New guy with a, well, GS1000 something...

[dbarale]

Hi,
I just acquired a GS1000 from 1978, I think, the frame plates are rubbed off by the harness. Anyway, it is mostly there but in pretty bad shape. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, all I know is that it's missing the complete exhaust system, air filter, one shock (!), and master cylinder. The engine is not locked and I'm getting some compression (haven't tried to measure it yet), and I also seem to get a weak spark from the dyna ignition system that's installed. Odometer reads 16k but who knows?
I have great memories of my first bike, a GS850GN, but that was a "few" years ago so maybe it's just nostalgia.
At a minimum I need to find a cheap exhaust system to attempt firing the beast, I am right to believe that pretty much any GS1000/1100 system should fit?

Expect a bunch of stupid questions in the future, and thanks for having me...

Daniel

 

[dbarale]

And because someone will ask for a picture...

 

[bluehwy]

Hey Daniel!
Get ready for the fun, ha! There's a lot of helpful people here so fire away with the stupid questions. It will make me feel better, lol. My bike is an 80 so not sure how much help I can be...

On another note, don't meet someone from Asheville everyday. My best friend grew up around there (Lenoir). His dad was the plant manager for Thomasville. Boone is awesome (Blue Ridge Hwy incredible). Beautiful country...
Slainte!
O'Malley

 

[Big T]

Your bike is most likely a 79, not that it makes much difference for parts. If the choke is up by the handlebars, it's a 79

Good stock exhausts are hard to come by, your best bet is to go 4-1. But, that's what Ebay, CK and the Parts for Sale forum is for

Welcome aboard, check the New Members, Click Here! at the top of this forum and post up your work in the Projects forum. Every answer you need is here somewhere , or for the asking

 

[Steve]

Bike might be a '78, but the tank appears to be a '79. :-k

The '78 tank had an indent for a stripe, much like the tail section has.

Also appears to be an aftermarket color.

Nice to see that you have a Dyna ignition, I also see an aftermarket R/R (rectifier/regulator) on the right side. :encouragement:

.

 

[dbarale]

Thanks guys, most definitely a '79 then as the choke is in the steering tube.
Fortunately I have enough experience to know that this is not a candidate for a restoration. But it could be a good base for a superbike or endurance replica. It will not be another cafe racer/bobber/hipster/craigslist abomination... I would rather part it out and see it go to help people in need.
Regardless, if I do something with it it will have a 4-1. I still remember the sound of a Kerker opened wide, but for now anything will do. I need exhaust and gasket set. Then, maybe, carburetor kit, suspension,tires, paint...

 

[Charlie G]

Looks like a good start for project. Welcome!

 

[Chuck78]

FYI, get some Pirelli Sport Demon tires for that, some aftermarket 1998 Honda CB600 Hornet 296mm rotors, and look up salty_monk's "twin pot brake mod" thread for caliper sourcing Dan's aka salty's caliper brackets, & you will have a killer tire and front brake setup. Ninja 600ex master cylinder late model also.
racetech fork springs and cartridge emulators in the forks.
Spend $225-600 on rear shocks (lots to choose, I have a lot of suggestions)
Get a Delkevic straight upswept road race stainless steel 4 into 1 that looks like the Yoshimura early Series 1 exhausts (they offer a flared megaphone version as well). Best exhaust I've seen for GS's for some time now. K&N oval pods. Rejet carbs. For some real refreshing zip, bore in Wiseco 1085 piston kit and a valve job by a shop that has a Serdi machine and the Serdi radiused seat transition cutting bits.
Upgrade the regulator rectifier to a Shindengen SH775 Series style via ebay search for a used OEM Polaris ATV unit "Polaris 4012941" to get a reliable charging system. And by ALL MEANS do the popular coil relay mod to power the Dyna and the coils. Otherwise you are better off running points.

if you can search for Jim aka posplayr 's GS charging system health thread for his "popular GS rewiring" diagram, do that at same time. The RR, lack of an ignition relay, and some basic flaws in the charging system power distribution are the only real flaws in these GS's. The RR is GARBAGE...make sure stator still tests good ohm wise and AC voltage output measured with bike running off battery with stator unhooked.

these bikes are GREAT... especially with the wise 1085 kit or 1100 kit with the GS1100G head and aftermarket cams/carbs... legendary superbikes...

