Hi there, I am new to this forum but not to bikes...and I am a regular at AdvRider.

I picked up an 89 GS for something to tinker with.  The engine was run without oil and it has not been taken care of at all, but I felt sorry for it.  So with metal in the oil, I started tearing it apart and yes rod bearing is toast.  Well I was going to tear completely apart since I have never done it and rebuild it...which I am prob still going to do, but I came across an engine out of a 2010 with 700 miles.....yes only 700 for $200 and it came with carbs, all the electronics and the throttle. 

I guess my question is will this work.  I am just planning on changing all the electronics over....is there anything I need to worry about...I am going to have to figure out mounting the oil cooler.  Let me know what else I need to be thinking about.

The new engine comes with an oil cooler. I believe that is the only difference.
Should be an easy engine swap

You could leave the oil cooler off, they only came on the ones with a full fairing. If you swap all the electrics and carbs with it, it should be easy. Only other difference that might be an issue is that the early models had a cable drive for the tacho, later motors will not have the cable fitting as they use an electronic tacho. Easiest would be to get a late model tach, or just do without.

If it were me I would keep the oil cooler on. However, if you want to sell it, the hoses and oil pan.....LMK

Well I figure that the oil cooler is only going to help things and certainly won't hurt.  I did not look to see about the tach, but like you said just get new gauges.  Well I am sure I will have more questions but that clears up some stuff to start with.

Thank you much.

Quote from: drdfblackm on August 02, 2011, 08:11:41 PM
Hi there, I am new to this forum but not to bikes...and I am a regular at AdvRider.

I picked up an 89 GS for something to tinker with.  The engine was run without oil and it has not been taken care of at all, but I felt sorry for it.  So with metal in the oil, I started tearing it apart and yes rod bearing is toast.  Well I was going to tear completely apart since I have never done it and rebuild it...which I am prob still going to do, but I came across an engine out of a 2010 with 700 miles.....yes only 700 for $200 and it came with carbs, all the electronics and the throttle. 

I guess my question is will this work.  I am just planning on changing all the electronics over....is there anything I need to worry about...I am going to have to figure out mounting the oil cooler.  Let me know what else I need to be thinking about.

Welcome.I am a member on ADV as well.

I'd keep the cooler because every little bit helps.I would swap the ignition electrics over from the original motor and use the original carbs also.It will simplify installation.The newer motor only has one ignition trigger and the original has two.The newer engine has all the emission stuff on the carbs which makes tuning a pain because of vacuum leaks.I'm not sure on the newer engine but IIRC some of them came ready to accept the parts for a machanical tach but it may require the exhaust cam to be swapped for the old one with the tach drive gears.