'79 GS1000E project start

[oldGSfan]

I will post some progress as I freshen up my GS1000EN. I will focus on making it run well and tend to the cosmetics over time, as usual.

It has some non-stock stuff, including

• Fox shocks that I'm rebuilding due to leakage but the pistons are unmarred and the rebuild is going well.
• Dyna S ignition.
• Superbike bars
• Lockhart oil cooler with the thermostat and oil takeoff from the oil pressure switch housing from the GS850 I picked up last weekend.
• K&N pods and V&H pipes. I have cleaned the VM26SS carbs with ultrasound am re o-ringing. I'd prefer stock airbox and pipes, but hope not to run into too much hassle with them
• I may try running the gold 18" EPM wheels off the GS1100E for a bit, but they really belong on the turbo for historic reasons. With the black paint they'd look pretty nice. I'm picking apart my two GS850Gs for whatever is on there in better condition, little switch parts, cables, turn signal mounts that were missing, etc.

Hoping I can get it into running condition in the next month or two.

 

[RustyTank]

I'll be watchin for sure! look forward to seeing the progress

 

[oldGSfan]

Poaching parts off my GS850Gs, got a decent handlebar pad and rear turn signal mounts I was missing, plus front fender (haven't test fitted but looks the same though it's a different PN), and the Lockhart oil cooler setup, plus some other odds and ends for the switches and electricals. I need a different NPT fitting for the oil cooler engine fitting, as it fouls the clutch cable. A 45 degree angled one should do it.

I may well end up an authority of sorts on GS850/1000 parts interchangeability.

I'll have lots of '79 GS850G stuff to sell or trade, as I now have two of them. Nice original exhaust, decent tank and body parts, brake stuff etc. Also some electronic ignition I don't recognize, maybe will be able to identify if anything on the back side. Will post when time permits.

For the GS1000 I will need 4 turn signals, nothing else I can think of.

GS row...

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[dorkburger]

You sure keep busy... looking like you're off to a good start.

 

[mustangflyr]

Looks like a fun project, keep those ole GS's going.

 

[Nessism]

Make sure the rubber seal on the adapter plate pickup tube seals tight over the oil feed port down into the oil distribution cavity or oil won't flow properly through the system. And consider ditching the cooler entirely. It's needless plumbing which can leaks and cause pumping losses in the oiling system. A cooler is not needed unless you plan to hammer the bike in heavy traffic regularly and/or race.

 

[oldGSfan]

Thanks for info, points well taken. Still, I sorta like the look

Make sure the rubber seal on the adapter plate pickup tube seals tight over the oil feed port down into the oil distribution cavity or oil won't flow properly through the system. And consider ditching the cooler entirely. It's needless plumbing which can leaks and cause pumping losses in the oiling system. A cooler is not needed unless you plan to hammer the bike in heavy traffic regularly and/or race.

 

[oldGSfan]

Thinking about paint, a few choices from most expensive to cheap and easy to get it looking OK

1) Go with what appears to be the real stuff from the UK seller RS bike paint, 08E pearl black.
https://www.rsbikepaint.com/en-us/shop-paints.php?colourscheme=21418&45986=on

2) This stuff - brilliant blue black pearl off eBay. I already have the 2K clear so this is tempting.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brilliant-...893183?hash=item3aef89de7f:g:eEoAAOSw9eVXWzpe

3) Just paint it black with a $4 can of Rustoleum appliance enamel and do it right later. I am amazed how good that stuff lays on, have done several jobs with it. Just no flake. I could mask around the existing stripes which aren't bad but yeah, it's a hack.

Money's gonna be tight, just got laid off so #3 may have to be the way for the time being.

 

[Nessism]

Sorry to hear you got laid off. That sucks.

I've got some Nason fleet black urethane that's sprays out ridiculously great. You could dump a little metallic in it if you want. I bought a gallon back when restoring my KZ and have about 3/4's of it left. You will have to buy some hardner but you are welcome to a quart of the stuff for free.

 

[oldGSfan]

No worries and thanks a lot. I'll shoot you an Email.

Sorry to hear you got laid off. That sucks.

I've got some Nason fleet black urethane that's sprays out ridiculously great. You could dump a little metallic in it if you want. I bought a gallon back when restoring my KZ and have about 3/4's of it left. You will have to buy some hardner but you are welcome to a quart of the stuff for free.

 

[Sandy]

Thinking about paint, a few choices from most expensive to cheap and easy to get it looking OK

1) Go with what appears to be the real stuff from the UK seller RS bike paint, 08E pearl black.
https://www.rsbikepaint.com/en-us/shop-paints.php?colourscheme=21418&45986=on

2) This stuff - brilliant blue black pearl off eBay. I already have the 2K clear so this is tempting.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brilliant-...893183?hash=item3aef89de7f:g:eEoAAOSw9eVXWzpe

3) Just paint it black with a $4 can of Rustoleum appliance enamel and do it right later. I am amazed how good that stuff lays on, have done several jobs with it. Just no flake. I could mask around the existing stripes which aren't bad but yeah, it's a hack.

Money's gonna be tight, just got laid off so #3 may have to be the way for the time being.

