Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e happy Suzuki.

[Don R]

   Today, I titled it, got a plate for it and took a legal ride. A couple slick spots in my driveway now have Dunlop 404 rubber leading away from them. It has a putt,     putt,      putt in the exhaust.  I'm thinking it might have a vacuum leak in the intake rubbers.
   I'm leaning towards the maier GP fairing, would love to see pics of one on a GS, I've scoured the internet for a pic of one installed.
 
 I had racecar parts to ship off for re-cert and errands to run so I didn't get to troubleshoot the intake any. The SFI certified safety case on the transmission is getting its last re-cert. Buying aftermarket external shields is now cheaper and a lot easier.
 I was told one company will allow a vendor to do the inspection and sell them the stickers.

[grcamna2]

   Today, I titled it, got a plate for it and took a legal ride. A couple slick spots in my driveway now have Dunlop 404 rubber leading away from them. It has a putt,     putt,      putt in the exhaust.  I'm thinking it might have a vacuum leak in the intake rubbers.
 I had racecar parts to ship off for re-cert and errands to run so I didn't get to troubleshoot it any. The SFI certified safety case on the transmission is getting its last re-cert. Buying aftermarket external shields is now cheaper and a lot easier.
 I was told one company will allow a vendor to do the inspection and sell them the stickers.

Good to hear it's now on the road Don. 
I know you'll be glad when you've got it running Crisp  to be able to get the rear tire spinning
nice. 

[Don R]

 Oh, it spins.

[grcamna2]

Do you use a nice mix of Ethanol-Free gasoline/aviation fuel,etc. in this one also ? 

[Don R]

 I did finish off my can of 110LL / no alky regular in this tank. It also has a dash of Amzoil synthetic 2 stroke oil to protect the tank from rusting again.
 I'll need to go to the airport this spring for 10 more gallons of av gas. Some of the cb tanks got drained and fogged with Evaporust anti rust spray. I'm forced to decide which ones will be kept in running condition and which ones will get laid-up.

[Don R]

 The GS got a 10 mile run. I kept it 55 mph and under due to the old tires. So far, I like everything about it. I got off the gl1000 after a 5 mile ride and got on the GS1100, I felt like a jockey on the gs. The cb750 gives the same impression so it must be the upright position, taller handlebars and low pegs on the Goldwing.
 A cop did a quick turn into a church parking lot as we passed, he looked but didn't follow me so he might have been checking to see if I had a plate on it.
 The only thing that doesn't work is the trip set odometer, or I haven't figured out how to use it. With the fuel gauge I won't miss it a lot. I have a K0 750 on the lift, it needs the engine rebuilt so off it comes so the GS can get it's wheels removed for the tires.

[Don R]

 The 630 chain is shot, it was too tight when we got it and now it whips, apparently has a tight spot.

 I'm shopping Z1 enterprises for a JT sprocket 530 conversion but I'm wondering about ratios. I'll be street riding with a planned drag strip blast or two so I'd assume replicating the original ratio would be best. Do any of you guys that have these big cc bikes have a favorite brand or ratio?
 It appears stock GS1100 is 15/42 in 630 with 96 links which makes a 2.80 ratio, 18/50 in a 530 chain seems to want around 115 links and makes a 2.77 ratio and should be big enough to clear the swingarm. I'd likely get a 120 link DID or Diamond XDL chain.
  I have a new XDL but it's 110 links and would need the extra links that I removed from another matching chain added. 

[seanbarney41]

I converted to 530.  Early on, when  first got the bike I took it on a trip of about 2000 miles over about 6 days.  I had not figured out what to do about sprockets yet, so I just threw a cheap DID plain 630 chain on the old sprockets for the trip.  The bike ate that plain chain alive in those 2000 miles.  I barely made it home, was having to adjust the chain about  every 50 miles in the final 200.  As far as sprocket ratios, I would stick with stock or even a little lower.   I played around a little, tried to go hgher for even better acceleration but it dd not seem to work...seems like it just blew through all that delicious low end torque.  I would have to go count teeth or check my notes to tell what sprockets I ended with.  I think I am just couple hundredths over stock.

[Don R]

 I ventured into the 60 mph range, still on the old tires, it feels like a 750 to me, a little buzzy at 60, 4,500 rpm maybe? I'm thinking I might prefer a few less rpm's than 5,000 at 75.
 This ratio may not be stock, I haven't counted teeth yet or even pulled the sprocket cover, I did get the lift cleared off today. I'm leaning towards 18/48.

[seanbarney41]

I ventured into the 60 mph range, still on the old tires, it feels like a 750 to me, a little buzzy at 60, 4,500 rpm maybe? I'm thinking I might prefer a few less rpm's than 5,000 at 75.
 This ratio may not be stock, I haven't counted teeth yet or even pulled the sprocket cover, I did get the lift cleared off today.

  Yeah, i would agree.  The engine is nowhere near as smooth as a cb750.  I don't worry about revs at highway speed generally.  These japanese 4's are pretty happy revving away and so am I...but yeah, you bring up a few more things I should mention...speedometers on these are notoriously optimistic.  Mine reads 68 at 55mph!  Numbers only go to 85!  Shifting at redline, I run out of speedo at the top of 2nd!  And on a hot day, extended stints at high revs get that oil temp needle climbing at an alarming pace.  I want an oil cooler for mine.

