AirCooledSuzuki

Hi!

I’m from Canada and have been riding motorcycles since 1963. Having been born in 1945,I’m sure that I’m not the youngest guy around. … but I’m probably one of the oldest teenagers in the group.

I have learned how to ride in 1962 with an early 1940’s army Harley Davidson (hand-shift, car tire type tires, etc.). In 1963 I have managed to purchase my first bike.



Within a year,I got bored with the Harley and went out to purchase a BSA.



Sorry about the image quality. That’s all I have.

A few years went by and after multiple crashes (replaced a few frames on that BSA), I sold my bike and started working, raised a family, etc.

In 2002, I had been away from motorcycles for almost 40 years ... but still had it in my veins. I’d drool each time I’d see or try out a friend’s motorcycle. My family was raised, etc. I “thought” that I might now be a bit more reasonable than when I was 18. I went for it. I have then purchased a 2000 Honda Valkyrie which is still our main ride.



The Valkyrie is great to go on long rides with my wife, etc. but I soon had the urge to have something a bit smaller to “play” between traffic lights. I had always liked the V4 motorcycles. Rather than getting a VMax, I decided to purchase an“underdog” and modify to my liking. It is a 1985 Suzuki GV1200 Madura.



I love to tinker on motorcycles as much (if not more) as I like to ride. I did not take me long to notice the beautifully built old school air cooled bikes. After awhile, I decided to start gathering parts for my “retirement project”. By naming it this way, it was an easier “sell” to my SO.

I have chosen a 1980 GSX1100ET. You can see it here when I brought it home.



Soon after that, I have found and purchased a 1993 GSXR1100. The suspension, etc. will be transplanted to my ET.



CBR 600/900wheels will be used with the above.

Other parts such as Giuliari seat, “large fuel tank” from Australia (we have small fuel tanks in Canada), ZX1400 levers, master cylinders, 4 into 1 exhaust, etc. were gathered. More details to follow when I start a project build thread next summer.

The engine will inherit a 1989 GSXR750 cylinder head along with 79mm 1250 Bandit pistons.This should result in 1294cc.

Other engine items have been gathered such as billet clutch basket with HD back-plate,race prepped crankshaft, 750 oil pump gears, HD engine studs, top end oil-cooler, oil cooler, etc.

I realize that I will be riding this bike on the street but strive to make it as bulletproof as I can because my grandson will eventually inherit all of these toys. I do not wish to give him anything that is prone to be easily broken.

There are other air cooled bikes stashed away in case I get bored when completing my ET. Until then, I describe them as “parts bikes” … but am not touching that other ET for a while LOL! It’s staying as is… just in case.

Update:I have started stashing parts away for the second ET.

I have joined this forum because I love old school bikes, especially modified ones, and you all seem to be a fine bunch a people!

Normand
aka quexpress on different forums, etc.

Hello Normand
What an awesome story. Great to have someone like you aboard . We have another lad thats about your age called Bobster, he lives in Manchester, the UK.
It gives the rest of us hope that we might still be playing with these bikes when were your age. Im already 45 an been playing with bikes for almost 30 yrs. I feel like a spring chicken now.
Its fanstic that your going to make the Et into a special. Two things to note, firstly some gsxr arms are quite short and look od in ETs. You know you dont want the back light sticking out a foot after tbe whhel.
. The other thing, et gudgeon pins are 18mm. Bandit are 20mm. Unless you use efe rods

FBJ admin wrote:Hello Normand
What an awesome story. Great to have someone like you aboard .

Thank you!

We have another lad thats about your age called Bobster, he lives in Manchester, the UK.

Bobster must certainly be a nice guy!

It gives the rest of us hope that we might still be playing with these bikes when were your age. Im already 45 an been playing with bikes for almost 30 yrs. I feel like a spring chicken now.

No quite LOL! You'll be up there in no time.

Its fanstic that your going to make the Et into a special. Two things to note, firstly some gsxr arms are quite short and look od in ETs. You know you dont want the back light sticking out a foot after tbe whhel.

I hear you and will make sure that the back light does not stick out too much after the wheel.

The other thing, et gudgeon pins are 18mm. Bandit are 18mm. Unless you use efe rods

The Bandit 1250 gudgeon pins are of the same size as the ET ones. It's the Bandit 1200s that have the same gudgeon pins as the EFE.

Hello Normand. Be great to see ur et come together in the project section. Remember to keep pics below 128kb. Cheers FBJ.
By the way i never knew 1250 bandit slugs were 18mm cheers for that.

FBJ admin wrote:Hello Normand. Be great to see ur et come together in the project section.

My first ET project should start next summer I guess. The second ET will follow very shortly after.

Remember to keep pics below 128kb. Cheers FBJ.

Are the pics uploaded directly to the forum, or do we link to them after storing them on the net (Image Shack, etc)?

By the way i never knew 1250 bandit slugs were 18mm cheers for that.

There are others also.

Busa 08-10 81 mm piston
GSX1400 81 mm piston
Modern Z1000 pistons (76 - 77 mm I believe). I have a set of these (2003 Z1000) for my second ET.

Note: The deck height on these pistons is lower than the one for the OEM GSX1100ET pistons (approximately 2mm - 3mm). The block will need to be shaved for the same amount. These specsw will be measured very carefully before going to the machine shop.

Oh good oppurtunity for a turbo

Uploading pics direct is fine

OK thanks!

Welcome in bud

Welcome dude.

My old man is from 1944 and still riding, last year in Canada, the year before in Africa, many times in Russia, and also a bit at home in Europe. He's not even thinking about selling the bikes.

spondonchris wrote:Welcome in bud

Thank you!