Hello from Kentucky!!

[Guest]

Well hello all!! I'm Jason and I live way out in the sticks here in western Kentucky. Last year I bought a 1982 GS1100L from a retired state trooper. He was the original owner and I'm pretty sure he was being honest when he said he had never touched the bike other than adding some harley looking saddle bags to the back and riding it. The bike only has 30K on the odometer and rides and runs great thanks to some help from this site. I guess I joined this site last year and just forgot. I'm a disabled vet and the drugs the VA gives me for my PTSD really ****s with my memory. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures from my phone to the site I'll post a few pics of this beautifully unmolested GS.

[steve murdoch]

Thank you for your service, Gerhed and welcome to the site.

[Gerhed]

20160325_113317.jpg

And there she is in all her glory.

[Dogma]

Nice one! Very clean. In addition to the luggage, the PO also added the case guards, the windshield and changed the mirrors and grips. Just about everything else looks stock. And very clean.

[Gerhed]

Thanks Dogma. Had no idea all that stuff was add ons.

I guess my next question would be, what is a survivor bike and is this one? I ask this because I want to do something to the bike bit I'm not sure what just yet. Blacked out bobber is on top of the list right now but I could just as easily go cafe racer or even super clean OEM. I haven't been into bikes since I was a kid, early eighties. I just don't want to screw up something that has collectable value.

[Phred]

It sure looks nice and clean the way it is. Some members tend to diss the L's and hack them into bobbers, but owning one, I like it. Looks like newer shocks on the rear.Two things about the L's. One is the handlebar configuration, you might want to look into changing it into something more comfortable. The L bars tend to pull back and on long distances may be a bit hard on the wrists. The G handlebars are slightly different, or club bars are another option. The other thing is the seat, as you are stuck in that position. I am tall enough that I can ride on the passenger seat for a bit on distance trips. The seat didn't bother me when I was in my late 20s, but I have gained about 30 lbs since then and like to stretch out a bit when riding. Other than that, there aren't too many of them around these parts and mine has turned more than a few heads since I got it on the road again....You may want to look into changing the brake lines to stainless braided ones. The originals were only supposed to be good for two years.

[Gerhed]

Thanks for the tips Phred. I will be checking into those bars and lines.

[steve murdoch]

The fact that your bike is mostly stock makes it a "survivor".
That model will not have a lot of monetary value as a collectible but it would make more sense to a lot of us here to get a beat-up version and build it up into a bobber or cafe.
It looks to be in great shape.

[tkent02]

Those are Suzuki shocks found on a lot of the GK models.

[1tinindian]

As an original owner of a 1982 GS1100L, I can tell you, from the blacked out engine and the paint scheme on the tank, this looks like an 1983 model. You have a very nice bike, don't go too crazy on it, they are only original once.
This is my 82, notice the tank design differences and the overall silver color of the engine.
Leon

[marvinsc]

Welcome aboard, I am in Western KY as well, don't recall seeing that one in my travels. How far West are you?

[dorkburger]

Welcome. A clean bike for sure.
If it truly hasn't been touched, as mentioned, it should get a going over despite how clean it looks. Hopefully the valve clearance was checked / adjusted at some point in its 30k miles.

[chedd]

Gerhed,first respects to you for your service to the U.S,i love your bike and I wouldn't change a thing on it much less bobber her .

[Dogma]

Those are Suzuki shocks found on a lot of the GK models.

I can't believe I missed that. How many points did I lose?

[Spyder]

I was also going to suggest that it looks to be an '83