Not quite as interchangeable as you think

[Headphase]

I am not a great one for paying attention to details, ok, and I tend to learn by my mistakes.

So here we go.

Rear shocks, careful. Some models have eyeholes top and bottom, some have eyeholes top and fork bit bottom.

Tanks
Have different fittings to fit to the frame

Sidepanels
Yes, you guessed, different fittings for L models to the rest

Grabrails
Have different fittings for different models

Front brakes
Earlier models have different fittings from later models

I have a great set of shocks that don't fit my bike, a great tank and sidepanels that don't fit my bike, a grabrail that doesnt fit my bike and a set of brand new front brake calipers that don't fit my bike.

Guess I'll be looking for a 2nd gs soon , to fit all these great parts to.


Not exactly technical, more an advisory to examine parts more closely, and don't assume that when a seller states it fits your bike that it will

:-D

[UncleMike]

Yeah, I did some of that with my first bike.

I've got some parts off of an '80 750 L that I sold a while back, including shocks and a side cover if you're interested. Probably more if I look hard.

[Headphase]

appreciate the offer, but I'm the wrong side of the atlantic for you

I have loads of bits now, frame and engine and I'd practically have a 2nd bike.

Got my eye on a gs1000 at the mo, trouble is I like the L models too much, so I gotta find an L one

[gsgeezer]

Watch out, especially if you buy online, that you have pics good enough to see if the shocks are eye to eye or eye to clevis. I almost bought the wrong pair the other day.
Of course they were advertised as "fitting a gs1000"!
Good luck with your resto!

[Headphase]

quite right, examine closely.

However, folk like me that don't pay attention would maybe not even think that rear shock mountings would change across models.

I am struggling a bit with why suzuki would change the front brake mounting positions tho, don't see that there was a need.

Anyway, I'm well on my way, just gotta get my fork legs sorted out (araldite for the win!) , new fork seals then I should get my roadworthiness cert (MoT we call it) and it's time to go show off what a real bike should look like

[bwringer]

Oh yeah, never trust a seller to have the slightest idea what fits what.

Suzuki stuff is a lot more interchangeable than you'd imagine, but very few parts are as universal as some people seem to think. There's a lot of confusion between the shafties and chain drive models, too. "GS1000" or "GS1100" doesn't tell you a lot.

[QuaiChangKane]

I think we've all been there before...


There have been several parts compatability threads, but I think we should start (and sticky) a running thread detailing which parts are NOT compatable between models & years. I think that running comprehensive threads showing both sides of parts interchangeability would be a great tool - especially for those of us with the 2:00 AM "Buy It Now" urge...:-D What do you guys think?

My direct experience? 1983 GS750S (and earlier) exhaust pipes will not fit a 1983 (and later) GS750ES. The length on the header downtubes is not long enough to clear the oil pan (although the exhaust ports are the same size at the head). However, the '84+ 750S pipes will fit, though, as the Katana engine was updated to the ES engine in 1984.

I bought a pipe from another GSer in Oz, tried (unsuccessfully!) to fit it, and ended up selling it to another GSer in the Netherlands... d'oh! At least I was only out a few bux in shipping. I was sooo bent about it - it was such a sweet pipe, and in perfect condition. At least another GSer got a good deal on a sweet pipe, though...

GS700 tank, side panels, and seat will not work on a 750E/ES separately, unless you plan on swapping over all pieces together. I've actually been thinking about using a 700 tail section on my 750, though - I like the minor changes to the fender contour.

Also - the GS1150 rear rotor will not fit on a 750E/ES - the rotor is too large and the offset doesn't match. I bought a rotor off of ebay that claimed it was an aftermarket semi-floater for the 750ES, but it turned out to be an OEM semi-floater from an 1150.:shock:


Now - does anyone know if the 37mm Racetech cartride emulators for the 1100E will work on 750ES forks? The forks are the same diameter, and visually almost identical. I finally made up my mind that I'm going to do everything I can to keep the 750ES as aesthetically correct as possible, so my plans for swapping out the wheels and suspension are out the door. I'd just swap out with 1100E forks, but the wheel diameter is different...


(hijack)

As an aside - are there any GS's that came with 41mm forks? I've got a sweet standard-style M. Toby steering damper I got as part of a lot for my VFR on eBay - the VFR is rock-steady and doesn't need a damper. I want to sell it, but would like to offer it to a GSer first. There's more sense of community (and common sense of parts finding futility!) here than on any other forum I frequent... It could actually be made to work on any forks, if you've got the skill to machine a new fork clamp.

(end hijack )


-Q!

[bwringer]

As an aside - are there any GS's that came with 41mm forks? I've got a sweet standard-style M. Toby steering damper I got as part of a lot for my VFR on eBay - the VFR is rock-steady and doesn't need a damper. I want to sell it, but would like to offer it to a GSer first. There's more sense of community (and common sense of parts finding futility!) here than on any other forum I frequent... It could actually be made to work on any forks, if you've got the skill to machine a new fork clamp.

(end hijack )


-Q!

Dennis Kirk sells 37mm (and many other sizes) fork clamps for steering dampers, lights, nose cannons, etc.

[psyguy]

hey, sorry to hear about your learning from mistakes, but thanks for posting, it was such a good laugh reading it !!!

[Headphase]

aye, my work here is done now

I reckon I'm gonna be trawling evilbay looking for a rolling chassis to put all these brilliant bits on, soon have a second gs on the go.

Next thing, I'm gonna hunt for a headlight, that should be funny.

[duaneage]

I have a nice headlight from a 1980 GS750L. I also have bunch of other parts from the same bike, PM me with your wants.

[Go Mifune]

Yeah, I did some of that with my first bike.

I've got some parts off of an '80 750 L that I sold a while back, including shocks and a side cover if you're interested. Probably more if I look hard.

Hey UM I need a side cover for my 750L. What do you have?