1977 GS 750 project

[Charlie G]

Will an 81 gs750 be a good parts bike for my '77?

The motors are different. 77 is a 2 valve motor and the 81 is a 4 valve motor. Forks are different as well as body parts. I like the 77 better.

cg

[shryke300]

now... quick question: I need three more items before this beast is on the road:

1. Brake lines - I want stainless, though I don't really feel like doing them myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for brand? Any thing to look out for? On the rear line, should I get rid of the hard tube on the swing arm, or leave it?
2. New front wheel or wheels- the front rim is bent, I have old spoke wheels. Any thoughts on the best course of action? Buy used, get new parts, buy cast wheels? Will the cast wheels work on my '77?
3. New gauges I am looking at these:

https://www.moto-madness.com/vintage-speedos-tachs-c-745_812/25-chrome-mini-tach-14-ratio-black-face-p-1463.html

https://www.moto-madness.com/vintage-speedos-tachs-c-745_812/25-chrome-mini-speedo-224060-ratio-black-face-p-1569.html

or the emgo's at jc whitney or the mini tachs at dime city cycles. Has anyone used these? How well do they last?



Thank you in advance for the help! i know i promised pictures, but I got involved in a major repair in the kitchen and have been a little busy... :P

[shryke300]

??????? Is Hel a good brake line company?

[gsrick]

now... quick question: I need three more items before this beast is on the road:

1. Brake lines - I want stainless, though I don't really feel like doing them myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for brand? Any thing to look out for? On the rear line, should I get rid of the hard tube on the swing arm, or leave it?
2. New front wheel or wheels- the front rim is bent, I have old spoke wheels. Any thoughts on the best course of action? Buy used, get new parts, buy cast wheels? Will the cast wheels work on my '77?
3. New gauges I am looking at these:

https://www.moto-madness.com/vintage-speedos-tachs-c-745_812/25-chrome-mini-tach-14-ratio-black-face-p-1463.html

https://www.moto-madness.com/vintage-speedos-tachs-c-745_812/25-chrome-mini-speedo-224060-ratio-black-face-p-1569.html

or the emgo's at jc whitney or the mini tachs at dime city cycles. Has anyone used these? How well do they last?



Thank you in advance for the help! i know i promised pictures, but I got involved in a major repair in the kitchen and have been a little busy... :P

Duel disks or single? I've got some mags that we can work out a trade deal, I might have other parts you might need. Send me some photos of your wheels, I'm just north of Orlando.

[HighCountryGS]

now... quick question: I need three more items before this beast is on the road:

1. Brake lines - I want stainless, though I don't really feel like doing them myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for brand? Any thing to look out for? On the rear line, should I get rid of the hard tube on the swing arm, or leave it?
2. New front wheel or wheels- the front rim is bent, I have old spoke wheels. Any thoughts on the best course of action? Buy used, get new parts, buy cast wheels? Will the cast wheels work on my '77?
3. New gauges I am looking at these:

https://www.moto-madness.com/vintage-speedos-tachs-c-745_812/25-chrome-mini-tach-14-ratio-black-face-p-1463.html

https://www.moto-madness.com/vintage-speedos-tachs-c-745_812/25-chrome-mini-speedo-224060-ratio-black-face-p-1569.html

or the emgo's at jc whitney or the mini tachs at dime city cycles. Has anyone used these? How well do they last?



Thank you in advance for the help! i know i promised pictures, but I got involved in a major repair in the kitchen and have been a little busy... :P

1. I replaced all of my lines with Goodridge brand lines and got them from Z1Enterprises. I would highly recommend them. I removed the hardline on my '77 and it has been fine. I like the one piece line myself.

3. I have those gauges on my bike. I replaced the bulb on them with an LED bulb and I really like them. Not sure on how long they last. I have heard mixed reviews. Guess I will find out.

[JW-GS750E]

When I refurbished my 81 GS750E I got all my stainless brake lines, fittings and seals from Z1. Good stuff at a fair price.

[shryke300]

ok, THanks for all the great replies! @gsrick, I was talking to one of my friends and he suggested a guy named Lesnett in Lakeland. I think Im going to try and take the wheel by in the next week or two and see what he suggests. If he can't fix it, I may hit you up to see if you want that trade! Here is the pic of the front wheel:

[shryke300]

Quick thought.. any reason to keep the two brake line setup (w/ the "transfer block?") in the front, or go with a single line setup?

[eil]

Quick thought.. any reason to keep the two brake line setup (w/ the "transfer block?") in the front, or go with a single line setup?

Consensus seems to be: eliminating the transfer block should be fine. Lots of people here have gone from a three-line setup (with two discs up front) to a two-line setup with no ill effects, so I can't see why going from a two-line to a one-line would cause any harm.

[shryke300]

One more "one more question" ;P... Is it a simple swap to go from a single disk front to a dual disk front?

[shryke300]

Ok, I'm going with the mag wheels. Are they direct fit for my bike? Anything I should be looking for? Will I need anything special?

[althomas101]

I'd like to know the mag wheel interchange info as well. I'd suspect they would fit though you would need a new fork leg so you have caliper mounts on both sides.

[Big T]

The mag wheels are a direct bolt on

You'll need the dual disc fork lowers as they are different from the single disc

Plus, two front rotors as they are smaller than the single rotor

[althomas101]

Are all the mag wheels identical other than some front wheels are single caliper? Are all rear wheels identical? The mag wheels were used on a lot of different sized bikes, I would think that the rim sizes would be different on the smaller bikes.

[shryke300]

ok, new update... with pics!!! I met gsrick and traded with him (got some great advice about the bike as well!) I have now installed the new wheels and added the stainless brake lines. To bleed them I used a one way pressure valve in the middle of the tubing I used. It worked great for one man bleeding! I do have a few oil leaks: at the kickstarter, on the front at the seam at the bottom of the top half of the jugs, and at the tachometer. The front suspension dives much more than my liking (new shocks are now a must) the front wheel rides a little bumpy(havent figured this one out yet.. maybe a flat spot from sitting so long?), there is blue smoke coming out of hte right pipe (all the compression is good, maybe just old rings, and a little blow-by?) and the carbs DEFINITELY need adjusting... but other than that, the motor seemed to run smooth and it was sssoooooo nice to ride again, even if it was just up and down my neighborhood street.