Should i rebuild a 82 GS1100 engine?

[FlordiaMan]

Hi, i have a 1982 GS1100GLZ that runs fairly well at the moment. It has a valve end oil leak and a tachometer oil leak, but i almost have those fixed. But what i wanted to ask about was the integrity of the engine itself. I plan to do a decent amount of highway riding, as my GF lives 20 miles away and the only road to reach her town is a highway that everyone drives interstate speeds on. Should i tear down the whole top end of the engine and inspect everything? Or, if my compression is good, should i just leave it as is. I am an amateur mechanic, so im not too skilled but i know enough to hopefully not break anything, but would definitely love some advice and tips. Also, if i did do a rebuild, where would be some good places to find parts that might need replacing, and what are some things that i need to look out for as far as wear. Are there any specific problems that pop a lot that i could take care of early?

Again, all and any advice is much appreciated and thank you.

[Nessism]

It's not unusual for a GS engine like that to run up to 100k miles or even more if properly maintained. That last part is the catch since so few people take care of their vehicles. Things like a proper carb rebuild with new O-rings, keeping the valves adjusted, cables lubed, brake system cleaned out, SH775 R/R, fixing the charging system wiring, etc. I'd focus there.

[FlordiaMan]

It's not unusual for a GS engine like that to run up to 100k miles or even more if properly maintained. That last part is the catch since so few people take care of their vehicles. Things like a proper carb rebuild with new O-rings, keeping the valves adjusted, cables lubed, brake system cleaned out, SH775 R/R, fixing the charging system wiring, etc. I'd focus there.

Yea that was my main focus right now. Im already replacing the brake lines, rebuilding calipers, sorting out some of the electrical problems. Im just worried about having a rod blow out or a valve destroy itself. I was just worried because I was told the bike has sat for a while.

[rphillips]

You have a roller bearing crankshaft, should never have a rod problem, & check the valves & keep them within spec every 6 to 8K. Run 8 oz. of Sea Foam thru it for a couple of tanks of gas, especially if it's sat for a while, then every 4 or 5 tanks, run another dose thru it, just to keep carbs. from needing anything. And try to don't let it sit for too long, (couple of months) especially with ethanol in it. Hey, 20 mi. at interstate speed will just be getting it warmed up good. You should be good to go for a long time.

[LAB3]

If your compression numbers are good there's no reason to bother tearing things apart. As what's already been mentioned, get your rubber bits and charging system sorted out and ride it!

[Nessism]

Be sure to torque the head as mentioned in the manual. Very few people do this and it can lead to head/base gasket leaks. To torque the nuts you first need to loosen them until they break loose, then quickly reverse direction and tighten to the high end of the service manual spec. Basscliff has the manual for your bike if you don't have one already.