78 GS1000 left for dead

[busa1300]

Thanks, it's been a long road to get it to this point. Once I get it running perfect, I might end up selling it.....since I won't have anything left to do on it. I have my other 78 GS1000 that has been patiently waiting for well over 10 years now for me to get it back into shape....And I really only need one GS1000

Time to dial in the GS better. Had carbs set so it would run, but never fine tuned them. Put in a bigger baffle for my header also, as the standard baffle is pretty small. Putting new plugs in and oil change this weekend, then I can see where to step up the fuel.

 

[busa1300]

Pulled carbs again, this time to get #1 cylinder to work better. It seemed to be running richer than the other 3.
Finally decided to take all the old choke parts out and put new parts in, in case there was a weak spring or the seal at the bottom of the plunger was no longer sealing. Also put in bigger pilot jets #25, in place of the 17.5....made a big difference. Next step is move needle up one more notch just to see how it feels. Runs extremely well at very low RPMs now, but I think midrange could use just a bit more.

Soooo.......I Pulled carbs again.
This time to move needles, and go up one main jet size. Feels a little stronger now and still pulls great from low RPMs. Have a dyno run scheduled for my Aprilia RS250, and I think I will take the GS1000 along too. Get a good baseline on it to see if I?m close enough to finally leave it alone.....and just ride it.

 

[busa1300]

Time to say goodbye

Time to say goodbye

It's time to say goodbye....
Done all I could with it....and it turned out exactly like I hoped.
But I have another GS1000 that needs attention, and that one will get a serious engine rebuild as well as AMA type frame mods....it will be the keeper.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/mcy/d/1978-suzuki-gs1000-left-for/6675034428.html

 

[Chuck78]

Are those Kosman rotors as you stated you had on your spare set of EPM magnesium mags???
I'm looking for a source for retro looking solid rotors like that to fit into WERA Vintage and AHRMA rules of no floating rotors... and I have seen several of those in the past & loved the looks...
I may resort to resurfacing, drilling, & slotting the stock 295mm GS alloy center rotors myself for the time being if I cannot find a source for repros of that style, or NOS/used rotors. I've seen them bolted to GS wheels several times

GREAT looking bikes. I have a barn find neglected GS1000C that Suzukidog sold me, that was that blue color but with a badly dented tank. I plan to give it the skunk paint job and transplant a spare set of my 2.50&3.50 x 18 wire wheels to it, GS1100E swingarm, spare Fox Factory Shox piggybacks, oil cooler, 1100GK D-Port top end with a Wiseco K1100 kit & junkyard score welded crank, maybe my welded stoker crankeven, & JE Pistons 1135cc kit..
Contemplated a Sun 2.75 & 4.25 18" rim combo so I could run the incredible Bridgestone Battlax BT-016 Pro tires whixh are basically inky available these days in sizes to fit '80's 1st generation GSXR's & ZX's etc... 150/70-18 & 160/60-18, 110/80-18 fronts... ultra grippy, & radials! The 150 is not listed fit for a 3.50 rim as most bias ply 150/70's are, however...


Lastly, did you find an OEM petcock diaphragm for that bike? Or is that the original or a K&L?


AWESOME looking bikes... the 1000's ESPECIALLY!
Also, can you PM me a link again to that article with the RG/RGV engine swap bike build-off with the 3 different GT250X7's? If I ever got a Suzi 2 stroke street bike, that would be amazing... RD400's are my favorite in terms of capability/power/parts availability, but it's NOT a Suzuki...

 

[busa1300]

Are those Kosman rotors as you stated you had on your spare set of EPM magnesium mags???

