1982 GS1100EZ Winter Project

[outofcontrol]

finished: swingarm, wheels, forks, and almost the brakes

finished: swingarm, wheels, forks, and almost the brakes

I got the swingarm welded, made some spacers for the front wheel, and installed my new brakes. the only issue was that the front rotors were bent, so I have to find some different ones. I also installed the rear shock bushings in the swingarm, replaced the fork seals, and bought a rear brake line. I'm going to use my racer discount for the front brake lines, they were stupid expensive in the MC shop. I could finally roll the bike out of the garage for some pictures:

I put up a whole bunch more pics on my website if you want to check them out. The link is in my sig. Cheers!!!!!!!

 

[solo suzuki]

way coolio! 8)

startin' to look familiar,
great pics before/after...
if you're still lookin' for rotors let me know.

 

[xDUKEx]

LOOKIN GOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work, and keep us up to date. IM RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!! should be gettin parts soon. my rims are already powder coated red to match the bike. what color are you powder coating yours? our bikes will be similar. i too want polished engine covers. i guess great minds think alike. ahahaha!! i only wish i could create a site like yours. you have put alot of thought and time into this project and it shows. hats off to a real gs lover. i too have admired solos bikes he is the founder of these type modifications.

 

[outofcontrol]

drive train, brakes, and 1st test ride!!!

drive train, brakes, and 1st test ride!!!

I finally got my sprockets and chain Friday afternoon, so most of my time friday night was spent making everything work.

I wasn't happy until I figured out how to make this mod safe.

I was just about to take her up and down the street with no front brakes when the mailman pulled up with my new rotors. Thanks Solo!!!!!! I was so excited, I didn't want to stop and take any pictures of the install. I didn't have any time to go for a real ride, so I just had to celebrate.

How do you test brakes, drive train, and celebrate all at the same time?

I still have to sell my old parts, paint the bike, powdercoat the wheels, re-jet for the new pipes, get some stainless braided front brake lines, get insurance....
I added another page to my website for updated pics and info.
Much thanks to the GSR!!!! I couldn't do it without YOU.

-KM

 

[solo suzuki]

Glad I could be of some help with your celebration! :lol:

way to go Kevin!

 

[outofcontrol]

I guess I should move this thread to the appearance forum now.

Today I dropped off the wheels at the powdercoater. Then I went straight to my buddies detail shop to find out the painter that was going to hook me up has moved on. Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to pay to make this bike look right. I about crapped my drawers when he said ?I usually charge $800 for a paint job that will stop the show.? My first words were ?dude, this is a $500 bike.? The owner showed up (my buddy) and we agreed on $400. After reading a bunch of threads here about the hassles involved in painting a bike, and the hard costs alone, I think it?s still a deal. Even though in my mind I was thinking $200 max. Oh well?

I'm having a real tough time polishing all the parts, and cleaning all the little bits. Here's my dilemma now: I'm going to have sweet wheels and bodywork, and crappy details. Little rusted parts, scratches, corroded, abused. Now I'm going to have to sit down and take on that tedious task of all the little things.

I never should have gone to Keith?s website and looked at his pictures. I was just happy eating crackers, and he had to show me the steak.
<--(hey, I figured out how to link a thumbnail to a website)

I'm more of a framer, not a finisher.
I wanted to make this bike a killer mechanical work of art, not a garage queen. I know I?m going to get suckered into painting and polishing and cleaning every part.

?Where does the madness end?? That?s not a question for you all to answer, that?s a direct quote from my wife.

Ok, here?s my plan: polish a few bits here and there, band-aid paint a few rough spots on the frame ride it for a year, then next winter powdercoat the frame, do some engine work, and clean up all the loose ends.
Sorry, no new pictures.
-Kevin

 

[crag antler]

Real sweet work Kevin.
Really like the photos of the progress.
Looking sharp 8) 8) 8)

 

[Ogri]

Believe me Kevin, you don't want a $200 paint job. Paint is definately one of those things that fall under "you get what you pay for". If they do a good job, $400 will be a smokin' deal.

 

[Richie]

yes i feel for you on the paint, but feel good about $400 my brother charges atleast $900 for one color paint jobs for bikes, but with paint you deffinetly get what you pay for, your bike will look super nice all finished up it already looks great! , richie

 

[Hoomgar]

Looking good man

Just start a new thread in appearance mods. This one belongs right where it is

 

[oldschoolGS]

Nice job,

the GS1100 looks so much better with a smaller front and modern rear wheel. You will have a head turner when paint/powdercoat is done. I love it when some young kid who knows only the letters CBR comes up and asks "what is that".

Ride On, Ed,
1983 GS750ED
2005 GSF1200SZ

 

[outofcontrol]

tearing down... again

tearing down... again

yea, I've gotten over the cost of the paint. I just can't wait to see it now.

I've got plenty of parts to clean before the "tins" get back.

