My 82 Suzuki Bobber Build (Move if in the wrong spot)

[Nexus]

Last year a close friend of mine gave me an 82 Suzuki GS1100 that belonged to his dad. He has no interest in motorcycles but didn't want to trash it!!

New it would have looked like this:

1982-suzuki-gs-1100-gl-1 by Charles Marson, on Flickr


When I received it, it looked like this:

IMG_20210616_113105 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

IMG_20210616_113113 by Charles Marson, on Flickr


Since having for almost a year, it looks like this:

20230710_104122 by Charles Marson, on Flickr


This is a mock-up of what I want it to look like:

20230409_141052 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

[Nexus]

I finally got around to taking the airbox off and found this:

20230615_131419 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20230615_131431 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20230615_131436 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

Luckily with all the parts I received (anything motorcycle related), is a set of 4 replacement carbs for which I purchased a rebuild kit to install in it!!

Money invested so far for this bike is around $100.00 to $150.00 bucks!!

[Nexus]

I tried different looks:

20230409_140846 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20230409_135228 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20210917_131153 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20210917_122418 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

[Nexus]

Found a surprise inside the tank:

20230616_141528 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20230616_141525 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

[5th T/A]

Charlie, congratulations on the GS1100. A good friend used to own an 81 GS1100E, it was a great bike and regrets selling it. Once you get the fuel tank and mouse houses sorted out it should run much better!

[kentucky yeti]

I had an early 80's (80 model, I think.  I'm old and can't remember) GS1100 right about 40 years ago.  Same color but with a terrible custom paint job (that was a big thing back then) that looked like birds had roosted on a limb above the bike    Never let a friend paint your stuff. 

[roadking77]

Good luck with the bike Charlie, looking forward to see what you come up with.

Thats funny Mike. Especially if there is Coors involved.

[Nexus]

I had an early 80's (80 model, I think.  I'm old and can't remember) GS1100 right about 40 years ago.  Same color but with a terrible custom paint job (that was a big thing back then) that looked like birds had roosted on a limb above the bike    Never let a friend paint your stuff. 

My buddies bike had the same thing happen. They wanted to surprise him with a painted tiger on the bike. It was a very 80's thing to do

He didn't like it and parked the bike

[kentucky yeti]

My buddies bike had the same thing happen. They wanted to surprise him with a painted tiger on the bike. It was a very 80's thing to do

He didn't like it and parked the bike

I sanded the gas tank and rattle-canned mine in basic black.

[Nexus]

Hello everyone,

Like all my projects, this is moving at a snail's pace but there is some progress. My buddy painted up the tank and side covers for me and I was able to mock up the exhaust. I have a couple of hanger brackets to add to the front of the muffler at the y for added support but this is pretty much how it will look, only the pipes forward of the mufflers will be wrapped in titanium-coloured exhaust wrap

I am so giddy with how it looks, which has motivated me to keep ticking away at this thing.


First mock-up of many:

Exhaust idea by Charles Marson, on Flickr

image000000 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

image000003 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

image000000 (1) by Charles Marson, on Flickr

image000001 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20241016_105515 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20241017_121443 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20241017_121432 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

20241017_121518 by Charles Marson, on Flickr

[kentucky yeti]

I like that!

[roadking77]

Looks great Charlie! Always good to hear from you.
If I could make a suggestion with the seat. Take the spring off the centre and make a mounting bar to allow 2 springs, one on each side of the back of the seat. Also it looks like the front needs to come up a bit. I believe those changes will make it much more stable. Otherwise it will be like riding on a pogo stick.

[5th T/A]

Charlie, great progress on the bike, it’s looking good. I love the era of the UJM bikes, (Universal Japanese Motorcycle). The engines were a work of art and not all covered in plastic. I like the chrome accents and fenders. Your friend is a pretty talented painter, nice colors too. Have you fired up the engine yet? Nice job fabricating the exhaust, when I did my 82 Yamaha, finding replacements was not easy. I know you are going for a custom look with the seat, but I think it’s going to be hard on your butt for more than a short ride.

[N PRGRES]

Love the paint and the look, but as mentioned, that seat doesn't look to be good for any sort of distance.

[Nexus]

"Take the spring off the center and make a mounting bar to allow 2 springs"
"it looks like the front needs to come up a bit"

The seat is mounted on a hinge at the front, and as you suggested, there is a crossbar with two chrome springs mounted on it.
As far as the rake is concerned, it is stock geometry and at this point, I don't want to play around with it. By shortening the handlebars and cutting off the rear overhang/passenger seat, It has changed its look dramatically in my opinion.

As far as the seat itself goes, I agree, by looking at it, this thing doesn't look that comfortable, but I assure you it is. It is from an old horse-drawn farming tool (plow I think) and is surprisingly comfortable to sit on. With that said, I haven't spent any time on it so we shall see just how comfortable it really is!!

The engine will be my focus next spring/year as I want to rebuild the carbs this winter but as of yet, I have not heard this thing run.   


Thanks for the interest and the comments

[roadking77]

Charlie, seat comfort is overrated
I had a hard tail chopper with only a couple of springs on the seat. The seat was not much more than what is on yours except it was covered in leather. The bike itself was not comfortable to ride so the seat situation was irrelevant!!
On the other hand I have a HD RoadKing (hence my screen name) with an aftermarket seat and backrest for comfort. I can only stand to ride on that one for about an hour and half before I am ready to get off and stretch a bit. Keep trudging forward, it will be a fun ride.

20241024_100559 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Heres a pic of my hardtail.