This is the spare set that will go on the black bike, and they are Kosman 13 inch floating rotors....definitely AMA time period.
But probably not legal for vintage racing now? The non floating 13 inch rotors on the black GS are still a bit of a mystery, but I believe they are EPM

https://www.practicalsportsbikesmag.co.uk/special-brew-1/love-it-or-hate-it-suzuki-x7

https://www.practicalsportsbikesmag.co.uk/magazine-issues/july-2017

 

[busa1300]

If I ever got a Suzi 2 stroke street bike, that would be amazing... RD400's are my favorite in terms of capability/power/parts availability, but it's NOT a Suzuki...

If you really want a powerful lightweight Suzuki two stroke.....something that would stomp ANY RD400 into the ground in every aspect.....
RGV

Parts availability is not bad and there are sources for parts still sold by Suzuki as well in Japan....through megazip.

A true 60+ rear wheel horsepower machine, that handles like GSXR with only half the weight.
My VJ23 handles like no other bike I have ever owned...and pulls like a freight train all the way to 12500RPM.

My VJ22 is a generation before, but the engine can be tuned to near 70HP and still be streetable, as there are more parts available aftermarket.

 

[busa1300]

85.2 at the rear wheel at 7900 with a near dead flat A/F ratio..... Clutch slipped on a couple occasions but not bad for a 40 year old parts bike

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

That thing sounds wonderful

 

[busa1300]

End to this story...
After getting the GS running as perfect as I could.....I used it a few times....parked it.....and it sat unused as I built up other projects.
As much as I liked the bike, it just wasn't my kind of bike....too casual I guess.
So I put a Craigslist ad up in July 2019 and it sold in about 4 days to a guy about 6 hours away (just outside Nashville area).....Have never heard a word of the bike since.

Selling a perfectly good running bike for another project.....insane I know.......(I still have one GS1000 yet that will get some attention on here one day)
The project I sold the GS to buy.... a two stroke, one quarter the size.
One of 500 built for homologation purposes for Japanese F3 TT racing. Yamaha's first (and last) V-twin stroker
Designed side by side with the first V-twin race bike, the 3YL and then the 4DP
Rough condition, but complete with every special one off part still intact.

Yea, I know.....WTF was I thinking you say.....?
Because this is one of the baddest little strokers to ever have a plate and lights.

It's an addiction, once you own a few, you just can't stop.

 

[GSXR7ED]

So many bikes...so little time!

First time I’ve seen this thread.

Ed

 

[dorkburger]

Busa, I certainly won't question your decision.
Two strokes are awesome, and your growing collection of rare / unusual machines is quite impressive.

 

[busa1300]

So many bikes...so little time!

First time I?ve seen this thread.

Ed

So little time is true.
Lucky to have more than 6 months a year of useful riding weather here....
...on top of the fact that even when the weather is good, the roads are boring as hell...

Now that I have rode my KTM 1290 SDGT the past season, I question why I have any other bike.
I could make life much easier and cheaper once retirement age finally hits.

Busa, I certainly won't question your decision.
Two strokes are awesome, and your growing collection of rare / unusual machines is quite impressive.

Thanks, .....late model two strokes are a little known entity in the motorcycling world (at least here in the States) ....understood by few.
But it's my niche I guess for now.

But as said before....regardless how fun they are, they still hibernate way more than operate......PS...glad to see you made the cover month on oldskool :encouragement:

 

[steve murdoch]

End to this story...
After getting the GS running as perfect as I could.....I used it a few times....parked it.....and it sat unused as I built up other projects.
As much as I liked the bike, it just wasn't my kind of bike....too casual I guess.
So I put a Craigslist ad up in July 2019 and it sold in about 4 days to a guy about 6 hours away (just outside Nashville area).....Have never heard a word of the bike since.

Selling a perfectly good running bike for another project.....insane I know.......(I still have one GS1000 yet that will get some attention on here one day)
The project I sold the GS to buy.... a two stroke, one quarter the size.
One of 500 built for homologation purposes for Japanese F3 TT racing. Yamaha's first (and last) V-twin stroker
Designed side by side with the first V-twin race bike, the 3YL and then the 4DP
Rough condition, but complete with every special one off part still intact.

