A Stubborn Dutchmans Dream

[Guest]

Here goes my attempt to document my first ever motorcycle journey, I'm not sure if I'll ever get this thing running. But I sure am gonna try. I'm sure I'll ask a lot of questions and advice. But if all goes well this will one day be a mostly stock GS650GL that will cruise again.

[StubbornDutchman]

It all started when I was young, going for a cruise on my uncle's Harley. Since then I've always wanted a bike. Fast forward to now. I'm 23, married, loving life, and spending way too much money on gas driving to work, I figured a solution could be to get a bike. So I started searching, I looked at Nighthawks, CB's, Vulcans, V-Stars, Boulevards, and GS's. Then on October 24th I swung by my parents house to say hello to my Ma and my brother dragged me out to the barn to check out his new find. A bike that he had unburied from the recesses of my neighbours barn covered in dust and dirt we found out it was a 1982 Suzuki GS650GL, He passed it over to me to decide the fate of this barn find.

[StubbornDutchman]

I pulled the VIN off of the front forks and went to our local Ministry of Transportation (DMV of Ontario) There I was told who the current owner was and I tried to contact him. With no success. So I went to town hall, swore an affidavit stating that the bike was given to my by my neighbour who also was not the owner. I brought the Affidavit to the MTO and they gave me ownership. I officially owned my first motorcycle on October 29th

[StubbornDutchman]

Still had no keys so after asking a bunch of questions on the forum here I found out how to go about getting keys for my bike. They are currently in the mail. on October 30 I trailered the bike over to my house and started a teardown to figure out what it needed. Turns out.... Quite a lot.... But i'm stubborn. I found evidence of a fire or extreme heat in the wiring harness right behind the filterbox. So I need to redo some of that wiring, I also discovered that a mouse had made his home in my filterbox, airbox, and into my carbs.

This is gonna take a TON of work. But i'm up for it. I've already cleaned out the airbox and filter box completely and I'm almost ready to nervously start a Carb rebuild. I just need to sell my old VW's to finance some of the needed parts for this bike.

[StubbornDutchman]

[StubbornDutchman]

Air box and filter box completely disassembled and cleaned


Reassembled nice and clean

[GelandeStrasse]

Sweet, cool Story and the bike looks in good original condition. Good luck with getting it up and running. You will need some patience, but keep the faith and you'll end up with a solid reliable machine.

[StubbornDutchman]

Sweet, cool Story and the bike looks in good original condition. Good luck with getting it up and running. You will need some patience, but keep the faith and you'll end up with a solid reliable machine.

Thanks. Everything seems to be accounted for except the side covers, battery tie down, and helmet lock. Also the glue on SUZUKI tag on the right side of the engine is missing. Hopefully I can source most or all of those parts. I'd love to keep this one as stock as I possibly can.

This is my first motorcycle ever, but certainly not my first rebuild project.

[Eli69]

i had the same bike, in about the same shape, maybe worse. after a little work (probably a year) it was a very reliable and fun ride. i did eventually sell it though.

here's a link to a pic just before i sold it. definitely worth it.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/146/gs850009.jpg/

[Eli69]

oops, almost the same. yours looks a year or two newer.

[eil]

Good luck, it's a lot of working bringing an old bike back to life. But it's also a heck of a lot of fun. Check out the link for my GS850GL road-worthiness project below if so inclined.

[StubbornDutchman]

Fantastic. I sold my old '81 VW Rabbit. Finally now I have the money to restore this bike to its former glory.

[StubbornDutchman]

Got the Carbs off the Bike this weekend. WOW!!! I hope I can save these. Time to disassemble and find me some carb dip. First I'll need some JIS screwdrivers and a set of O-rings.



I'm quite sure a mouse has been using these as his private bathroom for about 10 years now.

[StubbornDutchman]

Got me some chemicals today. A big tub of WD-40 to soak each carb in and a big tub of carb cleaner. I figure the carb cleaner is a good one cause its plastered in warning symbols and wrapped in plastic with heath warnings to leave the plastic on as much as possible. Also picked up a Dial Calliper, ordered my new O-rings from CycleOrings.com and a set of JIS Screwdrivers from RJRCoolTools. As soon as the parts come in I can get started.

[SVSooke]

You get this stuff?Vile smelling but it works.

It even looks vile.DO NOT USE IT INDOORS!!!!!

My 78 1000 carbs where varnished to immobility,the Klean-Flo made them good.