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The Daily Driver project 1150

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bad Kaw
  • Start date Start date
B

Bad Kaw

Guest
Greetings,
I've been skulking around this site for a few years and a site member dropped me a line asking about my bike ('84 GS1150ES) and I went to find a link to a post on it...but I guess I've just never posted about it. So, here it is...not completed, quite yet, but getting there.
As I'm an old-school guy who doesn't know how to make multiple pic posts I guess I'll just do it one at a time...until somebody shows me how.
 
The goal: I just want this bike to be my dependable daily driver. I've got a gixxer front end and rear wheel on it. Also braided steel brake lines, the front rotors are full-floating.
 
Seriously...somebody has to show me how to put more than one pic in a post!

Seriously...somebody has to show me how to put more than one pic in a post!

Mistake: I, through years of being a suuuuuuuper genius, figured I'd just "part" the front-end together. Lesson learned = do the front end as an entire clip if you have less than brilliant fabrication skills. Mistakenly I thought all gixxer stuff from similar eras was about the same...NOT! I had to have a spacer made for the front wheel and a gixxer buddy had to bail me out with a very specific rear brake bracket to make the rear brake caliper work...a job that's still not quite finished.
 
I went with the 4.5" rear wheel b/c at the time I didn't know if a 5.5" was going to be a problem or not. Remember, I want the thing to be a dependable daily driver.
 
The fuel tank has a gixxer cap welded to it b/c the tank was damaged during one of the three times it was stolen. Paint is spray bombed (after the welder did his work) and matches pretty well...for a hack!
 
Last post: I'll try to compress: I was working at a bike shop in Santa Monica and a guy with a TL1000S came in needing some help; I took care of him but I was totally drawn to his buddy's mint '83 CB1100F. The TL-guy says "if you like that old thing you should come take my old junk 1150 off my hands". [much omitted from the long story here] Next thing ya know I'm towin' this thing home on the back of my trailer for $200.
It was a 'roach' at the time...and most of you guys would say it's not much better now - and you could be correct - BUT...it's mine.

It was SUPER rough when I got it; chain seized tight from rust as it had set for 10 years. I've installed: wind-screen (Gustafsson), Yosh system, 2500 mile crank-shaft in the motor when I had it re-built. Small things like grips, turn indicators, re-upholstered seats (poorly done!:mad:), race take-off Pilots, and the milling out of the stock clip-ons 2mm to fit the gixxer forks, have been addressed also.

Need: chain and sprockets, finish the rear brake set up, mount the ignition key...then kick the tires and light the fires.

The deal: When I was a kid (mid 80s) the fastest guy around had an 84 GS1150ES that was built up a bit. He was cool and that thing was faaaasst! I've wanted one every since, and now there's one in the garage...cool. So, after I get it on the road I'm going to give it a good long thrashing and if it pleases, then it stays and gets complete suspension from a donor TL/S (inverted and big rear wheel). I hope it's as cool as I remember, b/c I like this bike and I haven't even ridden it, yet!:eek:

Your comments and suggestions are all welcome.
 
That front rim looks like a GSX750F based on the break router. May have been shared between the GSXR and the GSX750F. I dunno.

Looks great!
 
Nice start, BK.
It is always great to see one of these brutes being restored instead of being parted. Judging by the varied selection of bikes in your profile you have done this before.
One of my favourite things about this website is the support for ALL things GS. Stock, custom, cafe, race it does not matter. Nobody would call your bike a roach.
 
Steve and Sunburn,
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Yeah, I've noticed the general positive attitude around this site; there is a lot to be said about easy going people. As Steve noted I've got a couple 'other' bikes in the barn (I'll take my 'diversity' in the form of motorcycles, please!:rolleyes:) and I've checked in and out of a couple other sites and it's nice to be in a place where everybody is relaxed and yet still have a full boat of knowledge.

Yeah, I've had guys wanting the motor out of it real bad, but I can't part this thing...even though I'd get my money back out of it...geez, parts for these babys (motor parts on eBay) are pricey. I do a little 'parting' myself in the summer, but always the new bikes...I can't do it to the old-school super-bikes.

