1978 GS1000 Restomod

mattfeet

Been Around the Block
It's been awhile since my last build on DTT. A few years ago I drove to Ann Arbor and I picked up a '78 GS1000 in 7/10 shape with some nice modifications already done to it but it wasn't my plan to stop there. For years, I have been infatuated with Singer Vehicle Designs rendition of the Porsche 964 (911). I am using their style, attention to detail, and mix of aesthetic and performance as the inspiration of this build. This thread is a catch-up thread beginning almost two years ago and running to today, November 6th, 2015. I didn't really know where to put this thread as it's not a restoration, it's not a cafe, not a racer but rather a restomod.

Modifications on bike when purchased in 2014.
'78 GS1000
- GS1100 Alum Swingarm
- SS Brake Lines (soon to be replaced b/c of new brakes)
- K&N Pods

First round of modifications:
- New Avon Roadrider Tires
- All new controls, supermoto bars, and re-did the wiring harness
- Kawi Ninja 600 calipers, CBR900RR rotors, custom front caliper brackets
- New SS lines, EBC pads
- Rebuilt Forks (seals, fluid, springs, spacers)
- Powder coated fork lowers

Photos from seller:
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After I picked it up:
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Soft install of all new bar controls:
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New tires, bars, controls installed:
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CBR900RR rotors installed:
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Mounted:
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Matt
 
The seller swore to me the brakes were in good shape and that the tires "weren't chinese crap". Wrong and wrong. First ride (after picking up bike from getting the Chinese crap tires" replaced resulted in my front brake locking up and smoke billowing from the caliper. Onwards and upwards...time to get the brakes replaced. I touched on this in my prior post and here she was back on the road again:

Finished the brakes and controls:
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As previously mentioned, my inspiration behind this build was Singer Vehicle Design's "reimagination" of the Porsche 964, as shown below:

Exterior of the Singer 911
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Interior
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Now, I just went and picked up my reupholstered seat and I could not be happier. This interior was the main resource I used to come up with the idea for my seat. I REALLY want to use the same leather that Singer uses, and I sourced the supplier, but the material alone was going to run $1,100. Nope. Marine grade vinyl it is...also a smarter choice for motorcycle seats.

And this is my new seat!!

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The grips will match the seat. Not sure if Im going to use the basketweave or the regular to match.
 
I then did the grips today using some leftover basketweave vinyl. I didnt care for how you could see the unfinished edges with the wrap technique I used earlier (not pictured). I used some brass snaps that match the eyelets in my seat. Im pretty pleased with how they turned out.

Got my vinyl:
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Got my snap pieces. This was a 4-piece kit (two for top, two for bottom). Using an anvil and hammer to set the two pieces together:
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The grip with snaps installed:
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And on the bike!
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Seat and grips...garage is messy
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At this point, my build was dragging along so damn much. My painter and I hadnt been able to find a weekend in common and it looked like it would be another 3-6 weeks before we paint. All I wanted to do was ride. However...

...to tide me over, I had received my GORGEOUS custom ordered Motogpwerks Yoshimura style stainless steel exhaust. This is handmade by a guy named Chris (he owns Motogpwerks) and he used to work for the Yoshimura race team as a mechanic/fabricator. I've installed it but havent been able to test it out yet...its killing me.

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Turns out, my aforementioned painter flaked out on me. After some deliberation, I found a new source for paint and did my full color/style mock up for the paint work. Shown below.

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As mentioned, I was able to find another body shop with fair prices so I bit the bullet and showed them my mock up as posted above. He was able to fit me in between projects and I finally was able to pick everything back up a few weeks ago. Total paint job was <$500 including a tip.

Colors:
- Honda Mountain Air (non-metallic)
- MINI Cream white

Mock up:
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Here's my parts! Im really pleased with the paint job. I would have done a few very minor items differently but overall Im happy.
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Installed:
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Matt
 
Final update for the time being

So after the paint was finished, I knew I had to get busy rebuilding my carbs if I wanted to get her dialed in before the cold weather hit. A good friend of mine is an extremely talented mechanic and came over for a few nights to oversee my rebuild. Here I will partially document that process:

Completely disassembled all of the carbs to get them ready for the carb bath. I used the bigger of the two available Ultrasonic Cleaners from Harbor Freight and a 50/50 mix of Pine Sol (original scent - it's important) and water.

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Soaking in the cleaner. This cleaner agitates and heats the solution up to 8min cycles. I can fit two bodies in at a time and I ran 4 cycles (32min) and then rinsed them off in water and dried them with compressed air.

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This is after 2 of the 4 cycles. Dirty on the left and clean(er) on the right.
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Next up was to install the Dynojet Stage 3 jet kit which is made specifically for GS1000's with K&N pods and 4-1 open exhaust. Mixture screws at 7/8 of a turn from lightly seated.

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After we reassembled everything and bench synced, out came the vacuum gauges to check how close we were.

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Not bad! After some fine tuning and setting individual slides, we were able to get the idle perfectly dialed in.

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I took her out for a ride yesterday and the bike ran well...sorta. I found out that I was only running on 3-cylinders. I checked the spark plugs and the #2 cylinder plug was fouled pretty bad. All the others were the nice coffee-with-cream color that I was after.

One of these is not like the others:
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Swapped the plugs out with new NGK's this morning and went out for a ride and she is MUCH better. The bike pulls like a freight train and the pipe sounds brutally good (loud but good) at 1/2 throttle and up and then settles back to purr like a kitten at idle.

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Thanks for looking!
 
Long term plans are full Ohlins suspension setup, yoshimura cams, 1065 wiseco piston kit, and maybe a vintage half fairing painted to match.
 
Looking good. You scored a really clean bike from the start. I got this same bike sitting in my garage, just needs a little work to get her finished. I used the same HF cleaner on the carbs and they looked like new when finished.
 
It looked good in pics but it needed a lot of attention. Ill check out your 1000 thread as well! I love these bikes.
 
Cant say I really like the colour combo of paint / seat but it looks well done - and good work on the brake upgrade.
 
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