Take it easy and best of luck

Chuck in Ohio

EDIT - I see mention of an aftermarket Regulator Rectifier, but I'd still go with the Polaris OEM # 4012941 (used or brand new from dealer to ensure not getting a Chinese copy that is old fashioned shunt style)

 

[dbarale]

Thanks again for all the info.
So now, who has a cheap exhaust system for sale?

 

[Chuck78]

Of only you were closer... I do have a MAC 4-1 for 1000/1100's but dented substantially in bottom of head pipes and not worth shipping unless dents were repaired.

If you pull engine apart and want a cheap upgrade, you can get 1055cc by boring GS1100G pistons right into the 1000 liners!

 

[dbarale]

Of only you were closer... I do have a MAC 4-1 for 1000/1100's but dented substantially in bottom of head pipes and not worth shipping unless dents were repaired.

If it's painted and not chromed and I can still probably save it. I'll send you a PM.
BTW, what other years/models would fit my bike? I'm not looking for authenticity at this point, just something to restart the engine without upsetting the neighbors.

 

[steve murdoch]

Looks like Ron has an exhaust for sale.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?245187-Lots-of-parts-for-1978-GS1000E-Skunk

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

If it's painted and not chromed and I can still probably save it. I'll send you a PM.
BTW, what other years/models would fit my bike? I'm not looking for authenticity at this point, just something to restart the engine without upsetting the neighbors.

Id say if you still had the stock headers cut the ends off and weld a kat600 4 into 1 to them. They work real nice on my cafe/hipster/abomination. The factory header had an inner and outer primary tube and the Yoshimura header i had from my kat fit inbetween the inner and outer and tigged up nicely.

 

[dbarale]

Unfortunately I don't have any part of the exhaust...
I took the float bowls off and the carbs looked clean. I blasted them with compressed air, dumped some gas in them and it fired right up, idled too.
I am starting to think sidecar project...

 

[Guest]

Congrats on the bike. Good luck with the project. I was looking at a similar situation on my 1000S a few years back, although I still had the head pipes. I found a set of D&D gixxer mufflers and made some adapters to allow me to use them. Not stock, but they worked. On the name plate, the info is stamped into the headstock through the nameplate sticker, so you should be able to find it. Have fun! Ray

 

[Chuck78]

I gave my MAC 4-1 to my buddy's project last winter, but then I got a new exhaust for my bike and gave him my Vance & Hines proper GS750 pipe instead. The 1000/1100 MAC is still hanging in his garage. He freshly painted it but then it got bashed on a steep approach with saggy stock front suspension (&hanging too low as it was on a 750 8v), 2 big dents in headpipes at bottom by collector need pulled out.

 

[dbarale]

[video]http://vid249.photobucket.com/albums/gg226/dbarale/IMG_1082_zpsqoq34ues.mp4[/video]

Video taken by my 3y/o son. That was the first attempt at starting it. I did not try to rev it because of the lack of exhaust. The oil light went out instantly.
BUT, I have decided not to keep it. I will post it here for sale as a whole or part it out. I just have too many other projects going and not enough room...

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

[video]http://vid249.photobucket.com/albums/gg226/dbarale/IMG_1082_zpsqoq34ues.mp4[/video]

Video taken by my 3y/o son. That was the first attempt at starting it. I did not try to rev it because of the lack of exhaust. The oil light went out instantly.
BUT, I have decided not to keep it. I will post it here for sale as a whole or part it out. I just have too many other projects going and not enough room...

Where are you located

 

[dbarale]

Asheville, NC.