Progress!!! 1978 GS1000E Restoration/Performance Rebuild

[philosopheriam]

Folks - I need opinions...

These - oval head mirrors


OR

These - shovel head mirrors


Also, I can't decide if I want black or chrome... I'm leaning towards the oval mirrors. I'm afraid the black ones won't match the existing satin black of my frame and small parts. However, I'm also concerned about the chrome ones looking out of place. Thoughts?

 

[JJ]

Folks - I need opinions...

These - oval head mirrors


OR

These - shovel head mirrors


Also, I can't decide if I want black or chrome... I'm leaning towards the oval mirrors. I'm afraid the black ones won't match the existing satin black of my frame and small parts. However, I'm also concerned about the chrome ones looking out of place. Thoughts?

I like the black ovals best, but they're all ugly, IMHO.

Having offered my opinion, it's your money and your bike. Overall, it's stunning. You do great work.

 

[philosopheriam]

I like the black ovals best, but they're all ugly, IMHO.

Having offered my opinion, it's your money and your bike. Overall, it's stunning. You do great work.

Ha - I'm trying to find a set of mirrors that don't stick out like a sore thumb and match the lines of the bike. The originals just look goofy to me...

 

[dorkburger]

Ovals for sure.

 

[JJ]

Ha - I'm trying to find a set of mirrors that don't stick out like a sore thumb and match the lines of the bike. The originals just look goofy to me...

LOL. As I said, it's yours, and you have done great so far. I'd go with the black ovals...

 

[alke46]

Another vote here for the black ovals. Also, great looking results on the project.

Just another comment about your beautiful bike. The pinstripe on the seat not matching the stripe on the tail section would drive me batty but that's just me. I would see it every time I looked at the bike but then, I am anal about stuff like that. It's your bike for sure so do whatever you like. I am just in awe of the talents you have shown on this re-build.

 

[philosopheriam]

Another vote here for the black ovals. Also, great looking results on the project.

Just another comment about your beautiful bike. The pinstripe on the seat not matching the stripe on the tail section would drive me batty but that's just me. I would see it every time I looked at the bike but then, I am anal about stuff like that. It's your bike for sure so do whatever you like. I am just in awe of the talents you have shown on this re-build.

Thanks bud - I hear ya about the being anal part... In this instance, the juice isn't worth the squeeze, if you know what I mean. Suzuki never intended the stripes to line up from the tail to the trim piece to the tank, and trying to make this happen will require some serious additional $$$

Just a reminder of what she looked like originally

 

[philosopheriam]

FYI: Went with the black oval ones...

 

[nvr2old]

Are the pin stripes on your seat trim under clear..? If not, those two colors are available at auto paint stores for cheap (15 bux or so). It would be a snap to redo if they can easily be removed. Mis-alignment would drive me crazy, too.

 

[Gregory]

What do they call that color of burnt orange at the auto paint store?

Are the pin stripes on your seat trim under clear..? If not, those two colors are available at auto paint stores for cheap (15 bux or so). It would be a snap to redo if they can easily be removed. Mis-alignment would drive me crazy, too.

 

[philosopheriam]

Are the pin stripes on your seat trim under clear..? If not, those two colors are available at auto paint stores for cheap (15 bux or so). It would be a snap to redo if they can easily be removed. Mis-alignment would drive me crazy, too.

Under clear, my friend...

 

[philosopheriam]

Ordered my mirrors, company said they wouldn't have them for 3+ weeks, I said cancel...

Before I reorder, I saw these... Now I'm thinking again.

 

[steve murdoch]

I like them better than the oval.
The up and down adjustability is nice.
Price?

 

[rudeman]

Updates - it has been a couple weeks due to working a bunch of OT at my job - when the opportunity presents itself, I take it, as it is how I pay for toys and delicious dinners

Anyway, here's what's new:

PS: I KNOW the pinstripes on the rear trim piece do not line up with the pinstripes on the seat trim - they didn't line up from the factory, either I had my painter put the decals in the same place as the originals, and that's where they are going to stay. At some point, I'm not going to let perfection be the enemy of damn good!

Beautiful work Anthony! Just FYI you can shim the tailpiece to close the gap between it and the seat and to align the pin stripes.

Otherwise HOLY SH!T!

 

[nvr2old]

Yes, it's a beautiful bike, such attention to detail is praise-worthy. That's the only reason I submitted a remedy to the pin stripes. When I was painting these types of paint schemes, I taped the tail and the seat trim together and laid out the stripes so when assembled they would have a good chance of lining up. They never did that at the factory and that's why so many of them didn't line up. Knowing now they are under clear, my suggestion won't work w/o a total respray. As nice as it is, the stripes are always going to draw a comment when compared to how great the rest of the bike looks. Just trying to help..I apologize if it came off as being critical.

 

[ptegsotic]

In this instance, the juice isn't worth the squeeze, if you know what I mean. Suzuki never intended the stripes to line up from the tail to the trim piece to the tank, and trying to make this happen will require some serious additional $$$

? you could figure a clever cheap 'engineered' fix !

great stuff. Thanks.

 

[philosopheriam]

Beautiful work Anthony! Just FYI you can shim the tailpiece to close the gap between it and the seat and to align the pin stripes.

Otherwise HOLY SH!T!

Rudy,

You gave me an idea... I didn't take a good photo of this, but the bottom of my rear tail piece sits about 3/16" below the bottom of my seat trim piece. If both pieces were even, my stripes would line up perfectly - apparently, my painter did in fact rest both pieces on a flat surface and line up the stripes before laying clear over them.

I will post pics of the solution this weekend...

 

[philosopheriam]

Yes, it's a beautiful bike, such attention to detail is praise-worthy. That's the only reason I submitted a remedy to the pin stripes. When I was painting these types of paint schemes, I taped the tail and the seat trim together and laid out the stripes so when assembled they would have a good chance of lining up. They never did that at the factory and that's why so many of them didn't line up. Knowing now they are under clear, my suggestion won't work w/o a total respray. As nice as it is, the stripes are always going to draw a comment when compared to how great the rest of the bike looks. Just trying to help..I apologize if it came off as being critical.

Long story short, read the response I wrote to Rudy... When I got home from work I checked the lineup (like in your photos) and my painter did in fact do what you described. I need to raise the rear tailpiece a smidge and there will be no more trouble in paradise

 

[philosopheriam]

I like them better than the oval.
The up and down adjustability is nice.
Price?

I ordered the round ones today - more expensive but I think they will work out better.

 

[nvr2old]

Long story short, read the response I wrote to Rudy... When I got home from work I checked the lineup (like in your photos) and my painter did in fact do what you described. I need to raise the rear tailpiece a smidge and there will be no more trouble in paradise

Ahh..must've missed that post. I have the utmost confidence that you'll be able to fix it..'cause admit it, it would drive you crazy, too.. I had to shim the tail section on my S also so that the bottom edge would line up with the seat trim. It's all in the details, and you are a master of that as evidenced with this build.