Suzuki GS1000

[s1120]

I still ride my GS850G. Bullet proof motors & transmissions on those 8 valve engines. Valve adjustments are easier than advertised, and a once in the life of the bike thing, but still more trouble than most. Almost nothing ever made is easier than a Guzzi. Get on the GS Suzuki forum, do the wiring upgrades that are recommended and you will be more than happy. These bikes are more top heavy than our Guzzis if it matters to you. I think they are the finest of the Japanese lot.

I rode the wheels off of my old GS650GL...  the 650 was SO over built...  pretty much.. "lets take the 850 motor, and just make the bore and stroke smaller.."   the chain drive 650's were a little more high strung, but the shaft ones whera stone ax.   Once I "un custom'ed" the bike by loosing the tiller handlebars, and sucked the fork tubes up the trees a bit, and slightly longer shocks she was a nice, stabe, fun bike.

[Rusty goose]

I bought a '79 GS1000SN to replace my '70 Kawasaki H1500 when I was 18. It was 10 yrs old at the time, compared to the Kaw...   well, there was no comparison. Smoooooth, effortless speed, great all around machine. So since it was so perfect, I decided to screw with it. I bored it out to 1100 and put in some pretty radical cams, 29mm smooth bore carbs, electronic ignition, Kerker headers. I was a frequent flyer at the Bandimere Speedway High School series drags. Sold it on in college to get a R100s. I wish I had any of those three back now.

[sidecarnutz]

That was my first reaction too! It would be an interpretation, as I wouldn't want to source the correct gauge cluster etc. and it's not originally an "S" version anyways. In stock trim, it's cool, but it doesn't stir me. All I need is a new seat cover if I keep it stock, so that's the easy way.

I am thinking with a "Cooley" fairing, some low bars, suspension mods and some other bits, it would really liven up the ride.

I wish it wasn't so complete, then I could do anything and not feel a bit guilty............. .........but as my buddy always says, "There already  is a perfect example in a museum somewhere." Hmmmmm.

Look close at it. It needs more than a cover. The seat foam is breaking down and cracking horizontally. It shows thru the old cover. These seats were kind of soft and over stuffed when new. Redone in a firmer foam with a lower profile it would resemble the stock seat and hold you in the same riding position. That is what I would go for. Just dreaming here.

[Huzo]

Mr. Smith.
Dear sir I would be very pleased to take responsibility for the '69 GS1000E.
I've had several similar Suzuki's (still have one), and loved them all.
   Your new best friend? Seriously. Good fortune, R3~

I’d love to own a ‘69 GS 1000 E.
I imagine they’re quite rare..

[Lannis]

Look close at it. It needs more than a cover. The seat foam is breaking down and cracking horizontally. It shows thru the old cover. These seats were kind of soft and over stuffed when new. Redone in a firmer foam with a lower profile it would resemble the stock seat and hold you in the same riding position. That is what I would go for. Just dreaming here.

In addition to making the seat back to "like stock" and usable, If It Were Me (and it's not), I'd just put it back stock.   There are so few cars and motorcycles being restored to stock and rideable that they cause a crowd to form any time you see one.

There's no more stock early Ford V8s because they've all been hot-rodded into cookie-cutter rods.   Every Nova or Chevelle, no matter if it was Aunt Nellie's grocery-getter, has to be turned into an SS396, four doors and all.   Every Olds Cutlass has to be made into a 4-4-2.   Every Tempest has to be a GTO.   Every Mustang has to be a GT.   Even a plain-jane 4-door six-cylinder Ford Galaxie has to be tarted up and jacked up and fat tires and alloy wheels.

Why does this nice Suzuki have to be a Cooley, and every Yamaha a Kenny Roberts Special?

It's just me, I guess, because nobody else is doing it ....

Lannis

[cruzziguzzi]

That and the 850. Two of my all-time favorite motorcycle engines.

Best in the "G" flavor!


Todd.

[bad Chad]

The 78 Gs1000 I had may have kept me from crashing.   It was very powerful,  but very planted and completely predictable.  I suspect it’s good design kept me out of some nasty trouble.

[Gliderjohn]

That series of motors were really good. I rode a half pint GS400 for 11 years till 1990. The last few years it was significantly modified with a Yoshimura big bore kit, stage II cam, bigger carbs, 2 in 1 headers along with upper end S&W shocks and front progressive springs. It would run up well to 10,500 rpm. Was a hoot in the Ozarks. Here is a poor picture.



GliderJohn
 

[Furbo]

 My 81 56,867 miles stator & reg. years ago. Florida to Barber several times great bike

THATS IT!

I had a couple big Kawasaki's with Windjammers and the last one I had was a Guzzi Cal II with a full Vetter system: faring, detachable bags, and trunk. Rode it across the country a couple times with the then 'new' Mrs. Had the oh-so-groovy Cycle Sound mounted in the fairing.

[chuck peterson]

Where is another "E" waiting for a helping hand, CL, nh, $600....

https://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/d/manchester-1980-suzuki-gs1000e/6865051104.html




formula for aluminum sulphate

[Lee Bruns]

Stock is custom. It's only original once.

[F-22]

I rode the wheels off of my old GS650GL...  the 650 was SO over built...  pretty much.. "lets take the 850 motor, and just make the bore and stroke smaller.."

Although I'm pretty sure the GS650 was derived from the GS550. Besides the top end changes, they also changed the way the clutch actuates (on the clutch cover as on modern bikes, instead of the chain cover and pushrod, which is also fine but unnecessarily complicated).


First was the GS750, very overbuilt and massive, with a kickstarter and everything... Then came the GS550 with a similar but smaller/lightened engine. Also still had a kickstarter at first. Then in the late 70's they made the GS1000, which was still very bulletproof but actually lighter overall. They introduced a new stronger frame for the 1000, which was a bit heavier. Then just a little later came the GS850G. They wanted to make their ultimate touring bike, merging the heavy GS750 engine, adding a bit of bore but tuning it for torque instead. Then they merged it with the GS1000G frame. The GS850 was a very heavy bike. The GS650 came in the early 80's, they enlarged the 550 and it was a very wonderful model, producing about as much power as the original GS750! Actually the GS650 was too good. When Suzuki made the XN85 Turbo, why would anyone buy that expensive bike with turbo lag when the super smooth and reliable GS650 only made 10hp less and even came with a shaft drive (and they say Suzuki was very optimistic with saying the Turbo made 85hp, in reality it was hardly anything more than the GS650)?

[bmp72]

I used to have a GS750E... really miss this bike, my 2nd favorite bike ever (after my LM3). Was so used to it I could scrape the exhaust on every turn. With many manufacturers making modern copies of their old classics, its such a pity Suzuki never brought a proper copy (including huge aircooled engine) back...

[JJ]

Saw this classic beauty in the parking lot Sunday at the AAMCE Vintage Bike Show in Phoenix...

These 4-cylinder 750 / 1000 Suzuki's are great and reliable motors, and the GS series (IMHO) is highly under-rated, and they are still formidable motorcycles today!

[chuck peterson]

Reviving this thread for a Cl ad I found this morning....I love ads like this, lousy foto, kind of a "I don't really care if you come separate me from a classic collectible highly sought after bike for about 1/4 of the going price on a beautiful stock example...."

Someone is going to show up and steal it

That will not last long. 1978 black w white stripe

https://newyork.craigslist.org/fct/mcy/d/stamford-1978-gs1000/6876102283.html




ebay photo hosting