FYI. When I needed my tail piece repainted a number of years ago a local painter went through his suppliers paint chips and picked what turned out to be an exact match for the Suzuki 08E pearl black metallic. It was 2000 Honda Civic NH592P Flamenco Black Pearl that has the proper blue metallic and even in bright sunlight you cannot tell any difference to, at the time, my NOS Suzuki tank.

 

[oldGSfan]

OK great info, thanks for that. Decisions...

FYI. When I needed my tail piece repainted a number of years ago a local painter went through his suppliers paint chips and picked what turned out to be an exact match for the Suzuki 08E pearl black metallic. It was 2000 Honda Civic NH592P Flamenco Black Pearl that has the proper blue metallic and even in bright sunlight you cannot tell any difference to, at the time, my NOS Suzuki tank.

 

[oldGSfan]

I was looking at te rear tire and it's an 18", checked the parts fiche and that says it's the same 17" on the 79 that i have on the 82 GS1100E (and I have a perfect new one of those). Scratched head. Not that there's anything wrong with the wheels on the GS1000E but I had to check what bikes came with 18" - I saw GS1000S which got me looking at VIN #s with eagerness. Well it's not an S, just someone put a wheel from a 550/650/750 of the era on. Why? Maybe there was better rubber available in 18" back then. It's a long time ago.

Now I have 3 sets: the 17/19 front/rear originals off the '82 GS1100E, the gold EPMs that are both 18", and the 18/19 set on the 1000. I think with black paint on the 1000, the gold would pop but they belong on the GS1100E turbo for historical correctness. I might become a wheel swapping maniac.

 

[oldGSfan]

I tried fitting the GS850G's pipes and they mated up pretty well, one side tested so far. I will have to adjust the clamp bolt holes a bit. The V&H 4/1 that was on the GS1000E is not terrible but I like the symmetry and quietness of the 4/2's . Pretty happy as I didn't even think of this until I did some research on interchangeability. Perfect/original? No. But free and not too bad!

 

[Nessism]

I was looking at te rear tire and it's an 18", checked the parts fiche and that says it's the same 17" on the 79 that i have on the 82 GS1100E (and I have a perfect new one of those). Scratched head. Not that there's anything wrong with the wheels on the GS1000E but I had to check what bikes came with 18" - I saw GS1000S which got me looking at VIN #s with eagerness. Well it's not an S, just someone put a wheel from a 550/650/750 of the era on. Why? Maybe there was better rubber available in 18" back then. It's a long time ago.

Now I have 3 sets: the 17/19 front/rear originals off the '82 GS1100E, the gold EPMs that are both 18", and the 18/19 set on the 1000. I think with black paint on the 1000, the gold would pop but they belong on the GS1100E turbo for historical correctness. I might become a wheel swapping maniac.

The 17" wheel is 2.5" wide whereas the 18" is 2.15". I'd go for the wider wheel if at all possible because you can then run a 130 tire.

 

[Sandy]

How nicely did the exhaust fit? I used a 1000G system on mine for years before it finally ended up all rattley from loose baffles and it was a perfect fit. I then swapped it out for a very nice stock system thanks to a lead from Ed.

 

[oldGSfan]

Depending on how this thing runs I may run the 3.5/18 EPM on the rear, which has a 140/70 on it. Of course it's mounted on the GS1100E turbo but I don't think I'll ride that as much as this '79. Not that it's a bad ride but the value and chances of entering another dimension is less on the '79. And I just may like the earlier bike more for daily service.

But your suggestion makes sense too. It's less work as the 17" I have has the original unused rear sprocket. I guess stick with the 630 for now as I have a few decent chains.

The tire on the 2.15 rim is a 130/80-18 Metzeler Metronic. Definitely looks pinched on there. A shame as it's just old but has tons of tread, I used to run those on my bikes and they weren't cheap.

The 17" wheel is 2.5" wide whereas the 18" is 2.15". I'd go for the wider wheel if at all possible because you can then run a 130 tire.

 

[oldGSfan]

Very nicely, I have only done the left (clutch) side so maybe a turd in the punchbowl coming on the right side. Will see tomorrow. I could do now but I hate working with nasty greasy/rusty parts so I clean first. I haven't mounted all the pegs/shifter so I'll update if any probs. So far it looks like a really good fit, with the kickstand slotted into the gap between the pipes, and in down and retracted there is no issue. I didn't touch the shield either, it just sits in nicely.

I'll update as I make progress on it. One more pic. I like pics.

How nicely did the exhaust fit? I used a 1000G system on mine for years before it finally ended up all rattley from loose baffles and it was a perfect fit. I then swapped it out for a very nice stock system thanks to a lead from Ed.

 

[oldGSfan]

Got the Fox shocks done, happy with the result, kit from Thor Lawson with sticker. Thanks Nesissm for ID, I just had forgotten all about these, so far back in memory banks.

I just went gloss black and gold, not a fan of red. Yeah red is probably stock but it's just paint. Just good old air in there now, holding steady and no leaks. I used 3M clear on the bodies as the springs will rub. Not sure it'll help but they did similar stock, but a colored wrap. I had it laying around so WTH. Credit to son as the hand model.

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[steve murdoch]

The shocks look great.
For others here is the link to the shock rebuild and parts site.
http://www.evolutionsuspensionproducts.com/