Gs1000 Bonneville Bike

[stevef.]

We do have a fabrication question: we need to narrow the steering stops so that the front wheel doesn't turn so far either way. Anybody have experience with that or have seen it done before? We are thinking maybe weld some stops on the head of the frame, but we don't want to warp it or mess up the bearing race mounting area. Is that really much of an issue or are we making that more difficult than it is?

Call me at 714,356'784five. I can help you in the right direction a BUNCH!!
Ray.

Ray, we did speak about doing the engine build. We will definitely be using your services for next year. Unfortunately a major source of funding for us fell through so we cannot afford this all at once. The plan this year is to get out there with a bike that's set up for LSR and get our feet wet. We are setting up ergonomics, electronics, and suspension this year. Power will come next year.

Excellent progress! Which class(es) are you planning to run?

Thanks! We will be in both fuel and gas in the modified production frame and modified production/partial streamliner frame classes. So, four total classes:

all of them 1350cc
M/CG
M/CF
MPS/CG
MPS/CF

 

[RichDesmond]

We do have a fabrication question: we need to narrow the steering stops so that the front wheel doesn't turn so far either way. Anybody have experience with that or have seen it done before? We are thinking maybe weld some stops on the head of the frame, but we don't want to warp it or mess up the bearing race mounting area. Is that really much of an issue or are we making that more difficult than it is?...

I've just epoxied some small aluminum pieces to the stops either on triple or headstock, whichever works better on your bike. Don't know if it would pass tech in that org.
I've also seen guys drill holes in the stops (again, on which side works best), tap the hole then use a bolt and nut to have an adjustable stop.

 

[freakhousecustoms]

We do have a fabrication question: we need to narrow the steering stops so that the front wheel doesn't turn so far either way. Anybody have experience with that or have seen it done before? We are thinking maybe weld some stops on the head of the frame, but we don't want to warp it or mess up the bearing race mounting area. Is that really much of an issue or are we making that more difficult than it is?

I didn't bother messing with the steering stops on my GS1000, I just set the clip-ons just before they hit the tank. At the speeds we're shooting for, I personally don't think the handlebar position will be the thing slowing you down. Of course, everyone has their own way about Salt Racing, but I (personally) think it's really not that much of an issue.

Thanks! We will be in both fuel and gas in the modified production frame and modified production/partial streamliner frame classes. So, four total classes:

all of them 1350cc
M/CG
M/CF
MPS/CG
MPS/CF

The M/CG & MPS/CG records will be tough to beat without engine work, but I still say GO FOR IT! I spoke with the current holder of both records on the Salt last year - his beast is a very well put together machine and, if I remember correctly, he also holds a current record at over 200mph (on a different bike/in a different class), so he knows what it takes to go really, really fast. But don't let any of this discourage you, records are made to be broken! Can't wait to see more progress on your build & can't wait to see it on the Salt!

 

[GregT]

I've also seen guys drill holes in the stops (again, on which side works best), tap the hole then use a bolt and nut to have an adjustable stop.

Do this....I don't know of a sanctioning body anywhere that would let you have handlebars that hit the tank. Most require a mechanical limiting device.

 

[Kordyte]

I've just epoxied some small aluminum pieces to the stops either on triple or headstock, whichever works better on your bike. Don't know if it would pass tech in that org.
I've also seen guys drill holes in the stops (again, on which side works best), tap the hole then use a bolt and nut to have an adjustable stop.

These are some good ideas, we'll probably do something like this.

The M/CG & MPS/CG records will be tough to beat without engine work, but I still say GO FOR IT! I spoke with the current holder of both records on the Salt last year - his beast is a very well put together machine and, if I remember correctly, he also holds a current record at over 200mph (on a different bike/in a different class), so he knows what it takes to go really, really fast. But don't let any of this discourage you, records are made to be broken! Can't wait to see more progress on your build & can't wait to see it on the Salt!

I agree, I've seen pics of his bike at the last event and it looks nicely sorted. We're not expecting to go faster than him this year, especially in the naked class. I'm curious how much power his bike makes.

Do this....I don't know of a sanctioning body anywhere that would let you have handlebars that hit the tank. Most require a mechanical limiting device.

Yes - per the rules, not only the bars can't hit the tank, but the (mandatory) steering damper can't be used as a stop. In other words, our damper travel has to be greater than our steering travel. We're using a late-model sportbike OEM damper, mounted on the fork tube and steering neck, so we need to shorten our steering travel to approximately a modern sportbike's travel. This will also help us fit in our fairing for the MPS classes without banging bars on the edge of it.

 

[stevef.]

I didn't bother messing with the steering stops on my GS1000, I just set the clip-ons just before they hit the tank. At the speeds we're shooting for, I personally don't think the handlebar position will be the thing slowing you down. Of course, everyone has their own way about Salt Racing, but I (personally) think it's really not that much of an issue.

View attachment 55117




The M/CG & MPS/CG records will be tough to beat without engine work, but I still say GO FOR IT! I spoke with the current holder of both records on the Salt last year - his beast is a very well put together machine and, if I remember correctly, he also holds a current record at over 200mph (on a different bike/in a different class), so he knows what it takes to go really, really fast. But don't let any of this discourage you, records are made to be broken! Can't wait to see more progress on your build & can't wait to see it on the Salt!

Dude, VERY cool bike!! Thanks for sharing! Can we see the other side too?

