suzuki gs 1000/ 1980

[robin]

Anybody here ever have one?
I was talking to a person today and he said he has one sitting in his garage and he is the original owner hasn't been started in 4/5 years and is looking to sell it.
My question to ya'll that ever had one what do you know about it and any problems you have encountered with it.

   Thanks, Robin

[Pappy!]

Don't hold me to it but I am pretty sure "Sheffjs" down in Florida used to ride them. He and I got into a conversation about them a while back.
Shoot him a PM and see.

[LTD]

had one great bike roller bearings never wear out get it

[F6Dave]

I had a 1978 GS1000. Put 32,000 miles on it.

[_Sheffjs_]

Mine was a 1994 GSX 1100g in-line 4 was quite fast for a sport tourer.  Still miss that bike.  I was reading another GSX 1100g for sale ad and it had the reason for sale was to buy a Valkyrie............   I said what is a Valkyrie............ oh! Hey that is a sweet bike............ Valkyrie. Hummm.................. the rest was history and Sold the suzy and started the Jerry F6 club.   I also had a 1984 Gs when I lived in Chicago it was quite powerful. I think one of the fastest of the day.  Did not own long 4x4 trucks were the deal then.

[robin]

Thanks for the replies with the short talk i had i think he said it had 22,000 miles on it always garage kept and he wanted $900 for it gonna don't have room for it but.

[scooperhsd]

GS1000 - is it the Katana ? If so, it's a bit --"more sporting" than the standard GS1100. Same engine design, the 1000 is supposed to be peakier to make up for displacement.

[F6Dave]

I bought my 1978 GS1000 in 1979 as a leftover.  The engine was basically a clone of the Kawasaki KZ1000.  The shim over bucket valve train was nearly identical.  The biggest difference was much improved suspension.  The Suzuki had air adjustable forks and shocks, which was unheard of at the time.  The magazines raved about the handling.

The one weakness was the charging system.  The alternator was only 230 watts as I remember, less than half of our Valks.  Just running stock lighting and ignition put a heavy load on the system, and the stator would overheat and burn out the windings.  It was a simple fix as the rotor was bolted to the left end of the crank while the separate stator screwed into the left side cover.  I had to replace one on my GS1000, and two on the GS1100E I bought a few years later.  They cost over $80 each, which was a lot back then.

I took mine on an epic trip.  I rode from Colorado to San Francisco in late May, hitting some snow in Nevada and on Donner Pass.  I met a friend there on another GS1000 (he liked mine so much that he bought his own) and we rode up the coast through Oregon.  On those roads I confirmed that the GS handled very well.

From there I continued to Vancouver Island, running through large amounts of volcanic ash in Washington, as St. Helens had erupted only two weeks earlier.  From there I rode through the Canadian Rockies to Calgary, returning to Colorado via Glacier and Yellowstone NPs.  It was probably my most amazing trip ever.

This was before the cell phone era, so meeting someone on a trip took some planning.  We decided to meet in front of Joe Dimaggio's restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf at noon on Sunday.  We were both there within 5 minutes of noon.  Who needs all this technology!  Interestingly, on a Sunday in May of '80 downtown SF was practically deserted.  We rode around for some sightseeing with virtually no traffic.  When we rode down the curvy section of Lombard Street, we were the ONLY vehicles on the road!

[Mr Whiskey]

Shoot, wish you were closer...
I'd own it today!
Been "kinda" on the hunt for an original UJM.
Bike doesn't jus' happen to be located a "little" further south by any chance?

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Made me look.



I still think about my 1978 750 Four Super Sport

[Jersey mike]

I bought my 1978 GS1000 in 1979 as a leftover.  The engine was basically a clone of the Kawasaki KZ1000.  The shim over bucket valve train was nearly identical.  The biggest difference was much improved suspension.  The Suzuki had air adjustable forks and shocks, which was unheard of at the time.  The magazines raved about the handling.

The one weakness was the charging system.  The alternator was only 230 watts as I remember, less than half of our Valks.  Just running stock lighting and ignition put a heavy load on the system, and the stator would overheat and burn out the windings.  It was a simple fix as the rotor was bolted to the left end of the crank while the separate stator screwed into the left side cover.  I had to replace one on my GS1000, and two on the GS1100E I bought a few years later.  They cost over $80 each, which was a lot back then.

I took mine on an epic trip.  I rode from Colorado to San Francisco in late May, hitting some snow in Nevada and on Donner Pass.  I met a friend there on another GS1000 (he liked mine so much that he bought his own) and we rode up the coast through Oregon.  On those roads I confirmed that the GS handled very well.

From there I continued to Vancouver Island, running through large amounts of volcanic ash in Washington, as St. Helens had erupted only two weeks earlier.  From there I rode through the Canadian Rockies to Calgary, returning to Colorado via Glacier and Yellowstone NPs.  It was probably my most amazing trip ever.

This was before the cell phone era, so meeting someone on a trip took some planning.  We decided to meet in front of Joe Dimaggio's restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf at noon on Sunday.  We were both there within 5 minutes of noon.  Who needs all this technology!  Interestingly, on a Sunday in May of '80 downtown SF was practically deserted.  We rode around for some sightseeing with virtually no traffic.  When we rode down the curvy section of Lombard Street, we were the ONLY vehicles on the road!

I never rode the Suzuki but I had a ‘77 KZ1000, it was my first street bike (‘83 thru ‘86) with bags and fairing. The KZ was a though bike to keep up with, even when dressed. I can remember cranking out 90mph in 3rd. I never found the real top speed of that bike, I backed it down in the 110 range but it still wanted to go, the fairing and bags were not helpful. It was a fun bike to ride. If the Suzuki had the same engine I’m sure it would be just as much fun especially undressed.

[F6Dave]

I also had a 1976 KZ900.  The Suzuki GS1000 was very similar, except for the improved handling.  Both were excellent bikes and faster than just about anything else on the road in those days.

[pastmast95]

I had a brand new 79 or 80 can't remember. My wife and I at the time decided to sell our house and everything in it (we were both 20 years old) and travel across country. We headed East and toured around, stopping to visit family along the way (who of course thought we were stupid, but wished they could do it). Headed out to California for the winter and toured up and down the coast also visiting family and friends. The next spring we headed back to Illinois which was my wife's home state (we started off in Colorado). We settled down in her home town and got jobs and started over. Come the cold as hell Illinois winter I suggested we take off again in the spring on another cross country trip! Alas my wife didn't think that was a good idea and presented me with Divorce papers! She had a good job and was taking college classes (she grew up, I wasn't ready yet!) So back to Colorado I Went ! Bike was the bone stock model with spoke wheels. All I added was a windshield and a back rest and rack. Never had any problems with the bike. Put a new set of Metzlers and a chain on along the way. Wish I still had it!

[RP#62]

I know its not this bike, but I have to tell this story.  A guy I used to work with bought a Suzuki water buffalo when it first came out (GT750 I think).  It was advanced at the time, so much so that no body seems to know how to work on it.  I don't know if his was just a lemon or what but he told me that it left him stranded on the side of the road so many times that the last time it happened, he was so pissed off, he got it home and buried it in the backyard.  He said he didn't want to risk it falling into other hands and ruining their life too.  He said if someone ever digs it up, you'll be able to tell if it was his because it has a big dent on one side of the tank where he kicked the crap out of it after one of the road-side strandings.

-RP