A Note from the Owner
Hey Mark,
This is my Suzuki GS1150E. I bought it back in 1992. It was hard to
find one at the time that wasn't so abused. When I saw it for the
first time, it did not have matching colors, but I saw it's
potential. The side panels were red and white and the gas tank was
blue and white. I knew I had to repaint it but I rode it like this
for about 2 years, when I finanally decided to paint it.
I could not decide what color to paint it, so I chose to go with
the stock black and red Suzuki paint scheme. I went to the Suzuki
dealer and ordered all the stickers for the bodywork ($175, ouch !)
and had it painted.
While the body parts were being painted, I started to take notice
of scratches here and there on the frame and engine. The engine
paint was also looking a bit dull. My thought was, I was going to
have I very nice looking paint job, but the frame and engine would
not match. So I started to take everything apart.
Well, this was not as easy as I thought. I had my parts in boxes
for about 7 years. Doing a lot of painting and powder coating as
time and money would permit.
Speed Products in Illinois rebuilt my motor to give it that nice
oomph performance. Speed Products also raked the front neck frame
to allow the pro competition Vance & Hines sidewinder
header.
Also, I decided to get rid of those wimpy skinny rims. I installed
a pair of Performance Machine 17" wheels (Chicane). The rear was
extended by four inches using a Trac Dynamics swing arm.
Seven years and $9,000 later, the frame and engine shined as much
as the paint job. The handling was so much improved by the wheels
and extension of both ends. The power on this monster is also very
brutal.
The bike is a little harder to turn now because of the long
wheelbase, but in the straight line it feels like it's on
rails.
Hope you like it.
Fern C.
