82 GS1100E Mr Turbo Rebuild

[Rob S.]

Also working on my son's future bike, '94 Yamaha XT350. Since it was an unknown quantity I disassembled the YZ250 forks that the PO put on - a nice upgrade. I always like to know what's going on in suspension and brakes. The seals are holding oil and look new and the fluid was perfectly clean, but the bump stop disintegrated on removal, so I will replace and put the right level of oil in there, and call it good. It also has a leak on the crank seal under the magneto, but it's an easy and cheap job (he says).

The Honda CB750 is getting new APE cylinder studs, as the originals are a weakness leading to what was a very oily top end. I have quality gaskets, and have lapped the valves - for a 31K bike the journals, valves/seats and overall health of the engine is really good. I painted the frame with appliance enamel and had the rest of the hard parts powder coated. It's going to be a sweet bike, just have to decide on color - son thinks the Candy Bacchus Olive is classy and less common than the Flake Sunrise Orange. Either one will be tricky for me to do myself with the decals etc. I am waiting on that decision till the rest is up to snuff.

Can I call you "daddy"?

 

[oldGSfan]

Yeah what's crazy is I've done this before, sometimes I find it easier to do with a couple of pointy pick tools. I don't know what was going on but maybe just fatigue.

Ahhhh, that circlip in the piston of the MC. I had a heck of a time squeezing it to fit right in the groove. My Boeing engineer friend looked at it, used the tool (in his methodical way) and popped it right in!

It should be a while before I have to rebuild that MC.

Ed

****

 

[oldGSfan]

Can I call you "daddy"?

Haha speaking of family, the bug runs deep with our clan. My 8 years older brother was the king of cool to me as a kid, he had a bunch of great bikes. My mom's father was a motorcycle courier in WWI.

Here are some pics.

Older brother on his first 'real' bike after a Yamaha 180 - a '68 Triumph Trophy, me on the far back. Boston around 1969 1/2.

Brother on left with a pal, in the basement waiting for spring, trying to look cool. He was grunge before grunge existed, with his ripped jeans and Frye boots.

Last one of brother, he rode this from Boston to Colorado in the 70's, and had many stories to tell after that ride. Peeing blood, riding in rain etc. Headlight pointed to the sky!

His stable in the 80's - Yamaha TT500, Honda CR125, 67 Bonneville, KZ1000LTD and a H2. Had to sell them all due to being laid off.

A 66 BSA Hornet converted to Spitfire street spec with the little US tank that my late brother owned and I inherited, with my nephew onboard. That thing was a cracker.

My grandpa - mother's dad at 16 around 1915 or so in Colorado. Maybe a HD 565?

https://www.yesterdays.nl/product/harley-davidson-1915-15c-573cc-1-cyl-ioe-2808/

Grandpa again, in France in WWI at 18, was a motorcycle courier. After the cease fire he picked up a German kid on his bike and brought him home for a nice meal - at the German kid's home.

 

[Rob S.]

Still waiting to see (and hear) a clip of you zooming down the street on the rear wheel of that turbo.

 

[slayer61]

Tom those pictures are truly special. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Very cool.

 

[oldGSfan]

Just rode it yesterday, so fun. Just pulls and pulls. Not sure I posted these but if a repeat my apologies. Can't get enough of the way it looks. Pics were taken by the tuner's photographer, since then I've put a standard seat on and side cover back on the intake side. I need to get the original photos from him, the first 3 are just screen grabs from Instagram. Last one is from yesterday prior to ride.

 

[Rob S.]

Maybe some 'moving pictures', possibly with sound (turbo sound)? You have a son who can video you zooming by, don't you?

I could really use this as my two brothers today told me they would make sure I never ride a motorcycle or drive a car again. They don't even want me to attempt to get back on my ten speed English racer. They didn't even want me to come home in May, they wanted me to live in an 'assisted living' facility.

So let me live a little vicariously through you. Thanks!

 

[steve murdoch]

Looking great.
Retro vibe to the pics. Cycle Guide '83?

 

[Guest]

That looks amazing! We definitely need some video.

 

[oldGSfan]

Well, my son took a couple short videos of me riding to the end of the cul-de-sac and back. In shorts and flip flops, no helmet. Don't report me to the fuzz! I am setting a bad example, will do better soon. I want to use his 360 cam that has a chest mount this weekend perhaps. I also may take it to Cars & Coffee. It's got a head gasket leak and puffs a bit of smoke but is fine to ride and I'd rather just enjoy it until I finish my CB750, then will get it sorted.

Sorry to hear that you are not going to ride Rob.

https://youtu.be/zB9BcUVXrWA

https://youtu.be/QDVMknzQxPE

 

[Rob S.]

Sounded great! Thanks.

 

[steve murdoch]

Nice video....the grin says it all.
You hooligan! I'm callin' the Fuzz!

 

[slayer61]

Dammit. I am just green with envy. I have been looking for a GS11 turbo for ages. Congratz oldGSfan. Very well done.

 

[Guest]

More smiles per mile...looks like a fun bike!

 

[dorkburger]

These old bike look so much cleaner without mirrors. Not practical / safe, but it definitely makes photos nicer.

 

[Guest]

That sounds absolutely awesome, love it!

 

[oldGSfan]

I have a 2nd Napoleon bar-end for the throttle side, plus the originals. Napoleons do the job just fine but I'd have to cut through the grip and throttle's plastic sleeve, and I just got a genuine Suzuki one so I'm hesitant to cut it. I have to decide, been waffling. As it is now, having just one bar end mirror, it's not good enough, so sorting this out is the next fix in the line.

These old bike look so much cleaner without mirrors. Not practical / safe, but it definitely makes photos nicer.

 

[dorkburger]

I've had the Napoleons on mine for ages. The fairing mounted mirrors on the 1150 are mostly useless.
No need to cut the throttle tube on mine as the 1150 came with factory bar end weights.

 

[dweller]

Bike looks awesome and sounds great. What wheels are those?

 

[oldGSfan]

EPM - by Arturo Magni of Italy - MV Agusta fame. Pretty rare. Front is magnesium 18x2.5 and very light. Rear is aluminum, 18x3.5. The original owner really did like his top shelf gear.

Bike looks awesome and sounds great. What wheels are those?