Paint for a '79 GS1000S Wes Cooley replica

[rputney01]

Hello all,

I sold my last bike 18 years ago when I got married (wife's a nurse). She had a senior moment about 3 months ago and I picked up a very clean '79 Cooley replica. It has about 19K miles and is mostly stock. I put in an electronic ignition and K&N pods, had the carbs cleaned and reset and it runs very strong. Dials up quickly to the redline with a slight hesitation in the mid-range. May have something to do with the Kerker header??? I re-packed the baffle with steel wool as per a recommendation from this site, which did quiet it down a little bit. Still a howler. Maybe I need to re-jet?

It also has rearset pegs, which are comfortable, but the rubber is shot and I can't find replacement rubber anywhere. They may have been custom fabricated. Anyway, I have the OEM rear brake pedal and shifter, so I may take the pegs back to stock as well. I think that the turning signals are after-market also. Black plastic & square instead of round chrome.

My question is related to the paint. I'd appreciate some advice. The paint is okay. Some dings and scratches, but it isn't the original paint. Looks like factory colors and pattern, but it isn't original. I've been told to try to restore it to the original and that it will appreciate in value a lot more if I do. The stock paint colors were great in '79, but I'm toying with the idea of going to a metal-flake with the same basic colors if I repaint it this winter. Possibly Shimrins from Plasti-cote if I try to do it myself. I priced a paint job and it is pretty pricey ($1800).

Any ideas as to pro and con of this approach? I don't really intend to sell it. It sounds like it is a pretty rare bike and is in really good condition. Do I bastardize it too much by tricking up the paint a little bit?

I've attached a pic; questionable quality, taken in my garage last night. I'd appreciate your learned advice.

Thanks to everyone for what I've learned so far. It has been a long time since I've done my own wrenching and the advice in this forum has been invaluable.

Cheers.

 

[Guest]

It's your bike, but to me, there is nothing nicer than the stock Wes Cooley paint scheme. But that's me.

 

[cvmgtwowheels]

The sqaure signals are the 80 model year. Could it be the PO changed them.

 

[cvmgtwowheels]

Could you post some better pictures, from what I can see it doesn't look very stock now.

 

[rputney01]

Yes, I'll try to get some better light this weekend.

Thx for the advice on the turning signals. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[rputney01]

The sqaure signals are the 80 model year. Could it be the PO changed them.

I looked at the fiche on a couple of the OEM parts houses. It looks like the '80 had the round turning signals as well. Would have been from another model maybe?

Appreciate the advice.

 

[willie]

Nice lookin S! FWIW, I bought one back in the mid 80's in need of paint. I liked the paint "design" but wanted something a little different. I wound up painting it 2 shades of blue, a VERY light silvery blue and a Dodge Daytona(?) blue. It looked so "factory" that a couple of guys who saw it while I was at Laguna Seca complimented me on having a nice Canadian "S". They wouldn't believe that the Canadian S was also blue and white and that I had painted it myself. Tough choice but IMO, it could look very good painted colors other than blue and white, but using the same design. I'll post some pics of mine if I can find any.
Willie in TN
PS
Presently, I'm giving alot of thought to painting my GK with the same design as the S. The only thing that makes me hesitant is that the GK doesn't have the rounded lines of the S.

 

[Ausben]

Gday you might be interested in what ive done with mine. I liked the stock look but added a few period sponsor decals as per wes-cooley , plus a bit of my own touch. you will find more pics of my bike under my Gs's resurection posted on this sight. Anyway enjoy your bike and remember when it comes to your bike its an extension of you and therefore you should paint it and play with it as such.

 

[Commodus]

The S bikes are fairly rare and quite valuable. I don't think you're wise to go far from stock as it'll kill the value of the motorcycle. If you want to modify one, you'll be better off economically to simply buy a non S model and modify that.

Congratulations on the find

 

[OhioEric]

WE WANT MORE PHOTOS!

....nice bike...

do what makes you happy. Personally, i think the shimmrin paints have alot of potential...

 

[Guest]

Gooday mate. Keep it stock.Rare,magnificent and you'll hate yourself later.If you want a modified one,buy a pig and build build whatever pings your wire.Modifying this beauty would be sacrilege. I'm sure any number of people here would line up to take her off your hands. Cheers.

 

[KGB]

Some better pics wil lhelp us.

As to the square vs. round signals, 80's S models were round.
the square signals could have come offa different model GS or may be complete aftermarket.
The disc brakes on yours are drilled, which indicates a 80 model year.
79 were solid discs.
As to the rear sets, any markings on them? Want to sell them?
Drop me a PM.
If you order stock footpegs, be careful as the 79 and 80 model years are different.

As to the paint, it's your bike.
As some have said, and I agree, the stock 1000S is one of the best looking bikes ever built. Mine is close to stock.

If you want the stock paint codes, drop Dink a PM.
He may have them posted on line somewhere.

let us know what you decide, and please post some more pics.

 

[KGB]

This would be a 1979 Gs1000S

http://www.asl-testsite.co.uk/motors/normal/Suzuki-GS1000S-1979.jpg

 

[tkent02]

Why paint it at all, it looks nice enough?
Any other paint will kill it's value, then it's "just another funky old Jap bike".
You have something special, keep it that way.
1800 is way high for a basic two tone paint job.
Shop around, someone will do a great job for a lot less. Or get the compressors, guns, and things you need to do it yourself. Read a few "how to paint motorcycles" type books, get a few practice tanks off dead honda 90s or beerkegs or mailboxes or whatever and then paint your own.
A simple two tone job like this can be done perfectly by anyone with a little effort.

Or just sell it to me.

 

[rputney01]

Gday you might be interested in what ive done with mine. I liked the stock look but added a few period sponsor decals as per wes-cooley , plus a bit of my own touch. you will find more pics of my bike under my Gs's resurection posted on this sight. Anyway enjoy your bike and remember when it comes to your bike its an extension of you and therefore you should paint it and play with it as such.

Very nice and something to think about. Very clean paint. Is it original factory?

Thanks.

 

[rputney01]

Here are some better pics. I don't know how to get multiple pics into one post, so there will be a series of them here. Overall, the paint isn't that bad, mostly just the front fender and the tank around the fill hole.

 

[rputney01]

Here are some better pics. I don't know how to get multiple pics into one post, so there will be a series of them here. Overall, the paint isn't that bad, mostly just the front fender and the tank around the fill hole.

Note the paint on the tank. Got one small dent to fix as well.

 

[rputney01]

Note the paint on the tank. Got one small dent to fix as well.

Here is the front fender.

 

[rputney01]

Here is the front fender.

Another angle. The rear pegs have been moved as well to make room for the Kerker.

 

[rputney01]

Another angle. The rear pegs have been moved as well to make room for the Kerker.

Here is the instrument panel. A little over 19K miles. The clock and the oil temp gauge don't work. I understand that is fairly common.