Yea, I know.....WTF was I thinking you say.....?
Because this is one of the baddest little strokers to ever have a plate and lights.

It's an addiction, once you own a few, you just can't stop.

GLWS for that beauty.
Now Randy, about that spare CBX engine collecting dust under the shelf....

 

[dorkburger]

Its only been over the last few years that I have discovered thru web browsing, your posts, etc, that there was life beyond the RZ 350 / 400.... and quite a bit at that.

Considering the minimal modifications on my ES, the Old Skool BOTM was a shock to me, especially in light of the high quality craftsmanship / reengineering that goes on there. They don't take submissions as far as I know, so the selection was a complete surprise.

 

[Spyder]

Oh yeah, I forgot about this one... You did a really nice job on that bike. You seem to have a love of speed. You and I should get together sometime this summer and ride.

 

[busa1300]

GLWS for that beauty.
Now Randy, about that spare CBX engine collecting dust under the shelf....

The GS was sold, and I bought the TZR out of Japan with the money....shipped it....then pieced it back together and got it running after a lifetime of abuse followed by neglect.
Still needs a rebuild at some point for a fresh start, but it will be a long term keeper.
The CBX engine goes with the CBX.....not officially for sale yet, but I do want to sell it this spring...every bit of my CBX stuff will all go.
Almost 25 years of ownership.....it's time to pass on the responsibility to someone else.
You have room for one more don't you

Its only been over the last few years that I have discovered thru web browsing, your posts, etc, that there was life beyond the RZ 350 / 400.... and quite a bit at that.

Considering the minimal modifications on my ES, the Old Skool BOTM was a shock to me, especially in light of the high quality craftsmanship / reengineering that goes on there. They don't take submissions as far as I know, so the selection was a complete surprise.

If there is ever a day you want to get more in depth with the 65HP 275 pound rockets that Suzuki used to sell...let me know
BOTM....They knew you were Oldskool through and through....keeping the legend alive on this side of the pond.

Oh yeah, I forgot about this one... You did a really nice job on that bike. You seem to have a love of speed. You and I should get together sometime this summer and ride.

Thanks. :encouragement:
I do like speed....I am actually taking my Hayabusa and my RGV VJ21 that I am doing a complete rebuild on, to Bonneville Salt Flats this year. (bucket list)
I have rode to Lake Michigan a few times, but don't get much past the wineries over that way when my wife goes with me.
I bought my KTM from the dealer in Hobart....is that close to you?

 

[Spyder]

I'm down by Knox. I ride with a group a few times a year, and we head up to Michigan for food, and change of scenery. Most roads around us are quite boring as far as cornering. There are some better spots up there, just have to pick ones that have been maintained. Potholes can be brutal up there. I ride a '95 GSXR750W, and have an '83 GS750T (currently dead). I think I've asked you in the past, but where are you?

 

[busa1300]

I'm down by Knox. I ride with a group a few times a year, and we head up to Michigan for food, and change of scenery. Most roads around us are quite boring as far as cornering. There are some better spots up there, just have to pick ones that have been maintained. Potholes can be brutal up there. I ride a '95 GSXR750W, and have an '83 GS750T (currently dead). I think I've asked you in the past, but where are you?

I?m a few miles east of Elkhart.
Roads in my area are great if you like straight lines...and corn fields to look at.
I always head into Michigan or a bit south to Lake Wawasee area...
My strokers don?t venture out too far from home, but I?ll take the SuperDuke anywhere.

 

[alke46]

Roads in my area are great if you like straight lines...and corn fields to look at.

Sounds like you just described my location except for the fact that I have to go about six hours to get to the good stuff. Must be why I trailer everywhere now.

 

[Spyder]

The group I ride with, are mostly from the Mishawaka area, with a few from Elkhart and Southbend. We venture into Elkhart now and then. Maybe we can get a ride dialed in over the summer.