• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Hi, and the basketcase quandry...

  • Thread starter Thread starter JamesWhut?
  • Start date Start date
J

JamesWhut?

Guest
Hi there, Long time rider, racer, builder. I have heard of GSR before, but never had a reason to visit... until now. Drove down to Florida to pick up an '81 GS750E on impulse (Craigslist). It's... a project.

B1ISaXC.jpg


It's not in as quite as good a shape as the seller depicted, or it looks in the pic. According to the PO, it was a victim of a high school shop/automotive tech class, where it was taken apart and put back together (probably many times). The engine and carbs seem all there, but gaskets and such are missing. And Lots of little chassis things are missing and would need to be replaced and restored. But its more or less all there, even the funky TV set headlight. And the frame has a good title.

My question is what do with it now. I see having two options. 1) Part it out on feebay and double my money. 2) SPEND double (or more) of my money and rebuild it. Of that I see a coupla' choices either stock, or as an '80s era SuperBike replica. I'm not really keen on bobbing, chopping, and other mutilation. And its really to late/big to make a authentic cafe' bike.

Path of least resistance it to break it up, but the sentimentalist in me doesn't want to. So you guys are the "GS's advocates". What do you think?
 
Last edited:
JamesWhut? said:
Hi there, Long time rider, racer, builder. I gave heard of GSR before, but never had a reason to visit... until now. Drove down to Florida to pick up an '81 GS750E on impulse (Craigslist). It's... a project.

B1ISaXC.jpg


It's not in as quite as good a shape as the seller depicted, or it looks in the pic. According to the PO, it was a victim of a high school shop/automotive tech class, where it was taken apart and put back together (probably many times). The engine and carbs seem all there, but gaskets and such are missing. And Lots of little chassis things are missing and would need to be replaced and restored. But its more or less all there, even the funky TV set headlight. And the frame has a good title.

My question is what do with it now. I see having two options. 1) Part it out on feebay and double my money. 2) SPEND double (or more) of my money and rebuild it. Of that I see a coupla' choices either stock, or as an '80s era SuperBike replica. I'm not really keen on bobbing, chopping, and other mutilation. And its really to late/big to make a authentic cafe' bike.

Path of least resistance it to break it up, but the sentimentalist in me doesn't want to. So you guys are the "GS's advocates". What do you think?
Click to expand...

First thing welcome to the site. Second, where are you from? Third, how much did you pay?

The bike is already torn down so makes parting much easier so that's where I would head with it. Your not mentioning if you have the correct paperwork (title) for it which would influence my decision.
 
Before making any decision you'll need to make sure the engines bottom end and top end are in good shape. If they are, and the body work is in good condition, then think about rehabbing it. If not, part it out.
 
nejeff said:
Your not mentioning if you have the correct paperwork (title) for it which would influence my decision.
Click to expand...

It came with a FL title. How good it is will be seen when I try to transfer it.

rustybronco said:
Before making any decision you'll need to make sure the engines bottom end and top end are in good shape. If they are, and the body work is in good condition, then think about rehabbing it. If not, part it out.
Click to expand...

I took the cam cover off and it looked ok in there, dry but ok. I can tell the rest of the crank and gear box are there in that heavy SOB of an engine. Tank and plastics are useable but show wear and tear. Tank is in really good condition inside.
 
rustybronco said:
It's not about if it 'has' a crankshaft, rather if the bearings are toast.
Click to expand...

That is assumed if a bunch of ham fisted teenagers have had their way with its innards... Bearings and gaskets are easy & cheap if the big bits are useable.
 
Hi and welcome!

I used to have a thread on my '81 GS750E with lots of pretty pictures but it appears to have gotten deleted somehow. I guess I need to start archiving my threads somewhere else because the forum is only showing me starting 18 threads which is a ridiculously low number.

Anyway, here's what one of these looks like fully assembled (and with an aftermarket windscreen):

800px-Charles_1981_gs750e_left_side.jpg


My opinion: This is a good vintage bike, but not rare or particularly valuable. You will spend way more rehabbing it than what it's worth. Especially if it's been manhandled by kids over the years. I would expect lots of boogered-up screws, broken bolts, stripped threads, and missing parts. You will have far less aggrevation (and more money) in the end by parting it out.

But if you're up for a challenge and want a great-looking, fun-to-ride bike and don't mind parting with some excess cash then go for it!
 
Get out from under it before it's too late. It will nickel-dime you to an early grave.
 
rwnielsen said:
Get out from under it before it's too late. It will nickel-dime you to an early grave.
Click to expand...

Been there, done that! Have a drawer full of very expensive t-shirts to prove it.

You guys are supposed to be facilitating me, not telling me to "Run Away!"... LOL

But yeah... I hear ya.

But on the other hand... those old dinosaur superbikes were so cool.

classnov_600.jpg


Maybe I'm just being nostalgic...
 
nejeff said:
The bike is already torn down so makes parting much easier so that's where I would head with it. Your not mentioning if you have the correct paperwork (title) for it which would influence my decision.
Click to expand...

As the bike is already torn apart it is also much easier to put it back together right. ;) The engine looks like it has been given some love somewhere. How are the other painted body parts/tank?
 
GSX1000E said:
How are the other painted body parts/tank?
Click to expand...

Useable in a rough DGAS way. Tank is nice, but has a spot where the paint peeled away from a leaky petcock (oddly no rust). The plastics have that, "we were left in the bottom of a box with dirty, heavy stuff on top of us for a long, long time" look. Even the taillight lens. :crushed: They and the frame definitely have the "authentic patina" thing going.
 
Someone's selling a half-assed "cafed" GS750 on ebay for $4K. I can do the above Yosh replica for half that... :)

Inventoried the parts today. The only major components missing are the instruments and the ICU/Igniter box.
 
Last edited:
Bike did the "explode around the garage" thing today. No unpleasant surprises yet. Still debating if it should stay or should it go...

Cleaned up tank and plasticy bits:

CnwjoMk.jpg
 
Aaah rats no instruments...I need a tach, mine went south last weekend.
 
She an't dead yet, back off you cannibals! :o

Playing with parts:

9SlZASH.jpg


GS750E Monoposto!
 
Either way you choose to go will be respected here.

In my limited opinion of looking for these nationwide the past year, it seems that an average condition GS bike may sell reasonably quickly for about $1000 to $1500.

If you are OK with a possibility that after you spend time getting it all put back together and you may have money invested in tires, fork seals, brake kits, fluids, etc. Then if you are OK with the worse case scenario where you find that the kids did botch up the motor and you have to source another or pay for parts to fix that one, then you are golden.

Alternatively, a good solid tank seems to fetch around $200, side plates $40 each, Pipes $100, etc etc.

There are plenty of people here that will be glad to try to help you in your journey.

I also have trouble taking these old bikes apart even though it is often the smarter financial move to make with them.
 
Oh yeah, I know all about zero-return. I club raced for many years. The care and feeding of an old motorcycle (or any machine really) can't really be quantified.
 
I think you have your answer in your last comment. I enjoy bringing a good machine back from the dead. This won't cost a lot to get it running ($500, mostly for tires, etc.), but it would give you satisfaction way beyond that.
 
Welcome to the forum. My rule of thumb...if it has a good title, it lives, if not it dies. I have the GS sickness and way too many bikes, but that said, I usually don't hurt for parts either. One thing to keep in mind and has not been mentioned yet, is the plug and play nature of the 1100E engine into the 750E frame.

V
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top