[Don R]

 All good things to know, my brother gave me a China made gps speedometer. I'll have to run a charger wire and check it against the Stocker.
  I remember when the speed limit was 55 and the hot bikes could do that in second gear easy.
  I have a couple nice oil coolers, I still need to figure out the connections. I've only found the top end oiler lines advertised, I was curious about what the red aluminum bars were on the heads.
  The rear disc is a little draggy, a good warm up didn't help it, so I'm looking up rebuild kits for the back caliper. Opening the bleeders didn't help it so I'm assuming the pistons are hanging up not the lines or master cylinder.
   

[Don R]

 The bike is on the lift, wheels are off, it has a 750 front tire as a place holder, the axle is the same diameter as the Honda.
  I briefly considered cutting the tires off and then common sense came around. Tires are here, tubes on the way. A friend has a backyard Harley Shop with a tire machine.
 If the nice weather gets to me there are some Hondas that need to be ridden. I didn't find the 530 chain I thought was in the shop, there was only a #50 combine chain, a used quality 530 chain and the new Diamond XL 110 link. There should be a few more links of diamond and a rivet link.

[grcamna2]

The bike is on the lift, wheels are off, it has a 750 front tire as a place holder, the axle is the same diameter as the Honda.
  I briefly considered cutting the tires off and then common sense came around. Tires are here, tubes on the way. A friend has a backyard Harley Shop with a tire machine.
 If the nice weather gets to me there are some Hondas that need to be ridden. I didn't find the 530 chain I thought was in the shop, there was only a #50 combine chain, a used quality 530 chain and the new Diamond XL 110 link. There should be a few more links of diamond and a rivet link.

Did you decide on the rear sprocket teeth ?

[Don R]

 No, I didn't order yet, I saw a sprocket set that had 530 and the same tooth count as a 630. I've read the chain can hit the swingarm if you don't replicate the diameter of the stock sprockets. I'm looking at 18/45 or 48.
  I didn't buy any yet. I have 3 racecar bills this week as well as tubes for the bike coming, although my tax return was deposited today.  This length chain in a 530 is 115 links so I'll buy a 120 link one.

[Kelly E]

We need to replace the chain and sprockets on the 80' GS so I'm interested in your 530 chain and sprocket results. I'm curious to see if you can feel the difference from the lighter weight chain.

[Don R]

 I needed rear brakes, they were dragging and exercising them was futile. When I took the caliper apart the pads were shot so I ordered a K&L seal kit and a set of FA36V semi sintered EBC pads. 
 I'm not sure I'll know the difference in the chain since I've been Grandpa riding on these old tires. I may leave the old one on for a bit, time will tell. 

[Don R]

 I got the rear brakes rebuilt but don't have the tires mounted yet. My buddy that has a bike shop is swamped, I may have to go to work to help him get caught up. Flunky work at least.

[Don R]

 I was polishing the left footpeg bracket, I noticed it had been in a vise, while sanding the jaw marks out I realized the frame/motor mount hole has been cut off. I ordered a pair of decent ones off of ebay, there was a nice pair of vapor honed ones but for way less than half the $$ I bought yucky ones. The through bolt may be too short, I'm not sure. I'm going to soda blast the new ones when they get here. I'll have to get away from the shop to do it, the soda dust sticks to the vinyl siding.
 I also ordered 44mm pod filters from Jegs. $139 plus shipping, they are the rubber end ones, RU2454 I think. That's the best price I've found on K&N's anywhere.

[Kelly E]

I have to wonder why someone would cut that part off? Maybe they stripped the threads on the bolt and had to shorten it, people do strange things to bikes in the name of repairs.

[Don R]

 Agreed, I think that part may have taken a hit. It appears to have a tiny crack or two in it. It's pretty unusual for a bike to be this old and not have flopped a time or two. Forensic cycle repair in the no kill cycle shop. L0L!

[Kelly E]

Agreed, I think that part may have taken a hit. It appears to have a tiny crack or two in it. It's pretty unusual for a bike to be this old and not have flopped a time or two. Forensic cycle repair in the no kill cycle shop. L0L!

Nice name, The No Kill Cycle Shop

Ours is Rust Brothers Garage.

[Don R]

 I'm still wondering what caused this modification. I bought the new bracket, but it appears the through bolt is also going to be short.

[Don R]

 Dang, I had a swingarm bolt here for my kz1000 that had a gs swingarm on it. I used the kz bolt and slid the gs bolt into the old kz swingarm. I gave the kz swingarm to the guy that bought that bike.  $70 on ebay, I can't find the sizes, I suspect there are many other bolts that would fit but am still checking.

[Mark1976]

I'm still wondering what caused this modification. I bought the new bracket, but it appears the through bolt is also going to be short.

There's just sooo much wrong going on in that pic.
OMG...

[grcamna2]

Don,have you considered putting those parts back to stock with another alloy side plate(1980 & 81' both will fit)and the proper length swingarm(the rear pivot shaft/bolt fits all model/yr. 1100E)pivot bolt ?  I might also consider servicing the rear needle bearings