Kranker's 79 GS1000 build

[kranker1450]

Well i thought i would start a build thread on here since I know everyone likes pics. First a little back ground. I have been riding bike for sometime and my wife is going on to her second year. I love all bikes. I have no favorite brand. I currently ride a 04 Harley Electra Glide and my wife rides a 03 sporty. In the early 90's I had a FZ750 and my buddy had a 80 GS and i was always impressed with the bike. We took them both drag racing and he had no problem running me down. Since then I have always had a soft spot for them. So when my wife started talking about getting a bike she could drag race I thought this would be a good time to pic up one of these beast and use it for both that and also just to cruise around. I originally bought this 79 to convert into a drag/cafe bike. I wanted newer suspension from a GSXR and also a flat tracker style single seat pan. She really likes the old school look of the original equipment.

Here is the 79 that i started with. Ran really rough but I only paid $150.

So i got to stripping the frame down to clean it up. Figured I would work out the build details as I went and also work on my wife about the newer suspension.

Here is the frame after I have cut and ground most of the unwanted tabs off. I have decided to cut off the lower subframe and place a new bar up higher after I cleaned up the other ones.

ray: Then fate stepped in and I found a 78 GS1000 on CL about a 3 1 /2 hour drive from me. So i went and picked it up for $400.
This one is going to be for my wife. I will remove the fairing and install some lower bars and also a headlight and front turn signals. So this frees me up to do what ever I want to what has become my 79 GS1000 :evil:. Here is a pic of her 78 GS1000.

Fate was really smiling on me. When i found her GS I also found a guy just one hour north of her bike that was parting out a GSXR750. So i cut a deal for the complete front end for $350.

As you can see i also have gotten a new rear suspension from a 06 GSXR600. That I got from EB. $280 shipped to my door.

That is all I have for you so far. As soon as do some more I will update.

Thanks to all who have help me with my newbie question and for welcoming me to this great website.

P.S. Please don't hold the harleys against me!!!

Krank

 

[TSCC]

I'm looking forward to your progress, I've subscribed.

 

[atb1998]

if your gonna drag race or modify those bikes, you have some great stock parts to sell or trade.. That 78 seat is worth a bit of money as well as the exhaust and such.. So are a lot of the 79 parts.. l

 

[kranker1450]

Thanks guys. I am willing to part with most of it. So if anyone needs something please let me know.

Didn't get much done this weekend winter weather messed up the schedule for christmas with the families so that ate into my "free time". All I got done was removing some of the parts off of my wife 78 that she doesn't want on it. Got the fairing,bars and luggage rack off. i put some lower bars off of the parts bike to see if my wife likes the feel of the lower bars. She does so I am going to order some new ones.
Here is a pic of the changes and also of my wife on it. I think she is happy with it..

 

[rachnett]

nice. in my yoga pants and slippers, lol!
i am loving that bike!

now get to work on it!

 

[jwhelan65]

I like the t-shirt!!! maybe we have a shot this year..ray:

 

[jwhelan65]

nice. in my yoga pants and slippers, lol!
i am loving that bike!

now get to work on it!

Where in Iowa?

 

[rachnett]

I like the t-shirt!!! maybe we have a shot this year..ray:[/QUOT

oh i hope so, but i'm not holding my breath, lol!
we are about 30 minutes south west of Waterloo.

 

[7981GS]

i am loving that bike!

now get to work on it!

:-k The recipient of the bike, could start polishing and waxing...

Daniel

 

[kranker1450]

7981GS, i think you may be on to something..
lol

 

[rachnett]

what?
Polish. Wax.
come on now, can't i hire that done? lol!!!

 

[russr33]

Man I can't imagine having a wife that actually ENCOURAGED my GS addiction. I would be in trouble for sure. Be careful Kranker or your garage will soon look like this (and I have 2 more not in garage at moment!):

By the way Kranker's wife congrats on your skunk! ( a '78 GS1000 in black/white livery is affectionately known as a skunk). You're going to love it.

