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Advice/Help on cleaning up this bike 1986 gsxr 1100 resto *pics*

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Brad7r

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Hi guys,

I was wondering if you could give me some advice/ input on how to go about restoring this 87 gsxr 1100. It was given to me about 2 years ago from my uncle FOR FREE :biggrin but that was because he did not want to bother fixing the mess of what it had become. He originally bought the bike when he lived in Georgia from another guy who used to drag race it. He rode it for awhile when he was stationed there (he is in the navy) but after he got married he didn't ride it anymore and the bike sat outside for a long time by the ocean... and then he took it up to his parents house in Olympia, WA where it sat in a garage for 10+ years... Now I have it and boy was it a mess.. luckily the engine was fine and the electrical and the engine still cranks over and I have had it running a few times but the carb needs tuning. So this is my first restoration of a street bike, I am 18 years old and I do have experience with working on bikes, I fully restored a 1975 Ossa Phantom GP1 (vintage dirtbike) and have other experience with engines, bikes,tools etc.. but nothing compared to this bike, because this bike has so many more parts, and electrical components, etc so it is a step up for me. Now I have started dismantling some of the bike parts and I have been putting the parts in labeled ziplock bags (any other suggestions on keeping organized?) My plan at the moment is to take out the engine and most of the other goods so that is basically a rolling frame and then really get to work on cleaning it up. What do you think? Also the electrical wires are just a mess, but everything works just fine.. any advice on how to clean them and/or some other option? Anyways I just thought I would try to get some helpful tips and words of encouragement for this epic rebuild... I just have such a great passion for restoring old bikes like this, I just love the oil cooled gsxr looks and style and I can't wait to show this baby off :punk Thanks Guys!

Edit: I also forgot to mention I have access to a sandblaster at my school, the type that is in cabinet so it could fit parts up to about the size of a wheel

REEDIT: (Actually an 87' not an 86'...)

Here are some pics as of today:

Just so you can see the messy

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#2 ·
Damn salt air is hard on machinery :banghead

Ok, so you're on a good start with labeled ziplock bags. Follow that up with a digital camera so you can document how the various parts are fitted as you disassemble it. You'll be glad you did when it comes to putting it back together.

Here's the way I would proceed based on what I can see:

  • Tear the bike down removing everything including the engine so you can get at the frame and really clean it up. I'm not sure you'll be able to get the pale marks off the frame without removing the clear anodizing and having it re-anodized but maybe someone else on the forum has a solution for that.
  • Unless you need to, leave the wiring harness intact. More often than not people have trouble reassembling their bikes when they mess with the wiring harness.
  • Separate the parts into 3 categories and make a list so you know which are:
    a) Good parts without any need for repair,
    b) Parts than need to be repaired, repainted, etc... and
    c) parts you need to replace like chain/sprockets, bearings, rusty nuts and bolts, etc...
  • Get Red "R" so you can get any parts needed from the Classifieds section. Other parts from Suzuki, Bike Barn, Alpha Sports, Bike Bolts, etc... There's actually a couple of decent places in the US to get parts fro these bikes but I can't remember all of the names. Check the sticky in the Oil Cooled section.
  • Clean up the engine and give it a nice coat of paint.
  • Start reassembly

Other tips...

Get a bike lift or make something that will lift the bike and keep it safely suspended so you can work on it.

A bunch of us on the forum have swapped our OEM master cylinders for Hayabusa master cylinders for the front brakes and clutch. You can always clean up the factory ones but there are lots of Busa ones available and they're new, look identical and will take all the cool new brake and clutch levers. I picked up a pair of almost new ones for less than $100. There's a thread from a couple of months ago on it somewhere on the site.

Engine paint is still a bit of a mystery to get the same dark grey colour..... Probably the best option would be to bring in a good part and have the local auto center mix up a batch of engine paint.

You should rebuild the rear shock or replace it. There aren't that many around anymore but Fox, Ohlins, WP made shockes for the 1100. You can also get a mid 2000's R-1 shock, mill the eyelet width and fit it to the bike but you have to modify the battery box to raise the battery so it doesn't hit the top of the shock.

Bodywork... What shape is the bodywork in? You can get Decal kits to do the whole bike from RD Decals... Their website is down at the moment but I'm sure it will be up again soon.

There are other tips so I'll add them as they come to me.

Here's a link to the process I'm doing with mine... Pretty much the same procedure without the salt water damage. LINK
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Wow, Thank you!

The plastics are in ok shape (no pyshical damage) , but they will definitely need to be repainted and need new decals. So far I have just been taking more of the bike apart and cleaning it as I go. I am going to take a lot of the rusted parts (fairing bracket, battery box, etc) and sandblast them, hopefully that will get them nice and clean. I will keep you posted on how things are going, and I will put some pictures up when I can. Thanks for the help and yes please feel free to add more tips!
 
#4 ·
good tips above. a RED R is a must. You could start by getting another donor bike for cheap since your initial investment is low (zero). This will help with a lot of the parts that are too far gone to repair (hard metal parts, brake components etc.)
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Here are some pics from yesterday

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Just started to clean out the back end of the frame.. having a hard time getting the gunk off the aluminum. I have been using Palmolive soap, with some brushes and scrubbers. Anything better I could use?

Since then I have removed the batter box and hopefully this week I will take off the engine and clean up the frame really good. I will also remove the front bracket that holds the speedometer and lights. It is trashed, the rust has made it so brittle that it just falls apart, where is a good place to find another one of those? (I will try to get my red R soon...)

