Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e happy Suzuki.

[Don R]

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOabBJB6iOBqy_dwuUh_i1ZlxGn5Os671sHeIkU

[grcamna2]

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOabBJB6iOBqy_dwuUh_i1ZlxGn5Os671sHeIkU

Don,my computer won't load this;error code 404.

[Don R]

 I think it's a google thing. Anyway, it's this picture except I start it and let it idle. The clearcoat on the forks has yellowed and make them appear gold.

[grcamna2]

I think it's a google thing. Anyway, it's this picture except I start it and let it idle. The clearcoat on the forks has yellowed and make them appear gold.

Yeah 
I hope you have someone take a video of you smoking the rear tire 

[Kelly E]

Nice job getting it running.

I soak the fork lowers in a tall skinny jar of brake fluid while I have them apart. It turns the clear coat to goo, then I wipe it off with an old toothbrush dipping it in brake cleaner. Saves a ton of sanding. To refinish I start at 320g and then 400g but only sand around the lower never the long way. It will look close to factory and is easy to touch up.

[seanbarney41]

Wow!  Big change of forks between '81 and '82.  Leading axle is gone in '82 and black coated lowers with anti-dive, adjustable compression damping, 3 position pre-load and air assist

[seanbarney41]

Looks like '81 is the same features just without the anti-dive and with the leading axle

[Leino]

Wow!  Big change of forks between '81 and '82.  Leading axle is gone in '82 and black coated lowers with anti-dive, adjustable compression damping, 3 position pre-load and air assist

Big change of a lot of things between 81 and 82 

[Leino]

I have an early model head (80/81) if anyone needs a spare, not sure if I have the valve cover for it but I can look.

[Don R]

  It's 32*F here, I scouted a couple of dry streets and the city hasn't needed to salt yet. So, I took it for a spin. I could have warmed it up longer, I did a half mile or so before revving it much, it broke up a little over 5K rpm but improved as it warmed up. The last stretch of dry street saw 7K and it was clean then. Maybe it's not jetted for this air, and like Hondaman says, the valves and seats might need to break in a little after an extended rest.
  As expected, it out pulls my 836 by a fair margin.
  Now for a set of fresh tires. I have to give these old Dunlops credit for no dry rot, they're at least 25 years old.
 How many days until riding season?

https://motoloot.com/products/suzu-key-motorcycle-keychain

[grcamna2]

  It's 32*F here, I scouted a couple of dry streets and the city hasn't needed to salt yet. So, I took it for a spin. I could have warmed it up longer, I did a half mile or so before revving it much, it broke up a little over 5K rpm but improved as it warmed up. The last stretch of dry street saw 7K and it was clean then. Maybe it's not jetted for this air, and like Hondaman says, the valves and seats might need to break in a little after an extended rest.
  As expected, it out pulls my 836 by a fair margin.
  Now for a set of fresh tires. I have to give these old Dunlops credit for no dry rot, they're at least 25 years old.
 How many days until riding season?

https://motoloot.com/products/suzu-key-motorcycle-keychain

What filters are you running in this cold ?

[Don R]

 I just pulled the pods off of the Rat Race 836 and used them I think they are Emgo, just mesh with a fabric in between. The K&N's that were on it are toast and they don't make them any more. I tried to soften the rubber in my magic rubber solution (wintergreen oil) and the ultrasonic cleaner but still couldn't get them back on.
 There aren't many good pod filters in the 44/45mm size, same size as the Honda keyhole carbs.  I'm finding some at APE, I'm not sure what type they are, ebay has a lot of china products, either the Emgo ones or there are some foam oval ones. Mine are baffled on the inside to try and straighten out the flow.

[grcamna2]

I just pulled the pods off of the Rat Race 836 and used them I think they are Emgo, just mesh with a fabric in between. The K&N's that were on it are toast and they don't make them any more. I tried to soften the rubber in my magic rubber solution (wintergreen oil) and the ultrasonic cleaner but still couldn't get them back on.
 There aren't many good pod filters in the 44/45mm size, same size as the Honda keyhole carbs.  I'm finding some at APE, I'm not sure what type they are, ebay has a lot of china products, either the Emgo ones or there are some foam oval ones. Mine are baffled on the inside to try and straighten out the flow.

I've got a very good used set of 51/52mm K&N oval pods,I removed them from my 83' GS750ES because I don't like pods. I went back to the stock airbox w/ K&N filter:better mid-range response.

[seanbarney41]

Don, I am running the APE pods on my kz1000 with vm29's and they are a fine product, especially for the cost

[Don R]

Don, I am running the APE pods on my kz1000 with vm29's and they are a fine product, especially for the cost

I assumed as much but it's good to hear from someone that has a set. Thanks. I have a sweet set of velocity stacks but after dragster racing at a couple sandy drag strips, I quit using those.

[Don R]

 I checked the bike today and the floor under it is dry and clean. Finally, L0L! It's difficult to get off of it and not reach for the petcock, the old Hondas have me well trained.

[Kelly E]

I checked the bike today and the floor under it is dry and clean. Finally, L0L! It's difficult to get off of it and not reach for the petcock, the old Hondas have me well trained.

Nice job buddy 

I'm still waiting for testing weather. By the end of the week we'll be down into the teens with big winds. Maybe I'll have to get one of those Snow Bike kits for the GS. 

[Don R]

 We got big snow and road salt, so I'm parked too. It's unusual for me to be satisfied this soon with a project. I do still need tires.
  I had a volt meter on the elderly battery yesterday it didn't occur to me to start it and check the charging voltage. The battery was freshly charged and showed 13 volts, I turned the lights on for a minute and it went down to 12.6. I'll call it good.

[Don R]

 I've been online tire shopping, the Bridgestone BT46 and Michelin road classics are about the same price. J&P Cycles isn't far from here, so I'll likely order from them.

 Edit: the Dennis Kirk web site is easier to use for tires I'm leaning towards the BT46, Bridgestone came on them and are about $100 less than most others.
  Jegs has the K&N oval black rubber air pods (KN RU2450) for about $150 delivered and Summit has the chrome ones (KN RC2454)for $180 with my discount. I guess they do still make them, just $$. I have no idea why these parts are so difficult to find, the search engines suck.

[grcamna2]

Don,I hope you get it all nice,then leave the rear tire on,to do for last:burn it up w/ a smoke show in 2nd gear before replacing it   
The neighbors may think something's on fire     You could tell them the throttle jambed-up 

[Don R]

 Last night I was doing the biggest smoky burnout ever, and then I woke up. I checked the temp and it's 16*below zero F. I pulled up the covers and went back to sleep.

[grcamna2]

Last night I was doing the biggest smoky burnout ever, and then I woke up. I checked the temp and it's 16*below zero F. I pulled up the covers and went back to sleep.

I see. 

[ekpent]

Last night I was doing the biggest smoky burnout ever, and then I woke up. I checked the temp and it's 16*below zero F. I pulled up the covers and went back to sleep.

Heat wave here at my place in Michigan. only -5 F on the thermometer. !

[Don R]

 The heat wave moved my way, it is also -5* here this morning. I have a Honda sleeve to re-install, this morning it occurred to me that yesterday would have been a good chance to easily chill that sleeve to -15*

[Kelly E]

Heat wave here with the temperature at a balmy 32°F. Perfect weather for cutting a big hole in the wall to install a back door in the shop.