GS 1000 engine in GSXR 1100 first gen frame?

[Buffalo Bill]

Looks like you're neglecting some maintenance on the patio, me too.
Busy?

[John Kat]

Looks like you're neglecting some maintenance on the patio, me too.
Busy?

Gardening is not one of my strongest skills...

[ShadowFocus603]

Any particular reason you went with the fiberglass fairings rather than the stock plastics? Just curious. I'm guessing weight or easier to fit the fiberglass parts.

[Buffalo Bill]

I like seeing your bracket job, looks good.
I'm looking at a Ducati 900SS fairing on my 1100G, but I'll have to make me own brackets too.
Bummer is, I lose my favorite mirrors. Just for that reason, I'm stuck between the Ducati half fairing and a Cooley bucket fairing.

[John Kat]

Any particular reason you went with the fiberglass fairings rather than the stock plastics? Just curious. I'm guessing weight or easier to fit the fiberglass parts.

The reason is simple: I didn't want the bike to look like a GSXR.
The idea was to build a copy of the XR 41 racing bike of the 80's.
The XR 41 with it's aluminum frame was the basis of the future GSXR 750 that came out in 1985.

[John Kat]

I like seeing your bracket job, looks good.
I'm looking at a Ducati 900SS fairing on my 1100G, but I'll have to make me own brackets too.
Bummer is, I lose my favorite mirrors. Just for that reason, I'm stuck between the Ducati half fairing and a Cooley bucket fairing.

I don't know if the Ducati half fairing is attached to the frame or not but be aware that the Cooley fairing detracts from the front end feel of the bike.

[Buffalo Bill]

Thanks for the Cooley info, there seems to be several issues inherent to quarter fairings. The factories dropped them inside 3 years, in favor of frame mounted fairings.
I think I read Wes Cooley did not the Cooley fairing on his race bike, said to give it a wobble at high speed.

[John Kat]

First ride with my XR 41 Replica
I went out for my very first ride today.
It should have been yesterday but the GSXR 1100 K wiring harness has a fail safe item that shuts the engine off if yo take it off the side stand.
As I don't have a switch on the side stand and as the engine started easily, I thought I could have driven off with no issue.
In fact the engine is allowed to start as long as the gears are in neutral.
To get it to work quickly, I just shorted the neutral indicator to ground.
Now to the ride!
The very pleasant surprise was that the bike goes as straight as an arrow despite the fact the frame was not assembled on a jig.
This means that if one starts with a good frame the precision extension rails will keep the geometry intact.
The ride can be qualified as firm with the GSXR suspension components.
The platform seems very stable due to the trail induced by the front 18" wheel.
The position on the bike is sporty but not as extreme as an 1100 Katana.
Still many details to sort out but the XR 41 Replica is well born

[steve murdoch]

After all your hard work i bet that ride felt fantastic.
Nice work, John.

[John Kat]

After all your hard work i bet that ride felt fantastic.
Nice work, John.

Thanks Steve!
It felt a little unreal for sure.

[dorkburger]

I got a big smile from reading this and seeing pics of the bike out. Well done and congrats.

[Buffalo Bill]

What Dorkberger said!!!

It looks good!

[pete]

Great stuff, glad to see you got your first ride in!!

Have you got a front on shot? Interested to see how those lights turned out for you.

[John Kat]

Great stuff, glad to see you got your first ride in!!

Have you got a front on shot? Interested to see how those lights turned out for you.

Thanks!
I'm not too happy with the front view but on the other hand the fairing still needs to be painted.
The lights should be integrated with the graphics?
The fairing could also be lowered by approximately 20 mm?

[Buffalo Bill]

Thanks!
I'm not too happy with the front view but on the other hand the fairing still needs to be painted.
The lights should be integrated with the graphics?
The fairing could also be lowered by approximately 20 mm?

1st q: The graphics should hide the headlights, make it like a period race bike maybe duplicate a period bike you like without all the sponsor stickers.
You may have to use a black stripe/band to hide the headlights.
Don't even think about painting frog eyes around them, puke! Egyptian eyes? too weird but maybe you like weird.
2nd q: The lower lip is kinda high, but don't worry about it. The windscreen height is just right for the period of endurance racing and damn good for strong headwinds.