Best Bang for the Buck?

[mmattockx]

Ditch the center stand.

It never came to me with one, just the side stand.

remove the right front rotor and install it on the rear(thinner/lighter).

I am going to lose some front end weight with salty_monk's twin pot brake upgrade, but I didn't know the front rotors were lighter than the rear. While I have it all apart being painted I will look at swapping that rotor to the back.


Mark

[isleoman]

Buy a late model Bandit.

Agree or a 01-05 FZ1.

Don't want to sound like Dr. Doom but.......
Those two options are the "best bang" for your buck. The FZ1s are selling for $3K down to $2K in excellent condition. 120 hp at rear wheel, modern suspension, radials, modern electronics/charging, great ergonomics, reliability and excellent two up sport tourer capability on the cheap.

When you buy a running working bike you know a lot more about condition than picking up used engines. You could easily spend tons of money and time, get the hot rod all buttoned up and find out you missed something and you have to go in again. Ask me how I know.

Not saying get rid of your good running 1100e just saying there are other options and you won't recover any of the extra time, money or effort you put into your bike, you'll likely de-value it. On the down side there are problems with owning multiple bikes, space limitations and insurance/reg being two of them.

Hot rodding 80s super bikes is fun, can be a passion, can be rewarding but is seldom a "good bang" for your buck when measuring total performance at the end of your funding outlay.

As I get older my personal time becomes more and more valuable. I like to spend my free time riding. Don't mind wrenching and maintenance, but my ultimate goal is miles in the saddle.

Whats your time worth?

What's a season of down time worth to you while your searching parts and building?

If you want to really get depressed calculate how many weekends and vacation days you have left before your 75 years old. Now eliminate all the time off where you had to do something you didn't want to do or it rained or it was snowing. Your "good life" is just about over.......... I can't believe I just wasted 10 minutes writing this all down. Where's my helmet........

[GS1150Pilot]

FZ1 is a nice bike (had an '03 for seven years) but has little character. Rather than keep suggesting he get a different bike, we should answer his questions.

[mmattockx]

Not saying get rid of your good running 1100e just saying there are other options and you won't recover any of the extra time, money or effort you put into your bike, you'll likely de-value it. On the down side there are problems with owning multiple bikes, space limitations and insurance/reg being two of them.

All fair points, but not an issue in this case. I have 4 bikes in my garage at the moment, insurance is relatively cheap and I don't plan to ever sell the 1100E, so value one way or the other isn't something I am worried about.

Hot rodding 80s super bikes is fun, can be a passion, can be rewarding but is seldom a "good bang" for your buck when measuring total performance at the end of your funding outlay.

As I get older my personal time becomes more and more valuable. I like to spend my free time riding. Don't mind wrenching and maintenance, but my ultimate goal is miles in the saddle.

Whats your time worth?

What's a season of down time worth to you while your searching parts and building?

I live in Canada so I have months of good wrenching time every winter. I agree that time is always short but I like tinkering on old bikes and find working on them almost as much fun as riding them. If I want to go ride I start my GSXR1000 and go for a ride. If this was my only bike then I agree with you 100%, but it is a toy that isn't my only transportation.

If you want to really get depressed calculate how many weekends and vacation days you have left before your 75 years old. Now eliminate all the time off where you had to do something you didn't want to do or it rained or it was snowing. Your "good life" is just about over.......... I can't believe I just wasted 10 minutes writing this all down. Where's my helmet........

I know exactly what you are talking about, I find that I get about 2-3 good free weekends every summer at most. Truly free time is an extremely rare commodity these days. Have a good ride.


Mark

[CivilRock]

Mark,
I had the same exact bike, with V&H street pipe and dreams of adding power.

I read/posted 10,000 questions here and came to the conclusion that in order to add power to the 82 1100, you first have to spend about $1500 preparing the engine to add the power. The unwelded crank can twist, and the clutch basket can fail.

After looking over all my options, I decided to wait around for an 1150 motor to show. I started looking in September 2013 and found one February 2014. I got it for $700 and sold my 1100 for $600. The seller didn't know the history as it was in a box that came from a collection of a guy that lost a battle to cancer. They did know it had 6,600 miles and had good compression, but it had been sitting for years 5-6? and had no oil in it. What I'm trying to say it that it was a gamble, and $700 is low. If someone knows what they have, a good proven running engine should be in the $1500 range.

Even at $1500, it's a better deal than building up the 1100. And you get your 124hp just by bolting in the engine.

I literally did the engine swap in one day. With the money I saved, I then bought RS38s and a Dyna 2000 ignition.

Now I have more HP, and a great platform to add power. 1230cc, cams, and porting are down the road with the goal of about 155 HP in the end.

-Kevin

[CivilRock]

Here's a post I put up when I got inspired after a day at the strip. It's many posts, but I think you'll get the same answers here from the same people. All good answers and options.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=212799

Oh, and I get immense enjoyment from tinkering with my bikes. It's my reward at night after the kid goes to bed. I love the whole experience. I don't get to ride as much, but one night at the drags gives me enough stuff to think about for 6 months.

-Kevin

[Rob S.]

Mark,...
better deal than building up the 1100. And you get your 124hp just by bolting in the engine.
-Kevin

Are you saying a stock GS1150 (1135cc) engine in a GS1100EZ produces 124 rear wheel horsepower?

[GS1150Pilot]

He's saying it is rated at 124, at the crank.

[CivilRock]

Are you saying a stock GS1150 (1135cc) engine in a GS1100EZ produces 124 rear wheel horsepower?

Honestly, I don't know. I just know it's more.

I've seen stock numbers for 1100 motors from 95 to 111 HP.

And I've seen stock numbers for the 1150 from 109 to 124 HP.

Different dynos, different machines, different magazines, different countries, etc.

But I think with a pipe, an 1150 motor, and bigger carbs, 124 is reasonable.

Are you going to make me go to a Dyno?

[Rob S.]

Are you going to make me go to a Dyno?

You don't own one?

Is your 1150 stock?

[CivilRock]

You don't own one?

Is your 1150 stock?

I own the "seat of the pants" dyno with a "grin factor" readout. It gets pinned at 124hp every time I use it.


Fresh air passes though: K&N pods, RS38 Mikunis, a Stock 1150, and out a V&H Street Megaphone.

[GS1150Pilot]

Stock 1150 made 101 rwhp.

[posplayr]

Honestly, I don't know. I just know it's more.

I've seen stock numbers for 1100 motors from 95 to 111 HP.

And I've seen stock numbers for the 1150 from 109 to 124 HP.

Different dynos, different machines, different magazines, different countries, etc.

But I think with a pipe, an 1150 motor, and bigger carbs, 124 is reasonable.

Are you going to make me go to a Dyno?

Figure 15% difference between between RWhp and Crank Hp, that brings the range down quite a bit as there is a cluster at about 94 (Rwhp) and 108 (Crank) and of course the black ones are faster for the 1100's

[rapidray]

Actually, the parasitic losses are more like 18%. Friction, drag & all that fun stuff.
Ray.

[posplayr]

Actually, the parasitic losses are more like 18%. Friction, drag & all that fun stuff.
Ray.

Actually Ray, I think you must have forgotten this.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=169468