GS1000E - what am I looking at?

[Brendan W]

Went to see this yesterday and would appreciate any comments some wiser heads might have on what lies in front of me and where this machine lies on the value scale.
Pods fitted, petcock is tiny, diaphragm tap, tank lined with some yellow plastic stuff, brake fluid the colour of Guinness, main stand going too far forward bike not sitting straight on it, front discs drilled never seen that before and both wet with oil/fluid. 14000 miles US import starts , runs, charges, chain looks good original 630?, seat looks too flat to be original.
Exhaust and shocks look original, motor looks never to have been opened. The stator and clutch covers are a slightly more golden colour than the rest of the motor.

 

[rustybronco]

I would say you are looking at a fairly good starting point. As you have ascertained, the fuel tap in to small for the year. It looks to be from an 82 up GS series. The seat is also incorrect for the model. It should be stepped instead of flat. The exhaust is missing the heat shield, but other than that ungodly looking paint on the stator cover and non stock drilled rotors it looks ok.

Do you happen to recall if the speedometer went to 85 or 140 mph?

 

[Brendan W]

140mph - does that mean it can't be a US bike ?

 

[Gregory]

Looks to me like a very decent 79-80 gs1000e although I thought they only used the 140mph on the 78's...

 

[GSX1000E]

Looks to me like a very decent 79-80 gs1000e although I thought they only used the 140mph on the 78's...

Wrong. The 140 speedo's were used up 'til the '79 models. '80-'82 got those worthless (to some of us, anyway) 85mph speedo's.
What you ARE looking at is a nice U.S. model '79 GS1000E that has a lot of potential.
No, it did not come with those drilled rotors but it was a common improvement before the factory slotted rotors became common in '80-up.

 

[rustybronco]

140mph - does that mean it can't be a US bike ?

T would suspect it is a US spec'd model. Now the question is, what is the seller asking for it?

 

[Brendan W]

T would suspect it is a US spec'd model. Now the question is, what is the seller asking for it?

?2500 or $3300 . The same amount here will get a clean ten year old Bandit 1200 or an unmolested '82 GSX1100. Seems a bit high.

 

[TeamDar]

Just a FYI on the petcock. I had a 79 just like the picture with the same color scheme. It had the dreaded 1980 petcock. It had the factory 79 paint job. It could have been a replacement tank but it had the bolt pattern for the leverless 1980 petcock. Maybe the last of the 79's got the 80 tank? The one pictured could have the same deal and the PO changed it to a 82-up petcock? Dar

 

[Guest]

?2500 or $3300 . The same amount here will get a clean ten year old Bandit 1200 or an unmolested '82 GSX1100. Seems a bit high.

Yeah about $2000 to high. $1300 maybe. For $3300, I would go with the Bandit or the 82 GSX1100 because the 79 GS1000 is gonna need some work and could run into a few more $$$. Depending on what condition the other two bikes are in, they as well may need some past due maintenance. Any way you look at it, you are going to be out some cash.

 

[rustybronco]

€2500 or $3300 . The same amount here will get a clean ten year old Bandit 1200 or an unmolested '82 GSX1100. Seems a bit high.

It is a bit too high. I don't know what the market difference between the states and the UK is, but that is way out of line over here. I suspect it is out of line on your side of the pond as well.