1980 gs1000g

[hjfisk]

I'm all about the easiest, cheapest way to get the bike back on the road.

My guy is an ex mechanic instructor for suzuki bikes and I am just getting my feet wet with this so I'm following his lead. He's the one who will be rebuilding and jetting the carbs and he's pretty confident he can get everything set up this way. He said he's a little rusty working on the GS bikes but watching him diagnose the problems it looks like he could probably rebuild them in his sleep

Your bike should have a set of 34 cv's on it, there were a few sets on e-bay pretty reasonable. You can run 32's on it but it wont have the off the line punch or the top end grunt that it should. I know this because I have been down this street with my 1000G. I did finbally find a set of 34's for mine . tuned properly you should have good bottom end and top end performance with decent fuel mileage to bootIntake ports are going to be different so it my be difficult to mate up a set of 26's vm .

[windcrow]

Hi BluePlate
I have the correct airbox for your bike, as I used to have an 80 1000g myself. The airbox didn't go with the bike when I sold it, so it's yours for the shipping if you want.
I'm also selling 4 sets of GS1100(e) carbs on ebay --the set that will work on your bike has the number 2 in the pictures, with #114 main jets--my seller ID is windcrow23

[BluePlateSpecial]

Thanks windcrow. I have to follow my mechanic's lead on this cause I don't have anyone else (that is reasonable distance) who can work on old bikes. Heading out of town next week so everything is going to be on hold for awhile but for some reason my guy decides to go with the factory setup I will get in touch with you.

Appreciate the reply, hjfisk and everyone else!

[BluePlateSpecial]

Just got back from vacation and I'm trying to get all of my parts in order so i can get this thing on the road.

Does anyone know the specs for the screws and washers that hold the cover on the front master cylinder? I can get OEM but I'd like to save a few $$ picking them up locally if possible.

Also, I need some new fork seals. Anything wrong with the $10 generic seals from ebay? Do I need anything other than the seals themselves?

I think I am going to keep the ugly headlight and pick up a viper cafe fairing. Saw a couple of black GS's & KZ's with the fairing and they look sweet. Any problems mounting one of these to what I am working with?

Thanks!

[850 Combat]

That looks like the headlight from a Windjammer IV. It probably just means that it had a Windjammer on it at some point. More often than not, Windjammer equipped bikes had the factory headlight bucket and headlight ears removed when the fairing was installed. I have removed about four Windjammers, and only one had the stock ears and bucket still there.

I am a fan of the 1000G. Nice comfy tourer for 70mph and under, especially, with stock bars. Af for the money, its probably cheaper to buy a decent runner than to fix up an unknown non-runner.

[BluePlateSpecial]

Af for the money, its probably cheaper to buy a decent runner than to fix up an unknown non-runner.

Unfortunately vintage bikes are pricey in FL. The only reason I pulled the trigger on this one not knowing whether or not it would run is because I got it for cheap, so worst case is if the engine was unrepairable it's still worth several times what I paid in parts. Hopefully I can get it running though. The more I read about it the more I think it's going to be a great bike.

[BluePlateSpecial]

Bumping to see if anyone has some suggestions. Questions in red-

Does anyone know the specs for the screws and washers that hold the cover on the front master cylinder? I can get OEM but I'd like to save a few $$ picking them up locally if possible.

Also, I need some new fork seals. Anything wrong with the $10 generic seals from ebay? Do I need anything other than the seals themselves?

I think I am going to keep the ugly headlight and pick up a viper cafe fairing. Saw a couple of black GS's & KZ's with the fairing and they look sweet. Any problems mounting one of these to what I am working with?

Thanks!

[Agemax]

Bumping to see if anyone has some suggestions. Questions in red-

i dont know the size of the screws you need but if you have an old one you could take it with you and get them to match it up.

as for fork seals, they should be OK, dont forget you will also need some fork oil..

[BluePlateSpecial]

i dont know the size of the screws you need but if you have an old one you could take it with you and get them to match it up.

as for fork seals, they should be OK, dont forget you will also need some fork oil..

Thanks. For some reason it is missing all 4 screws

[Agemax]

Thanks. For some reason it is missing all 4 screws

if the M/C is not all ready fitted and filled with brake fluid then take the M/C to the shop to match up the bolts.

just did a quick search for you. this ebay ad......

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-GN400-GS750-GS850-GS1000-80-81-Master-Cylinder-Reservoir-Rebuild-Kit-/310382673706?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item48443fbf2a

reveals the screws are 4 x 45mm

[Steel Toed Tank]

I went with Pyramid brand seals off ebay and while they still hold up well enough one started leaking a little after 3500 kms.

I'm getting OEM ones to replace these, not really happy with them.

[BluePlateSpecial]

Heh....I searched ebay, but only for the screws. Didn't even think the sizes might be listed in a rebuild kit.

I picked up the cheap fork seals. I don't ride much, but if I do have a problem I guess I'll fork out the cash for the OEM seals down the road.

Carbs arrived yesterday and look to be in good shape. Sending them over to my guy for cleaning/jetting/rebuild sometime in the next few days. Ordered all of the other parts as well so I should have most of what I need by next week.

[BluePlateSpecial]

UPDATE!

I think I might actually get to hear this thing run soon.

Replaced the leaky fork seals and stripped the nasty paint off the lower tubes. 12 hours of sanding and polishing and they are good to go. Swapped the front rim out for the tubeless rim on the parts bike and replaced the front tire. In the process of repainting and rebuilding all brake calipers and I am thinking about ordering some stainless steel brake lines.

It turns out the engine needs rings so we pulled the whole thing and replaced it with the one from my parts bike. That one tested good all the way around and leaks a lot less oil. Replaced the valve cover gasket and the propeller boot when we swapped the engines.

Just got my pods the other day and the rest of the brake parts should be here tomorrow. Special thanks to gsrick for loaning me some jets to help get the carbs dialed in. We are in the process of determining what parts are missing from the carbs and I need to pick up a battery but hopefully I'm done spending money.

Still have to sort out some hacked up wiring and the front master cylinder needs some attention but with any luck I think I might have this thing on the road by the end of next month.

What do you think about gold calipers? The bike is black and the emblems are gold, see pic at the beginning of this thread.

[BluePlateSpecial]

I have had this bike for almost a year now and the other day I was FINALLY able to hear it run. Still needs some tuning but it was nice to hear it crank up for a few minutes after all this time.

Special thanks to gsrick for lending me some jets and mario for assembling the carbs.

And now without further adieu, here is what I have been working on off and on for the past 10 months.....

Polished up the forks-


Ooops...missed trying to drill out a frozen screw-


No big deal cause it went through the outside AND I ended up swapping engines anyway-


Cleaning up the valve cover-


Pulled the engine from the parts bike-


1981 GS1000GL parts bike skeleton-


Picture of my "chickenhawk" and my buddy/mechanic Matt's bikes the day we swapped engines-


Two engines, the one that was in the bike is going to need rings, hence the swap-


Matt behind the beast just before we installed the new engine-


Parts bike frame completely stripped down-

[BluePlateSpecial]

Bike night! For some reason our vintage club attracts a lot of the newer triumphs and ducatis.....-


Looks like I need some new brake pistons-


Calipers all got a fresh coat of gold paint and the front got rebuild kits-


Just make sure you don't sit the newly painted calipers on a paper towel that is soaked with acetone-


Time to dress up the new helmet with some variegated gold flake-