Buyers guide for an 83 gs1100e?

[adam83]

Hi I'm Adam, I'm driving up to look at 83 GS1100E this week, I've always wanted one and this one looks great in pictures.

I've owned two yamaha XS1100 specials, an FJ1200, and V65 Magna, and I do all my own wrenching on them, from transmission repair to electrical to cosmetics, so I'm pretty decent at checking out the general mechanicals and electronics of any bike.

I was hoping you all could guide me in what problems to look for that are specifically related to this bike. And also, how do I tell that I truly have an 83 frame and an 83 motor? I know the 83s got the black painted motor, so how do I tell its not an 82 motor painted black?

Tha k you for your time

 

[Baatfam]

Do you have any photos you can share?

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Date of manufacture will be on the top of the label on the head stock. Late 82 would indicate an ‘83 but not sure on the month. On the bottom right of the label should be the model including the last character which is the year code. Z=‘82, D=‘83.

 

[Baatfam]

What he said ^^^

'83s had black forks, black motor, black carbs, different wheels, different rear sets, 140mph speedo (85mph on the '82s)....

 

[rphillips]

And black chrome exhaust, if you're lucky & it is orig.

 

[Rob S.]

Yes, we need pics and numbers ($), but you are talking about what is arguably the height of air cooled superbikedom. In it's day (and a few years before), it was the quickest, fastest and best handling superbike in mass production.

 

[Big T]

If it's the one in Bothell, that looks like a good deal Nice bike with stock exhaust included

 

[adam83]

Here are some photos. The frame bike and its title I believe are an 83 according to the VIN, but the owner thinks this engine has been repainted, and its my first time looking at a GS1100E closely like this, so I cant tell if the engine is an 83 or a painted 82.

 

[adam83]

It runs well, he said the carbs have been rebuilt and thats why the paint is gone on them. It has a few stumbling issues in lower to mid rpm but idles ok and mid to WOT no issues

 

[adam83]

I guess there was no provision in the battery he installed to accommodate the battery warning light, so it just stays on all the time, and he covered it with tape. Its a really cool bike, ran through all the gears well. The cover or the tank may have been painted at one point as well. The tires appear to be in decent shape, but the front is getting really old, almost 10 years.

Mainly I just want to make sure Im getting the 83 engine, and if there is a way to confirm that Im going to make him an offer.

 

[Baatfam]

I guess there was no provision in the battery he installed to accommodate the battery warning light, so it just stays on all the time, and he covered it with tape. Its a really cool bike, ran through all the gears well. The cover or the tank may have been painted at one point as well. The tires appear to be in decent shape, but the front is getting really old, almost 10 years.

Mainly I just want to make sure Im getting the 83 engine, and if there is a way to confirm that Im going to make him an offer.

Looks legit to me. Looks like original paint on the engine. Wheels, speedo, rear sets, etc., all look correct.
And even the seat is in decent shape. Oil cooler, SS brake lines, good additions.

Looks better than mine, that's for sure. Yes, new tires are always a good idea on an old bike. Nice find.

 

[steve murdoch]

A lot of the time when as engine is repainted or covers are ceramic coated they don't take the time to tape off the engine fins or the end of the valve covers.
Agreed, it looks legit to me. Buy it!

 

[zuluwiz]

I would really recommend getting the best tires you can find for one of these beasts. Tires and brakes are 2 must haves for any liter-bike. Speaking of which, I would also recommend new pads for the front brakes, the ones in there appear to be worn, and modern brake pads make a huge difference to your braking power.

 

[rphillips]

Hard to imagine anyone would even question "83" or "82" eng. I think only difference, that would matter, was big end or small end crankshaft. If you find it was an "82" there is still a 50/50 chance of big end or small end as it changed mid year "82'. If it's not an "83" the "80" "81", & early "82"'s are the same (I think). The EX. cam changed for "83", possibly changed when the crank changed in mid yr. "82"....Only question should be the crankshaft & no way to know without looking inside the eng...Pleas someone correct me if inaccurate info.

 

[Jerry]

Jump on it don't wait or someone else will. 82 or 83 would make little dif. to me. I have an 82 that I bout as a basket case and love it.

 

[adam83]

I went ahead and bought it!


Drove about 60 miles, about 50 of those miles on the highway. You'll be hearing alot more from me now.

I love the bike, but definitely gotta address some issues, number one being this delkevic exhaust. It is very loud and has a head ringing 'drone' to it, anything over 3000 rpm. So basically anytime you're on the highway. My head was aching by the time I got back home.
looking at the pictures, does it look like the baffle has been altered? Is this exhaust known for having a loud drone?

 

[Rob S.]

Congrats! Looks real nice in the pics. Of course I'm curious about $ (I have an 82 painted like an 83).

 

[rphillips]

I've never been around a Delkevic pipe but it looks really restricted, hard to imagine it would be very loud. Back in the day we would completely remove the baffles & run with completely wide open pipe. Bike looks really nice. Forget about that bike's eng. yr. model, entire bike looks way too nice & original to even think of such a thing. Congrats, I'd say you did good.

 

[Grimly]

I love the bike, but definitely gotta address some issues, number one being this delkevic exhaust. It is very loud and has a head ringing 'drone' to it, anything over 3000 rpm. So basically anytime you're on the highway. My head was aching by the time I got back home.
looking at the pictures, does it look like the baffle has been altered? Is this exhaust known for having a loud drone?

Yep, I have the same Delko megaphone and it's a total pita.
It's near enough a straight-through and the Delko baffle is a joke, which makes a slight difference to the harsher notes, but not enough.
I ended up welding a Supertrapp assembly on the exit, which mitigates the racket somewhat, but I still wouldn't call it quiet.

 

[dorkburger]

Regarding the exhaust... I had an 83 1100e many years ago. It had a crappy Mac exhaust. I ended up building a baffle for it with a small turnout (approximately 45?) on the end to direct a lot of the noise away from the bike. It helped quite a bit.

congratulations on buying a fine looking cycle.