First Suzuki is an 81 GS1100E

[Don R]

I noticed this forum and thought I should have posted earlier. I bought a GS1100E from a retiring drag racer. Pulmonary issues were causing him much trouble, He said he was an automotive painter, welder, smoker had copd and got covid and RSV. The bike had sat in a sometimes heated garage that was often left open to the weather.
The gas tank was heavily rusted and the cap was stuck. It had 29 smoothbore Mikunis and some really shrunken K&N's. For tires it was sporting Dunlop 404's that were surprisingly supple considering their age. Brakes were next, the rear needed a full rebuild while the front's got O rings and seals, I bled them well, the rear also got wheel bearings and the front will get them soon.
The wiring had some gnarly joints that I replaced with 3mm bullet connectors. It got a new Die Hard battery, a new cheap voltage regulator that I then replaced with an SH775. I got a set of Bridgestone's and mounted them with tubes. There was a voltage issue that got resolved when I found a loose red wire buried in the connector cover.
Recently I put a set of RS36 Mikuni's on it with new K&N's and attempted to tune it with an Autometer wide band O2 sensor. I don't think the probe that I made gets enough flow to keep the sensor hot.
Other parts replaced were the left side peg mount and the motor mount bolt. (supplied by a member here) THANKS, I just ordered a new to me speedometer pod so I can get the odometer and gas gauge working properly.

 

[rphillips]

Keep it up, sometimes is an aggravation getting everything sorted. A really great feel'in when done.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

That is one of my favorite years and models. You're going to have fun with it.

 

[trevor]

I had an 81...should never have sold it. Congrats on your bike!

 

[Grimly]

Recently I put a set of RS36 Mikuni's on it with new K&N's and attempted to tune it with an Autometer wide band O2 sensor. I don't think the probe that I made gets enough flow to keep the sensor hot.

I put my O2 sensor just after the collector, and only rarely does the heater kick in. I'm careful to warm the pipes up before I switch the sensor on, to avoid thermal shock. After that, I leave the controller to turn the heater on or not, as required.

 

[Don R]

She's a beauty Trevor, Mine's been modified so I don't mind doing non-stock things to it. It has an offset brake strut so it must have had a fat tire on the back at some time.

 

[Don R]

I got it a new rubber seal for around the seat lock, new mount rubbers for the gas tank bolt and the flat pad under the tank from Partzilla. It hit reserve today and it took 3.5 gallons to fill it up, I figure that leaves 1.5 gallons reserve. The gas gauge seems to be working better, it went up to 3/4 this time. The K&L petcock is very hard to turn so I made a little aluminum tool to get some leverage but I was able to turn it back by hand.
The tires are BT46's, I did a little practice slalom between the parking lines in a church parking lot last night, it's a little slower turning than my CB750's. I got better as I went.

 

[Don R]

​ The GS now has a set of RS36's with K&N's. The odometer began re-setting and recording miles. Hopefully it will keep on working. It seems to be my go-to rider when it's warm enough outside.