A couple of easy questions

[82GS1100E]

Hey guys, glad to have found this place where the GS is king. I just picked up a '82 GS1100E (got a wicked deal!) and it has a few needs. If this is posted in the wrong place, let me know or redirect it.

The 4 to 1 pipe on the bike is junk and needs to be replaced. I've seen a Mac 4-2 and a V&H 4-1 that look interesting. I prefer the look of the 4-2, but would rather have performance and sound over looks (just sold my 3rd Harley - I like loud bikes!) Anyone have any thoughts to offer on this?

Also, the guy before me put a K&N bar on the bike which is shorter and flatter than stock. I'd like to put the right bar back on. I've been looking around in the parts outlets for the proper bar without much luck. Any help?

Finally a stupid question because I am new to GS. Mine is an "E", I have seen a "EZ" designation. What, if any, is the difference?

Thanks guys, looking forward to getting to know everyone and picking their brains!:-D

[Guest]

Congrats on a fine machine! \\/ You have an E model....the 'Z' designation denotes the model year it was made (82). I would go with the V & H 4 into 1 for a pipe. Good mellow sound, better ground clearance, less weight and a couple HP to boot. Be sure that you have a proper jet kit installed...they are jetted lean from the factory, and with the addition of an aftermarket pipe, it will be lean for certain....even catastrophically so, perhaps. Try www.alpha-sports.com for microfiche diagrams and factory part numbers, and then try www.bikebandit.com & www.ronayers.com for the NOS parts you might need.

Good luck and welcome to the site!!!

[zuzu]

Finally a stupid question because I am new to GS. Mine is an "E", I have seen a "EZ" designation. What, if any, is the difference?

Thanks guys, looking forward to getting to know everyone and picking their brains!:-D

You have got a great bike....

The Z stands for the year the bike was built for. Yours is the same year as mine. We both have the GS1100EZ.

[txironhead]

There's a V&H 4-1 drag and 4-1 street. If you like 'em loud, get the drag pipe or take the packing out of the street and just run the baffle. I'd say take the whole thing out, but these bikes tend to like a little backpressure.

If you want to really open it up, toss the airbox, throw on some K&N pods, the 4-1 drag pipe and a Stage 3 Jet Kit. A Dyna S ignition is a good idea. Get yourself some good grips, too, you're going to need something to hold on to......

As far as the bars go, throw any 7/8" handlebars on that you like. The factory brake lines are getting old by now, so you're better off putting braided stainless lines on and you can get them shorter or longer than stock depending on what handlebars you prefer. You can get make-your-own line kits from Russell or other vendors, just order the length you need and the proper fittings, screw the fittings in and install. It will dramatically increase the stopping power of the brakes. Probably time to flush the brakes anyway.....

There's a lot of guys here with bikes similar to yours, browse the threads and you'll be surprised at what has been done to these bikes. There's a guy in Cali that makes awesome cafe racers!

[Road_Clam]

DON'T buy the V&H Pro pipe for a street bike, as you need to relocate the foot controls to get the pipe to properly fit. The Pro pipe is more for a drag bike.

82GS1100E, I have a set of bikemaster "Superbike" bend bars, and they are awesome, great fit, looks and fit the whole theme of my bike without killing me as far as being too far foreward on the handlebars...

[txironhead]

You learn something new everyday. Get the street 4-1 and throw in the competition baffle, or experiment with the baffle/packing it comes with.

[Steve]

Personally, I would have thought that, after owing 3 Harleys, you would finally want a quiet bike.

Actually, Harleys are quiet bikes. It's the aftermarket pipes that makes them loud.
I had the pleasure of riding with a Harley Ultra Classic this past weekend.
It had stock pipes on it, and I could barely hear it running beside my Wing. \\/
It's a wonderful sound, I just wish they wouldn't give me so much of it. 8-[


.

[Guest]

Welcome,
Can't tell from your thumbnail photo but if the header is OK not severely dented you can sand blast it and repaint with high temp paint. If the cannister is messed up you might be able to find alternatives on Ebay. Whats on there now?

I'm surprised nobody else had that screen name.

[82GS1100E]

You guys are as good as I thought you'd be!

