Author Topic: 1981 Suzuki GS 1100E (Read 3989 times)

Kelly E · « **on:** August 29, 2023, 04:09:05 PM »

Today I got Glen's 81' Suzuki GS 1100E for the $400 of work done on it so far. It had the petcock fail and dump gas into the crankcase. It still runs great but blows oil out of the head gasket at the cam chain tunnel in the front for sure. It still has the stock exhaust but it is dying now and it's missing the right side cover. I'll be fixing and keeping this one, it's got 16,680 miles on it.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2023, 05:56:19 PM »

I really like this generation of 1 liter air cooled Suzuki's, just all around good machines. Super easy to maintain as well as repair, could take a licking and keep on ticking. Ride 'em all day and not be a cripple when you're done. For that price how do you say no!!!!

Kelly E · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2023, 06:03:10 PM »

Quote from: Mark1976 on August 29, 2023, 05:56:19 PM

I really like this generation of 1 liter air cooled Suzuki's, just all around good machines. Super easy to maintain as well as repair, could take a licking and keep on ticking. Ride 'em all day and not be a cripple when you're done. For that price how do you say no!!!!

We now have two of them. We've got an 80' GS 1100E in silver.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2023, 07:25:20 AM »

Those things are beasts!
First bike I was ever on that actually scared me.

ekpent · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2023, 07:42:34 AM »

Those big Suzuki's are great bikes and a pleasure to ride.

Kelly E · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2023, 08:37:23 AM »

These original GS 1100E's are a pleasure to ride. The brakes are good enough, the handling is great and the power is awesome especially when you only weigh 125lbs.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2023, 01:20:54 PM »

Quote from: Kelly E on August 30, 2023, 08:37:23 AM

These original GS 1100E's are a pleasure to ride. The brakes are good enough, the handling is great and the power is awesome especially when you only weigh 125lbs.

And they look great too!

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2023, 01:43:47 PM »

Quote from: Kelly E on August 30, 2023, 08:37:23 AM

These original GS 1100E's are a pleasure to ride. The brakes are good enough, the handling is great and the power is awesome especially when you only weigh 125lbs.

power is great when you weigh 225lbs. also!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2023, 04:05:21 PM »

I like that they have gear driven primary drive,rather than chain.

Don R · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2023, 08:35:05 AM »

It's on my list of bikes to own after I thin this herd of cb750's.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2023, 01:05:09 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on August 30, 2023, 01:43:47 PM

Quote from: Kelly E on August 30, 2023, 08:37:23 AM
These original GS 1100E's are a pleasure to ride. The brakes are good enough, the handling is great and the power is awesome especially when you only weigh 125lbs.
power is great when you weigh 225lbs. also!

I can relate;I had an 82 & 83'.

Kaze · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2023, 08:29:47 PM »

I wonder what the E indicates. My 82' GS1100 looked nothing like this (even before I added the shark fin).
Mine looked more like a cruiser, and this is more like a fighter jet.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2023, 10:39:36 PM »

We're the E the 16 valve bikes and some lesser versions of the bike only 8 valve...seem to recall something like that...

Kelly E · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2023, 07:11:11 AM »

There was E and L versions of the GS 1100. The E is the standard style and the L is the cruiser version.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2023, 07:29:10 AM »

The GS1100E 16 valve engine has been the basis for many drag bikes,over the decades.

Kaze · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2023, 04:01:14 PM »

That's so many valves, it should be registered as a musical instrument.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2023, 04:15:44 PM »

Ferrari V12 has a ton of valves and every part is jacked up to about 5-10x normal car parts prices because of where it is coming from...

RAFster122s · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2023, 04:19:51 PM »

The GS1000 was an 8 valve motor design whereas the GS1100 was a 16 valve design...
That is my confusion...

smee · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2023, 06:18:30 AM »

Quote from: Kelly E on August 29, 2023, 04:09:05 PM

Today I got Glen's 81' Suzuki GS 1100E for the $400 of work done on it so far. It had the petcock fail and dump gas into the crankcase. It still runs great but blows oil out of the head gasket at the cam chain tunnel in the front for sure. It still has the stock exhaust but it is dying now and it's missing the right side cover. I'll be fixing and keeping this one, it's got 16,680 miles on it.

My last bike was a '77 GS550. Loved that bike. All stock with the luggage rack on the back. Never left me stranded. Sold it to buy my CB750.

Don R · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2023, 02:46:23 PM »

If there was one empty bike space in my shop I'd be looking for a gs1100e. They seem to be well priced right now.

Edit: got one!

Kelly E · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2023, 03:40:01 PM »

Quote from: Don R on October 02, 2023, 02:46:23 PM

If there was one empty bike space in my shop I'd be looking for a gs1100e. They seem to be well priced right now.

We've got the silver 80' GS 1100E set up really nice now. The 81' GS 1100E needs exhaust now so we'll put a Delkevik exhaust system on. The big question is even though we rebuilt the carbs 2k miles ago and they work fine do we copy the 80' GS and replace the carbs with a set of Mikuni RS36 carbs while we're at it?

Thanks to Lenio I have 2 o-rings coming that should be the source of the 81's oil leak. Hopefully the fix is pulling the cam cover, remove one head nut at a time to replace the o-rings. There's only 2 nuts with o-rings on them. Way better than having to pull off the cylinder head.

Kaze · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2023, 08:50:36 PM »

Has anyone ever seen a GS750 Police Special? Mine was a 77' and had California plates when I got it.

...and if I posted that before and forgot, I'm going to have a conniption fit.

Stev-o · « **Reply #22 on:** October 03, 2023, 07:43:37 AM »

Quote from: Kelly E on September 21, 2023, 07:11:11 AM

There was E and L versions of the GS 1100. The E is the standard style and the L is the cruiser version.

I believe the L version was shaft drive. My buddy inherited one a few years ago and offered it to me, I did not want it, would have taken it if it was the chain drive.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 03, 2023, 07:49:33 AM »

I've only had one shaft drive bike, 75 Gold Wing. Great bike.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2023, 08:52:13 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on October 03, 2023, 07:43:37 AM

Quote from: Kelly E on September 21, 2023, 07:11:11 AM
There was E and L versions of the GS 1100. The E is the standard style and the L is the cruiser version.

I believe the L version was shaft drive. My buddy inherited one a few years ago and offered it to me, I did not want it, would have taken it if it was the chain drive.

I think there is also a G...not sure what year that started

ok, G was available 82-84 and is shaft drive but really just an overbored 1000, does not have 4 valve head

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Author Topic: 1981 Suzuki GS 1100E (Read 3989 times)