Topic: Don's 81 GS1100e Suzuki, Brakes & Breaks.

[Don R]

 I posted the picture of the GS in front of the snow bank on the Suzuki GS1100 facebook, it got a few replies, photos of the same model bikes and 650 reactions so far.

[Kelly E]

  In the end I got free rotors, it took a couple of tries to see their fault, but it was an easy fix. They are now saying their rear rotor doesn't fit, they were incorrect thinking the rotors were the same.
  I like Windy's approach to nuts and bolts, making a cardboard map for them to stick through so they all go back in the same place.

I have a cardboard map for the hardware that holds the lower fairing panels on the Concours, one for each side. There's at least 3 different lengths of screws and way too many to remember.

[Don R]

 I have a set of new sintered front brake pads due today and a set of Galfer black brake hoses on the way. I looked at a couple different lines but and considered making them but these were economical and easy. Some brands cut back the covering near the ends and some are only in stainless braid.
 These were closest to stock in appearance, in and reportedly "made in usa" and readily available. Should be better than the 45-year-old stockers.

[grcamna2]

I have a set of new sintered front brake pads due today and a set of Galfer black brake hoses on the way. I looked at a couple different lines but and considered making them but these were economical and easy. Some brands cut back the covering near the ends and some are only in stainless braid.
 These were closest to stock in appearance, in and reportedly "made in usa" and readily available. Should be better than the 45-year-old stockers.

a set of new braided hoses will help.

[MauiK3]

You will like the new hoses

[Mark1976]

I have a set of new sintered front brake pads due today and a set of Galfer black brake hoses on the way. I looked at a couple different lines but and considered making them but these were economical and easy. Some brands cut back the covering near the ends and some are only in stainless braid.
 These were closest to stock in appearance, in and reportedly "made in usa" and readily available. Should be better than the 45-year-old stockers.

   Don, can I ask who you got them thru?

[Don R]

 The pads were from Niche supply and arrived being Emgo brand. I think niche is filling the gap from other brands not selling older bikes parts.
 The Galfer lines are from Starcycle / Worldwide_Motorcycle_Equipment and found on ebay. Reportedly made in the usa, I'm not very trusting about that these days. But I wanted black with continuous covering and these were the ones I found.
 

[Mark1976]

The pads were from Niche supply and arrived being Emgo brand. I think niche is filling the gap from other brands not selling older bikes parts.
 The Galfer lines are from Starcycle / Worldwide_Motorcycle_Equipment and found on ebay. Reportedly made in the usa, I'm not very trusting about that these days. But I wanted black with continuous covering and these were the ones I found.

   Thanks for the info, that's why I ask, it's not easy these days finding and keeping good parts suppliers (especially aftermarket) But I'll check them out.

[Don R]

 I put on the Emgo sintered pads today. A trusted friend that runs a bike shop has used them on his and customers bikes for years with no issues. I needed to clearance the new pads to clear the rotor buttons also. I managed to not slice a finger open this time.

[Mark1976]

I put on the Emgo sintered pads today. A trusted friend that runs a bike shop has used them on his and customers bikes for years with no issues. I needed to clearance the new pads to clear the rotor buttons also. I managed to not slice a finger open this time.

   I've used them on a variety of bikes, they work fine. Their on my '77 400f, you could do a lot worse... and good pads are getting up there.... hell, everything's getting up there....

[gpzkat]

Brake pad discussions are like oil discussions; it's hard to resist chiming in. I stopped using sintered pads and now use organic Ferodos on all my bikes. I find they have better feel and grip (esp. cold) for my fairly sedate riding. And they are easier on the rotors.

[Don R]

  All input is appreciated.
  Part of my reason for trying the sintered pads is I have organic ebc pads on my gl1000, they are on dual piston 1985 V65 calipers and yet they don't seem to stop noticeably better than the ones that came on it. I did sand the rotors and clean them with brake clean. My most impressive stopper oddly, was my CB750F1 with dual F1 discs. It had sanded stock pads. I scalloped a front tire practicing emergency stops. It was awesome.
  I sacrificed and sold that bike to help with the Sandcast purchase. Some regrets but I'd do it again.

[Don R]

 Well, it's been 16 days and I've received no tracking number for the Galfer brake lines yet. It is still within the predicted delivery time so I'd say if you are in a hurry, find them elsewhere.
https://order.ebay.com/ord/show?orderId=05-14060-23078&purchaseOrderId=05-1406-023076#/

[denward17]

Well, it's been 16 days and I've received no tracking number for the Galfer brake lines yet. It is still within the predicted delivery time so I'd say if you are in a hurry, find them elsewhere.
https://order.ebay.com/ord/show?orderId=05-14060-23078&purchaseOrderId=05-1406-023076#/

Don, this link tries to take you to your order info.....shouldn't it be the item description?

