78 GS1000 left for dead

[busa1300]

This picks up where the GS owner thread leaves off...
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?233129-Left-for-dead&highlight=

This will probably take a lot longer than it should, but that's the way every one of my projects has been...
I'll start off where I am today on the bike, and we will take two steps forward and one back throughout the story.

This is a few months into the project as I was collecting parts......the bike was truly left for dead in the Arizona sun since 1990...

 

[dorkburger]

It already looks awesome as just a rolling chassis. I'll be following along. Nice looking set of bodywork you found for it.

 

[alke46]

Subscribed. Love following these rebuild threads, good luck with however long it takes.

 

[chuck hahn]

Busa..I DESPERATELY need a scan of that blue for my upcoming 78 C model build.

 

[SVSooke]

I'm in to,don't worry to much about the time.My 78 only took 4 years with to many 1 step forward and 3 back to mention:eagerness:

 

[Big T]

Busa..I DESPERATELY need a scan of that blue for my upcoming 78 C model build.

Me too, mine needs a paint job really badly

 

[Jmanor]

This picks up where the GS owner thread leaves off...
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?233129-Left-for-dead&highlight=

This will probably take a lot longer than it should, but that's the way every one of my projects has been...
I'll start off where I am today on the bike, and we will take two steps forward and one back throughout the story.

This is a few months into the project as I was collecting parts......the bike was truly left for dead in the Arizona sun since 1990...

Wow, great job. Been working on my project a 82 GS1100 that has been left outside for close to 20 years. May have to take engine out to get it as clean as yours came out. Power wash?

 

[busa1300]

Thanks for your interest guys. I've had this for close to a year already, but have almost everything I need to get it together finally.
I used a soda blaster to clean up the engine, then re polished and painted it, along with new stainless bolts, gaskets and seals.
Pulling it makes it easier to check engine over good....(I blasted before I pulled engine covers off)

It's more work, but there is no way to clean an engine up right, while still in the frame. My frame needed attention as well, so the motor had to go.
Sorry I haven't gotten the color code yet, my other projects took my thoughts away from the GS. I did find a clean matching tail, but I still need to paint the seat base.
I've got a reminder for myself to check at work tomorrow, for our paint supplier to bring out their color gun, to scan the factory blue.

 

[busa1300]

Trying to decide where and how I want to mount my oil cooler, and steering damper....think I might mount damper to the head.
The fork brace fit just like it was supposed to luckily...

 

[alke46]

Probably a dumb question here but why the need for a steering damper?

 

[busa1300]

Probably a dumb question here but why the need for a steering damper?

Some tracks and racing organizations require them

 

[busa1300]

Finally got around to welding my steering damper bracket on....which was the reason I mocked it up in the first place (as well as seeing how the 83 GS1100 forks would look)...
Now to tear apart again and get frame looking new...

Just enough clearance for full lock to lock, and still room for the oil cooler....which I figured out how to mount as well....

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[busa1300]

Finally got around to getting the steering head bearing races out of the frame last week...

Had to weld washers onto both races to get them knocked out

dropped frame off at the sand blaster/powder coat shop today.
Hope to have back in a couple weeks...obviously I'm in no hurry, since I've been moving this slow so far....:subdued:

Hope to start and get my bolts replated while frame is away, and I can get engine back in as soon as frame comes home.

 

[busa1300]

Just got back from vacation this week, and my frame was all done with the sandblast/powdercoat procedure...

 

[steve murdoch]

You holiday in California by any chance? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/5676615944.html

I know you are going resto-mod but it still nice to see the rear frame loops still intact.

 

[viperg]

I recognize that CBX rear end in frame pic. Got a few pics of CBX and Kat at Rockers Reunion. Good to finally meet you. My Water Buffalo ran flawlessly as always. I took the smoker to Mid-Ohio with my 1000SN and Katana, had a great time! Did you make Mid-Ohio?

 

[Guest]

Going to look very very tricky..... Quick question (if I can be cheeky)

what width are the spoked rims .... Is it a stock C hub ?

 

[busa1300]

You holiday in California by any chance? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/5676615944.html

I know you are going resto-mod but it still nice to see the rear frame loops still intact.

The bike was too complete to chop up, plus I don't think any tail could look better with the original tank
Went to the Bahamas to do some shark diving....
And get married...

As far as getting another two stroke..... I did that this week.
Taking the slow boat from Japan.
Yes........it is still wearing it's original paint.

I recognize that CBX rear end in frame pic. Got a few pics of CBX and Kat at Rockers Reunion. Good to finally meet you. My Water Buffalo ran flawlessly as always. I took the smoker to Mid-Ohio with my 1000SN and Katana, had a great time! Did you make Mid-Ohio?

Your GT was the coolest smoker there...glad I got to finally meet the person behind the forum name.
I was on vacation the same week/weekend as Mid Ohio...
Plus, I doubt I would have gone with a high single day entry fee of $40 a person...... just to look at parts...

Going to look very very tricky..... Quick question (if I can be cheeky)

what width are the spoked rims .... Is it a stock C hub ?

The wheels are 3.5x18 and 2.75x18....tires are 150x70x18 and 110x80x18
The hub is a GS1000 from a old drag bike on rear, the front hub is actually from a GT550

 

[steve murdoch]

Congrats on the marriage and the wedding present to yourself.
I do not know much about the RG marque but a quick search has me guessing a '96 VJ23?

 

[busa1300]

Congrats on the marriage and the wedding present to yourself.
I do not know much about the RG marque but a quick search has me guessing a '96 VJ23?

Dead on the money :biggrin:

Only a 7 month total production run.....2218 total bikes ever built
This was about half the price of my first choice, a RZV500 (which I will forever dream about), yet considerably more rare. Only about a 1/3 are believed to still be complete...the rest have been raced/crashed and/or parted over the past 20 years.



For a company that built only two strokes until 1976, (unless you add in the RE5...then it would 1975).
This was the very last true street two stroke Suzuki built