TonUpSoldier
bad assed, super fast and fully gassed
Well, fellas and ladies, Its been a while since ive posted. Been stuck working on alot of OTHER peoples bikes lately, havent had much time to do anything of my own. Now that the riding season is over (and, it was a fun one for me, over 14K miles amassed on a couple of various Zook UJMs and the cafe this season 90% of it on the twistiest roads Ohio, WV and KY have to offer ) I have found and started gathering parts for my NEWEST project. Not quite a cafe, but not purely a street fighter either. Maybe a lil of both. I picked up a second GS1100E for $600 down in KY, not worth restoring, so she becomes the donor. This winter/spring will be spent mostly on suspension performance modifications, and then later summer/fall/next winter on a recockulously powerfull motor. Not going HUGE bore on it, but an 1166 kit, with cams, degreeable cam sprockets, and 1150 carbs, etc etc, hope to be getting about 135HP to the wheel by my estimates. Even if i fall a bit short of that, the biggest part of the mods for me will be that the bike will HANDLE speed/power in the corners. Doing the ton is great, but doing NEARLY the ton in a corner, and HANGING it, is even better
Yes, this will NOT be a low budget build. As a matter of fact, it will likely cost me a small fortune. I could BUY a modern sportbike outright for the eventual end price of this build, but, as many of you fellas know, THATS NOT THE POINT!!! LOL. Frankly, I dont like the modern stuff. Gobs of power and handling yes, but they all look the same, and for my big ass, arent that comfy. This 82 GS1100EZ is just about the most comfortable "multipurpose" bike ive found. Its powerfull stock, it handles well for its time, and doing that all while remaining sittable for a tankfull at a time. So NOW, lets make it better.
My suspension set up will be as follows:
On the front end, I will be using a set of 50mm 97 GSXR1100 forks, resprung and revalved with Racetech springs and valves. I will also use the 97 Gixxer wheel and brake set up on the front as well. The top tree clamp will be modified to accept standard bars, rather than clip ons. I am trying to find a source to make me a "drop" top clamp, as i will actually lose about 1.5 inches on center of the bike of ride hight static. This SHOULDNT be a problem ANYWAY, as i have an underbelly SuperTrapp header and can to use on this project, but if i could restore the bike to nearly the stock ride hight, that would be fantastic. So, if there are any MACHINISTS out there that would be interested in giving me a hand in that endevour, that would be mighty swell.
The back end will consist of a GSF1200 Bandit swingarm, with modified and machined collars and bushes for the GS11 frame. Here, i will be using the 97 Gixxer rear wheel and brake system as well. I havent decided yet, whether or not i am retaining the stock peg set up, or switching to a set of Busa rearsets with brackets to affix to the GS11 frame, or not, but if I DONT use the rearsets, i will have to do a lil bit of welding (or rather, have a welder do it for me, i dont trust myself well enough yet on frame tubing) to relocate the STOCK GS11 rear master cylinder. I will be using a set of Ohlins SU143 piggieback shocks i got new for a steal, still wish i could get another set for my 83 GS11ESD, but that ship has unfortunately sailed (someone blew the whistle on our "group buy" We were getting NEW sets of Ohlins piggies for about 500 a set) I will be using a 180/55-17 rim in back and a 120 in front, so the wheels contact patch will be greatly increased. The frame will also be getting braced in preparation for the higher displacement motor, and to prevent flex in cornering. It SHOULD handle pretty close to a modern bike, albeit a hundred plus pounds heavier. Ahh well, cant have everything now can we??
If you havent noticed yet, the goal here is to retain a nearly stock look, while improving performance and handling significantly. MOST of these parts are pretty much bolt on and go, aside from the offset on the sprockets, and a couple of other things. I will also be using a countershaft assistance bearing set up as well.
I am not the first person to do these mods, obviously, and have talked to a few of those who do/have done it, and it should be pretty straight forward. It will end up looking much like this bike, aside from the paint scheme.
Yes, this will NOT be a low budget build. As a matter of fact, it will likely cost me a small fortune. I could BUY a modern sportbike outright for the eventual end price of this build, but, as many of you fellas know, THATS NOT THE POINT!!! LOL. Frankly, I dont like the modern stuff. Gobs of power and handling yes, but they all look the same, and for my big ass, arent that comfy. This 82 GS1100EZ is just about the most comfortable "multipurpose" bike ive found. Its powerfull stock, it handles well for its time, and doing that all while remaining sittable for a tankfull at a time. So NOW, lets make it better.
My suspension set up will be as follows:
On the front end, I will be using a set of 50mm 97 GSXR1100 forks, resprung and revalved with Racetech springs and valves. I will also use the 97 Gixxer wheel and brake set up on the front as well. The top tree clamp will be modified to accept standard bars, rather than clip ons. I am trying to find a source to make me a "drop" top clamp, as i will actually lose about 1.5 inches on center of the bike of ride hight static. This SHOULDNT be a problem ANYWAY, as i have an underbelly SuperTrapp header and can to use on this project, but if i could restore the bike to nearly the stock ride hight, that would be fantastic. So, if there are any MACHINISTS out there that would be interested in giving me a hand in that endevour, that would be mighty swell.
The back end will consist of a GSF1200 Bandit swingarm, with modified and machined collars and bushes for the GS11 frame. Here, i will be using the 97 Gixxer rear wheel and brake system as well. I havent decided yet, whether or not i am retaining the stock peg set up, or switching to a set of Busa rearsets with brackets to affix to the GS11 frame, or not, but if I DONT use the rearsets, i will have to do a lil bit of welding (or rather, have a welder do it for me, i dont trust myself well enough yet on frame tubing) to relocate the STOCK GS11 rear master cylinder. I will be using a set of Ohlins SU143 piggieback shocks i got new for a steal, still wish i could get another set for my 83 GS11ESD, but that ship has unfortunately sailed (someone blew the whistle on our "group buy" We were getting NEW sets of Ohlins piggies for about 500 a set) I will be using a 180/55-17 rim in back and a 120 in front, so the wheels contact patch will be greatly increased. The frame will also be getting braced in preparation for the higher displacement motor, and to prevent flex in cornering. It SHOULD handle pretty close to a modern bike, albeit a hundred plus pounds heavier. Ahh well, cant have everything now can we??
If you havent noticed yet, the goal here is to retain a nearly stock look, while improving performance and handling significantly. MOST of these parts are pretty much bolt on and go, aside from the offset on the sprockets, and a couple of other things. I will also be using a countershaft assistance bearing set up as well.
I am not the first person to do these mods, obviously, and have talked to a few of those who do/have done it, and it should be pretty straight forward. It will end up looking much like this bike, aside from the paint scheme.