Now to expand my questions. "Stage 3 jet kit", I thought this would be easy to find thru Google. Nope. Assuming this is Dynojet, I could only find info for Kawasaki. Please excuse my ignorance at this point, I'm at work and I have no clue what carbs these bikes normally have. I'd assume (bad habit) that jets are available per carb model as well as bike model? Point me towards this stuff and watch me go! I have no interest in ruining the bike thru incorrect jet/exhaust combination, want to do what is right.

"Personally, I would have thought that, after owing 3 Harleys, you would finally want a quiet bike. "
Never! I love the way this bike growls and then spits after closing the throttle, give me bark!! Nothing like the Harley "potato" but still all good. Anything that gets a couple of young girls to wave when they hear me coming is OK in my book! (this weekend's experience) I've got a Vette that will be getting chambered exhaust this winter and compared to that the Harleys are tame (and the GS a bit lame! But that's OK!) Put it this way, I'll never have a radio on any motorcycle I own! :-D

I, too, was surprised the screen name was available. Sometimes you get lucky.

Now, another question. When I got the bike the lines between the anti-dive and the calipers were missing. One side had a plug in the anti-dive (where the line connects), the other was open. Is this worth fixing for a street bike (I really don't ride all that hard)? Guy at a local Zuki shop said he wouldn't put a dime into it, would never notice it not working. Thoughts?

Thanks again guys, I hope someday I'll know enough about these bikes to help someone else out. 8-)

[BassCliff]

Hey howdy hey!

Mr. 82GS1100E,

Let it be known that, on this day, you are cordially and formally welcomed to the GSR Forums as a Junior Member in good standing with all the rights and privileges thereof. Let it also be known that "good standing" implies pictures! :-D

This is a great bunch of motorcyclists who love to help keep these classic bikes on the road, as you've already learned. Thanks for joining us.

From what I've read here, many disable the anti-dive because it really doesn't work as advertised. Get yourself a new set of Progressive fork springs.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
(The unofficial GSR greeter)

[txironhead]

You can go straight to the website for DynoJet, but lots of people here prefer going through Z1 Enterprises. Lots of goodies for your bike. The Progressive springs (highly recommended), jet kits, etc. I also recommend www.bikebandit.com for misc. assorted parts.

There is a fantastic walkthrough on CV carbs (I believe that's the type your bike has) in the garage section of this site. While you're in there, replace the intake o-rings (if your bike is so equipped, some aren't), inspect the intake boots, replace all of the o-rings in the carbs (www.cycleorings.com) (cheap complete kit, guy's a member here), clean everything, install the jet kit and slap some K&N pods on there. Chunk the airbox, get the V&H 4-1 street with the competition baffle.

Regarding setting up the carbs, I am not the resident expert, but there are some guys here that can do it in their sleep. You're going to need a set of carb synchronizers and learn to do a plug chop. Plenty of posts on both of those subjects, just do a search.

The Dyna S ignition will get rid of the troublesome CDI box and give you better, more reliable spark. A set of Dyna Green coils or coils off of a newer sportbike will give you even hotter spark.

Do most or all of the above, and you'll have a bike that will run forever, be loud as hell, and probably be faster than you'd ever expect.

Remember, these are the bikes that gave birth to the Hayabusas!

[Guest]

The part number for the Dynojet kit is 3133. I purchased it here
I'd get the Vance and Hines 4-1 street pipe. It has a good throaty growl.
I bought the K&Ns here

I have some good base settings for the Dynojet on a stock 1100 sixteen valve if you need help. Their settings seem to be on the lean side.

[82GS1100E]

Great! This is just what I was hoping for. (note to isleoman: didn't intend to ignore your question, the pipe on there now was welded by previous owner, leaks and is rusty )

I was hoping someone had the jet kit number to go with the V & H 4-1 pipe. This is very helpful. The links to the parts outlets (throughout all the posts) are helpful too (helping me spend my $ !!). I've found just about everything everyone has suggested. Cool.

In response to BassCliff's post (as in "Cliff Burton" ?!? :-)) I am including a pic of the bike, happens to be the best one I have at the moment. Needs a bit of cosmetics (I have plans for this winter), but again, it was a wicked good deal.

Thanks guys for a great forum!

[Guest]

Bass solo, take one.
His name is Cliff and he does play the bass.

[txironhead]

Since it's already got pods and an aftermarket 4-1, it may already have the stage 3 kit in it. When you take the carbs apart to clean them, post the jet sizes here and someone will be able to tell you if it does. Most aftermarket jets have a number stamped in them.