Topic: Suzuki GS1150E

[gregwaits]

Yesterday I spotted a Suzuki GS1150E in the back of a pickup truck. What a sharp looking bike!

This one looked as if it was wet up for drag racing. I loved the lines on the bike.

Anyone in here have any experience with this model? A buddy of mine from college had one of the limited edition 1979 GS1000 models. What a rocket.

[Bodain]

With 4 valves per cylinder. You hope the internals are OK. Else you spend a fortune fixing it.

[rachet]

I know nothing about this type of bike, but There is one sitting in the parking lot here at work most sunny days.  I'm parked next to it (on my 76 CB750 of course) but have yet to run into the owner (we don't work the same times).  If I do, I'll let you know what they think of it.

Rachet~

[kirkn]

Do a search.  The big GS's have been discussed / praised numerous times. 

The GS1150 was the end of the development line for the big air-cooled inline 4's before the advent of the air & oil cooled GSXR's of 85/86.

The big GS's and the big Kawi KZ's were the bedrocks of drag racing since the late 70's / early 80's when they were introduced.

Well known strengths (many).  Equally well known (and fixable) weaknesses (few).

Kirk

[1080]

I have been racing a 84 Suzuki gs1150 for some time. All I have done is refreshen the rings , a porting job,better valve springs & V&H sidewinders pipes.  The motors are very good & there lots of high performance parts available for them.

[crazypj]

I know quite a bit about them.
  Launched in 1980, in every other country but USA it was a GSX as its a 4 valve TSCC motor. (two valves per cyl are GS motors)
 A 1700cc 190 bhp conversion is still available for about $5,000. (well in 2006, when I last checked)
Massively overbuilt but still possible to grenade the clutch (plenty of race bits available though, at a price)
 300bhp drag race motors were relatively common at one time with surprisingly little modifications for the power output.
 Its first of the plain bearing crankshaft Suzuki's. I like them.
 saw 1980 Bol D'or when Suzuki won from Honda with modified 750 version that looked an awful lot like the later  SACS cooled Gixxer motor.
PJ

[Green550F]

Used to have the baby brother GS450E! Wonderfull bike and do I ever regret letting it go!