Man, there really are some cool bikes and cool projects around here.
I appreciate not dropping the hammer on the old girl, but up close she's pretty rough. If the ride turns out to be what I think it'll turn out to be I'll go ahead and keep her and smooth out the rough edges, throw the inverted front-end on with the 5.5" out back, some good paint (necessary after the fairing gets repaired) and assign it a slot in the garage. And yeah, I've done this before...the bike list in my signature is current; I've had well over 50 bikes (used to keep a list, actually), but at 44:eek: and having been borne in a bike shop (no kidding) I suppose this sort of thing is to be expected.

Thanks for the warm welcome...cool site.


Bit T,
To answer your question...ummm...I've been 'lurking' around here for a while and I don't recall any "megawelcome" and being a guy, naturally I didn't read anything that didn't have motorcycle pictures attached...my bad?:) Thanks for the insite. I hopt it's still cool to post.
 
Last edited:
Bad Kaw said:
Bit T,
To answer your question...ummm...I've been 'lurking' around here for a while and I don't recall any "megawelcome" and being a guy, naturally I didn't read anything that didn't have motorcycle pictures attached...my bad?:) Thanks for the insite. I hopt it's still cool to post.
Click to expand...


It's always cool to post, as long as you're not bashing anyone (Ok, it happens over in OFF Topic)

We share the knowledge because we love our old bikes. Me, I've had my blue 78 since new and now I've got 3 more GSes and 2 other bikes.

Check that link. BassCliff, one of our (your) computer gurus, set up a website full of GS procedure, info, downloadable manuals and how to post pictures.

He usually finds new members and sends them the Megawelcome. Don't feel excluded, Cliff must have had an off day.

The forum members thrive on pictures, big ones loaded onto the page, please.

And Kawasaki riders are especially welcome (check my signature)

DCP_3796.jpg
 
Hey damn-it (!) that's an '81!!! Best lookin' year of GPz550 ever made! I had an '83 back when I lived out in LA and maaaaaan I had a blast on that thing.
Thanks for the reply! BTW: still got that little red rocket? I made a mistake and sold mine to a friend a few years back...bastich rubs it in my face on regular intervals...:mad:

Thanks again!
 
Bad Kaw

Bad Kaw

Just stopping in to say hi.

You sure have more experience with bikes than I , but ain't it amazing how Suzuki changes parts almost every year. :eek:. Not to say I'm up to speed with you but, I have been getting plenty of help navigating my 1st Gen gixxer conversion. Kinda like you trying to keep it almost looking stock (certainly to the untrained I ;)).

I'm also going with the 4.5 three spokers with what 160/60-18 rubber I can find. I may try the 180 rear on for size once I get the swinger on the real ride (the red ED).

Good Luck.

Pos

P.S. I will be doing some painting on mine once the parts are sorted. :-&
 
Bad Kaw said:
Hey damn-it (!) that's an '81!!! Best lookin' year of GPz550 ever made! I had an '83 back when I lived out in LA and maaaaaan I had a blast on that thing.
Thanks for the reply! BTW: still got that little red rocket? I made a mistake and sold mine to a friend a few years back...bastich rubs it in my face on regular intervals...:mad:

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, it's in the garage waiting to change the fork seals (curse the engineers on that), valve adjust, carb sync, oil change and some other details.

Mine's got a 594 kit and a bit of head work, whatever was allowed in Box Stock and maybe some that wasn't allowed. All drilled for track use.

It's a bit more battered looking in person, but it's only paint. I'm keeping it original, gues I better get all the decals soon.

To say it's fun to ride is an understatement. It just screams and you can drag the pegs as you like. My wife rode it BC (before children) and I'm nudging her towards riding again.
 
594? Really? Wow, that's cool! Man, that's a nice bike; seriously the 81s are my favorites. I just got my 82 750 GPz back so I'm hoping that calms my 550 craving subside...but I doubt it...the 550s just raaaaail!
Speaking of decals: there's a guy on eBay that sells 'em pretty cheap and I've heard good stuff about him. And these guys make a set for your bike: http://www.reproductiondecals.com/default_frameset.html?content.html~main

posplayer: post up so we can follow your stuff...or if you have made a thread, go ahead and put a link up here, so I can catch it...if you don't mind. Cool stuff, eh man!?

Well, now that finals week is grinding to a halt I'll hopefully get a take a run at it in a few weeks...hopefully, eh?

-KR
 
Bad Kaw,

Your GS1150 looks sweet! There use to be a blue and white one on my old neighborhood which I use to see back in the days. Let me know if youy need any help!
 
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