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Looking for a Handlebar and Seat for an '80 GS1100E

S

sullivs

Forum Newbie
Hello All,

New member here looking to start repairing my new project. I'm looking for a stock handlebar and seat. Or, does anyone know who out there have replacement handlebars? When I contact some of the bigger online parts retailers, like Z1 Enterprises or PartZilla, they don't seem to know the stock rise and pullback. I believe it to be 4" rise and 6" pullback. I don't know where I read that, so I'm not sure if that's correct.

So any constructive suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks much,
Steve
IMG_3950.jpeg
 
From the appearance of your right side cover, I would have guessed you were in some foreign country (if not a different planet). I have never seen that paint scheme.

Do you know when she was built? Some of us are under the impression that the 16 valve 1100 didn't come along until 1981. Do you know if that paint scheme is original? You may be in possession of the best looking 11E ever. (I've got a not too shabby 82 painted to look like an 83.)
 
Suzuki used badges on the "80"' and "81" 1100E tanks and side covers. They started the painted on kind in "82"...If I remember right. Also you may not want the OEM handlebar, they were too tall for many, or probably most, folks and were swapped for lower ones.
 
rphillips said:
Suzuki used badges on the "80"' and "81" 1100E tanks and side covers. They started the painted on kind in "82"...If I remember right. Also you may not want the OEM handlebar, they were too tall for many, or probably most, folks and were swapped for lower ones.
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Weren't the 82 and 83 even cheaper decals? No two-tone, no three-tone, just spray everything one color, slap a decal on each side cover and each side of the tank, and we're done.

I can't get over how much better my '73 Kawasaki Z1 looked compared to my 83 red 82 11E. Even the black on the engine - Kaw had the edges of the fins bare silver. Very distinctive.
 
Maybe Suzuki noticed the difference in the cost of 100K decals vs. the cost of 100K metal badges, could have been more of an influence than the looks of the bike... I agree, steve's picture of that side cover does look good, would love to see the rest of the bodywork.
 
rphillips said:
Maybe Suzuki noticed the difference in the cost of 100K decals vs. the cost of 100K metal badges, could have been more of an influence than the looks of the bike... I agree, steve's picture of that side cover does look good, would love to see the rest of the bodywork.
Click to expand...
I think I see the front of the gas tank in the garbage pail.

Suzuki was all about cost compared to Kawasaki.
 
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Aw Shoot Steve, I don't see where you got your welcome, so here it is, WELCOME to the site... Always interesting to see and hear of GS's brought back to life... Hoping we can help.
 
I'll take the Suzuki welds over the Kawasaki welds anytime though. I went to buy a kawasaki a few times back then and just couldn't when I seen the bubblegum frame welds. Kept me from buying an H2, stopped me from buying a Z1 and a GPZ, tried a Concours when they came out too and it just didn't fit me. I like my Zukes of that era. All the bikes had something to offer.
 
You are too kind with the compliments. She needs some work for sure. But it is not the worst bike I have started with. Below is a pic with the tank and tail on it. The white/blue paint scheme looks pretty good. However, I'm pretty sure this is not the stock paint. All the Google searching keeps mentioning Silver and Red were the two colors available in 1980. It appears to me that the three-tone blue stripe is pretty close to the colors of the decal stripe that was on the silver model. So maybe a previous owner liked the tiny blue decals, and simply interpreted it into larger stripes. But, what do I know.

The data tag is missing, but I can still see the frame number stamped on the steering head. I do not know how to decipher it. I will still keep looking for stock-like handlebars, though, and start from there.

But, to get back on topic... anyone have a lead on stock handlebars, a used seat, grab bar and turn signals? She is missing a lot of nuts, bolts and screws right now, and I'm unsure if anything is missing under the tail cowl (not much under there to attach the tail to). I'll keep going at putting her back together and start it. Then, I can start the refurbishment.

Thanks for all the comments.
Steve
 

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