Drive train removal .......

     Fecking nora, what a trial, this bike was definately been loved at some point, the mechanicals seem good (there is the kiss of death),  the drive train moves freely and without any percievable backlash. That said, the nuts and studs connecting the drive train are very corroded, and in two cases were removed instead of just the nut, this was at the rear of the drive train. I intend to clean up the drive shaft and treat it to a nice greasy time. It would appear that the boot covering the engine to shaft link was removed quite sometime ago. The moronic behavior of the previous owners is causing quite the frustration. My intent to restor this bike and give it a new lease of life, albeit, not as a standard GS, is becoming resolute.

Drive chain out, next the forks.

     Like the rear, the front end fought me, like cat in a bath, it was a twat. The screws were all on their last legs, often rounded on tightening, so removal had to be artistin, and involving WD40, heat and an manually driven impact wrench, which was also surprisingly theraputic. And the upshot was the removal of the stubborn screws. The stem and bearings were in very good condition, so there was either some love shown by a previous owner, or, in my opinion, nothing was touched and Suzukis build quality has prevailed. 

      The rest of the bike was challenging, but succumbed to my skills with lubricants, heat and wrenches, Its condition is hot and cold. The alloy has definately seen better days, but mechanically (I am going to say it again), the bike appears to be sound as a pound.

     The strip down is almost complete now, the  carbs were a mare, fighting to stay on the engine. Again leverage and verbal lubrication helped a lot, so only the engine to come out of the frame, then a little grinding and filing allied with some studious moments looking at what I need to achieve with the frame will result in it being ready for a trip to the media blasters and powder coating in a satin black.

     The carbs are in a bad way, a refurb kit is in order, as is a acquisition of a ultrasonioc cleaner to refresh everything else. Then reassembly. But first I will attend to the brakes and chassis so as to get the rebirth on the way.

    The carbs off, considering the fight they put up, the fixings are a little corroded and surprisingly compliant to my advances. Am thinking of loosing the pods and reverting back to a nice K&N filter, to avoid the rejetting and subsequent hours of tuning needed to gett the engine singing on PODs. And the K&N type filter is more in keeping. As you can see from the last picture, a little tickle with some 0000 wire wool, 2 of the filters show promise, the other 2 will come up just as well when i give them the treatment. 

     So, next, engine out, grindiong and off to teh blasters witht he frame, swing arm, wheels and sundry items. Stand-by for the next thrilling installment of 'Old man with a vision.......'

Angle Grinder to the frame.

      So, after my disagreement with my angle grinder, I picked it up again and removed the hideous tail section of the frame. I have to get this of my chest - the last 2 owners showed such disrespect and were complete cockwombles regarding the GS restoration. Leaving parts in platic boxes in the open to rust and decay. Not to mention the half hearted attention paid to anything done to the bike.

     The cutting has already made the bike look soo much better.

 TO 

     Added to the removal of the dispicable rear, i have also removed the raised handle bars and got the bike onto the lift. All so I can get to removing the front and rear wheels and suspension. The good news, and there is a pausity of it with this bike, is that the forks are not beyond salvage, indeed they look ok, after a light caress with 0000 gauge wire wool. The seals do need replacing, but that is a nause I am willing to tackle.

     I did notice another attempt at complete fuckwittery:

 

     Notice the clearance differances of the 2 suspension legs, how they out of 'sync', this is also quite obvious, when you look, as the front wheel is out of kilter. Oh the joys of a ground up restoration project. At least the engine turns and has compression with a spark. So thats a positive. And no road rash on any of it.

     So the bike is now on the lift and the strip down with happen at pace now. Front and rear is next.

     Remeber the carbon seat unit that was gifted to me by my father-in-law, well I put it on the bike, to see what it looks like, and was not over impressed, see the picture, and the tail unit I think should go onto the bike:

 I prefer this style for the restoration, i think decison made. colur may change, as it is a bit too 'Yamaha' for a Suzuki. The juices are flowing, so let the fun commence.