1980 GS1000G in Pittsburgh PA

[Wmdaricthompson]

Hi all. New owner (to be) here. I'm a long time lurker of this forum because I've thought about buying guidance GS's in the past, and now that I am getting one I figure I should actually register.

I agreed on a price with the PO this morning, signing paperwork on Friday morning, and it's coming home on a trailer Saturday.

The bike has been sitting about three years, and was running before that. The owner hurt his back and had to stop riding, now he's moving so it's finally getting moved on. Looks like it was stored reasonably. Tank isn't a rusty mess. The bike is mostly there, missing one side cover and the gauges look cracked, just in the center though.

Starting off at just over 12,000 miles.

I work on old Japanese bikes as a hobby, currently in my stable:
1981 Yamaha Xj650 Maxim (DD)
2004 Kawasaki Ninja 250
1993 Kawasaki Vulcan
1991 Honda Nighthawk 250
1982 Yamaha XJ750 carcass (parts bike)
1979 Honda CX500 custom

I work at a nuclear power plant as an operator, so my time to work on bikes varies, but I'm usually happiest out in the garage with a beer in one hand and a wrench in the other.

Things I plan to do on this GS:
Clean carbs and tank (I'm sure there is a carb cleaning guide around here somewhere, I'll find it)
Replace gauges
Replace oil
Replace clutch plates
Brake fluids flush and rebuild if needed
Fabricate side covers (I've got some ideas, if they pan out I'll have a left side cover to sell)
New battery
New shaft oil
Check valve clearances
New tires

Anything that I should/need to do for this bike? I'm all ears. It needs a good bit of work, but I got it for $350, so I expect that. I'll have more pictures when I get it on Saturday

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, Wm.
Nice intro.
The first need for your bike is some lower handlebars.

 

[Wmdaricthompson]

Decent chance that will happen. I know when I went from Buckhorns to Daytonas on my XJ650, handling got way better, and the bike looked way better too

 

[Redman]

Welcome.

THanks for introducing yourself some.

Ussally people take off those buck horn bars on bike that came with them, not put them on a bike that didnt have them.
Other thing I notice was no controls on the bars.

Looks like you have a good list of things to work on.

When you replace the rear tire, do inspect the rear hub/spline IN the wheel, and lube it. (THe hub/spline IN the rear wheel, in addition to the splines on the drive unit.)

Do keep us posted to your further adventures.



Pittsburgh, you say. My parents are from Natrona and Johnstown.

.

 

[850 Combat]

I like GS1000G a lot. It is my favorite. The left side cover is often missing. I think it gets broken when putting the bike on the center stand.

 

[Wmdaricthompson]

Welcome.
Ussally people take off those buck horn bars on bike that came with them, not put them on a bike that didnt have them.
Other thing I notice was no controls on the bars.

.

Yeah, I'm not sure what he was doing with the handle bars
The originals are still there with the controls attached, just can't see them in that picture. I figure I get two sets of spare handlebars. I'll take them both off and they'll join the bars from my CX500 and my XJ650.

I like GS1000G a lot. It is my favorite. The left side cover is often missing. I think it gets broken when putting the bike on the center stand.

Well if I end up fabricating, hopefully I can hook someone here up with am affordable one.

 

[Wmdaricthompson]

So far I've waded into the airbox and carbs. Cleaning and restoring each. I'm waiting on a shipment from Partzilla before moving on. At this point I've had the carbs apart, dipped them cleaned everything meticulously with Berryman's, Q-tips, aircraft stripper (PO sprayed the side of the bike with black paint ), then reassembled with new O-Rings. I'm waiting on new gaskets to show up, along with new O-rings for the intake boots, new Velocity stacks (the ones I had were HARD rubber), and various other bits and pieces (rebuilding the cam chain tensioner as a "why the heck not" while I've got the carbs and airbox out). I've started going over my electrical system as best I can (battery is shot), and thus far I've been able to verify proper resistance between stator leads, and no continuity from any of them to ground.

Biggest challenge right now is a sheared exhaust bolt. It's got about half a centimeter sticking out. I've been dousing it with liquid wrench and applying heat on alternating days trying to break it loose. I don't want to have to drill it out, but I will if that's what it takes. Anyone got some good tips for me on getting that sucker out?