Short tale of how I ended up with my GS

[Maddevill]

So, back in 1982 I was working for a Yamaha dealer. I was in sales and parts.
Across the street was a Honda / Suzuki dealer. Well, in 1983 Suzuki came out with the Maroon GS750E.
I remember the first time I saw it. I was instantly smitten. The only other bike that had that effect on me was the
1986 VFR750. So, I did what came naturally to me....nothing. Bought a Seca Turbo.
Fast forward years and years, I now have a 1983 XL600R. Really rough. Runs like crap. Takes 25.4 kicks to start.
Some guy posts on craigslist ,I think, that he has a rough 83 GS in the required Maroon and is open for a trade. So I haul the XL out there, and after almost having a coronary, I proved to him it ran. He jump started the GS and it actually sounded pretty good. So we did a straight across trade. That was around 6 years ago. I'm finally just about ready to start tearing this thing down. Previously I had already pulled and stripped the front brake calipers. I've been collecting parts along the way. Got a cherry replacement tank in the correct color. 2 Tail cowls, and another front fairing along with tons of hard parts ill need.I'm really looking forward to the bike running again. Bonus is my wife likes it too.

Mad

[Rob S.]

Good luck, and welcome aboard. We like to see photos, though.

[trevor]

So, back in 1982 I was working for a Yamaha dealer. I was in sales and parts.
Across the street was a Honda / Suzuki dealer. Well, in 1983 Suzuki came out with the Maroon GS750E.
I remember the first time I saw it. I was instantly smitten. The only other bike that had that effect on me was the
1986 VFR750. So, I did what came naturally to me....nothing. Bought a Seca Turbo.
Fast forward years and years, I now have a 1983 XL600R. Really rough. Runs like crap. Takes 25.4 kicks to start.
Some guy posts on craigslist ,I think, that he has a rough 83 GS in the required Maroon and is open for a trade. So I haul the XL out there, and after almost having a coronary, I proved to him it ran. He jump started the GS and it actually sounded pretty good. So we did a straight across trade. That was around 6 years ago. I'm finally just about ready to start tearing this thing down. Previously I had already pulled and stripped the front brake calipers. I've been collecting parts along the way. Got a cherry replacement tank in the correct color. 2 Tail cowls, and another front fairing along with tons of hard parts ill need.I'm really looking forward to the bike running again. Bonus is my wife likes it too.

Mad

Welcome to the group. I have a story on my 83 gs750ed too. I bought one brand new when I was 18...sold it shortly after. Then summer of 2019 I started looking for one...found one in Seattle from an original owner. 17,000 miles.
Cheers

[GSXR7ED]

Hey Mad,

welcome to the site. Cool story...I’m gonna have too search for pics of your maroon 750 until you post pics. You have quite the adventure awaiting you!

Ed

****

[GS1150Pilot]

Wouldn't mind having that Honda you traded! Fun story!

[GSXR7ED]

Well, thanks Trevor!

Saves me having to search...also, I don’t always remember who has what bikes...except for Glen’s/DB and your Coolie.

Ed

****

[Maddevill]

Wow Trevor. Your bike is WAYYYYYYY cleaner than mine. I just drooled on my shirt. One day I'm hoping to have mine close to that condition.


Mad

[salty_monk]

I ended up with a 750ES by default once too...

[Maddevill]

While I'm here I'll tell you another tale. I ended up getting a 86 VFR750. Well I just can't leave things alone so I modified it a bit. I put upside down front end and rear wheel from a 1992 GSXR1100 on it. This gave me 17 inch wheels and now I had a 180-17 rear tire which looked world's better than the stock 130. I also had the motor bumped up to 837cc by a guy in Canada. To finish it off I put twin Carbon exhaust mufflers from a Ducati 900SS on it. I had to put a Fox shock on it with adjustable ride height to raise it to a proper height. It looked and worked great. But, due to the typical Honda melting Rectifier problems, it kept stranding me. Back then I didn't know how to fix it. Now I do. That's one bike I wish I kept.

IMG_20200510_161356.jpg

[Maddevill]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]62208[/ATTACH

Another picture

Mad

[Maddevill]

IMG_0421.jpg

Here's my 83. This is the"pretty" side

Mad

[dorkburger]

This may be of interest.

https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?244253-Drew-s-83-750e-project

[Maddevill]

Thanks dork, good information. Sorry the picture is sideways. Don't know why that one always comes out that way.
So, I was going to post a question about the anti dive ( I'm going to disable it) and decided to try the " Search" function....Wow ! Everything I could possibly want to know. Great feature.
I'm getting anxious to get to work on this thing. But still need to let my knee heal. Then I have to pull the carb on the KTM, then finish the Zuma. THEN the GS takes it's place on the lift and finally gets the loving care it so desperately needs. I'm looking forward to pestering you all about the project.

Mad

[Rob S.]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]62209[/ATTACH]

"What's behind us does not matter!"

[Maddevill]

It's funny. I was rummaging around in the Search looking at airbox threads. I discovered I already had an account and posted some youthful excited posts about removing my airbox. Looks like I have 2 accounts now. All the better to annoy you good folks.

Mad