petcock?

 

[FLHGSRay]

Gonna try firing this thing today. Very little left to do, front end is all checked. Install air filter, petcock, tank, seat, rear wheel, chain. Sounds like 2 hours work, but I don't get in a hurry on this stuff. Saves costly and painful mistakes. Wish me luck!

 

[Guest]

Gonna try firing this thing today. Very little left to do, front end is all checked. Install air filter, petcock, tank, seat, rear wheel, chain. Sounds like 2 hours work, but I don't get in a hurry on this stuff. Saves costly and painful mistakes. Wish me luck!

Good luck!

 

[SVSooke]

Good luck!!Mine is very far form starting.Remember starting Old Yeller up after having her down to bits.It was great!

 

[Guest]

It's always fun to start one up for the first time in God knows how long.

My 1000 took a while. Would bairly idle and couldnt gas it at all. Everything was adjusted and installed correctly. I guess it was just trashed up inside the cylinders. Once it got going it would blow soot from the exhaust. So much that I had to sweep the garage floor. After this is would start, idle and rev perfect. Still needs a sync.

Have fun!

 

[Guest]

If it doesn't use the 80 petcock it probably was repainted with 80 decal/stripes is my thinking.

I'm in agreement here, it's the only way I can explain it, but that paint job looks factory.

 

[FLHGSRay]

I don't know when the PO changed the tank, but it was used. Not many people (until recently) repainted in factory colors, and made sure the striping was correct. And the PO surely wouldn't repaint in the wrong factory colors. It's a 1 owner, (I've got the original title dated 6/79). I'm still going with factory paint on a very early '80 tank with a '79 petcock. Or maybe it's a tank from a different model? But I do know this, it runs. Mounted the petcock and tank, hit the choke and starter and off she went! Sounds good. Carbs aren't quite right, backfires in the mid-range, but it will idle all day and fire right off when I hit the button. Rode it a mile or so, rides much better with new rubber and grease in the neck. Shorter bars (and no Windjammer) make a huge difference. Haven't put a timing light on it yet or synced the carbs. Seems to run a little better every time I fire it. I did gap the plugs before I fired it, but I did not replace them. Next step is to get new plugs and check timing with light. Make sure all the carbs are actually getting fuel. Get the basics right before I start fiddling with carbs. Haven't mentioned the points because this thing has an aftermarket Gerex brand electronic ignition. May well be 30 years old. May invest in a new one soon.

 

[FLHGSRay]

I've got a pretty bad oil leak at the filter. Only leaks under pressure. (when running) Haven't checked anything yet. Bike has new oem filter and cover o-ring. Didn't leak a drop the month it sat. Only leaks when running. Any ideas?