New owner GS1100GK in South Australia

[Sebastionbear]

G'Day to all!

Just bought a 1984 GS1100GK in Perth, Western Australia (about 3,000km from home). Going to fly across in a few weeks, stay at my Daughter and Son-in-law's place and undertake a couple of days fettling and changing fluids, wheel bearings etc and ride it home across the Nullarbor Plains.



I'm a Supermoderator on the CBR Forum, so kinda know how all this works with forums (maybe!).

Everything I've read thus far has suggested for the big old GS's, this is the place to be. So I'll be looking for knowledge and support in my quest to get the old girl home. Oh, and I also own a 1981 1100 Katana and a GS1100EFE.

Cheers, SB

 

[Guest]

Congrats on the new ride. Hope all goes well on the way home. I did not realize it was 3000Km from Perth to Adelaide. It will be a nice trip though. Welcome to the Forum. Looking forward to seeing some pics of Australia if you can post them. There are a few members from there on this site.

 

[Sebastionbear]

Thanks for the welcome Phred,

Australia is a big place and Perth is the most isolated Capital City in the world. More to the point there is an awful lot of nothing between Perth and Adelaide beside very flat country on the nullarbor (null arbor is Latin for no trees). Hence my desire to have the big Suzuki as close to 100% mechanically sound for the journey.

I'll pop up some photos of the bike when I have a bit more time to get them off my phone.

Cheers, SB

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, SB.
So, my first ride on my new to me bike is 3000 km. long. Yikes.
Sounds like a great adventure.

 

[sinkankan]

Welcome Steve, that's my bike you bought. You'll find this site a wealth of knowledge and support..
I used some the funds to pay for repairs to the GS850 of mine and went trolling though a swap meet today to find a box of valve shims.

 

[alke46]

Welcome to the site and wishing you nothing less than the best of luck on the new ride across country.
Is the landscape really that baren or will you have ample petrol supplies with you?
Can't wait to see pics of the bike and the countryside as you travel back to home. Good luck.

Larry

 

[sinkankan]

Alke, the Nullabor isn't a place for the feeble. But these days modern vehicles cross it with releative ease, but the Australian bush can bite you if you don't treat it with respect. Crossed the place three times, once in a truck, once in a car, and the last time by bike. Flown over it many times and the scenery is spectacular. Here's an extract from Wiki.

The Nullarbor has a desert climate, with arid to semi-arid conditions. Inland, summers can be scorching hot, with daytime temperatures close to 50 ?C (122 ?F), while in winter nights can drop well below freezing. Closer to the coast, the temperature is milder with more rainfall in the winter months. The mean annual rainfall at Cook is 184.1 millimetres (7.25 in), with most rain falling between May and August. Summers are very dry, with rain falling mainly from sporadic storms, however occasionally decaying tropical systems can cause heavier rain in the summer months.[SUP][15][/SUP] Temperatures on the plain have ranged from 49.8 ?C (121.6 ?F) at Mundrabilla and Forrest which is the 4th hottest recorded temperature in all of Australia,[SUP][16][/SUP] to −7.2 ?C (19.0 ?F) at Eyre, which is the coldest recorded temperature in Western Australia.
The railway line that crosses it has the longest straight section of railway in the world (478 km, 297 mi),[SUP][18][/SUP]while the Eyre Highway (refer below) contains the longest straight section of tarred road in Australia (146.6 km, 91.1 mi).

 

[Guest]

Good for you, that sounds like an adventure indeed. Love how you add "oh ya by the way these are my other bikes...." Nice stable you have there, now lets see some pictures of those bad boys!!

 

[Guest]

Hey mate welcome! Always good to see another Aussie on the forum!

Did you manage to get to the 35th Katana Anniversary a few weeks ago by any chance? I didn't get there myself but it was an awesome turnout by all reports. Any pic's of that Kat?

 

[Sebastionbear]

Thanks all for the welcome. It's good to see a forum with lots of input.

Sinkankan, it's SB (me) who bought your GS, not Steve!! My Son-in-Law, Ed, did the test ride and assessment at the warehouse.

Here's some photos in no particular order.........



Tour guiding with my beloved Ural Outfit in the Phong-Nha Kebang National Park in the central highlands of Vietnam 2014.



My GSX1100EFE just after I bought it a few years ago.



The GS1100GK as arrived at my Daughter and Son-in-Law's place in Perth. Now I'm itching to get on a 'plane. :excitement:

No pictures of the Katana as that is buried deep in my shed among the other bikes! :xsmilie_mrgreen: Perhaps later.

