"New" Bike -- 1982 GS1100E

[trumpetguy]

My dad is a candidate for Greatest Dad Ever  . 

Last October, a neighbor gave him a 1982 Suzuki GS1100E that had been sitting for years in his garage.  No carbs, frame rusting, missing side panel, all aluminum bits heavily oxidized, rotten tires, etc.  It only had 8700 miles on it.  Paint was in fantastic shape.

He worked on it bit by bit, doing almost a complete resto.  He is retired and a workaholic, so he always has a project going.  He polished all the aluminum, treated and painted the frame, bought carbs and tuned them, bought and painted a side panel, polished wheels, installed new tires, fixed and improved the charging system, replaced rear shocks, and generally went through the bike.

Then he gave the bike to me!  He already has three, and wanted me to have this one.

Two weeks ago, I drove the bike from my parents' home in East Texas to mine in Western Oklahoma.  Although it was a 100F+ day, the trip was uneventful.  The bike is amazingly quick.  It had 100HP new, and I'm sure this one still does.  It's a 4 valve per cylinder engine, chain drive (some GS1100s had shaft drive).  Handles very well, too.

Here it is:


That is NOT a dent on the tank -- it's a shadow.  It is an amazingly clean bike.





I'm still keeping my 98 GS500E as well.  Two bikes with two different personalities.  Both great at different things, both fun to ride.  I rode both on Sunday and had a great time.

[lilbill]

She's a beauty...congrats on the new ride

[yamahonkawazuki]

nice ride. heh i wonder if that old motel in weatherford is still there? i beleive it was called teh "travel Inn"

[trumpetguy]

nice ride. heh i wonder if that old motel in weatherford is still there? i beleive it was called teh "travel Inn"

The one right on the I-40 service road on the east side of town?  Yep, still there and still the cheapest place to stay in town.  Right now, you can't get a room with all the oilfield workers occupying every hotel.

[yamahonkawazuki]

nice ride. heh i wonder if that old motel in weatherford is still there? i beleive it was called teh "travel Inn"

The one right on the I-40 service road on the east side of town?  Yep, still there and still the cheapest place to stay in town.  Right now, you can't get a room with all the oilfield workers occupying every hotel.

yup thats the one. lol i stayed there, in 01 headed out to az. cause of weatrher in teh distance. so i stopped there, ordered dominos, and watched the tornado hit where i was going to stop . i had beer and pizza. all was good

[frankieG]

wow what a great job/....good dad too

[scottpA_GS]

Very cool... Tell your Dad I want one too 

[anthonygs1000]

the gs 1100 is a great bike I have two 1980 and 1981 the 80 has filters and a dynajet kit and a pipe  it real wakes the tings up the bike runs 93 mph in the 1/8 have not had a chance to do the 1/4 yet mabe befor winter ten times the bike the gs500 great job to your dad

[b_long_1]

nice bike! seems you're pretty lucky. Give your dad a beer. 

[trumpetguy]

Thanks for the compliments on the bike.  Like I said, my dad is a prime candidate for World's Greatest Dad.  On his sixtieth birthday. he was backpacking with my brother and I at nearly 11,000 ft in the Rocky Mountains.  Upon retirement, he again took up motorcycling and I went back to it myself about that same time.   He has completed, along with my brother and I, two lengthy motorcycle trips so far and several shorter ones (would be more except my brother and I still work).  He'll turn 70 next year and isn't showing ANY sign of slowing down.  I have a hard time keeping up sometimes.

[yamahonkawazuki]

excellent the old man deserves a great big  and a few  as well. you are a lucky man