[Don R]

 That's the info page for my order, you can click on the items to see the ad. At least I can. Still no tracking number, unless They shipped without a tracking number, I don't see me getting them within the long ordering window.
 I messaged them this morning, have not heard back yet. I think it's a case of them having to order the items after the sale and then re-ship or drop ship them.

[Don R]

 The brake hoses arrived today, just a few days over the latest estimate. If it was summer and I needed them I might be aggravated. They look small OD, will be an obvious change from original but this bike hasn't been original for decades, so I don't mind.

[grcamna2]

The brake hoses arrived today, just a few days over the latest estimate. If it was summer and I needed them I might be aggravated. They look small OD, will be an obvious change from original but this bike hasn't been original for decades, so I don't mind.

They did arrive  ok.

[Don R]

 The Galfer brake lines are installed, the anti-chafe rubbers don't really come off the factory hoses so I'll use some split wire loom to keep the new ones from rubbing on the frame guides.
  I bled the brakes with my harbor freight vac pump, I got a little carried away and sucked some air, causing a re-do. The test ride went well, the rear brake will lock up if I try hard enough. It didn't really want to before.
  At one point I saw a kid chasing a frisbee disappear just past a parked car, I was concerned he might show up in front of the car. I used more front brake than I had planned since I was trying to break in the new pads and rotors. He didn't go into the street.
 All in all, it's a positive outcome. If the GS had different forks I'd have done a bigger Honda brake swap but this is an improvement. I scared Niche into telling me to toss the rotors that they sold me when I mentioned a modification. I used the refund to get new pads, hopefully I'll be happy with them. 
  The best part was when the temp got into the 60's and I worked out in the driveway.
 

[Don R]

 The GS got a sweet ride to the barber shop and bank and home on the by-pass around town today. I'm less happy with the O2 sensor all the time, last fall I did an 80 or so mile ride and it read wonderful numbers all day. Today it wants to be in the 9's. It's running smooth, a little de-cell cackle but pulls fine, no black smoke or other signs of it being that rich.
 The time it did have a good A/F ratio today was just before it went on reserve. I was a mile from the gas station and it only took 3.1 gallons to fill it up. I'm sure it's just over 5 gallons capacity, I'd be happier with one gallon reserve especially since I had to make a tool to turn the new petcocks lever.

[Kelly E]

The GS got a sweet ride to the barber shop and bank and home on the by-pass around town today. I'm less happy with the O2 sensor all the time, last fall I did an 80 or so mile ride and it read wonderful numbers all day. Today it wants to be in the 9's. It's running smooth, a little de-cell cackle but pulls fine, no black smoke or other signs of it being that rich.
 The time it did have a good A/F ratio today was just before it went on reserve. I was a mile from the gas station and it only took 3.1 gallons to fill it up. I'm sure it's just over 5 gallons capacity, I'd be happier with one gallon reserve especially since I had to make a tool to turn the new petcocks lever.

That reminds me, I need to ride the 80' GS 1100E. It's been at Paul's since last year. Hopefully our weather improves soon so I can put some miles on the Fatboy before he wants it back. I'll have him bring the GS 1100E when he's ready to swap.

[gpzkat]

The Galfer brake lines are installed, the anti-chafe rubbers don't really come off the factory hoses so I'll use some split wire loom to keep the new ones from rubbing on the frame guides.
  I bled the brakes with my harbor freight vac pump, I got a little carried away and sucked some air, causing a re-do. The test ride went well, the rear brake will lock up if I try hard enough. It didn't really want to before.

How did the sintered pads work out? I gave up on them, I ride casually, and organic Ferodo's never disappoint. My Norton's single disc will lock the front up any legal speed.

The GS rear brake is a bit of a pain with two halves, and it's bulky, but I've never experienced a better rear brake. My Laverda has a giant twin leading shoe rear (with new Ferodos shoes, natch). Looking forward to trying it, only days to go.  The front has a splitter and a hydraulic switch. Bleeding was not going well, doing a reverse syringe bleed from the Brembos, which have two bleed screws, wasn't working. Then I realized that the return port wasn't opening because of an eccentric screw that varies the lever-to-bar distance. Man, I wasted an hour or two on that. What a dope I can be.

Oh, I found that when changing to braided lines, some rubber hose from my giant bin, cut lengthwise does the job on that bracket that holds the brake line.

[Don R]

 I've only gotten a couple rides in so far and I'm trying to go easy for a break-in period. I was just cleaning out the hoarded until full tool chest and tossed some nice soft rubber hose, that would have been easy to split and make an anti-chafe cover.