Motor Swap: 1150 into an 1100EZ

[CivilRock]

Sounds like you are very close on those carbs. Now what is not to like about a stock 1150 with RS38's, knowing 1229 is just standing in the wings.

I think what I need to do is cool my friggen jets.


So I just ordered a Series R/R and the SSPB from Jim, and I'm going to call it good for now. I still haven't received my 2003 GSXR handlebar controls, so I can't even go for a ride. I don't want to hack in what I have only to re-do it next week.

I know I talked about adding power next (1230cc, .340 cams, Porting) but I think I'm going to work on handling. I'd like to replace the stock GS shocks with some YSS units, or (gasp!) Ohlins, and see what I can do for the front end. I've got all these parts hacked together with no attention to proper geometry. I don't think the 190 rear helps at all. She handles well enough, but at big lean angles there's not much confidence.

I've always thought of this bike as a tribute to the muscle era of motorcycles. And in the vein, the handling was never great, but straight line (drag racing) elements were awesome. But why can't I have it all?

What I need to do is sit down and analyze my bike and figure out the real geometry. Then figure out what to do before I go and order new shocks. (next year)

Will update with pics/report once I have done the first test ride.

-kevin

[posplayr]

I think what I need to do is cool my friggen jets.


So I just ordered a Series R/R and the SSPB from Jim, and I'm going to call it good for now. I still haven't received my 2003 GSXR handlebar controls, so I can't even go for a ride. I don't want to hack in what I have only to re-do it next week.

I know I talked about adding power next (1230cc, .340 cams, Porting) but I think I'm going to work on handling. I'd like to replace the stock GS shocks with some YSS units, or (gasp!) Ohlins, and see what I can do for the front end. I've got all these parts hacked together with no attention to proper geometry. I don't think the 190 rear helps at all. She handles well enough, but at big lean angles there's not much confidence.

I've always thought of this bike as a tribute to the muscle era of motorcycles. And in the vein, the handling was never great, but straight line (drag racing) elements were awesome. But why can't I have it all?

What I need to do is sit down and analyze my bike and figure out the real geometry. Then figure out what to do before I go and order new shocks. (next year)

Will update with pics/report once I have done the first test ride.

-kevin

Kevin,

Thanks for the order, I'll ship tommorow.

I fully agree you need to get the bike sorted as is and be comfortable with it. More than likely the engine it is all you really need. I'm at 1166 and everything else except the RS carbs and there is plenty of pull regardless of what you want.

On suspension, look like the main thing to do is get some stiffer forks/brace. Those are still some spindly 37mm stanchions. If you want to stay RSU the 1st gen GSXR stuff is 41mm, but with your wheels and brakes you should go 2nd gen or more modern like Bandit emulator forks at 43mm (Look for John Kat's various posts on this topic)these have plenty of RSU length or do some USD like Nic, powder coated black.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=2004839&postcount=53

With rearsets:


If you stick with the bandit RSU you will not have any ground clearance issues as you might have with that V&H and USD forks. The ESD and Katana guys will uses a Honda top triple to buy back 1/2" but they are all doing clip ons.

Jim

[CivilRock]

I'm very much in love with the 1150 fender, and that pretty much has to go with the 1150 forks. I think I can make the fork legs work for what I need on the street. I'd like to see how I can improve the internals. If that means taking them to a suspension specialist or doing my own modifications.

On the rear, to be honest, I want some fancy reservoir shocks. I swear half the reason is just for the looks. Pitiful but true. I would throw some $100 replicas on there, but I can't bring myself to do it. YSS seems to be the best bang for the buck, but I've just started my obsessing about it. I do have a pretty extensive racing background, and I want something that's somewhat trick.

-Kevin

[posplayr]

I'm very much in love with the 1150 fender, and that pretty much has to go with the 1150 forks. I think I can make the fork legs work for what I need on the street. I'd like to see how I can improve the internals. If that means taking them to a suspension specialist or doing my own modifications.

On the rear, to be honest, I want some fancy reservoir shocks. I swear half the reason is just for the looks. Pitiful but true. I would throw some $100 replicas on there, but I can't bring myself to do it. YSS seems to be the best bang for the buck, but I've just started my obsessing about it. I do have a pretty extensive racing background, and I want something that's somewhat trick.

-Kevin

I think the fender mounts for the GS1150 are probably identical to the 1st gen forks which are 41mm (as I have). Updated springs, Race tech emulators and fork brace is what I have.

I have a ground clearance spreadsheet for GS1100EZ/ED which you can play games with options. It calculates belly ground clearance and trail. I'll shoot it to you.
Jim

[CivilRock]

Test ride.

I couldn't resist taking the bike out for a test ride and I temporarily wired in my handlebar controls to make everything work (kind of). I had a lot to be apprehensive about on this little test ride:
1. First off, if you read, I spilled 4 qts of new oil all over my garage floor. Some of that got on the wheels, and I did as best I could to get it off quickly.
2. It wasn't raining at the time of my ride, but the ground was fully wet.
3. My controls are sort of duct taped in place and while I was riding I realized that the throttle side was spinning on the bar.
4. It was 10pm, dark, and my bike was still smoking at stoplights.
5. I wasn't fully sure how the power delivery would come out.

