15 years of owning my GS

[Vmass]

Thanks. Im one of those sentimental fools who becomes attached to things..Ive often said that ill ride that cycle as long as I have the desire, and am physically able to do so.




NOT a Vespa. 65 Raleigh Roma. A rebadged Bianchi Orsetto. Also sold as a Montgomery Wards Riverside. Ive had this longer then the gs, although unitl 2 years ago it was in my brothers shed. The original owner purchased it in the US Virgin islands. Its really fun to ride, although I need to figure uot how to legalize it.

Sorry if this is a hijack..... but we are Memory Lane...ing, right?

Those scooters always catch my eye, and I would love to have one.

I lived in Spain as a kid and those scooters were everywhere. It was common to see entire families on one scooter/moped.

I remember seeing the Derbi mopeds, looked really cool because they had a motorcycle gas tank. And, I have always been searching for an example of what was my first bike. I always remember it as a Ducati mini bike. But since the closest I have seen to my recollection is a Benneli, it may have been that.

Thanks for the info and I love your GS!

[dorkburger]

Sorry if this is a hijack..... but we are Memory Lane...ing, right?

Those scooters always catch my eye, and I would love to have one.

I lived in Spain as a kid and those scooters were everywhere. It was common to see entire families on one scooter/moped.

I remember seeing the Derbi mopeds, looked really cool because they had a motorcycle gas tank. And, I have always been searching for an example of what was my first bike. I always remember it as a Ducati mini bike. But since the closest I have seen to my recollection is a Benneli, it may have been that.

Thanks for the info and I love your GS!

Please......nowhere near a hijack. Memory laning indeed. I dig the scoot because when I take a loop around the block on it, I feel like a kid, back when we drove, rode, and towed any motorized contraption up and down the street without care. Plus it makes cool 2 stroke noise. Regarding my scooter, I happened upon it for sale locally 20ish years ago, and it was too cool not to buy. It seems to be quite rare. Ive yet to see one for sale, and precious few parts.....

Try checking out ebay> other makes. On a good day, theres quite a few oddball and cool old machines there.

Thanks for digging on my tatty old GS.

[winfield]

Funny....My dad was generally supportive-at least he didn't discourage our riding. A funny memory I have of him was when he took a ride on my brothers' friends Yamaha FZR 400. At 5'6"and with a medium gut, he squeezed aboard and took a lap aound the block...He returned smiling. When I bought my first GS, I gave him the Kawasaki, his first bike in many, many years. He seemed to enjoy it, and would disappear on it for a couple of hours on nice summer evenings.

Great memories. My Mom never said anything about me riding bikes. I guess because my Dad bought me my first motorcycle when I was in first or second grade--a Honda CT70 trail bike. I remember when he brought home his retirement gift to himself in around 1982. It was a 1975 Kawasaki 900 Z1. He let me jump on the bike and take it for a ride any time I wanted. I can still hear him going through the gears as he left the house and headed up the country road. He was giving it all she had. He was bunged up pretty good with rheumatoid arthritis but being on that bike made him feel free. I am still riding that bike today.

I like your GS. It's ridden and that's the point.

[viperg]

Great memories. My Mom never said anything about me riding bikes. I guess because my Dad bought me my first motorcycle when I was in first or second grade--a Honda CT70 trail bike. I remember when he brought home his retirement gift to himself in around 1982. It was a 1975 Kawasaki 900 Z1. He let me jump on the bike and take it for a ride any time I wanted. I can still hear him going through the gears as he left the house and headed up the country road. He was giving it all she had. He was bunged up pretty good with rheumatoid arthritis but being on that bike made him feel free. I am still riding that bike today.

I like your GS. It's ridden and that's the point.

Neat story about your dad's 900 Z1, glad you still have it keep it exercised. That is just to cool!

[Carter Turk]

Mr Smilen introduced me to motorcycles in 1981 or 2. No joke that was his name. First ride ever was on a CT-70. Been hooked ever since, even after nearly loosing my right leg in a scuffle with a truck. Owned the Kat for 21 years and the 1150ES for 16. I'd say I'm comfortable on them, more so on the Kat than then the ES.

[dorkburger]

Carter, that's cool that you've owned those bikes for that long...ive never had the opportunity to ride a Kat.....Heck, ive only seen one in real life once. Regarding the ES. I never liked the stock handlebars' angle. Changing them made a huge difference comfort wise. They are nice cross between cruising comfort and aggression. The extra leverage was welcome also.

