How to tell exact model/version of my newly acquired (modified) GS?

[RocketScientist]

So in short: Is there some way (decoding VIN etc?) to figure out exactly what model of GS my bike started life as?

I recently acquired a 1981 GS (chain drive). It has been modified by previous owner(s) into a sort of generic cafe style bike (clubman bars, round headlight, mono/hump seat etc). It has an 1100 TSCC 16-valve motor, and the side cover has badging for an 1100E, however the title lists merely GS and displacement of "1000".

With the age and unknown history of the bike and the fact its been "customized" a bit, certainly not out of the realm of possibility that it started life with another motor or other hardware. Also not too crazy to think that the state didn't bother distinguishing between the 1000 and 1100 cc motors on the title. So I'm trying to figure out if there is some way to confirm via VIN, frame code/#s, engine code/#s etc what model my bike started life as, if its the original motor, etc etc. I'm brand new to GS's, but have been reading obsessively since i got the bike. So I know that there were a handful of different models/versions of this bike being sold, some chain, some shaft drive, some with the older 1000 8-valve motor, some with the 1100 16-valve motor, and I think there ay have even been an 1100cc 8-valve? In that late 70s into early 80s timeframe seemed like a bit of a transitional era and hard to follow exactly which versions were available which years and all that. Any guidance appreciated!

(OH, and I would post a picture, but didn;t take any before promptly pulling tank and seat and carbs and such to get started on getting her running... if there are any photos that would help answer my questions above I'm happy to take them and post them here)

[Kiwi Canuck]

If it is a chain drive GS from 1981 then it's probably an GS1100E which is the standard naked bike (or ES with small fairing IIRC) or possibly the cruiser which is a GS1100L if they made such a bike for the US market.

Anything with a G is shaft drive.

The 16 valve 1100cc engine was introduced in late 1979, which was released as a 1980 Model and continued until 1983, in 1984 they introduced the GS1150.

The model info is usually on a foil label on the left side of the headstock and the VIN is stamped into the neck of the headstock on the right side.

If the swingarm is Aluminum that is also standard on the 1981 models whereas the 8 valve engine bikes had steel swingarms.

Hope this helps.

BTW Suzuki uses letters to designate the year as well, so a GS1100ET is from 1980, as GS1100EX is 1981

David

[Burque73]

The forks will lend clues as well. Can you post a pic of the front end?

[Redman]

Front forks, tank, and rear fender help ID model.

carbs and front disc help ID if prior to 1980 or not.

[phydeauxmutt]

Don't jump to conclusions on the forks. The '80/'81 GS1100 and 750 both had leading-axle forks. Any other year and any other size bike, the leading axle would make you think "L". There is nothing wrong with leading-axle forks if the rest of the bike is designed for them.

[RocketScientist]

The model info is usually on a foil label on the left side of the headstock and the VIN is stamped into the neck of the headstock on the right side.

...

BTW Suzuki uses letters to designate the year as well, so a GS1100ET is from 1980, as GS1100EX is 1981

David

AWESOME info, thanks! Not sure how I missed that label when I was checking the VIN against the title, but looking at it, the bike is as I suspected an '81 GS1100E.

[Burque73]

Don't jump to conclusions on the forks. The '80/'81 GS1100 and 750 both had leading-axle forks. Any other year and any other size bike, the leading axle would make you think "L". There is nothing wrong with leading-axle forks if the rest of the bike is designed for them.

I didn't realize the E had leading axle. Thank you. Honestly, I was expecting to see anti dive mechanism on there, but I guess that was added on later models.

There are still subtle differences in the forks for '81 1100's though, like the schrader valve on top of the 8 valve L vs. turn dial thing on bottom of the E.

[mrbill5491]

Definitely an 80/81. The actually cc size for the 1100 is 1049. Guess they like rounding up lol. I believe most of the 8 valve 1100s were shaft drive.