After doing only two-strokes for the last 15 years, I decided to embark on my over two year sitting and collecting dust project. A 1986 GS1150E project bike I bought about two and half years ago. I had one back in the mid nineties and actually missed having a liter bike. The 1150 was my favorite.
My first one was an ES and that is what I am going to make this one into. Over time on e-bay I had purchased the ES fairing and brackets and recently purchased the special guage bracket for the ES from a fellow in Florida.
It had no exhaust and I purchased a Bassani pipe as I like the sound of it over all the other pipe options. I got a baffle section from Jim Winters that has the racing baffle in it and the one that came with the pipe has the street baffle.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
The bike had been down somehow on both sides and had broken the tabs off the lower triple clamp but did not tweak the head stock area. It had just tweaked the rear subframe which I have since straightened. The fork tubes were bent and a good set were sourded from e-bay.
The motor was apart as the rotor end was damaged and no longer would hold the rotor or starterr clutch. It had a big bore kit which I have since shelved for a stock set of cylinders off e-bay.
The bike was completely disassembeled, sandblasted and painted with high heat ceramic engine silver and clearcoat.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
The front end was completely rebuilt with new seals and fluid. The paint was bead blasted off and reapinted with High heat ceramic gold engine paint and clearcoat. The calipers were treated the same way and rebuilt with new seals as the pistons were perfect. The wheels already had new Avon tires on them with no use. The fender brace is broken and will need replaced as soon as I can source one.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
An ES fairing bracket was stripped and painted. I added this as I wanted the ES over the standard E. A special guage mounting bracket had to be sourced as the E guages were mounted on the triple clamps instead of the fairing bracket. The triple clamps were beadblasted and painted gloss black. New tapered bearings were installed and ES bars were added to complete the makeover from and E to an ES model.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
Eric - Looking good... My current 83 1100E was a mid-life crisis thing having also purchased a new 82 model back in the day. I sold my 82 because I thought I would kill myself on it after a 130+ MPH trip across Gandy Bridge down in Tampa... Locals know the thump-thumps... Something about the 1100/1150's...
The complete swingarm linkage was was beadblasted, painted and all bearings were serviced and greased. The swingarm was also beadblasted and painted high heat ceramic silver and clearcoated. The shock adjusment cable was was full of rust and this was serrviced and lubricated. It now functions properly. The rear brake master was rebuilt along with the rear caliper that was beadblasted and painted high heat ceramic gold and clearcoated. New seals were installed.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
Tom Garcia wrote:Eric - Looking good... My current 83 1100E was a mid-life crisis thing having also purchased a new 82 model back in the day. I sold my 82 because I thought I would kill myself on it after a 130+ MPH trip across Gandy Bridge down in Tampa... Locals know the thump-thumps... Something about the 1100/1150's...
Keep us posted...
Thanks, I had a tricked out GS1100ES that I had up to 158mph indicated and it was scarry. Friend taught me how to do wheelies on it. I like that so much that it scared me thinking I would be doing a wheelie and get hit by a car. So I sold it. Miss that bike a lot. I also lived in Florida for 14yrs. In Deltona, Sanford and Altamonte Springs.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
Zook-e wrote:I also lived in Florida for 14yrs. In Deltona, Sanford and Altamonte Springs.
Holy crap... I lived in Sanford and DeBary... Graduated from Seminole HS in Sanford n '77... Worked at the Publix in Orange City...
Small world. I was a mechanic/manager at Jack's/Jerry's Cycle in Sanford for on or about 10 years. But I moved to Florida from Wyoming in 85. I graduated in 76 in Wyoming.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
Bottom end of motor installed with replacement crank, starter clutch and rotor. Transmission checked out fine and clutch basket had heavy duty gear and springs already welded up. No play there now.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
New sealed battery installed. Not ever going to use the old vented batteries anymore. No more acid leaks. This one is reversed but the cables will fit easily and stlll clear the airbox.
"If you keep hitting your head against the wall you will eventually put a hole in the wall or your head"
