can i convert a 8 valve to a 16 valve 1100

[82gs1100]

just woundering if i can put a 16 valve head on my 82 gs1100g
thanks

[Big Jay]

Four cylinder studs by the cam chain tunnel are in the wrong place.

Just use the complete 16 valve motor.

Jay

[Hap Call]

Four cylinder studs by the cam chain tunnel are in the wrong place.

Just use the complete 16 valve motor.

Jay

Jay, are you saying to use the top end of the 16V motor? The 11000G is a shaft drive and the 16V is chain drive as you know...can the top ends be switched?

Hap

[rgierer]

Can is the operative word here. It could be done and someone on this list will tell you how, but rest assured it is impractical and cost prohibitive. It is not a reasonable action to take.

[scotty]

Buy a machine shop or the suzuki factory.:-D

[Tarbash 27]

Why would you want to do this in the first place?

[Grandpa]

Why would you want to do this in the first place?

This happens all the time. People get an 850G or 1000G or 1100G, thinking, "Oh, boy, I got myself a liter (or almost liter) bike, so now I can keep up with the guys who have Wings, or Concours, or FJR's, or Beemers, sports tourers..."

Then they realize the 8-valve shafties don't have the power to keep up with the modern big boys. So, they want to turn the mildly tuned, reliable, easy-going 8-valver, whose heritage goes back 30+ years, into a hotter bike. So they think turning the 8-valve shaftie into a 16-valve chainy is the hot ticket.

Wrong. These guys should either live with the limitations of their "G" bikes, which are really bigger versions of the GS750's from 1976 -- or else get themselves more modern motorcycles.

I ride with a group of more modern bikes. Ordinarily my GK does well; it's on uphill mountain roads, however, that I must wind up the rpm's in order to keep up with the other guys. Even if I had the horsepower, the frame and brakes of my GK couldn't handle the power needed to keep up with a Gold Wing or an FJR or the old or new Concours.

We've had recent threads where this subject has been brought up. It's about guys who don't understand the nature of our 1970's bikes and wish they could turn them into something they can't be.

[voodoochikin04]

but turning them into a modded cafe racer is ok... right????...lol???

[Grandpa]

but turning them into a modded cafe racer is ok... right????...lol???

No. At least turning them into a modified cafe racer is more doable and cheaper than turning the "G" bikes into 16-valvers.

[Jethro]

Go the cheap route and just buy a brand new Yamaha FJR.

[Grandpa]

Go the cheap route and just buy a brand new Yamaha FJR.

Amen! Well said.

[dpep]

I think what everyone is saying, perhaps a little harshly, is that possible or not it isn't practical from a financial standpoint. If you just sell your bike and find yourself a decent deal on a 16 valver it will cost you a lot less money and save you a lot of time. Plus you wont have to worry about reliability and maintenance issues on a one-off machine.

[82gs1100]

Well i got some feedback on that 1. I know what I bought, a cruiser i can drive on the highway. I've never been in a Suzuki engine and just wanted to know if it was a bolt on to make the bike a little more fun. I wont bother changing motors (I like the shaft drive) I'll just add a Vince & Hines exhaust, jet kit and pods. How are pods in the rain? Do they make Cams for the 8valvers?

[jimcor]

Why don't you do yourself a favor first. Why not go ride the bike?
How many miles have you put on it?
What are you comparing this bike to, memories of a KZ550 you owned 10 years ago? Sorry, your memories are faster than your KZ was in reality.

PS it's not 'Vince' it's Vance.

[Grandpa]

Jimcor is right. Just ride it and forget about trying to mess up an otherwise perfectly good motorcycle. Keep it stock and it will take you places for years to come. Mess with it and you'll have reliability problems galore.

A V & H is OK, but only if the stock exhaust falls apart. Otherwise, keep the stock exhaust, airbox, etc.

Just ride the big shaftie, leave it be, don't mess with it, and enjoy it.