83 GS1100E Seat or Cover and Exhaust and questions

[Ccitis]

Hey All,

Picked up an 83 1100E a few months ago. She is cosmetically ok, but runs like a scalded cat. Boy does she run. The seat is torn in all the usual places. What do you folks recommend I do to repair? I would like to slowly bring her back to looking good. It has the stock pipes on it... I toy with going to a 4 into 1 for the sound... suggestions?

I also see a little bit of oil weeping out of the case seams on the front. Not a big deal, but have to clean it up every so often... I don't think there is much to do there apart from splitting the cases (not right now), or using JB weld. Loosened and retightened the bolts, seemed to have helped some.

 

[Ccitis]

Silly me, a picture should be mandatory. Yes, the crappy grips have already been replaced!

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Before you go splitting the case, find out where the oil is coming from. Clean it up and dry everything. Spray powdered foot spray on all the seams. Run the engine, and watch to see what gets wet first. Oil leaks often come from where you least suspect.

 

[oldGSfan]

Pit Replica (https://www.ebay.com/itm/155964180575) is a nice seat cover, a very good duplicate, and reinforced where they all tear. I bought 2 seats before I got this one, for a Honda 750 and a GS1000E, and both were high quality. It's a great thing that someone is making these. So nice for the price (no affiliation with the seller, just impressed). Watch this New Yawkah put one on here:

As for the leak (I HATE oil leaks!), oil can migrate all over - is it at the rear or front of the engine? I have completely fixed badly leaking GS1100E's which were described as head gasket, case or base gasket leaks by PO, by replacing, in this order of likelihood to leak. First two are very common. I have had about 9 GS1100Es and never encountered a case or cylinder base/head gasket leak, thankfully.

Tachometer seals x2, #14 and $17 here: https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/suzuki/motorcycle/1983/gs1100e/cylinder-head-cover-model-d

Seal nut O-rings x2 (major culprit, mimics head gasket leak in front): #17 here: https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/suzuki/motorcycle/1983/gs1100e/cylinder-head

Both of the above will weep down around the cam chain tunnel and surrounding area in the front and mimic a head gasket or cam cover gasket leak.

Cylinder head end plugs - $27 same link as seal nut. I had them leak even when I put brand new ones in and used sealant as recommended on this forum (somewhere), and I turned them around and put them in reverse with the lip on inside, that works fine.
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Chain tensioner gasket (not as common but if someone did work on the engine and mucked it up it may leak.

Oil pressure switch has 2x O-ring/seal #36 & 48. https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/suzuki/motorcycle/1983/gs1100e/crankcase-model-d. I got a pair just in case but mine was from the tensioner.

You can isolate by cleaning well and putting powder on it, or try some dye in the oil and a UV light.

Oh and I like stock pipes, heavier but I like the symmetry, sound, oill drain plug and center stand access (some aftermarket are OK for these two). Bike looks great.

 

[Rob S.]

Looks kinda like mine. I have V&H exhaust and APE pods, love the sound.

It's not leaking oil, it's 'sweating horsepower.' (Mine too.)

 

[rphillips]

Just something to think about. Afraid I'd mess up, I took my old seat and new cover (82 GS1100E) to a reputable automotive upholstery shop. Picked it up and it looked great. Got home and put it on and it doesn't fit near as good as before, it's too short. There's a gap between the seat and tail section, I can slide it back but then the gap is in the front and seat doesn't lay against the tank as it is supposed to do. Nothing I can't live with on this daily rider but noticeable. It seems they pulled the cover a little too tight and compressed the foam a little. Thinking if they'd had the bike they may have noticed and made it fit better... Exhaust, I love and am addicted to the buzzz of a 4 into 1. Any time I hear one, no matter where I'm at, I just keep listening to that buzzz till I can't hear it any more. On the other hand the OEM's look waaay better and sound O K. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Ccitis]

Thanks for the thoughts! I guess pit replicas is the way to go then. I have done a few seats... sigh... I guess I will do one again. I am certain the oil is from the case seams. You can see it accumulate. On the front. I will take a photo if I can. It is not alot, but annoying and makes a mess.