1983 GS1100E project

[racerxnico]

So I bought this bike about 20 or so years ago from a crazy brit who was living in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I took the train down from Seattle and rode it back home (this ended up taking much longer and being more of an adventure than I planned but makes a great story to tell over beers or around a campfire these days). It was my daily rider for some years (I didn't own a car back then) and I did my first Iron Butt ride on it (A "Bun Burner 1500"). She started showing signs of age and wear. There was an gradually worsening oil leak and a disturbing clunk from time to time. At some point, I don't remember exactly when, I parked her with the intent of one day trying to tear her down and if not repair, at least figure out where the noise was coming from. I partially stripped her and put many of the parts into storage bins in the garage and there she has sat, a rolling chassis with a motor, waiting for my ambition and resolve to overcome my anxiety.

A couple weeks ago, I finally pushed her up on the bench and have started the process.
gs1100e bench.jpg

I used to be a member and regularly follow this forum and I'm hoping that I will be able to find some support here (moral and possibly technical) as I get in up to my eyeballs and hopefully not over my head.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Welcome Back
A worthy project for sure.

[Baatfam]

Welcome! We love the 1100E, (at least I do)



And what's that tucked away on the left??

[dorkburger]

Welcome. A well abused 83 1100e is what got me hooked on big old Suzukis back in the 90s.
The 82-3 1100e bikes are among my favorite Suzukis.

[racerxnico]

And what's that tucked away on the left??

Tucked away to the left is the first motorcycle I ever owned . A 1974 Yamaha RD200A. That one was apart in milk crates for a number of years too.

[racerxnico]

It looks like this.
RD200A- out.jpg

[Baatfam]

[Rob S.]

I was hoping for the RD400. Still, wow and wow. May we see if you have the blue or (faster) red 11E?

[racerxnico]

May we see if you have the blue or (faster) red 11E?

LOL, no it is the red one. I'll find a pic or two from her glory days to share.

[rphillips]

It's about time you got started on that thing. What kind of disturbing clunk, the GS1100E shouldn't do that. Welcome back & remember we're keeping an eye on the progress. And contrary to what Rob thinks, you could easily make it a little faster if you just paint it the orig. blue, the blue was always faster.

[steve murdoch]

Welcome back to the site.
Love the RD.

[racerxnico]

https://imgur.com/8vLnl2t

Going to see if this works

[racerxnico]

What kind of disturbing clunk, the GS1100E shouldn't do that.

I have enough of the motor apart that I think I know where the clunk was coming from (if not the why) and plan to make a post or series of posts if my dumb-a%^ can figure out how to do pictures (other than thumbnails). Was just trying to use imgur, and i can get a link, but not anything that looks like what I saw in "how to" post. I'll ask for you to bear with me as I figure this out.

[racerxnico]

Hey, I'm getting smarter! or at least i figured one thing out. This is "volito" in her glory days

[salty_monk]

Welcome back