A Skunk Followed Me Home

[Guest]

Hi to all, I have finally gone and picked up the skunk I have been waiting for for the last 3 years. Story starts with a friend of a friend who picked up this bike 3 years ago thinking it was going to be a quick rebuild (get back on the road) project and realiezed he got ripped off. Through the grapevine I learned he had it and started talking to him about it. He started taking it appart found out it was going to be way more than he barganed for, so a deal was struck and $100 later I was the prowd owner of a 1978 GS1000C. Because I live 250 miles away it has been sitting in his garage for the last 2.5 years buried under blankets and kids stuff. Well he called me a few weeks ago and told me he was moving and I needed to get the bike. Luckily I am on vacation now so I finally had time to make the 9.5hr round trip and a little more for some socalizing when I was down there. I sold him one of my Yamaha Radians for his wife so it was nice to see that bike again and take it for a short ride. Runs just like the day I rode it down there. In the mean time I also picked up a 79GS1000 with 45000 miles for parts but it runs. The 78 has a kinda stuck motor. It turns but wont go all the way around so I am assuming from looking down the intake on #1 there is rust stopping the piston. Its to bad as the 78 engine only has 9300 miles on it. So my plan is to put the 79 engine in the frame to get it going and rebuild the top end of the 78 then swap them over. I am also thinking of putting the dual disk front end from the 79 on the 78 hub. Not sure if its threaded on the fight side for a disk but will find out soon.

Here is the bike as it sits now









The guy who owned this bike still has the really fancy 70's sissy bar if anyone wants it. I am sure hed love to get rid of it. I didnt take it as this bike is going back to stock. Ill get him to send me a picture of it.

[phydeauxmutt]

Might indeed be a '78, but I thought the "Skunk" was specifically the "E" model which would have come with dual disks?

[chuck hahn]

"Skunk" was in reference to the black tank and white stripe..which was indicative of the E model. I will PM the original poster some info to help speed up his build.

[dorkburger]

Good luck with the project.

[bomber737]

Thanks. The previous owner pulled the sissy bar off the bike I did not want it so on the scrap pile it went. I got thinking that someone on here might like a piece of totally 70's bling on their bike. So I told the P.O. not to scrap it yet. If anyone on the site would like it he is willing to give it to you for the cost of shipping it to you. Here is a picture of it.

It came off my 78 so I am not sure what other years it may fit.