The GS Resources GS

[Steve]

There is a Canadian version, too. :-\\\

.

 

[allojohn]

There is a Canadian version, too. :-\\\

.

That's pretty good......you're a funny guy Steve...

 

[GSCafe]

Canada is where we get all our comedians.

 

[administrator]

That would be a cool demonstrator of sensible mods and updates - the kind of things most owners would be interested in doing to their own bikes to keep them reliable and safe. Nothing one-off and expensive though; keep it in reach.

I tend to be a guy who likes to keep things mainly stock but with an eye towards mods that enhance rideability or performance. Tassels hanging off the bar ends just doesn't do it for me.

The interesting part in all this is seeing what's out there in terms of parts nowadays.

Frank

 

[Steve]

The interesting part in all this is seeing what's out there in terms of parts nowadays.

I just did a lot of "updating" on my 850G(K), and found quite a few things that enhance driveability, but are not visible. I have also updated ALL the lights to LEDs, the only one that is really obvious to a casual onlooker is the headlight, the rest of them just work "better".

Not sure what kind of pattern the stock headlight throws, but if you are interested in a Hella replacement, let me know. That light was almost as good as the light in my Wing, but the LED replacement is FAR better, so the Hella will be available.

.

 

[administrator]

I just did a lot of "updating" on my 850G(K), and found quite a few things that enhance driveability, but are not visible. I have also updated ALL the lights to LEDs, the only one that is really obvious to a casual onlooker is the headlight, the rest of them just work "better".

Not sure what kind of pattern the stock headlight throws, but if you are interested in a Hella replacement, let me know. That light was almost as good as the light in my Wing, but the LED replacement is FAR better, so the Hella will be available.

.

Steve, we'll be talking...

Frank

 

[dpep]

Well, all of the paintable parts are off and the hardware removed from them EXCEPT.....I can't figure out how to get the damn headlight out of the fairing. Clymer and I believe the owner's manual says you remove the retaining nuts from the headlight bracket. But I can't find any such nuts. Here is a shot through the turn signal opening.

Here is a little closer look in the hole. That nut you see (there is one on each side) is actually soldered to a retaining bracket; that screw has to come out from the other side.

My fairing has two screws on the underside that definitely secure the headlight assembly. But I have removed those and I still can't get anything to even wiggle.

As soon as I get the light out it is off to the paint shop.
...

 

[Steve]

I have not worked on a GK fairing, but I will venture a guess that you have to remove the headlight from the bucket to access the hardware inside the bucket.

.

 

[dpep]

I have not worked on a GK fairing, but I will venture a guess that you have to remove the headlight from the bucket to access the hardware inside the bucket.

.

That is what I am trying to do. There is no way to access any screws or nuts from the front. You have to be able to slide the assembly forward to remove the metal trim around the headlight. The only screw accessible from the front is the horizontal adjustment screw.
...

 

[Steve]

Looking at the "Headlight" parts fiche and your pictures (especially the second one), it appears that the bucket is held to the fairing by the two bolts on top. One of them is concentric with the adjuster knob, the other is just to the right of that.

Again, just guessing.

.

 

[dpep]

Well, I finally got the headlight out of the fairing but I still don't understand why what I did worked.

Anyway, here are all the parts to be painted. Way more work than I planned to get everything off and apart. But I've been dealing with old motorcycles long enough to know that is normal. If it weren't for denial I would never be able to start a project. The next time you see these parts they will be Corvette yellow and without badging.

Here is what is didn't go to the painter--a truly naked motorcycle. This is what I will be hauling up to Franks on the trailer with the newly painted parts in the truck securely bubble wrapped. The paint shop said a week. We will see.

...

 

[dorkburger]

Wow......Mr. Ratly is aptly named.....At least in the cosmetics department anyway. I can relate

 

[fudozen]

I've been doing a rebuild on a 1982 GS1100GK myself. I will be putting the final drive assembly back on shortly and then all my painted parts. the front fairing was trashed, but I have a Windjammer 5 that I will be putting on it. Can't wait to see how it this one turns out.

