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Hello GSR forum!
Thank you so much for maintaining a simple, non flashy, ad free, functional site, WITH auto-save for drafts!
I started riding in November of last year on a 1973 Honda CB550four. then in December, a month later, I picked up the star of this show, a 1982 GS1100GL with 33,543 miles.
It's been quite the journey working on it! the PO only had it for a year and neglected pretty much everything except 87 octane and wheelies. He said he replaced its "CDI ignition box" when it got too hot and fried in his driveway. however, the shiny heatsink he pointed out had 5 wires coming out of it and was clearly the voltage regulator. this tracks with the newer looking battery as well. He attributed it's rough running to a lean air/fuel mixture. said it wasn't jetted for the aftermarket 4into1 Vance and Hines megaphone exhaust. In hindsight, it was running pretty rough, but it was still fast. I've learned so much since then.
Fast forward a couple hundred miles, a lot of learning, and some investigating. first things I replaced were the engine oil and filter, along with the sketchy electrical taped throttle cable. while doing that I found cylinder #3s plug wire had fallen off the coil (one too many wheelies?) and didn't want to stay snapped on. all it needed was a squeeze and pop back on the coil and BAM! smoked for a minute or two and idled smoother than ever. The 1100 felt like it had twice the power. It previously would not rev past 6k. with that cylinder back in action, The powerhouse had no hesitation up to 9 grand. With that said, even 1000 miles later, I am still not comfortable opening the throttle more than halfway. And not willing to go past three quarters. let alone over the power band. Part of me wishes I had waited and got a nice 850. Anyway, check out the miss colored exhaust header on cylinder #3 haha.
that's not all that has happened since then. I also replaced the dry rotted tires. Burned through a two pack of defective Philips 9003 headlight bulbs (that's the last time I buy fancy bulbs). Found my secondary drive gearbox full of peanut butter gear oil and filled to the brim with water. Flushed it with brake clean and new gear oil three times over 500 miles before the broken teeth on my bevel gear became noticeable. I put a new clutch in it too, although after reading through Bikecliff's website, it probably just needed new springs. Also had an ignition wire pull out of its crimped on end. I botched that fix so my next stop is the Electrical/Ignition section here to see what wire set people recommend.
Anyhow, here's to the never ending project.
-Nathan from Michigan
Thank you so much for maintaining a simple, non flashy, ad free, functional site, WITH auto-save for drafts!
I started riding in November of last year on a 1973 Honda CB550four. then in December, a month later, I picked up the star of this show, a 1982 GS1100GL with 33,543 miles.
It's been quite the journey working on it! the PO only had it for a year and neglected pretty much everything except 87 octane and wheelies. He said he replaced its "CDI ignition box" when it got too hot and fried in his driveway. however, the shiny heatsink he pointed out had 5 wires coming out of it and was clearly the voltage regulator. this tracks with the newer looking battery as well. He attributed it's rough running to a lean air/fuel mixture. said it wasn't jetted for the aftermarket 4into1 Vance and Hines megaphone exhaust. In hindsight, it was running pretty rough, but it was still fast. I've learned so much since then.
Fast forward a couple hundred miles, a lot of learning, and some investigating. first things I replaced were the engine oil and filter, along with the sketchy electrical taped throttle cable. while doing that I found cylinder #3s plug wire had fallen off the coil (one too many wheelies?) and didn't want to stay snapped on. all it needed was a squeeze and pop back on the coil and BAM! smoked for a minute or two and idled smoother than ever. The 1100 felt like it had twice the power. It previously would not rev past 6k. with that cylinder back in action, The powerhouse had no hesitation up to 9 grand. With that said, even 1000 miles later, I am still not comfortable opening the throttle more than halfway. And not willing to go past three quarters. let alone over the power band. Part of me wishes I had waited and got a nice 850. Anyway, check out the miss colored exhaust header on cylinder #3 haha.
that's not all that has happened since then. I also replaced the dry rotted tires. Burned through a two pack of defective Philips 9003 headlight bulbs (that's the last time I buy fancy bulbs). Found my secondary drive gearbox full of peanut butter gear oil and filled to the brim with water. Flushed it with brake clean and new gear oil three times over 500 miles before the broken teeth on my bevel gear became noticeable. I put a new clutch in it too, although after reading through Bikecliff's website, it probably just needed new springs. Also had an ignition wire pull out of its crimped on end. I botched that fix so my next stop is the Electrical/Ignition section here to see what wire set people recommend.
Anyhow, here's to the never ending project.
-Nathan from Michigan
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). I did hear that the nearest community collage taught them. They might have openings, since I don't recall them on the SOS list. I'll look into it. I went with Michigan's second option to get my endorsement, the Skills Test. low speed maneuvers with a couple swerves at about 25mph. aced it, No stalls, no foot down penalties. That said, there is and always will be more to learn. I appreciate any and all reminders, I'll look into the BRC. I just upgraded from a normal denim jacket to a leather riding one with pads
. still not sure on chaps though, as none of my coworkers wear 'em.
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