GS 1000 ST weight saving program

[John Kat]

Love this thing. Of course, you'll shed more g's binning the center stand
Where did you come by the 4/2 exhaust system? (... custom?) Any plans on rear shocks?

Subscribed!

The 4 into 2 exhaust is a NOS Kerker system KX designed to go on a GS 1150.
I was lucky to be able to fit it on the GS 1000 S
It cleared the main stand but I had to relocate the side stand that comes from an 1100 Kat.
It is very light but I forgot to measure it's weight before fitting it...
Here's a picture:

And on the bike before the lightening program

I've been thinking about the shocks but....mucho dollars.
My preference would be for a set from Wilbers of Germany with separate low and high speed compression adjustment

 

[John Kat]

Yup, every gram counts. The small battery will be significant and the Titanium bolts will be small. How about small, plastic blinkers? Fiberglass body parts instead of the steel? What about changing the exhaust for one with one aluminum muffler? Or carbon fiber? I have one that is only four pounds. Maybe 2 Kilos? Centerstand? Titanium axles front and back? Pivot bolt? Still want to keep the twin shocks? Any chance on using the Air/Oil cooled GSXR engine instead? There is some weight to be saved there.
Okay, laters
Greg

In the end I'm not sure the monoshock is lighter than the twin shock at least compared to the one from a GSXR 1100 K that I've used on my GS 1000 XP...
Getting rid of the GS 1000 engine is probably one step too far as it's really part of the identity of the bike.
I wouldn't mind putting a GSXR head on my GS 1000 XP and I will follow your thread on the subject with a lot of attention

 

[Wraith]

Wouldn't you also need the 850 cover? As the stator is smaller along with the bolt pattern. Starter clutch may be the same as the GS1000?
Laters all.
G

No the center of the 850 geny is the same size and bolt hold patten, it's just the out side of the geny that is smaller. Like I said I have a 850 geny and rotor and starter clutch in my GS1000g and a GS1000g geny,rotor and starter clutch in my gs1000 chain driver. the starter clutch on the 1000g and chain drive have the same number of teeth but the center, where it gos into the rotor is a diffant size and wont interchange, so get a mached pair.

 

[gs58]

I'm not sure about titanium axle bolts (might be a bit cost prohibitive) but definitely for the engine mount brackets, calipers, rear brake torque arm etc. I use hollow axle bolts on my race bike - I think they are chromemoly. I have a friend who dismantles motorcycles so just went through his parts bin till I found one the correct length. Sorry but I have no idea what they are off, but the weight saving is significant.

I'm not sure if there is a kit but the person I know who replaced all the steel bolts with titanium and aluminium stripped his bike, measured every bolt, and place an order with a UK company. Not sure which one.

A few years ago I read an article about a well known Australian production motorcycle racer from the '70's and '80's who decided to stiffen the chassis on their "standard" GSX1100 by honing the engine mount holes in the cases to 12mm and used 12mm bolts to tie the engine and chassis together as one unit. He estimated that the benefits were great and well worth the exercise even though the bike was about 2 kg's (4.4 lbs) heavier.

 

[oldgrumpy]

I decided to apply a weight saving program to my GS 1000 ST.
The goal is to keep the look as close as possible to original but where possible use GSXR 1st gen components
So far I've done the front end and the savings are as follows:
Front wheel with disks, tire and spindle: 11.9 kg vs 14.3
Front fork complete: 12.5 kg vs 14.3
Front calipers: 2.5 kg vs 3.3
Sub total front end: 26.9 kg vs 31.9 or 5 Kg saved

Exhaust Kerker 4 into 2 estimated: 8 kg vs 11.6 or 3.6 Kg saved

Rear wheel with disk and tire:13 Kg vs 15.5 or 2.5 Kg saved

So far 11.1 Kg potential saving

I will have to include the front mudguard and the dashboard when I measure them.
Going to a 530 chain will help further.
The rear caliper will shed weight also.
I'll also use an GS 1100 swingarm but I'm not sure it will save weight?
Here's what it looks like so far.

..... luv the colour scheme of the gs it looks great.... regards oldgrumpy

 

[John Kat]

..... luv the colour scheme of the gs it looks great.... regards oldgrumpy

Thanks but I take no credit for it as it was the std colour scheme for the GS 1000 ST at least in Europe.
By the way it's the only part of the bike that has been left untouched for the last 30 years

 

[John Kat]

The GS 1000 ST after the weight saving program

 

[GSX1000E]

You will lose another 6 pounds by switching to the 1100E swing arm but you will need a slightly longer chain too.

 

[John Kat]

You will lose another 6 pounds by switching to the 1100E swing arm but you will need a slightly longer chain too.

I have the GSX 1100 swingarm but...it's powder coated in black!

 

[steve murdoch]

Looks beautiful, John.
Your combo of wheels, forks and shocks makes for a great "stance".

 

[Charlie G]

Looks very nice John.

cg

 

[Guest]

It is looking really good, John!
Note, a GSXR head requires more than a little work to go onto a two valver.
G

 

[John Kat]

It is looking really good, John!
Note, a GSXR head requires more than a little work to go onto a two valver.
G

Thanks Greg!
The good news is that it really flies.
The engine pulls really hard from 4000 RPM upwards.
On my last ride however it seemed to suffer from fuel starvation?
The fuel flows freely from the tank and I believe it could be one of the floats that gets stuck closed?
I noticed they got stuck open after sitting for the winter so the reverse could be a possibility?
What do you think?
It's a pain because the carbs are the VM 30's for which no spares are available