Top ten things

[1980GS1000E]

Mine gives me plenty of smiles just like this.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Exactly. I hate too see 'em cut up too. :-|

Renobruce and I seem to be working off the exact same list. I must be on the right track. :-D

By far, the most useful upgrades were to the front end. Even a stock GS has plenty of go, but not near enough whoa. :-D

1. Progressive fork springs. (The single best purchase by far as many here can attest)
2. 20 wt fork oil.
3. Lower "Superbike style" handlebars. (Helps to get your body weight over those new springs)
4. Larger brake rotors.
5. Kawasaki dual piston front calipers
6. Master cylinder with a 14mm bore.
7. Galfer SS brake lines.
8. My big clunky "80's" fork brace. (not shown)
9. GS1100 aluminum swingarm
10. 18" rear wheel
11. K&N Pods, jetting
12. R.C. 4 in 1 pipe with a modified baffle.
13. Heavy duty clutch.
14. All the other normal maintenance stuff I can't remember, like bearings, cables, levers, tires, seals, etc.

8 Track -- is there a picture anywhere of your twin piston front calipers, and a description of how they were fitted. Any brackets that had to be manufactured, etc.

Cheers
Don

 

[TheCafeKid]

Yeah me too..only i think ima stick with single..but id love to have some extra muscle up there.

 

[8trackmind]

8 Track -- is there a picture anywhere of your twin piston front calipers, and a description of how they were fitted. Any brackets that had to be manufactured, etc.

Cheers
Don

Yes, go here.

 

[80GS1000]

Small changes - upgrade the R/R, quicken your stopping power with stainless braided steel brake lines, install new coils, lighten the load a bit with a smaller gel battery, improve handling by rebuilding your forks and installing new rear shocks, get a shade more grunt with K&N pods and a Dynojet Stage 3 jet kit.

I know a lot of guys would rather keep their GS's looking classic, but from a performance perspective you can't beat a suspension and wheel swap from a newer bike. Hopefully nobody here considers what I did a hackjob. :-?

Done correctly, the handling and braking improvement is amazing.

A la Renobruce, here's some of what I did to my 80 GS1000E.

* Complete suspension swap from a GSXR. Front end is a 2004 GSXR 1000 front end, 120/70/17 tire up front. Swingarm and shock is from a 2006 GSXR 1000, rear wheel is 5.5x17" from a 2005 GSXR 750 with a 180/55/17 rear tire. Super grippy Michelin Pilot Power sportbike tires front and rear, stainless braided brake lines front and rear. Rake is set at 24.5 degrees up front, which is similar to a Yamaha FZ1. There's a lot more rubber on the ground which makes cornering much more fun and stable even at high lean angles, and the brakes are now phenomenal. The bike's a lot more fun to ride, and it's about 80 pounds lighter than stock wet.

* 520 chain conversion
* Battery relocation, using smaller gel battery than stock which saves weight
* GSXR rearsets, lighter than stock and work better, more ground clearance
* Pipe, pods, rejet

Still needs paint to look like the Yoshimura GS1000 racebike, and the GSXR forks may get powdercoated silver. Seat needs to be cut down. Also plan on hopping up the motor for more grunt.

 

[LarryT]

I dont think I " BUTCHERED" my old GS :-D

 

[LarryT]

I think its a MASTER PIECE

 

[gsgeezer]

It is nice to see some that aren't stock!