This bike is as old as I am!

[Zagg]

I've been lurking for a month or so doing research on the legendary gs series motorcycle due to a "Bike in a Box" showing up on Craigslist. I was looking for a Winter project with a low initial investment and I found this one about an hour from home... '78 GS750.... mileage on title is 32000, but the odometer says 28k. I believe all the parts that have been removed are included minus some nuts and bolts. It also came with a Vance and Hines 4 into 1 (although the header pipes have some surface rust) and an extra head and pistons. P.O said the extra was a 750 head over-bored to 850? Can't verify that as of yet.

It sat for 1.5 years while the P.O owned it. He ended up picking up a cafe style that was all but done that he could ride immediately so this project just sat. The previous PO began rewiring it and stripping body parts off of it. I got two small totes of stuff with it 1 of which is mostly body pieces and exhaust and the other is wiring, chain, nuts and bolts, battery etc.

I just turned 38 and I am a single dad with a small landscape business so I have been looking for sober ways to have fun. Problem solving via socket and hammer is fulfilling to me and I still have a juvenile need for speed and danger so without telling an even LONGER story this is how I ended up here. I have ordered the o-rings from Robert Barr and the Clymer manual. I plan to start on the carbs and putting the engine back together so I can hear this beauty run.

 

[Zagg]

 

[dorkburger]

Welcome. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, Zagg.
Nice intro.
"A juvenile need for speed" means you will fit in fine.

 

[Zagg]

Thanks for the welcome, guys. I have a feeling you will be hearing from me often this Winter.... She's a project!

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Welcome to the funhouse.

 

[fred smailes]

WELCOME!!
Like the look as is but,,, it does need a couple more pieces,,,,,
Some where here you might be able to download the factory repair manual.
I found it for my 850 but don't know where,,,.
I ended up on this site cause something in the Clymer on my bike didn't seem right
So I was looking for confirmation,,,, the Clymer was wrong.
Keep the pics and updates coming.
Fred

 

[mikerophone]

Welcome, and thanks for posting pictures, we like those here.

Read up, search and I'd recommend you use the Clymer for purposes other than working on this bike. Use it as a reference at best...For some bikes, it's fine or pretty much all there is. But for others, like the GS, there are factory service manuals and a website such as this, so you've come to the right place for a winter project - I have a few of those going this winter as well.

I still have that juvenile addiction/need for speed as well, but I use it sparingly these days.

 

[Zagg]

Thanks for the advice on the Clymer.... I'll look for the manual on Cliff's site.

 

[Zagg]

WELCOME!!
Like the look as is but,,, it does need a couple more pieces,,,,,
Some where here you might be able to download the factory repair manual.
I found it for my 850 but don't know where,,,.
I ended up on this site cause something in the Clymer on my bike didn't seem right
So I was looking for confirmation,,,, the Clymer was wrong.
Keep the pics and updates coming.
Fred

Thanks Fred. Yeah, she's definitely missing a few pieces. The two totes have most if not all, but I definitely need a good manual to put it all back together. I will see if Cliff has it.

 

[TxGSrider]

Welcome to the site. I think you have a very nice good base to build a nice bike just the way you want it. Myself, I like the idea of making a caf? racer style machine out of it.

 

[IanC]

I've definitely seen worse starts to a project. Welcome!

 

[Guest]

Welcome to the site. Nothing better than a project to fill your mind and give some good therapy. If you need parts the site can be the quickest and cheapest place to find them. Looking forward to seeing progress with it this winter.