82' GS1100GK seemed like a good idea at the time..

[Burque73]

I'm about 2" shorter and thats exactly why I trimmed a few inches off my windscreen. Made a huge difference in my night riding and surprisingly my back didnt hurt anymore after long rides. I was trying to sit too straight, straining my back.

I'll bet a valve cover gasket and an o-ring with a new seal in the tachometer drive will fix those leaks.

 

[salty_monk]

Easy to test the 17" wheel they are cheap enough to get hold of... remove the shocks & run the swingarm through full travel.

 

[bwringer]

If you're switching wheel diameters you may find that you need to account for the brake disk spacing. I recall one long-ago forum member who had to add a few washers one way or the other, but I don't remember exactly what he was adapting to what. But that may have also been due to a year difference.

If I were you, I'd look for a 17" rear from a later model 850G or 1100G ('82+, I think) marked "TUBELESS TIRE APPLICABLE" and that should be about as close as you can get, and may be a drop-in.

 

[Steve]

If you're switching wheel diameters you may find that you need to account for the brake disk spacing. I recall one long-ago forum member who had to add a few washers one way or the other, but I don't remember exactly what he was adapting to what. But that may have also been due to a year difference.

That may have been me. :-k

Not sure if it's a "year" thing or a "G vs. L" thing, but I had to do it when I put the '82 1100G wheels on my '80 850G. Also had to do some trickery with washers (thin spacers) when I installed the '82 L wheel in place of the '82 G wheel. I don't remember if I needed to change any shims or just re-use the ones I already had. It might be more of a year thing than model.

MArider, like you, I changed wheels because of a tire selection limitation, but I went the other way. I was getting ready for a ride that might exceed the life of the tires I was currently using, so went with the 16" wheel because there were more offerings of high-mileage tires.

Roger, it wasn't just the GK that got the taller final ratio, it was ALL of the '83 1100 shafties. I am keeping my eye open for one to bring my revs back down to about where they were with the 17" wheel.

.

 

[MArider]

I'm about 2" shorter and thats exactly why I trimmed a few inches off my windscreen. Made a huge difference in my night riding and surprisingly my back didnt hurt anymore after long rides. I was trying to sit too straight, straining my back.

I'll bet a valve cover gasket and an o-ring with a new seal in the tachometer drive will fix those leaks.

I am think you may be right. Well the PO was a fan of RTV..it appears the valve cover, around the carb boots (which I will admit need to be replaced but they are not leaking, idles perfect and throttle doesn't ever hang) all had a liberal amount of RTV used.

That may have been me. :-k

Not sure if it's a "year" thing or a "G vs. L" thing, but I had to do it when I put the '82 1100G wheels on my '80 850G. Also had to do some trickery with washers (thin spacers) when I installed the '82 L wheel in place of the '82 G wheel. I don't remember if I needed to change any shims or just re-use the ones I already had. It might be more of a year thing than model.

MArider, like you, I changed wheels because of a tire selection limitation, but I went the other way. I was getting ready for a ride that might exceed the life of the tires I was currently using, so went with the 16" wheel because there were more offerings of high-mileage tires.

Roger, it wasn't just the GK that got the taller final ratio, it was ALL of the '83 1100 shafties. I am keeping my eye open for one to bring my revs back down to about where they were with the 17" wheel.

.

In the 16inch there are definitely a lot more touring tires as it is the ol harley sized rear tire. I plan on for now running the stock wheels with new tires for now. most of my riding is commuting and street tires on a fire road actually isnt that bad.

If you're switching wheel diameters you may find that you need to account for the brake disk spacing. I recall one long-ago forum member who had to add a few washers one way or the other, but I don't remember exactly what he was adapting to what. But that may have also been due to a year difference.

If I were you, I'd look for a 17" rear from a later model 850G or 1100G ('82+, I think) marked "TUBELESS TIRE APPLICABLE" and that should be about as close as you can get, and may be a drop-in.

I do believe you are right. I think there was some changes from '82 on. People always talk about reliability of old Honda's but this bike just runs and runs well...like an old tank.

I am hoping that its a bike I can one day give to one of my kids.

 

[ddaniels]

I am hoping that its a bike I can one day give to one of my kids.

This reminds me of that commercial where the parents were giving the teenage boy their old station wagon.

 

[MArider]

This reminds me of that commercial where the parents were giving the teenage boy their old station wagon.

Its the old squire station wagons of motorcycles.

 

[Burque73]

Roger, it wasn't just the GK that got the taller final ratio, it was ALL of the '83 1100 shafties. I am keeping my eye open for one to bring my revs back down to about where they were with the 17" wheel.

.

That's interesting. Thank you.

 

[MArider]

it looks like I will not be converting to a 17. With the proper sized tire for that wheel it is actually slighter shorter than the 16.

 

[MArider]

update on Brown Betty. Recovered the seat after reshaping the seat foam. (serape blanket repurposed and actually turned out pretty well. Also waterproofing after work today) Custom handlebars should be here mid next week (12inch tall T Bars from Deep Six Cycles) I like to be a little different. marine speakers and Bluetooth amp board will be here tomorrow so I will get that installed. $25 in total as compared to $100+ for a "motorcycle stereo setup" and then I am ready for the end times. This has turned into the old beat up C10 pickup of motorcycles and I love it

 

[Guest]

Roger, it wasn't just the GK that got the taller final ratio, it was ALL of the '83 1100 shafties. I am keeping my eye open for one to bring my revs back down to about where they were with the 17" wheel.

.

No kidding on keeping an eye out, I'm up to 3 extra 82 model differentials and have never crossed a real 83. Even had an Ebay vender give me the vehicle's VIN once to verify and still ended up with an older diff from an 83 VIN.

 

[Redman]

update on Brown Betty. Recovered the seat after reshaping the seat foam. (serape blanket repurposed and actually turned out pretty well. Also waterproofing after work today)

.
..................
............

Colorfull.

 

[MArider]

I know this is going to be to many peoples cup o tea but its mine..it actually more comfortable with the bars for me than the stock ones.

 

[Redman]

.
.......................Custom handlebars should be here mid next week (12inch tall T Bars from Deep Six Cycles) I like to be a little different. ...........

Any pics with that?

 

[MArider]

Any pics with that?

should be a picture on my last post with the new bars.

 

[MArider]

How do you like your bimmer redman? Theres one for sale near me for a song with 68000 on it.

 

[Redman]

How do you like your bimmer redman? Theres one for sale near me for a song with 68000 on it.

Is the "One" an 02 R1150RT?
The most problem prone, most expensive catastrophic failure model the company ever put out.
If you think BMW has a repretation of reliability (as I did), I would now say that is based on the old airheads of the 50s-60s-70s-80s. THen in the ninetys started comming out with more and more models (I think that is about when they combined the auto and mocykle engineering).

Rides nice. Comfortable.

If go to BMW functions, is a different world.