So all that said, I didn't crash. But I was riding with a full plate. There are lots of little things wrong. For some reason my signals sometimes blink, sometimes they don't. My neutral light doesn't come on. The oil temp light is glowing, but the temps are in control. 150F at the oil cooler, 230-50F at the head, 230-250F at the block. It was about 42F out, so I don't think it was overheating. Maybe the Bandit 400 light is set to come on early?

The throttle seems sticky off idle, and there's also a serious bog in the needle jetting. All that was fine, and I can make it all work. Little bugs that I'll address as I finish all the wiring.

The bad news: Sometimes it went into 5th, sometimes it wasn't there. It goes into 5th in the garage with the rear off the ground, but on the road it's not there. I did get in in 5th a couple times, but I don't know how it happened. There's definitely something wrong. Yea, serious sad face.

-Kevin

[posplayr]

Sorry to hear.

[chef1366]

The fifth gear thing probably has to do with the linkage to the gear shifter.
Don't fret yet.

[CivilRock]

I sure hope you're right.

But that's the first thing I looked at. I do have a funky DIY reverse shift (GP Shift) set-up. But when I was attempting to go into 5th the lever was not binding or hitting anything and it was getting full travel. BTW, this somewhat janky setup lines up the linkage a lot better than it does with the stock ball/socket locations.

I don't have a good straight down picture, but the linkage is ever so slightly angled in toward the bike as it goes forward. Would that slight (outward) lateral pressure inhibit it from going into 5th?
EDIT: Sorry, with the GP shift, the linkage would be slightly pulling out on the shift shaft as it's asking for 5th gear.

[harley10]

Yeah that doesn't look right , linkage looks wrong should be down lower,like under shifter, Brian

[posplayr]

I sure hope you're right.

But that's the first thing I looked at. I do have a funky DIY reverse shift (GP Shift) set-up. But when I was attempting to go into 5th the lever was not binding or hitting anything and it was getting full travel. BTW, this somewhat janky setup lines up the linkage a lot better than it does with the stock ball/socket locations.

I don't have a good straight down picture, but the linkage is ever so slightly angled in toward the bike as it goes forward. Would that slight (outward) lateral pressure inhibit it from going into 5th?
EDIT: Sorry, with the GP shift, the linkage would be slightly pulling out on the shift shaft as it's asking for 5th gear.

I think you need to rotate the shifter and shorten the rod so that you get a 90 deg angle between the two.

You have great leverage down shifting (pulling the rod) but no wonder trouble upshifting as pushing the rod only goes so far at that angle.

See picture attached.

[CivilRock]

Jim I love your quick photo edits. That's awesome work. And a good eye.

I know not too many people use reverse shifting on a GS, but I need it. That's another story about massive MX ankle injury/surgery and my road race history with GP shift bikes. But with a reverse shift bike, the linkage is pulling on the shift rod as I'm pushing down on the lever as it asks for 5th gear.

You're right Jim, it should be 90 deg anyway. I will adjust the linkage and triple check everything with it. I called my builder buddy who inspected the motor for me and he said the shift drum looked just fine when he opened it up and it shifted into 5th on the bench fine.

I'll go back to regular shift if I have to. Or at least to calm myself down and make sure I don't need a tranny rebuild.

[dorkburger]

I'm very much in love with the 1150 fender, and that pretty much has to go with the 1150 forks. I think I can make the fork legs work for what I need on the street. I'd like to see how I can improve the internals. If that means taking them to a suspension specialist or doing my own modifications.

On the rear, to be honest, I want some fancy reservoir shocks. I swear half the reason is just for the looks. Pitiful but true. I would throw some $100 replicas on there, but I can't bring myself to do it. YSS seems to be the best bang for the buck, but I've just started my obsessing about it. I do have a pretty extensive racing background, and I want something that's somewhat trick.

-Kevin

I know little personally on the topic, but recall member HJ fisk recently saying that the knockoff piggyback shocks on his roadkill bike didnt work very well.

[Carter Turk]

Any chance you can run stock shift pattern for testing purposes? To rule out a problem with 5th?

[CivilRock]

I sat with the bike just now and fiddled with the shifter. Here's the problem: In between shifts the lever doesn't go back to the absolute middle so it can catch the next notch on the shift drum. When I was trying to get 5th if I lifted up on the lever just slightly, it would then grab the next gear. (remember, GP shift)

To me, this is a huge relief. Maybe the spring that centers the lever is bound?Maybe it just needs to get some hours on it. This motor was sitting for years, and the seller didn't know how long it was sitting. It was owned by a guy that had a collection of GS bikes and he lost a battle to cancer while this bike was in pieces waiting for a restoration.

I did adjust the linkage closer to 90 deg.

[rapidray]

Like was stated above! Put the linkage BACK to stock & see if the 5th gear problem goes away. If it does, the LINKAGE is your problem! I LOVE you guys that ask questions & then won't listen to experience!! Ray.