1980 GS1100L. Putting it back on the road

[2wheel]

I bought this GS1100 a couple weeks ago and I’m getting it ready to get it road worthy. I posted on a couple FB groups but I like these type forums better. I got this bike from an online auction without going to look at it first but did have pics online. It has a V&H 4-1 pipe and pods which I knew and a Lockhart oil cooler installed. I got a spare set of carbs with the bike. The carbs on the bike have 138 main jets and 45 pilot jets. I’ve got the carbs all cleaned up with new seals and ready to reinstall. The bike fired right off with starting fluid so it’s very promising. 17k miles on her. Little about me. I grew up on dirt bikes, got my first bike when I was 9 (72 JT2 Yamaha) and progressed from there buying my first street bike when I was 30. I now have 9 vintage bikes that I’ve bought in non running condition and got them running. 7 of them are currently titled and registered and I ride them all. I’ll have some questions as I go so I’ll post in the appropriate thread.


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[Burque73]

Hey, 2wheel. Welcome to GSR. That's a good looking 1100. Nice find.

 

[rphillips]

Yeah, Welcome and congrats.... Thinking that is a one year only GS. I'm thinking "80" was the only yr for the 1100 4V "L" model. Nice looking bike..

 

[Tom R]

It's the only L with the 16v motor and chain drive. Unfortunately, like other L models it has a 16" rear tire, and like other '80 models it has that dreaded petcock.
I have one with closer to 50k on the clock that still rips around pretty good and doesn't burn too much oil.
The jetting sounds about right, I have 140 mains and 47.5 pilots with K&N pods and a vance and Hines pipe. If not done already, you may need to raise the non adjustable needle by using a smaller than stock spacer or a jet kit. I'm running Factory Pro needles that work well, though I don't think they're readily available - Dynojet kits still are.
New springs up front will go a long way for improving the front end. Straight rate springs and gold valves made mine feel like it had new front end.
Hagon rear shocks aren't a bad way to go... I used 13" for a CB900f. And if it needs a new chain, the 530 conversion is the way to go.
I put Daytona style handlebars on mine, which required a shorter brake line, stainless steel lines are nice.

 

[2wheel]

It's the only L with the 16v motor and chain drive. Unfortunately, like other L models it has a 16" rear tire, and like other '80 models it has that dreaded petcock.
I have one with closer to 50k on the clock that still rips around pretty good and doesn't burn too much oil.
The jetting sounds about right, I have 140 mains and 47.5 pilots with K&N pods and a vance and Hines pipe. If not done already, you may need to raise the non adjustable needle by using a smaller than stock spacer or a jet kit. I'm running Factory Pro needles that work well, though I don't think they're readily available - Dynojet kits still are.
New springs up front will go a long way for improving the front end. Straight rate springs and gold valves made mine feel like it had new front end.
Hagon rear shocks aren't a bad way to go... I used 13" for a CB900f. And if it needs a new chain, the 530 conversion is the way to go.
I put Daytona style handlebars on mine, which required a shorter brake line, stainless steel lines are nice.

The carbs have a K&N stage 3 calibration kit which according to the instructions in the kit did have the spacer and a more tapered needle than stock. I’ve already been looking at diffent bars and the stainless brake lines. I put the stainless lines on my KZ1000.

 

[2wheel]

Yeah, Welcome and congrats.... Thinking that is a one year only GS. I'm thinking "80" was the only yr for the 1100 4V "L" model. Nice looking bike..

Honestly I didn’t even know what year it was when I bought it. It was an online auction and I wasn’t able to go look at it on preview day so I just rolled the dice with it. Only paid $420 for it so it’s hard to go wrong. My regular driver is an 80 KZ1000 and it has 37k miles. The majority of my bikes are Honda’s.

 

[Redman]

Welcome ! . . . . . .

 

[Redman]

. . . . . . Only paid $420 for it so it’s hard to go wrong. . . . . . . . .

Wow! Great ! . . . . . .

 

[gustovh]

Welcome 2wheel, I have been riding my 80 1100L for 24 years and close to 50,000 miles, I’m old and still enjoy the pull of that bike. Some stock parts are unobtainable but most engine parts are. I currently run a stage 1 kit, K&N pods, supertrap exhaust. The bike according to Suzuki is supposed to run a 18” rear. The po of my bike was short and installed a 17” makes it really hard to get on center stand. Cheers

V

 

[rphillips]

Thinking the "L" models, no matter the size or yr., always used a smaller rear wheel than their "standard" or "E" model counterparts. "E" model GS1100's used 18" rear so thinking the GS1100 "L" was supposed to have a 17".

 

[grcamna2]

Hi 2wheel it's Bill from VHT,good to see that bike;did you take it for a ride ?

 

[gustovh]

Thinking the "L" models, no matter the size or yr., always used a smaller rear wheel than their "standard" or "E" model counterparts. "E" model GS1100's used 18" rear so thinking the GS1100 "L" was supposed to have a 17".

That’s what I thought so called the shop back and with a bit more digging we find that you are correct, 17” is correct. I don’t change tires so I take the wheel in and never paid much attention to that. Always got 10,000+ out of a set so was satisfied with that.

V

 

[2wheel]

Hi 2wheel it's Bill from VHT,good to see that bike;did you take it for a ride ?

Hi Bill. Didn’t ride it yet. Just got the carbs on it tonight. I have to get them adjusted yet.

 

[2wheel]

Video of the first start up. Not too bad right off the bench. Need to sync the carbs and get the air screws adjusted properly.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LQNU_WwsC9A

 

[Rob S.]

Thinking the "L" models, no matter the size or yr., always used a smaller rear wheel than their "standard" or "E" model counterparts. "E" model GS1100's used 18" rear so thinking the GS1100 "L" was supposed to have a 17".

1982 11E has 17" rear, 19" front. I'll bet the '83 does also. And the '81.

 

[rphillips]

Dang it I hate messing up like this. Yes, all the standard model GS1100 and 1000's dropped to rear 17" by 1980, but still thinking the "L" models always used a smaller rear wheel than their standard counterparts. Trying to look it up, Motorcyclespecs.com shows the 1100L with a 16" all others a 17", BikeZ specs show all the 1100's with a 17" rear. Just looked it up in my Haynes manual and it shows the ET, EX, EZ, ED, ESD, all have 17" then lists separately LT uses 16" rear wheel. Right now can't find my GS1100 factory service manual, though it wouldn't help as I never printed off the supplement for the "L" models... I apologize for even posting about this as I obviously don't know..

 

[Grimly]

Dang it I hate messing up like this. Yes, all the standard model GS1100 and 1000's dropped to rear 17" by 1980, but still thinking the "L" models always used a smaller rear wheel than their standard counterparts. Trying to look it up, Motorcyclespecs.com shows the 1100L with a 16" all others a 17", BikeZ specs show all the 1100's with a 17" rear. Just looked it up in my Haynes manual and it shows the ET, EX, EZ, ED, ESD, all have 17" then lists separately LT uses 16" rear wheel. Right now can't find my GS1100 factory service manual, though it wouldn't help as I never printed off the supplement for the "L" models... I apologize for even posting about this as I obviously don't know..

For what it's worth, the 16" rear wheel I have kicking around came from an 1100L, vintage unknown.
I got it to be able to take advantage of cheap tyres that may crop up in that size, as the rolling radius is nearly the same as the 17".