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Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 12:01 pm
by Track T 2411
Looks great!

Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:35 pm
by Steven UK
OK I must be having a chemical imbalance or some kind of weakness because this thing is starting to get me down. I'm at the crossroads of 'stop throwing good money after bad' and 'I'm in too deep not to follow through'. I have just returned from the bike shop after taking it for a tune up, because I had done everything I could. My motivation was that I have my skill test planned for tomorrow afternoon. The bike maybe runs slightly better (if you'r def) but the noise from the primary is much worse. I can't take my test on that thing now and I have no time to fix it, so I'll have to postpone it now. So I have quickly Googled GL1100 for sale locally and there is an 82 full faired going cheap. My question is what is involved putting an 82 engine in a 81 frame? Or should I just swap my custom bits over? basically its a seat, wheels and tires, handle bars, headlight... I could then strip the 81 down for parts or sell it cheap as a 'fixer upper'. I need a beer!

Unless someone really wants the 81 as it is....?

Regards Steven

p.s. I do want to complete this project one way or another because I have some custom fabricated parts in process right now. Twin headlights and a small rear rack.

Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:36 am
by Track T 2411
Most everything would swap over, one direction or the other. The '82 has some differences, though... wheels/ tires went from 19" front 17" rear to 18" and 16" and are wider (the 82 swing arm is wider as well). The brakes went from single piston to dual piston calipers, different master cylinders, and rotors. There are also some differences in the electrical system, like self cancelling turn signals, etc. I don't recall right off hand if the neutral switch changed from the side of the block to under the trans cover in 82 or 83. IMhO, the brake system on the 82 is a definite upgrade.

Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:44 am
by Steven UK
Just following up on this… I did manage to get a set of 81 carbs from a low mileage bike. I need a gasket kit, but Randakk’s is out of stock. But I’ll get by some how. Now to finish the twin headlights and go for a ride. I did find a mouse nest on my bike and a broken ‘O’ ring that may have been the issue before, but I did do the leak test. I’ve added some photos of the donor incase anyone needs any good body work…

Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:27 am
by sparkyrasmus
Nasty mouse nest hiding under all that beauty. Be sure to clean that we'll, the scents they leave will hang a vacancy sign out for another tenant if you don't clean everything and wipe it down with a mint essential oil. Mice hate that smell. In the upper Midwest we can buy sachets that repel mice for a couple months for storage over winter. I hide them everywhere a mouse has a potential home. They love airboxes.

Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2021 10:44 pm
by Steven UK
Well I finally sorted the carbs… got a new set. They were not working because the floats were set to 20mm (1000cc) not the 15.5mm for the 1100. Fixed that and now we are running like a top. Now to start work on the twin headlights and rear rack. And get my license…

Re: Steven UK’s GL1100

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2021 8:05 am
by Steven UK
Well I have been riding a bit recently… I changed the oil and the knocking noise is tolerable. I’m thinking it may just be a normal noise after all. Anyway if it does go bang then I’m in need of a new engine, and as parts are not available a rebuild is not feasible either. So ride it I will… :) I’ll continue with the twin headlight conversion over winter (I’m in Minnesota). The other curious thing was as I was cruising around listing to the whistling timing belts it started to get much worse, I mean terrible…! It turned out to be the tach screaming in the housing. I’ve disconnected it now and I think I’ll go for a Trailtech dash when I fit the twin headlights. I’ll have to come up with a solution for the fuel level though, unless I just use the aux fuel setting… maybe a light can be rigged up to come on at 25% or after 100 miles… the starter was an easy fix that made life much less stressful.
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anyway finally enjoying the bike… :).