[dorkburger]

Figured I'd do an update of sorts. With the season at an end - despite the wonderfully warm temps this week- I tend to look back at the year and think about the year from a motorcycling perspective. ..

Now 16 years and counting. .

The day after Christmas the carbs got a freshening up- teardown, cleanup, new o rings, and were installed on new intake boots that replaced the original, hard, and cracked ones. This work and a synch made a huge difference in rideability. Very pleased.



Then my search for my engine tick had me open the clutch cover. I figured the loose hub nut was the answer.... but I couldn't not pull the clutch and check things out inside, and I'm sure glad I did.
I found a missing shim, the washer under the clutch nut was not present, and damage to the oil pump gear, from I'm assuming the lack of clearance due to the missing shim. I would have not known had I not checked out the online fische and noticed them there. Also later discovered that the clutch sleeve was an 1100 piece, with a lot of play at the spline. I later found a new 1150 piece on ebay, bought it and installed it. It then shifted noticeably better. Pleased again....
Funny how all this time later I'm still finding PO hacks. Such is the nature of not going thru the bike top to bottom after buying it .....

Bad parts / new parts side by side.

Close up of the damaged gear and corresponding washer.


One of the highlights from this year's trip.


As always seems to be the case, just when I think I can look at cosmetic items, mechanicals pop up....

This winter I need to fix this.

Along with a fork rebuild (leaking seals) and new tires...

Sometimes I think my bike will be like the 60 year old bike at a vintage show with a square foot of paint left on it....

[Hayabuser]

Glen,

Very well done. I feel the same way about my 1100G Cooley Rep. I have had it since I was 19 (holy shizz! 26 years) and been back and fourth across the country with it a few times. Even lived in CA twice with the 1100 as primary transportation. Met my wife while cruising on it and even taught my 16 year old son (now 22) how to ride on it. I have gotten a life time of memories from that machine and there is nothing particularly special about it other than it has been a good faithful travel companion.

Another hijack coming right up... I really like your G! Makes me want to adapt a Cooley fairing for my 83 E!

[dorkburger]

No worries Dave. Every bike of Viper's (GSs and others) that I've seen here is a real beauty. His Bad Buffalo is among my favorite bikes.

[londonboards]

Great pics and story.

Man your PO did a pile of damage in 1,200 miles!

[dorkburger]

Ha, no kidding. For my part, I was smitten with the ES, and still am all these years later. Hindsight says I should have passed, but at the time, I had only seen one in the flesh ever, and I didn't want to miss out. Live and learn yes, but I have no regrets either.
I've still only ever seen a few in my area after all of these years. And two if them were my cousins'

I always get a laugh when our Canadian members link ads to them on a regular basis.

[dorkburger]

...another year..

2016 was my worst year for riding since I started with only around 500 miles ridden.With the garage in use as a carpentry shop and house projects dominating last winter / spring, my list of winter projects on the bike didn't get addressed until late spring. I still have a set of tires in the garage waiting to get installed...

First up was repairing the fairing mounting boss that broke off of the frame.





Then I rode a while fairing-less.



Then new for me territory - fork rebuild. It was ultimately a success, but not without operator fault.



Thread here...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?241673-First-foray-into-fork-rebuilding&highlight=

Then FINALLY after years of half arsed looking, I found a set of mid panels and front fender in the proper '85 color from a member here (Jareness) and was very pleased.

[dorkburger]

About a week and a half ago and likely the last ride this year.


The tires are worn to the point that handling is a bit sketchy.
That and some other items are on the list this winter.
The bike is actually in the garage, not the shed, and I hope to do my winter projects, well, during the winter....

[GS1150Pilot]

What was the temperature there today, Glen?

[dorkburger]

Today started warm with and on and off rain and about 60º at best, then a front came thru mid afternoon. It's about 40º now. I thought about trying to grab a quick ride, but we're playing catch up. We're hosting Christmas dinner, and I got called into work yesterday.
I generally like to keep the bike ready for an impromptu ride over the winter, but a few tasks will make unrideable for a bit.
While the wheels are off for tire replacement, im planning to paint them all black. Ive toyed with this idea for years, and on this rare occasion that both tires are getting changed together, what better time? I also need to pull off the header for paint as well.

I also have an 1150 stator cover coming from Mick to replace the older style one that came with mine. This will give me good reason to inspect the
starter / stator side of things.