Why are you a traditionalist? Why not? Concering gs ofcourrse.

[rockhammer]

So why do you prefer a stock bike? Why do you prefer creating your own idea of a machine with the gs platform?

[tkent02]

I love well done customised bikes, cafes, flat trackers, choppers, to a lesser extent bobbers. Crappy ones done with with no skill, planning, or mechanical aptitude I don't care for at all. When a beautiful example of a bike I've been looking for for years (GS650E) gets turned into an unrideable piece of junk, it just annoys me.


If it was an L on the other hand, hack away.

[81gs450l]

i have my 1981 gs450l that i cut up because the chrome fenders, goofy bars, sissy bar, luggage rack, and highway pegs looked dumb on it and it was to heavy for a 450 i put it on a severe diet. my dad just gave me his 1983 gs750es that is all stock except a mr turbo kit. iplan on keeping it stock looking with the turbo because its unsuspected. i also like the look of the stock 750.i hope that in the next 6 months i can drive from colorado to california to pick it up

[1980GS1000E]

The idea for me is to keep it running smoothly and quietly. The stock components are the best choice for that. I do have a lower handlebar, the stock one is ridiculous.

[bonanzadave]

I put a header and pods on my old KZ650. It just never ran as smooth as it did stock.

[Tamara]

I've seen some pretty mods here but I plan on keeping mine stock. I just like how it looks the way it is.

[Gorminrider]

in a nutshell,
....it's perfectly legitimate for an artist to repaint on used canvas, as long as it's not the mona lisa.

[850 Combat]

A[[of my shaft drive GS bikes are used for long rides. I own them because they are cheap, reliable, comfortable tourers. Modifications that don't enhance those attributes are not appropriate for my purpose. Modifications that focus on style over function are silly. No machine I own is stock. None are compromised in the comfort, handling, safety, or functional areas by the modifications. Four of my bikes have rearsets, 5 have removable hard luggage, several have non stock bars. All have fenders, seats, and riding positions suitable for extended rides, even the RD400. I did cafe racers in the 70's.

I finished this in around '81.



A clean survivor should be preserved. Resurrect a heap and get it back on the road, and do what you will with it. We do get to laugh if we think its silly.

Do what you want with yours.

[chuck hahn]

Seeing that all my bikes are first year models (and some kinda on the rare side)...I will never alter them.

[Steel Toed Tank]

Mines a resurrected heap, it is going to be cheaper to buy another that is in better shape visually than it would be to make mine look stock again.

I always think everyone should be free to do what they want with what they have.

That being said I surprised myself with how ticked off I got when I seen someone hack up a very nice looking original T.

I agree nice clean originals should be kept that way, but I still think everyone should be free to do what they want with what they have.

[sedelen]

Mine are pretty much stock, only minor alterations to my GS1000, recessed levers, a earlier oil filter cover because it has a drain bolt, luggage racks because I don't like strapping stuff to the seats, case savers and an oil cooler because it came with it. Also cut away the stop for the light switch so I could turn it on and off. With my GS1100E I have the 140mph speedo and a rack. I consider these minor upgrades, and I've kept the parts to return them back to stock should I ever want to, or the next owner.
If these were in poorer condition I would've ventured out on my own with maybe a different paint scheme or otherwise modified them as I pleased, but they were good enough to keep them stock and I like 'em that way.
That way you or anyone else can use service manuals to work on them and parts are easily referenced.

[850 Combat]

Mine are pretty much stock, only minor alterations to my GS1000, recessed levers, a earlier oil filter cover because it has a drain bolt, luggage racks because I don't like strapping stuff to the seats, case savers and an oil cooler because it came with it. Also cut away the stop for the light switch so I could turn it on and off. With my GS1100E I have the 140mph speedo and a rack. I consider these minor upgrades, and I've kept the parts to return them back to stock should I ever want to, or the next owner.
If these were in poorer condition I would've ventured out on my own with maybe a different paint scheme or otherwise modified them as I pleased, but they were good enough to keep them stock and I like 'em that way.
That way you or anyone else can use service manuals to work on them and parts are easily referenced.

Those are all improvements

[81GS750]

I do love a preserved classic Suzuki GS and I do fall into the group of people on the forum who gets upset when someone posts a "custom" build and shows starting pictures of a decently preserved GS they plan to hack into bits.

With that said, I own 2 GSs that are "customized". The 81 750E was left to rot in a cow pasture and too far gone to resurrect, so it got the GSXR treatment. The 1100ES has period mods: 1150 head, cams, carbs, Akront wheels, it is being restored to it's former glory keeping the period mods.

[rockhammer]

These are all really interesting comments. When I first bought my 850 I was looking with the intention of chopping it. However when I found the one I am riding she was in such nice condition I could not do it. I am now going through her and make here as pretty as possible and mechanically sound based on all the information here. I do want to paint the tank to a solid color however also the side covers to match. I did change the bars and will be swapping out cables and brake lines for braided ss. I can understand the sentiment of not approving of a nice bike being chopped since these are not being made any longer and the rarity of them. But each human is free to do as they wish of course. I have not seen another gs on CL in southern California and it as been a month since I bought mine. Nice post people. Keep em coming.

[MAJikMARCer]

I dont like seeing any bike hacked into a steaming pile, but there are great examples of amazing custom GSs here. There are also some beautiful restored bikes too.

Personally I like the original look of the bikes. That's what drew me in the first place, so to dramatically change that defeats the purpose.

That being said, I don't think some basic updates are a problem, especially if the original part isn't available any more, such as exhausts.

Also paint isnt a problem for me. If someone (like me) wants to go with a non-original paint job, then I don't see a problem with it.

What it boils down to is how much love and appreciation for these bikes is to be had. Those who buy a GS to hack because it was cheap and that was their only motivation, probably isnt going to produce something we are going to like.