-Len

 

[dorkburger]

You should check out is Instagram at the same name. Wild stuff and great photography as well.
http://Instagram.com/freakhousecustoms

 

[freakhousecustoms]

Wow! Thanks dorkburger! I'm just plodding along, photodocumenting my fun on Insta - glad to see other folks enjoying it as well!

stevef - here's the other side:

 

[maicojoe]

Check out these two bikes for sale as a pair.... wonder what the story is on these?

https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...ille-race-bikes-80-GS1100e-amp-82-Katana-1000

 

[maicojoe]

The 1980 bike has about 2,000 original miles, and set all sorts of land speed records. The Katana has about 500 original miles total, even less on the built 1428cc engine. The seller has all sorts of cool documentation on the bikes history, pictures, news articles, magazine articles and ads, from back in the day.

 

[Kordyte]

There's the fairing for our MPS runs! Just mocked up here, lots of mounting/trimming to do still. If it doesn't go fast, at least it looks cool
We've got essentially all of our parts in now, oiling system is nearly done.

 

[RichDesmond]

Very nice!!

 

[stevef.]

Hey everyone, we are on the home stretch now. Landspeedrich was kind enough to loan us some stock gs1150 carbs if we want to use them. I want to get everyone's input on using them or sticking with stock 1100 carbs. Is anyone knowledgeable enough to give me an idea of what range of jet sets would be good to get? The 1100 carbs currently have 138 mains and 45 pilots in them (the kind with six holes in the sides). The 1150 carbs have 120 mains in them and 45 pilots (the kind with no holes in the sides). I notice that the head of the 1150 jets are fatter but otherwise the jets appear the same. Can they be interchanged between carbs? Does anyone have enough knowledge to recommend a good range that could probably work at 4200ft in warmer temps (whatever the forecast for bonneville says)

The bike ran nice at 0 feet with the stock carbs and 138 mains and 45 pilots. Stock engine, pods, 4-1 exhaust.

let me me know if you can help! Thanks!
-Len

 

[Kordyte]

Back from the salt flats!
Overall we consider it a successful trip. We went to try to set the open records in fuel class, only to find out that the guy who set the gas records last year is running in fuel now - he's got a decently hot motor, so no surprise that our stock-ish mill didn't quite beat him although we were agonizingly close. I think our ergo design went a long way.
Long story short, we did 141mph naked and 142mph with the fairing. We struggled with fueling issues for about a day, turns out Suzuki didn't design the petcock to flow enough for the bike to be wide open throttle for 4 miles!
We had some great runs with no fairing, but the fairing setup will need to be developed. We will need a ram air setup and some tweaks in the mounting points for the fairing to do anything further with it.
We are now trying to figure out how to go faster... have a few things being considered right now. If anybody has some race parts for this motor, please PM us! Looking for cams mainly. I have a line on a bigger carb most likely.

Stevef. standing, me squatting, in scrutineering

Me with the fairing

stevef. and the wife!

Stevef. riding naked

A majestic pup

Booty shot

Our intrepid photographer

And as a bonus, freakhousecustoms' contraption! Loved seeing it out there, thanks for the advice.

 

[storm 64]

Cool pictures I'll dig around my stuff to see if I have any speed parts I can donate Keep up the good work, and "Save the Salt"

 

[dorkburger]

Thanks for the update. Glad it was a safe outing with no mishaps. Great pictures.

Curious that the fairing only added 1 mph.

 

[Carter Turk]

I totally respect the wherewithall to actually enter this event.
It seems like regardless of the bike or class, the commitment to actually enter is way beyond a huge deal.
It must be complete euphoria lining up for the run of a lifetime on the salt flats and dealing with aftermath...
Great shot as well!

 

[850 Combat]

Good for you! That is pretty fast. Congratulations.

 

[TxGSrider]

Thanks for the update. Glad it was a safe outing with no mishaps. Great pictures.

Curious that the fairing only added 1 mph.

Ive read stories about large fairings causing air pressure dips and spikes and causing fuel metering issues. That may be part of the difference.... or it could be like he said and its just running out of fuel.

Either way that is really cool! Congrats!

 

[Kordyte]

Thanks everybody!

I totally respect the wherewithall to actually enter this event.
It seems like regardless of the bike or class, the commitment to actually enter is way beyond a huge deal.
It must be complete euphoria lining up for the run of a lifetime on the salt flats and dealing with aftermath...
Great shot as well!

Thanks! You'd think 10 months is plenty of time to get a bike done... but it was a crunch to get it done in time. Definitely a cool and unique experience.

Curious that the fairing only added 1 mph.

Ive read stories about large fairings causing air pressure dips and spikes and causing fuel metering issues. That may be part of the difference.... or it could be like he said and its just running out of fuel.
Either way that is really cool! Congrats!

I have a few theories as to why the fairing didn't work as well as we'd hoped.
1. I think it was creating a low-pressure area behind the fairing. With pod filters, the carb is sucking against a slight vacuum already, with a giant fairing it's an even bigger vacuum.
2. We didn't have a full tail for the wind to merge 'cleanly' behind the fairing. We knew this wasn't gonna be ideal, but we wanted to keep it simple and use the same tail for both naked and faired runs. It probably made more of a difference than we expected.
3. It's too wide, particularly at the bottom. The GS mill is a fairly wide motor to begin with, and our mounts spaced it out a few inches around that. We were pushing more air than we needed to.

Going forward, I think we will have to trim/tuck the fairing, maybe cut off significant parts of it at the bottom even. But most significantly, we need to design and build a custom airbox and ram air system before taking this bike out with a fairing again. We need to change that vacuum around the carbs into a slightly pressurized area instead. I'm digging into the theories behind ram air and effective airbox design right now, and it's a pretty deep rabbit hole. Since the mid-90's, sportbike manufacturers have put a lot of R&D into their airbox design, and I don't have the knowledge/time/resources to make something that good - just hoping it'll be effective enough.