And no Pete, unfortunately I didn't get to the Katana gathering as my partner and I are currently restoring both our houses and 'spare' time is well.........spent!

Oh, and I have a trip to Melbourne on Wednesday, but I'll report on that later.

Cheers, SB

 

[dorkburger]

Welcome. Good luck on the pickup and trip. Diggin your EF also.

 

[Charlie G]

Welcome and the 1100g(K) is a really nice ride.

cg

 

[Diggers]

Hey SB, I recently sold my CBR and got a GS1100G. We meet again on this forum!

 

[Sebastionbear]

Hey SB, I recently sold my CBR and got a GS1100G. We meet again on this forum!

We do indeed! Good marques and great models both! Good to see you here Diggers. Did I tell you my lovely partner is from the North Island, still got her cute Fush and Chups accent!

Cheers, SB

 

[Redman]

Welcome to gsr.

sounds like a great adventure.
did I read that right? 120 degrees F in the desert?


goog that you have a forum member to make some statement of the bikes condition . (I thought I saw pics of that same bike a few weeks ago.)

as as with any gs, I would be concerned with functioning of the charging system. Do check it out with a volt meter.

other concern about a g would be the splines on hub in rear wheel. An 84 is less of concern than an 82, but still could be worth An inspection. Requires removing rear wheel and pulling the hub out of rear wheel.

maybe later I can better understand feteling .... And fush .... And Chups....
(fish & chips ? )

 

[ddaniels]

Nice looking GK. Looks pretty much just like mine.

 

[Guest]

Thanks all for the welcome. It's good to see a forum with lots of input.

Sinkankan, it's SB (me) who bought your GS, not Steve!! My Son-in-Law, Ed, did the test ride and assessment at the warehouse.

Here's some photos in no particular order.........



Tour guiding with my beloved Ural Outfit in the Phong-Nha Kebang National Park in the central highlands of Vietnam 2014.



My GSX1100EFE just after I bought it a few years ago.



The GS1100GK as arrived at my Daughter and Son-in-Law's place in Perth. Now I'm itching to get on a 'plane. :excitement:

No pictures of the Katana as that is buried deep in my shed among the other bikes! :xsmilie_mrgreen: Perhaps later.

And no Pete, unfortunately I didn't get to the Katana gathering as my partner and I are currently restoring both our houses and 'spare' time is well.........spent!

Oh, and I have a trip to Melbourne on Wednesday, but I'll report on that later.

Cheers, SB

Good stuff SB, now that I have my own Kat I'm hopeful of making it down for the 40th in 5 years time... providing it's finished by then of course! The Katana Australia fellas are a good bunch too if you need a hand with something for the Kat.

The EFE looks good and hope you enjoy your trip across the plain!

 

[Guest]

g'day from Melbourne. Hope it goes well on your trip. It should be ok. From pics I saw a few weeks ago it is a bit rough looking, but that wont stop the old gk making a few thousand km's!! They are pretty reliable. Got a couple of GKs myself. Great comfortable tourers. Pics of the trip would be awesome if you get a chance. Cheers

 

[alke46]

g'day from Melbourne. Hope it goes well on your trip. It should be ok. From pics I saw a few weeks ago it is a bit rough looking,

You must have been looking at pics of a different GK. This one from SB looks extremely good in my opinion.

 

[Guest]

Same bike. It's ok. What I mean by a bit rough is - Tank has surface rust. Fairing and pannier paint and clear coat peeling, faded. Several scuffs, scratches etc. Chrome has some pitting, minor rust. Alloy parts, engine covers dull etc. This does not affect the running condition of the bike.
It looks similar to my older one when I bought it, needs re-paint and polish to look good or restoration to look great.
That's just my thoughts on old bikes. Some people think a rusty dented front guard is good. I do not.

SB - maybe check rear tyre will make 3000km. Not every bike shop will stock a 130/90x16" mid way home.

And as Redman said.. check charging ok.

I rode mine up through the centre Melb - Adelaide - Coober Pedy - Uluru - Olgas etc. East coast couple times Melb - Canberra - Sydney - Brisbane, rode back mid-state. Melb - Broken Hill twice(once on gs). On other bikes to several bike rallies - around Tasmania twice, Melb - Adelaide, Melb - Cairns(up to Daintree)... etc..
No major issues...
Minor stuff - flat tyres, oil usage, stuffed starter, minor electrical, charging problems(had to push start it for a couple days), broken clutch cable... minor crash damage... probably a few more I have forgotten about.