Also what should I do about the wheels/rims?
 
#6 ·
Doing Good So Far. Depending on the front headlight bracket might be able to just sand blast and re paint. But like the others say Get a Red "R" lots of members here. means lots of parts sitting around. That $15 bucks will pay itself off within first purchase I'm sure!
 
#7 ·
Lots of good suggestions already above. You definitely have some work ahead of you. Most important is to keep everything organized. Get a parts manual so you can cross reference parts from other models. Good luck!!!

There are a couple bracket/fairing stays on ebay right now. Keep an eye out.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Tongan said:
Not to mention to other members but whats with the last 5 18yr olds getting 1100's?
Click to expand...
I don't know any 18 year old that would turn down a free 87' 1100 and technically I got it when I was 16 but I never really worked on it until now because I was busy rebuilding a different bike.

bsully1850 said:
Wow, you are a saint for taking on this project. You'll be very proud when she's finished.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I know I will be haha alot of work a head of me

kickhorse said:
Lots of good suggestions already above. You definitely have some work ahead of you. Most important is to keep everything organized. Get a parts manual so you can cross reference parts from other models. Good luck!!!

There are a couple bracket/fairing stays on ebay right now. Keep an eye out.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I got the whole user manual printed out and put in a binder so that is convenient.

Tongan said:
Doing Good So Far. Depending on the front headlight bracket might be able to just sand blast and re paint. But like the others say Get a Red "R" lots of members here. means lots of parts sitting around. That $15 bucks will pay itself off within first purchase I'm sure!
Click to expand...
Well that is what I am doing with the other "y" shaped bracket that holds the fairing up there, but that bracket is beyond repair it is so fragile that the metal bracket that one of the turn signals attaches to just snapped up.. and many other parts of it have holes and just crumble away.




Thanks for the support guys, I will keep you updated and I will put some more pics up tonight or tomorrow.
 
#11 ·
Brad7r said:
I don't know any 18 year old that would turn down a free 86' 1100 and technically I got it when I was 16 but I never really worked on it until now because I was busy rebuilding a different bike.
Click to expand...
I don't blame you. My first street bike happens to be my bike at the moment.( 89 gsxr 750 with the 1100 motor) At the time i was 17 and was suppose to sell it. But crashed it and dad told me if i fix it i can keep it so i took it. Make things worse that was the first street bike i have ever riden in my life...
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Tongan said:
I don't blame you. My first street bike happens to be my bike at the moment.( 89 gsxr 750 with the 1100 motor) At the time i was 17 and was suppose to sell it. But crashed it and dad told me if i fix it i can keep it so i took it. Make things worse that was the first street bike i have ever riden in my life...
Click to expand...
Yea, once this thing runs it will be the first I have ever ridden but I mean I would like to try it out once its done but I might get another bike that's smaller and learn to ride before I jump on the 1100... Just don't want to risk destroying the bike right away after all the hard work put into it. How bad was your crash? You alright?
 
#14 ·
To clean of oil, chain lubricant, etc. you can use WD40 or Lampoil (don't know if its the correct name), that is what i usually use to clean my rims with..

Mathias

Good luck restoring :)
 
#15 ·
That's a heck of a project you've taken under your wing. Kudos to you for being young and brave to take on these old bikes .... and for deciding not to simply throw a leg over a new fuel-injected, water-cooled rice rocket.

;)

jb_xx
 
#16 ·
i stripped and repainted,polished ,detailed a few bikes by 18 -it gives you a better idea about your bike and iff you pull everything apart ,you get more confidence in the bike
knowing the wheel bearings are not going to colapse for example -pull the shock pivot
apart and regrease /check bearings -my 88-1100 10,000 miles had rusty bearings and the shaft that holds the swingarm in was siezed in the swingarm bearing
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
Thanks again everyone!

Here are some more pics from yesterdays work:

Removed the exhaust and covered the ends just to be safe... the last bike I restored a mouse decided to live in the exhaust pipe and it was just filled with all that crap that mice like to collect in there dens :dissapointed
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Removed the ignition coils and put them in a ziplock, I also labeled all the parts in the bag

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Slowly getting everything off..
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I borrowed and engine crane from my friend so I can take out the engine.. It might not be necessary but I got it anyways for the following reasons.. I know for a fact I can not lift that engine by myself and I may not have help available, I don't want to risk dropping the engine or doing something stupid and breaking something... or my back :lmao and yea, plus it makes me look like I got a serious shop going here :biggrin



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Last thing I did last night was drain the oil, and good thing too! It was soo black and just smelled of gas, probably had a whole bunch from all the times it had been cranked over and flooded when it wouldn't start. Once everything is back together I am going to put new oil and let it cycle thorough for a bit then drain and put new oil, just to get everything flushed out.
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Well thats pretty much it, today I plan to take of the engine mounts and hopefully get that sucker out of there. Wish me luck :punk

I am also selling a dirtbike I have and I got a few offers so when I get that sold I will have about 1200 bucks added to my current budget of $0 haha So that means lots of goodies and of course a red R
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
Alright, taking a lunch break, thought I would share my progress as of today... I GOT THE ENGINE OUT! :punk ...all by myself, so I am pretty proud. I did end up using the crane, it just makes everything so much easier and it also releases the pressure from the motor mount bolts so they are easy to take out.

Here are some pics from today, enjoy :p

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Brad7r
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