The finished "Road Clam" bike pics

[Atilla the Bunny]

Originally Posted by crag antler
Very nice.
Even with the silver motor :razz: ,just kidding.
You did a hell of a sweet job


I was gonna say that. It's not often that a silver motor looks 1/2 as good on the 1100E's. This one however looks about 3/4 as good as the black motors!!! :-P

I'd say 7/8 as good as the black. :-D And the sound, if the motor runs as well as the body looks, Geesh, I miss my GS!

Congratulations, that is a sweet bike!

[Mike_H]

absolutely Gorgous...BTW...Is the paint name Red Fire? Thats a stock Ford Dark Metallic Red, I'm thinking about using it on my bike. If it is, your bike sealed the deal.

[Road_Clam]

absolutely Gorgous...BTW...Is the paint name Red Fire? Thats a stock Ford Dark Metallic Red, I'm thinking about using it on my bike. If it is, your bike sealed the deal.

Mike,
I am not sure as to the exact name the paint is called. My friend Bruce (who restored my bodywork) of Paul's Auto Body in Salisbury ,MA explained he custom mixes almost all his own colors. He had a freshly painted '04 or 05 Ford Mustang Cobra in his shop, that I immediately fell in love with as far as the look a was trying to achieve with my GS. There was a 5" long crease in the tank, that Bruce was able to "spoon" and remove. I can't even tell it was there, I am totally impressed at how perfect the tank looks.

I was able to round up a few buddies, and a 12 pack, and ease my bike out of my basemment. (YES, I absolutely removed ALL the bodywork in case we dropped the bike somehow!!). Man It was WAY more challenging to ramp it UP the stairs, than it was to ramp it down. I had no problem getting it down, but I had a problem with the guages hitting the top of my bulkhead steel frame, so I ended up ratcheting down the front forks for clearence. My bike is in the bike shop as we speak to get the minor engine running issues panned out, as I simply don't want to deal with the crappy running engine anymore (I persanally screwed something up, as it ran good before I started my resto). We have a technician that is a true GS guru. The guys at the bike shop are absolutely amazed how well my bike turned out. (most of the tech's are in their late 30's so they all have affinities for early 80's muscle bikes). I am sooooo itching to ride this bike!!!!!!!!!! I'ts hard to believe I been restoring it for over 7 months.

[renobruce]

Nice job! Your hard work certainly paid off. Be proud! :-D

[jimcor]

I prefer the natural aluminum engine look to black, but I've seen plenty of black engine treatments that look great. It's just a question of what you leave aluminum or chrome that really makes a black engine look great, it's all in the details. JMHO. That "Road Clam" is a really pretty machine!

[crag antler]

Originally Posted by crag antler
Very nice.
Even with the silver motor :razz: ,just kidding.
You did a hell of a sweet job

I was gonna say that. It's not often that a silver motor looks 1/2 as good on the 1100E's. This one however looks about 3/4 as good as the black motors!!! :-P

Alright, another "Black motor man " to the rescue\\/

[Mike_H]

Well, I looked at the pics again, and I do believe I am going to steal your color!!! :-P Actually, I have been looking at a dark red for a while. I work for an automotive supplier, and we have a paint line. I have every OEM color at my, um, disposal. I keep coming back to Ford's Red Fire (Which is very close to the color of your bike). I wasn't able to tell what it would look like on a bike until I saw yours though. BTW, now that the bike is outside, how about some more pictures, with the sunlight on it?

[Road_Clam]

Well, I looked at the pics again, and I do believe I am going to steal your color!!! :-P Actually, I have been looking at a dark red for a while. I work for an automotive supplier, and we have a paint line. I have every OEM color at my, um, disposal. I keep coming back to Ford's Red Fire (Which is very close to the color of your bike). I wasn't able to tell what it would look like on a bike until I saw yours though. BTW, now that the bike is outside, how about some more pictures, with the sunlight on it?

Mike, if I could offer you a few tips, based upon my frustrating experiences, DO NOT TRY TO PURCHASE THE FACTORY SUZUKI DECALS! Suzuki has a vague, horse $hit decal p/n system that you have absolutely no idea what decal you are going to get. I thought I was ordering decals for my '82 GS1100EZ, and I got an "ORANGE" SUZUKI tank decal, and black outlined side panel decals that said "GS 1100ES" !!!! WTF !!!!???? I called a Suzuki parts analist, to try to get the proper p/n's , and the person was absolutely of NO help. I ended up contacting this decal company based out of Canada:

http://www.reproductiondecals.com/default_frameset.html?content.html~main

Got a complete set of decals for $40 shipped, and they were an EXACT match to my originals. I plan on taking some hi res sunlight pics ASAP. Right now my bike is in the shop for some final tweaking (Just another set of eyes, to possibly spot an issue I missed). I am going to submit a nice outdoor pic for consideration of "BOM". Good luck,
Rich

[ricardo]

WOW!!!!!!! Very nicely done

[crag antler]

I ended up contacting this decal company based out of Canada:

http://www.reproductiondecals.com/default_frameset.html?content.html~main

Got a complete set of decals for $40 shipped, and they were an EXACT match to my originals. I plan on taking some hi res sunlight pics ASAP. Right now my bike is in the shop for some final tweaking (Just another set of eyes, to possibly spot an issue I missed). I am going to submit a nice outdoor pic for consideration of "BOM". Good luck,
Rich

The best place to buy decals.
All honesty, your bike does look very nice

[KennyJ]

Very pretty!

I see from the pictures you still have the anti-dives hooked up. Your first upgrade should be to disable/ditch those horrid things and you braking should tighten up quite a bit.

Kenny

[Jethro]

Very pretty!

I see from the pictures you still have the anti-dives hooked up. Your first upgrade should be to disable/ditch those horrid things and you braking should tighten up quite a bit.

Kenny

Garbage! I love my anti-dive units. Don't believe the hype!

[Road_Clam]

I think the first thing I will try is simply a new front m/c piston. My front brakes feel so spongey, I bled those lines for HOURS, and they still suck. I am definately thinking braided lines......

[Rake78GS]

That is one SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeettttttttt looking bike!
You should definatly put that in some shows!

[JayH]

Mike, if I could offer you a few tips, based upon my frustrating experiences, DO NOT TRY TO PURCHASE THE FACTORY SUZUKI DECALS! Suzuki has a vague, horse $hit decal p/n system that you have absolutely no idea what decal you are going to get. I thought I was ordering decals for my '82 GS1100EZ, and I got an "ORANGE" SUZUKI tank decal, and black outlined side panel decals that said "GS 1100ES" !!!! WTF !!!!???? I called a Suzuki parts analist, to try to get the proper p/n's , and the person was absolutely of NO help.

SNIP

Good luck,
Rich

Do you have the stock Suzuki part #'s that you used for the order? More than likely the person either got the part off of another bike or the # you ordered was superceded.