 

[dpep]

Mr. Ratley has a long GSR history. I purchased him as a pretty much stock brown GK from a GSR forum member (no longer on the site) in upstate New York back in 2003. The main thing about it that wasn't stock was the exhaust which may have been from a different model GS. It worked fine but the pipes didn't allow the centerstand to quite come to the full up position (a key part of the plot). The first ride I took on it was from Canada to Florida in less than 24 hours as a certified Iron Butt ride. I wrote about it on the site at the time.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?71747-Riding-the-River-Canada-to-Florida

A month or so after I bought it I took a trip on it to a military reunion in Las Vegas that started out with another 1100+ mile day though this time not recorded for Iron Butt. On my third day out the stator burned out in the desert north of Phoenix and I had to limp into Vegas at dusk without lights keeping charge barely in the green (luckily had charge meter installed) by closely maintaining a narrow rpm range. Once in Vegas I put out a help call and Billy Ricks responded with the name of a former GSR member and mechanic who lived in the area. I got a new stator and r/r fedexed and we got everything replaced in time for my ride back.

Then the following year leading a GSR ride down in the Ocala forest area the bike and I came upon an unmarked curve and had to lean it way over until the centerstand (see paragraph 1) dug in. I got highsided and the bike did a series of end-overs, pirouettes, and half-gainers for couple hundred feet more down the roadside.

Interestingly, starting with that crash, the bike that had seemed to have an issue on every long ride became the most reliable mount in the stable always taking me from point A to point B any time is was called upon including carrying me back home immediately after the crash.

I then began accumulating the various parts damaged in the crash.

The trunk I picked up from WillT at the first GSR 'convention' at a state park on the Missouri-Arkansas border south of Branson. He had ridden a GK and had to take it to a shop with I believe an electrical problem. While there he saw a Moto Guzzi he liked and traded in the GK on the spot. Luckily for me had taken the box off the GK before he rode to the shop. I did not have room for it on the 850 I had ridden there, but fortunately Scotty (aka Slowpoke, aka many others) had trailered so he got the box back to Florida for me.

The exhaust and a flat G model seat were shipped to me from Planecrazy in Chicago. I then bought a running but rough GK from Miss Fab in upstate New York. I rode mine to a GSR ride she held and there switched the brackets and bags. A year or two later Mark Harrop was looking for an 1100 engine and I told him he could have the one in NY for nothing if he moved the rest of the bike down to me which he did. later on Wazz was parting out a GK and I got the tank from him.

My original intention was to get the bike painted a solid color once everything was replaced. But when I looked at all the pieces with their attached stories I realized that what I had was a rat bike but not just any rat bike--one with tales to tell and a lot of class. Hence, Mr Ratley was christened.

I doubt there is any other machine that has been touched by as many GSR members as Mr Ratley has so far. By the time we finish this project there should be many more members involved. It will truly be the GS Resources GS.
...

 

[Spyder]

Now THAT, is a story... I will await the "official" Yellow Frank thread, and watch intently. If somewhere along the way I can help in any way, I most certainly will... Be it parts or even possibly (though not likely due to location) labor...

 

[Redman]

Don,

Sorry, I didn't see this sooner. I too had difficulty removing headlight assmby from fairing. If I thought hard enough I might have remembered whjat the trick was. I think it had to do with disassembling that adjuster mechanism ......

Interesting to read the entire history of Mr Ratley. (I had known only parts of it.)
Yes. Lots of GSR members involved.
You have meet many GSR members. You may be the one of the ones who has gone to many GSR rallys across the country.

In my 12 years of being interested in GKs I have seen pics of a few GKs that have been painted.
My observation is that even if they are a dark color or a brite color, even if they are shiney glossy or matt finish, ... that is a big bike, lots of big areas to be a solid color. And some pin stripping seems to help. Again, just my observation.

I do have some GK specific parts if the project needs.

I could contribute to the project by purchasing the side panel emblems FROM the project. (you said it was going to be badgeless).

Dave

 

[Charlie G]

I've subscribed to the thread. Will be interesting to see it come together. Nice story. Really sorry you didn't make it to our rally last fall in Cranbrook B.C. Valiant try on your part!

cg

 

[gustovh]

Yup, I am now on board.

V

 

[mikerophone]

Me too. Great idea and story, very cool!

 

[dorkburger]

Don, thanks for the story. I love hearing about the history of this place.