I stopped by the painter's shop to drop off the decals:

While I'm busy sanding and rattle canning the frame and all it's little bits.

I also had some more chain clearance issues, but it's all good now.

Pretty soon I will have a beauty. I'm just getting really anxious.

Cheers
-Kevin

 

[solo suzuki]

this is fun,
wish i had done that with my project, it's like a Soap!
can't wait for the next post!... :wink:

 

[outofcontrol]

anticipation

anticipation

thanks claude. I have so much to do, and I just started a new job. so I'm working 12 hr days to get up to speed. that means I leave and it's dark, and when I come home it's dark. kind of hard to play in the cold ass garage.

It's good to be working hard. it means I can pay for my paint!!

I have a little race on my hands between the powdercoater, the painter, and myself polishing and cleaning parts. I really hope I have my job done before they have theirs done.

My wife fully hates this bike now...she's just jealous. all I want to talk about is that stupid bike.

Oh, that reminds me. anyone know of a good place to get a seat recovered in Portland, OR?

-K

 

[Road_Clam]

Re: anticipation

Re: anticipation

thanks claude. I have so much to do, and I just started a new job. so I'm working 12 hr days to get up to speed. that means I leave and it's dark, and when I come home it's dark. kind of hard to play in the cold ass garage.

It's good to be working hard. it means I can pay for my paint!!

I have a little race on my hands between the powdercoater, the painter, and myself polishing and cleaning parts. I really hope I have my job done before they have theirs done.

My wife fully hates this bike now...she's just jealous. all I want to talk about is that stupid bike.

Oh, that reminds me. anyone know of a good place to get a seat recovered in Portland, OR?

-K

Pretty labor intensive huh??!! I am about 80% done polishing and painting, and have logged 81 hours so far!!! (Thats JUST cleaning, polishing, and painting/clearcoating skanked parts). Thats not including my custom exhaust I fabbed (another 13 hours). I also plan on fitting a vintage 1/4 fairing, and a superbike lower fairing/scoop. I can't imagine the time you have invested in all the machanical mods you did with the big wheel swap! Keep at it dude, we will both be smiling in the spring! BTW you thgink your wife hates you and your bike, I am sleeping in the basement ! It's all good, I sleep better in all the Krylon black paint fumes!
Rich

 

[solo suzuki]

Re: anticipation

Re: anticipation

thanks claude. I have so much to do, and I just started a new job. so I'm working 12 hr days to get up to speed. that means I leave and it's dark, and when I come home it's dark. kind of hard to play in the cold ass garage.

It's good to be working hard. it means I can pay for my paint!!

I have a little race on my hands between the powdercoater, the painter, and myself polishing and cleaning parts. I really hope I have my job done before they have theirs done.

My wife fully hates this bike now...she's just jealous. all I want to talk about is that stupid bike.

Oh, that reminds me. anyone know of a good place to get a seat recovered in Portland, OR?

-K

wasn't this supposed to be a 'winter project'!? :?
take your time, don't rush it. you know once you put it back together you'll never take it apart unless something breaks. half the fun is building your bike the way you want it.
ok, maybe i'm just rambling on here 'cause i haven't started on mine yet! :wink:

 

[solo suzuki]

Re: anticipation

Re: anticipation

... I am sleeping in the basement ! It's all good, I sleep better in all the Krylon black paint fumes!
Rich

don't you just love the smell of krylon in the morning!? 8)

 

[outofcontrol]

what time?

what time?

I did have all winter, but I might loose my garage for several months in January due to a construction project. There's talk about getting a shipping container for all my garage stuff, but I kind of want to get it done before then. I have 6 bikes and tons of tools. There's no way I'm rolling that GS down the stairs into my basement. I did that with my dirtbike last winter, and I had to fire up the engine and kind of ride it/push it out up the stairs.

The wheel and swingarm swap seemed like a snap compared to all this polishing and painting. It's mostly because I'm not very good at it. I don't have alot of patience for the detail work needed for shiny parts and sweet paint. I'm accustomed to racebikes where performance and function are paramount. Looks and comfort are far, far, far down the list.

stay tuned GS lovers. there's a monster waiting to come out and show off it's teeth.

I'm pretty psyched. I just wish this damn job thingy wouldn't get in the way of my spare time.

 

[outofcontrol]

clutch rattle???

clutch rattle???

I've heard that the clutch rattle on these bikes is pretty normal.
I was planning on taking apart the clutch while I had the cover off to clean it up, and I found something.
I just started to take out the clutch, and I heard something drop. "freeze" what was that?

I don't have the right socket right now, but the clutch basket seems to have a lot of play in it. I don't know if this would have caused a clutch plate to break, but I think I'm going to rebuild it while I'm there.

http://gszone.biz/clutches.html
Big Jay, do you guys have a GSR discount? Can you hook a brother up?

Still waiting for the wheels and body, so I have some time.

-Kevin

 

[Guest]

well, now is a good time toi find that out rather than spring??//