'78 GS750 Suzuki brat/cafe "Fawkes"

That said, I will spend some time polishing the caps and bowls. I have even debated having the caps and bowls powder coated black. Not sure about that yet though.

When I attempted to take apart the carbs (I had originally just assumed I would clean while still in 'rack' formation) I noticed that the 2nd and 3rd slides were totally gummed (I feared rusted actually cause the rack sat in a damp outdoor shed for a least five years unattached to bike). I took the carbs off the rack and sort of boiled them in hot water... actually they released before the water boiled so I didn't have to heat them that much.

I used pure Pine Sol and soaked the parts for a few days... amazing stuff. It didn't damage any of the plastic parts, and of course I will be replacing the rubber O-rings etc anyway. Only problem with using Pine Sol vs carb soak (of various kinds) is that I had to actually use some steel wool/toothbrush work to get them clean... carb dips eat everything in my experience. So there are a few corners on the carb bodies that I couldn't get really clean.

HR

I also finished removing unwanted tabs etc. from the bike. It was harder than I thought it would be mostly because it was my first time to do so... I nicked the frame in a few spots when I first went at it... but I learned and now I can remove tabs pretty quickly. Can anyone tell me what to do about spots in which I went too deep by accident?

Please see the pictures for an example... there are one or two spots where I hit the frame and took out a small chunk...

Hi, enjoying your build thread.

You have a question about wheels and discs. I have a front wheel from a '71 GT550 on the front of my '78 GS - WITH DUEL DISKS.

The bolt holes are already there under the plastic cover, I have had this set up for more than a year with no probs!

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

SeanGSUK said:

You have a question about wheels and discs. I have a front wheel from a '71 GT550 on the front of my '78 GS - WITH DUEL DISKS.

The bolt holes are already there under the plastic cover, I have had this set up for more than a year with no probs!

Click to expand...

Greetings Sean... thanks for that info. I went home to the farm to do some work on the bike last weekend and realized that the bolt holes were there... but its really good to see someone who has actually made it work. I can see how it looks and appreciate the improvement. Thanks for that.

By the way... sweet bike. I like the color scheme.

HR

Well quick update.

Tore into the spokes situation on the weekend. I am so busy at work I haven't a lot of time to play with the bike but at least getting something done. Hub and rims are separated! My rims are in such great condition, I can't believe it. I couldn't possibly powder coat them black now after seeing them shine!

So, on the horizon are the following next steps for me:

1. get carb kits and put carbs back together
2. order spokes and get the wheels back together
3. order loop and get that welded on
4. attack suspension issues... need new rear shocks, and looking hard for a dual disk/fork swap... or keep what I have and cross-drill rotors and install super quality pads. Preferably the former idea.
5. try to stop this 'budget' build from becoming a monstrous pocket change depleter!

By the weekend, I will have at least ordered the loop, and carb kits... I guess that is progress!

HR

Any updates mate?

I will update today. Sorry it has taken me so long. I have been working long long hours recently. I come home, eat, and crash...

I can relate man... seems like I haven't had any shop time in weeks.
Good news is all that work does.add to your bike funds!

Nice build. I'm doing the same bike also.

Re: '78 GS750 Suzuki brat/cafe "Fawkes" (now with a gs1000 twist!!!)***

So, sorry about the long down time. I have been so busy... it seems there is no lull in the world of divorces and custody battles!

I also have been really fortunate. So.. a little explanation and then a request for some advice.

Previous to this week, I have been stalled. I removed the old spokes from the rims, had the carbs on hold waiting for rebuild kits to arrive, ordered a rear loop from Sonic and was waiting for that... wait wait wait. I am busy, so waiting is okay.

I had run into a few snags in terms of commitment and money. I don't want to spend $8000 on this bike. Some people go hog wild but I think I need to keep this bike on some kind of budget. Unfortunately the availability of decent used parts here in Ontario (shipping is expensive in Canada!!) is not what it is in the States. (oh how I miss Japan in this regard!)

My 750 needs forks tubes (stantions?) badly... though the area where the seals are located is clean, the rest on both sides is pretty badly pitted. I really don't like the stock gas tank on the 750, not a tear drop lover, but the frame on the gs while strong and stable is pretty wide at the tank. I am willing to cut and weld for the right tank but would rather not have to. I was debating a mod to the existing tank but more on that in a minute. I have also been scouring the internet for a good set of 4-1 headers for the bike so I could have something custom from there back (like a reverse megaphone or something unique). There are a lot of V&H or Mac exhausts on these bikes and while nice I would like to think about something a little bit different if possible. Hard to find a header without huge shipping costs.

I could go on... but its has been hard to decide how far to "jump in" with this build. I will not sell it as it was my dad's bike years ago, so I am all in.. just sure how deep!

