my first big bike too(over 350cc) Back in the summer of 1989 at age 21 flew to San Diego Shpped a day or two around (cycletrader) found this gs 750 1978 sun burned bugundy red paint scheme (was the cheapest " big" bike I could find in the cheapest bike/salvage dealer)..690$ put a motocross handlebar on instead of the "gaychopperstle that was fitted" ...drove it down the baja painted it black matte in La Paz driven back to San Diego on semi slick tires in a couple of days ... passing torrential rains ...which we were running away from Sold the bike on cycletrader for half I paid for after a month and half use and flew back to Italy...F...ing school?! A great trip and my first real motorcycle adventure
I had a 1980 GS1100! I had a blast on that bike........Burnouts, Drag Racing, Burnouts......... I have also decided on my next project bike. I want to find a 82-83 GS1100E in that Champagne Color! Mukuni Smooth Bores, Header,.........maybe even a Vance & Hines Drag Pipe on it! Just love the sound of an inline 4, Big Bore with an open header! Boojum!
As a matter of fact this is what I am riding now..for sure not for it's flickability but these motors for sure have a reputation for reliability
I've lusted after a GS850G for years. When I was stationed on Okinawa in the mid '80s the BX had a '82 holdover for cheap, why I didn't buy it I'll never know. I've seen a few on CL lately...I have to restrain myself as I have too many projects already. +1 for GS lust
Wow, I just found this pic of me on my first legal street bike. :huh '78 GS550E I know I have a side shot somewhere, this is all I have for now. I'm ATGATT, pants, shoes, gloves and a helmet...I put over 10,000 miles on it that first summer.
Bought it for $200. It was shot. It had been leaning against a trailerhouse in Louisiana for quite a while. I love a challenge. I got it runnign and have ridden it but I still have a little work to make it street legal. Namely, ditching the pillow seat and getting the rear tailights sorted out.
I started out on a GS250T. The really funny thing is that I just came across this thread right after spending almost an hour trying to scan a picture of me on it, from back in '85, but the #$%*!! scanner won't work.
Nice project man!!! Those disc brakes up front, are them new? keep posting pics please Had a gs for about 5 months when in Australia...bought it with 100000 km and crossed the country two up.... from east to west nice memories
Ok, I finally got the scanner to work. Not a great image, but there it is - on my first bike. Photo taken in 1985, the bike's maybe 2 years old at this point? I bought it for $1100 if I remember correctly, from one of my mom's friends. Rode it all over the place, with my girlfriend (now wife) on the back - we had a blast!
I bought 2 '78 wire wheel GS1000's as bank repos in late '79. One had a windjammer and bags, the other had been used as a drag bike. Paid $1500 for the pair. Sold the tourer for $1K to my then roommate. That worked out well, 'cause he hardly rode it. I borrowed it for a few trips and used it for commuting. I probably put more miles on it than him. The drag bike had been returned to stock trim before the bank got it back, but I knew the PO. I bought the 29mm smoothbores off him and a few other parts. Bored it to 1150cc, welded the crank, used an exhaust cam from a GS750, and gutted and reworked the stock pipes. The seat had been cut down, and with low bars and a 1/4 fairing, made for a fast and fun sport bike for riding the roads of SW Va in the early '80s. Handled better than the Z1R-TC I owned for a short time in the same period.
Thanks. It's on hold right now until I finish remodeling the bathroom (D'oh). I built that seat pan but I'm really not happy with it. I think I can do better. I have all of the parts to make it stock if I really want to, but I need projects or else I get bored. Life's no fun unless I'm taking something apart. I'll post pics when I get somewhere. By the way, the front brakes are not new, I just cleaned them up a bit. I suspect that there will be some issues with the bike as far as tuning goes. The clutch springs need to be replaced. they took a set after sitting for so long and the clutch slips a little on acceleration. Also, I rejetted for the pod filters and 4-1, so, I'll have to dial that in. Hopefully I'll get it done this Summer.
Why don't you go with a kawa z 650 or even better a z 900/1000 tail... the one that looks like a nail .... that woul be looking right IMHO
I wanted a fiberglass project and I also wanted an excuse to put 59 caddy taillights on the bike. If I'm not completely satisfied I'll do something else. Just an excuse to tinker.