'79 GS 1000 project

[arve]

So now Ive fixed the rabid starter on my GS 1000. I took the starter relay from my 550, which was exactly the same, and changed terminal on the negative battery wire, that was almost cracked through. Works fine now. Someone on this forum suggested that my starter button was defective, but that couldnt have been it since the starter button doesnt work when the engine is running... But as the winter slowly creeps upon me, Ive started thinking of other things : My bike has beautiful gold-orange paint, but I think the tank isnt original. It has a marked line at the knee position where it becomes slightly wider before the Suzuki emblem, I think Ive seen a GSX with a similar one. Most GS 1000s Ive seen on the net have had tanks with straight sides,or "intendation for emblem", so Im thinking of getting a tank of the correct type, along with original exhaust and footpegs etc. I also want to get it painted in an original color, so I wonder if any of you can tell me which colors that were delivered for the 1979 model? Any colour codes? Is it possible to tell from the frame number what color this particular bike had when it was new? The nr. is: GS1000506541, and it was registered for the first time 19/4-1979.(so it may very well be a '78, I doubt that a Norwegian bike store anno 1979 had the current Suzuki 1000 of the year in april...I also doubt they sold one every day.) It has mag wheels, double discs up front,but no pneumatic rear shocks as described on suzukicycles. It also has a plastic front fender which I assume is non original. Saddle has a chrome "sissy-bar" and square pattern, and the rear swing is square tube aluminum. Which of these features are original?The airfilter box is not around anymore, should I get one with chromed or grey/black sides? How should I paint and/or polish the wheels? Many questions, there are probably more I cant think of now, but you see where Im gettin at? I wanna make my bike a pearl that looks as it did when it stood in the showroom back in 1979.

Hope you can help,
your friend Arve.

[rphillips]

Wow, just for starters, look at the model imfo, & gallery section of this site. You'll learn a lot about the GS's. GS Alum. swingarms started in 1980. Mags & dual front brakes make it an "E" model. The "79" E's were black with blue & gold stripes only. This is for U.S. models, I don't know if you are here or somewhere else, it's not in your profile. I was kind of wondering if you forgot where you live, or was just ashamed to tell us where you live. Don't know what colors were across the water in "79". Good orig. parts, tanks, ex., seats aren't easy to find, but good luck.

[Spyderman]

going by the frame # it's a 78 C model with an E front end and an 1100 swing arm added to it

[arve]

I found a German site with a frame number list, according to it its a '78 E-model, as the non-E models have serial no's that start with 1 after GS1000. 1979 model serial no. starts with 52 after prefix. As I said the bike was sold new in Norway,where it still resides. Ive seen quite a deal of American editions on the net, they seem to have different saddles that are higher at the rear, like a soft-chopper saddle. Mine is a flat bench. I found a picture of a beautiful black bike with the same saddle, it has a red accent stripe at the bottom of the tank and hecktail, a white stripe where the emblem is, and a gold stripe surrounding the white one. Beautiful! Looks pretty much like the current bike of the month, only that one doesnt have the red stripe. I'll definitely go with black instead of some dull red or blue finish. And didnt you say the E-models were in black only? But the pictured bike has a black filter box instead of the usual chrome, wonder why? Ill definitely go for a chromed one if the scheme was obtainable new.
A.K.

[tkent02]

I found a German site with a frame number list, according to it its a '78 E-model, as the non-E models have serial no's that start with 1 after GS1000.

A.K.

Can you please post this German site with the frame number list?
I have a strange one I'm trying to figure out.
Thanks!

[hampshirehog]

Can you please post this German site with the frame number list?
I have a strange one I'm trying to figure out.
Thanks!

Will this do? It's an Aussie site but you don't have to stand upside down to read it.

http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/suzi/engine-nos/engnos.htm

[Tom MLC]

Arve, I have gathered that you are in Norway, which makes a big difference in determining your model. The http://www.suzukicycles.org/GS-series/index.html website is a good resource for you, as it's researched with a European perspective. There were subtle differences between US and Euro models.

I'm guessing your GS1000 is a '78 model for the reason you stated. Registration date is not the same as the date of manufacture. If this is the case, you need the tank with the indentation in the side. See the pics of my GS1000's for example.

Now the tank you describe sounds like the tank I have on my GS1100E. It gets a bit wider forward of the knees. Be careful though. The Euro model of the '80 GS1100 had a different tank than the US model. Check that suzukicycles website for examples.

The swingarm is definately not stock on either the '78 or '79 GS1000. It probably came from a '80-'83 GS1100E. This is a common modification. Easy to do because it's a direct fit.

Airbox for the '78 GS1000 was black with horizontal ribs. For the '79 model the airbox had chrome side covers.

Last offering. Sunrise Graphics in the UK http://www.sunrisegraphics.co.uk/ The helped me with reproduction decals for the Euro model of the '78 GS1000E. They might be of assisance to you.

[arve]

Thanks for your help. Here's the German site: http://www.gs-classic.de/ I think the tank on my bike is from a GS or GSX 750, ca '81 model. The bike I have a picture of is exactly like your GS 1000 from '77, only it has a red stripe at the bottom, and twin discs. I think the red stripe just did it. But I wonder how you know your bike was manufactured in '77? Whats the vin on that one?

[Big T]

Sounds like yours has been modified with different year parts, which is common over time

If you want it truly original, it needs wire wheels with aluminum rims, which were only made for the 78-79 GS 1000s. One disc brake up front and a flat seat

These came in dark blue metallic and dark red metallic with a lighter colored stripe and gold pin stripes.

The E model had the cast wheels, two disc brakes up front and a few other features. Painted black with a white stripe, thus a "skunk"

Both models have a chrome front fender and adjustible shocks (which are worn out by now)

Check the For Sale forum for parts

[arve]

Big T, according to the German site mentioned above this IS an E-model. The frame no. on regular ones start with "1" after the GS1000 prefix, while it starts with "5" on the E-models. Also, for the 1979 model year the number starts with "52" after the prefix, clearly showing that my bike is a 1978 model.

[Tom MLC]

Thanks for your help. Here's the German site: http://www.gs-classic.de/ I think the tank on my bike is from a GS or GSX 750, ca '81 model. The bike I have a picture of is exactly like your GS 1000 from '77, only it has a red stripe at the bottom, and twin discs. I think the red stripe just did it. But I wonder how you know your bike was manufactured in '77? Whats the vin on that one?

I don't have the paperwork with me, so I can't give the VIN. But I know she's an early one. On the steering head is the manufacturers decal. The decal has the date of birth on it. Maybe Euro models don't have this?

[Suzuki mad]

Arve,

a picture would also help people identify what parts are on there too.

With a bike thats 30 yeras old and a few PO's in the book some things will have been developed and altered as the models changed over the years. Its hard to find bikes that are that age and original.