Anyway... I love the rebuild and here are a few pics of recent work I have been doing. Haven't had a lot of time so mostly small stuff. Now rebuilding carbs, brake calipers, rims... and still working on frame. I know its slow but still on track to have the bike rolling by end of summer.

More on the new twist in the next post!

By the way, I really appreciate the comments and encouragement! Keep it up! I love DTT.

Also, McCoy... welcome and enjoy your build! Do you have a build thread started as I would defo. follow along. Have you ever ridden your GS or did you buy it as a rebuild/basket case project?

I rode my GS about 15 years ago when my father last had it insured and running. Lovely bike to ride... I have also owned its younger brother, a 1990 GSXR750R (pictured below). I bought it from a Suzuki dealer mechanic and it was jetted and ported and polished and stupid fast (though not compared to the bikes of today!) I once did 270ish on a straight stretch with that bike and thought I was both going to die and also that I was in heaven! I love speed. Sold it when they brought out an insurance "black list" for motorcycles in Ontario. My insurance went from 1200 a year to 3800 even though I had a clean record.

"Fawkes" as I call the 78 GS was given to my younger brother as my dad had picked a few newer bikes and Fawkes had a pretty bad base gasket leak. My younger brother wanted to rebuild it... tore it apart... and then bought a Karmen Ghia and never looked at the bike again. I moved back from being overseas, found it in his garden shed and the rest is recent history...

I paid nothing for Fawkes.

But the story gets more interesting!

It should be said that the other reason why I have been sooooo slow is that I have been upgrading some equipment. I have been buying some tools, and bought a new(to me) welder. I am also putting some money aside for a powder coating kit. I have four bikes to play with now and will be doing a lot of small parts. I would rather learn how to do it than spend a lot paying someone else.

So, the twist!

The other day, I was lamenting how long it was going to be before I could finish Fawkes. I have only allowed myself so much money per month to spend on the bike and of course these projects are never what you think they will be... so I am going to spend more than I thought. I will keep this bike forever so I am okay with that.

Last Monday night my father called me. He knows how excited I am about finally learning to build engines and work on bikes (I watched him fix and build everything from airplanes to backhoes when I was younger.. but never got involved). Fawkes is actually in his workshop so he knows what is going on (or not going on in my case!). Dad said, 'Guess what someone gave me today?" I thought it would be something to do with his airplane hobby... but I was wrong.

He said, "Rod had an old bike sitting outside his milking parlour. I asked him whose it was.. he said mine. We loaded into the truck and now its sitting in the barn."

I thought great! Another project!

He said, "Its a GS1000 and I think its an '82. The forks are in great shape!"

Well that made my day. I need forks badly.

"How much did it cost? Is the bike intact? Does it run? Can I buy it from you?"

Dad, "It was free. It is intact. Not sure if it runs. You can have it."

Nice. But no ownership. (Although I can get that from the guy I guess)

What should I do with this bike? Besides get it running first!?

Few more pics. I now know that it is from January 1978. Three months younger than Fawkes!

Today I will head out to the farm and remove that hideous fairing and the luggage rack on the back. I will pick up a battery, check the oil, drain and refill the carbs and see if it will run.

Will update with more pics later.

Any comments or suggestions? How interchangeable are the parts?

So, few things to notice.

The rotors have been drilled and have stainless steel lines (that is great if I can clean them up).
It has a rotten Kerker exhaust (headers are in great shape as far as I can tell...)
It has a Lockhart oil cooler (is this worth cleaning up and keeping?)
I has wider rims on both front and back (4.5x17 on the back and 3.5x19 on the front... I think)

The tank is a much nicer shape than the 750 of the same year. I like the flat, straight line along the bottom of the tank on the 1000. So I think I have my tank issue sorted.

How similar are the frames? Can I swap the 1000 engine into the 750 frame without too much headache? Is the swingarm the same?


Bad news..... the speedo reads 9000kms. That MUST be 109000 I think given the shape of the bike and the work done to it. I suspect a rebuild is necessary?

On a side note: picked up a sweet Safetech helmet from 1974. I will re-line it and repaint to look nice and vintage. I love the thin cheek/chin guard on these helmets.

109000 i dont think so maybe so but get it running see how she goes
change it into a vintage superbike replica
please don't put a retarded ,ugly, childish,stoopid skate-culture,hideous brat seat on it
why would you want to swap frames ?

No ownership on the 1000.... at least not yet. Tracking it down now.

A free GS1000?! Great score man. Keep the oil cooler (and associated lines). You probably won't need it, but people love those things.

One thing I find odd...... I don't think the GS1000 ever came with spoke wheels, and I'm almost positive they ALL had dual disc front ends. It's tough to say what front end is on that, but your rear wheel might be from a GS750.

Look around on the GSResources to see what all could swap over, but I'd guess the motor will not. "Maybe" the tank and seat with a little work, wheels & front end almost definitely.