New GS1100 G Restoration Project. Rebuilding my Dad's bike

[althomas101]

Wheels are looking good! BTW, That kalecoauto site is some funny stuff.

 

[londonboards]

Costs so Far

Costs so Far

Someone started a thread about the cost of doing these rebuilds:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=207967

so I thought I ought to look at my costs so far:

So here are the costs so far. Didn't pay for the bike because it was my Dad's and he left it to me. Costs that I incurred before I started work on it last August would have included shipping from Canada and getting it moved between 3 houses until it arrived here (all this was over a 15 year period). Now that I have started the refurb, this is what I have spent so far:

So turn that into USD = $2,498.

And how does the bike look now:

I still have to:

Paint: ?500
Powder coat: ?200
Tyres: ?150
Parts: ?350
Chroming: ?1,000

and so it goes on. Bike might be worth ?2,000 (on a good day) when it is finished.

This is a bit like an AA or GA meeting:

My names Richard. I am a GS Aholic. I spent ?300 this week on my addiction..

Greetings

 

[hampshirehog]

You need to stay out of Halfords Richard!

I got caught today by my missus - she wanted me to service her car and the local guy with a beard was shut for the bank holiday. ?18.99 for spark plugs! They're ?8 at Arthur's......

By the way - their petrol resistant lacquer isn't.

Wait till it starts going back together - all shiny stuff and you'll know it's good ('cos you did it yourself). The money will seem like nothing.

And when the bugger won't start 'cos you got the coil leads round the wrong way........? Or you forgot that bikes need petrol...

 

[Agemax]

i HATE Halfords. avoided at all costs

 

[hampshirehog]

i HATE Halfords. avoided at all costs

You aren't married to my missus Adrian......I had no choice.

 

[londonboards]

That's very funny!

Can't wait to start re-assembly. I have nearly got the wheels sorted and am starting the fork rebuild so I will have a rolling chassis by the end of the summer. On the road 2014.

I have a spare "insurance" set of carbs and I am going to test out various finishes on the carb float bowls to decide what to do with my real set. I have discovered a really nice finish can be put on the lower fork legs by getting them to a mirror finish by polishing and then "scoring" them with a green Scotchbrite (only going in a horizontal plane) to create a beautiful satin effect. To me they look like new.

Greetings

 

[Paul]

check out the pound shops for consumables such as swarf, wd40, de-greaser.
Also what are the cable wrap samples.... is that cloth loom tape?

 

[Agemax]

check out the pound shops for consumables such as swarf, wd40, de-greaser.
Also what are the cable wrap samples.... is that cloth loom tape?

why would you want to buy swarf? its easy to make your own!

 

[Guest]

NEVER keep records of the spending!

When people ask me what I spent on my GS I usually say: Oh, i'm not sure, maybe 4-5 grand", and they say: "Oh, that's not too bad cos it really looks like new", and I think to myself: "Yeah, that's probably because I spent at least 7 grand!"

There is however NO way to prove it, te he he :evil:

 

[londonboards]

Paul - The first time I went into a ? shop, I saw Kodak AA batteries on sale. A pack of six for a ?. It was unbelievable. I bought 10 packs. Thought I had hit the jackpot as I use loads of them in wireless microphones. Ha. They lasted about 10 minutes a piece. They were clearly factory rejects or old stock or something. Same Kodak batteries for sale around the corner for ?4.99. There is no such thing as a free lunch. I have never been back to one since. Suppose I should not be so cynical after just one visit?

That cable stuff was a pack of samples I got to test out on the wiring harness. It looks like this in situ:

I think it looks great and tons better than some insulating tape. It opens and closes so you can access all the wires at any time without destroying it.

Greetings

 

[londonboards]

Agemax - I hate that Swarfega. Really dries your hands out bad. My wife not only complains about how much I spend and why I am always in the garage but refuses to let me touch her unless I have put some hand cream on.

Let's have your recipe. I have nearly run out.

Greetings

 

[Agemax]

Agemax - I hate that Swarfega. Really dries your hands out bad. My wife not only complains about how much I spend and why I am always in the garage but refuses to let me touch her unless I have put some hand cream on.

Let's have your recipe. I have nearly run out.

Greetings

what recipe? who mentioned swarfega? Paul said he buys SWARF there

i buy tons of stuff in pound shops, our local one sells good quality(!) rags,polishing cloths, polish, small cans of wd40, acetone, solvol, wet + dry, + loads of other consumable stuff used in the garage.

always come out with a basket full. but hey, its only ?1 each,(polishing cloths 5 for ?1). if you use them once and then get used for oily wipey hands rags.......still a bargain

 

[Paul]

Agemax - I hate that Swarfega. Really dries your hands out bad. My wife not only complains about how much I spend and why I am always in the garage but refuses to let me touch her unless I have put some hand cream on.

Let's have your recipe. I have nearly run out.

Greetings

I dont think you want to his his swaf on your hands

 

[londonboards]

Agemax - OK I got it. You engineers and your shavings.

 

[Agemax]

Agemax - OK I got it. You engineers and your shavings.

hey, we are good at shaving money

 

[Paul]

Looks nice and will be good for you as you know you're definitly keeping the bike, I bought 10 rolls of black raylon cloth tape same as whats there now for ?22

 

[londonboards]

Day 262 Lower Fork Tubes Polished and Brushed Finish

Day 262 Lower Fork Tubes Polished and Brushed Finish

Got to work on the fork tubes and I was really surprised at how quickly they came good. I think the problem is that they look worse than they actually are. The clear coat on them traps a little moisture and it turns nasty

See: My GS1100 Blog - Fork Tube Polish (HD pics)

These were my fork tubes:

I firstly stripped all the coating off using VHT Aircraft Strip. Then using a brass wire brush on a Dremel, some 600 grit (wet and dry) and then the green Scotchbrite, I got it looking like this:

You have to only brush it in one direction - horizontal.

I was so pleased with this result (and some of you are now going to think I'm weird and some of you will know where I am coming from!) that I could not allow this piece to leave my sight and I took it to bed with me just so I could lay eyes on it first thing in the morning!

Oh Lord, I am completely lost.

Greetings

 

[eil]

Fantastic result! That's got to be motivating.

 

[JvZ]

You certainly have your work cut out for you, looking forward to following your progress.

 

[londonboards]

Rear Air Shocks Refurbed

Rear Air Shocks Refurbed

Got my rear shocks back all nicely refurbished. New seals and re-chroming of the parts.

See my blog: Suzuki GS1100 Blog - Rear Shocks Refurb

Got to get the frame powder coated now.

Greetings