 

[rachnett]

Thanks Russ. I can't wait for spring to get her so i can actually get it out of the shop and ride it!
and you have a very nice assortment of bikes there!!

 

[russr33]

Thanks Rachnett. You'll see my '78 in the background there; have to say she was my first GS and still my favorite. Check out the GS Discussion forum tomorrow for my newest addition.

BTW polishing and cleaning is a huge PITA sometimes but it will definitely bond you to the bike. Just go out and polish or clean a little each few days! There is a great video series on Youtube called "Clean your Motorcycle" parts 1-4. It is excellent and will transform that Skunk from a beater to beauty in no time!

 

[kranker1450]

Thanks Russ, I really like these bikes. I have a feeling this is going to be alot of fun..
congrats on your great collection..

Kranker

 

[kranker1450]

update

update

So i had some time to work on the ol girl on Saturday. First thing I did was some subframe work. Removed it and I will build a new one once my seat arrives and I can see how I want it. My dad is doing body work for me on the gas tank that I will be using.

Frame looks much better I think.

Next I mocked up the swingarm and rear tire. Still waiting for the machinist to finish the bushings that will allow me to use the stock gs swingarm pivot bolt with the GSXR swingarm. The New swingarm is almost a 1/4" wider then the gs swingarm. I had the machinist make the new bushing as narrow as possible on the hat part of it to make up some of the 1/4" that I need. When I get them I will post pics so that will make more sense.

Looks like the I am going to have some issues with the chain hitting the frame.

Well in my search of the internet looking at GS projects I seen this neat little trick on OSS by a man named strangeways and it seemed like the way to do it so of course I copied.

DISCLAIMER!

Let me be the first to say that I am not a professional welder,fabricator,engineer,metallurgist etc.. nor do I claim to be. I have however stayed at a holiday Inn!

This method seemed like a very good way to address the frame clearance issue and still look nice and I like to cut and weld things. I will be adding additional bracing to the frame to help stiffen up the area where the metal was removed.
So first I made some white lines where it needed to be cut. Out come the cutoff wheel.

Both cuts done!

Next I cut pieces of tubing to fill in the ends to give me a nice rounded profile. Here the one side is done and part of it ground down to give you a better idea what I am looking for.

Next I cut a half moon shape and welded in to the gap to bridge the gap and help tie everything together.This will be done to all four gaps.

Next I took another piece of pipe cut it length ways and placed it down into the frame. Then I welded this in to add more strength to this area. Kind of like a honey comb effect. You can also see the additional piece added to the other gap in the frame piece. The other side will have a piece of tubing in it also.

Then I cut a piece of steel plate to fill in the area and welded it in. I then grounded it all smooth and it looked something like this.

Now all I have to do is repeat all of those steps on the other cutout.

Wow that was quick!!

Pretty much done except filling in some small pin holes other then that it is complete. This is what it looks like from behind.

Thanks For viewing!!

Krank

 

[7981GS]

Great work!
Looks like it will do just fine. You allowed plenty of room to allow for the swing-arm movement right?

Daniel

 

[kranker1450]

Thanks, I thinks so!:-k
I may have to lower the bottom of the top cutout. We will see.ray:

 

[steve murdoch]

At which Holiday Inn did you stay?
I need to go there...nice work, so far.

 

[Darkstang]

Very interesting build! One thing to consider with that GXR rear is how far out it place the chain. You obviously have addressed the frame issue, but that leaves 2 more...

Side cover... go to far out and you will have to get the grinder a hole of the sidecover for the front sprocket. And that brings us to the front sprocket! Go to far and you have to have a custom one made. Their are a few options for popular width front sprockets.

I got mine from Katman. I have a 08 rear GSXR wheel in a stock swingarm. I had to still remove a lot from the rear cush drive and sporcket face of the cush drive. Just remember that you can take some off these areas when you start doing chain alignment.

Oh yea, I did a 520 DID chain conversion as well. That helped too.

Ken