R100 GSPD Restore Project - What would you do?

[DCoplin]

So, I've just got my old '92 GSPD back after letting it go for a few years to live in Spain.

I got it today and to be honest, it's a bit knackered, nothing major but lots of oil leaks, rotting seals and stuck switch gear so it looks like a proper restore is in order.

My assumption was that the smartest move would be to restore it back to stock but I've been out of the Airhead word for a few years and so I wondered if there were other options that should be considered?

Basically, I don't think I'll ever sell it again but I only need it for fun and maybe for my lad's first big bike when he's old enough (many years yet) so I want to do a proper job and turn it into something that will be durable and representative of what the bike's capable of.

Any ideas or suggestions that I should be considering?

Thanks

Dave

 

[N. Ohomo]

Will be watching this thread. I'm putting a '91 GS back together "road worthy" but certainly not restored. Somewhat frustrating that the project goes in fits and starts because parts are not waiting for me at the local dealer. It's a good third bike tho, but I'm sure many will disagree. Maybe it helps to be "in the know" which I'm certainly not. Subscribed.

 

[B Murr]

If it were me I'd just restore it back to original as I'm a sentimental type who enjoys remembering stuff from the past that I'd have done when it was fresh and original. The bike is however capable of more if you upgrade the Pistons using moorespeed or siebenrock kits. You can upgrade brakes , forks. Folks do other things too like putting disk brakes on back etc but I think you get to a stage that it would be cheaper to go up a generation when you make major changes like that.

 

[JJH]

I'd be inclined to keep it standard except for sensible improvements. Like brakes and comfort. I know your not thinking of a long term investment but at some stage some time someone will sell it. I'll wager that a standard bike with 1 or 2 sensible mods will be worth more than some of the monstrositys out there. JJH

 

[Bubb]

PD

If it were my bike, I'd restore it back to original, but upgrade the front brake (K100 twin piston calliper...or Pretech 6 piston calliper....) and put better springs in the forks, and upgrade the rear shock.
Other than that, I'd leave it as it was originally...well, maybe the Siebenrock or Richie Moore pistons....
but I think trying to get too much power out of the engine is a waste of time/money.
The original bike was a good beastie in its day, and if you want speed, buy a Blackbird/R1/Fireblade/Hyabusa etc...

Keep us all updated on how its going, as we all love a rebuild thread.

Good luck, and happy riding

Dave

 

[Kenny]

As Bubb says....keep the bike as stock as possible. No need for Siebenrock or Mr Moores pistons etc unless yours are knackered ( very doubtfull ). These bikes can be dreadful ( wonderful ! ) money pits...so decide exactly what needs doing ( I'm assuming the barrels will have to be pulled if leaking from pushrod tubes...but no need for s/s replacement tubes if yours are OK etc ) Most oil leaks are quite easy to fix. get it M.O.T'd first and after a run, then decide what needs upgrading ( as you probably know the worlds your oyster re upgrading a GS ).

 

[mikeyboy]

Unless you have deep pockets just do what's needed,a full restoration can and will cost a lot of dosh,it's very difficult to know where to draw a line ...
It always a case of "while it's apart I may as well as"
Unless of course you want a fully restored machine!,
In which case my phone number is.........

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

A (hard and expensive) lesson I leant with my Harley FXR, once you paint/polish/replace one bit its hard to stop until you've gone through the whole bike....then its patena, it's history, character and charm are lost forever.
Mechanical overhaul only for me.

 

[DCoplin]

You know what? I'd forgotten just how wonderful the airhead community is on this forum. I've not been thinking about airheads for almost 10 years and as a result I'd neglected the brilliant community you guys have going on here.

I think I'm inclined to agree with all your advice, restore to stock is the smartest move and I think the real decision has to be about how far the definition of "restore" needs to be stretched. I think with a bit of TLC like fixing the leaks and renewing the seals I suspect I'll be in a better position to see if it really needs stripping right back or not.

The irony right now is that the truck that brought my bike back from it's previous owner in Spain, got impounded by French customs on its way back to the UK and the driver got sent down for 3 years. I managed to get the bike back after struggling for a few weeks with the courier company but they lost the keys and the V5 in the process !

Thanks for all your help, you can bet I'll be back on here with more questions, pictures and hopefully, results!

Dave

 

[Weekday Rider]

I've just bought my second R100GS and apart from making the seat more comfy and fitting auxiliary lights the only other thing I may do is change the colour scheme. I was going to heavily modify but decided that the time and money would be better spent riding it. Good luck with yours, enjoy. Motorworks can help with new locks but, you probably know that. https://www.motorworks.co.uk/

 

[Roger Chatterton]

I've got a Billet 6 piston front calliper on my PD with the standard disc, and that is certainly a worthwhile mod.
Not stupid money, and doesn't look too obvious either.
With a full tank of fuel and luggage its very reassuring !
Standard headlamp is pretty crap, so some LED spots are very cheap and an easy mod too.
Add an Ohlins rear shock and maybe a rebuild-able drive shaft and you shouldn't need to change much else, assuming everything else is in working order.
Ride lots of miles, don't wash it too much and just a wipe with an oily rag occasionally.

 

[solidstate100]

If it doesn't need restoring, dont restore it. Ride it, fix what needs fixing, clean it now and again, keep on top of it, dont forget it will only ever be original once.

I used to be one of the must have everything pristine, all the gadgets, gew gews and baubles (target WC 1200 market in fact) brigade, I cant tell you how glad I am I managed to shake all that off - I ride my (unrestored but modified G/S) airhead more often, further, and more enjoyably than any other bike I have owned - easy to fix, fast enough, nimble and not as stupidly huge, expensive and plastic as the current bMW GS crop.

Way to go fella!

 

[Essexadventure]

Mine was a bit of a wreck when I got it with 66k miles on her. Gradually replaced all the bits I needed to from eBay...everything comes up eventually!

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Absolutely beautiful.

And to the original op, keep it stock and as unrestored as possible.

I have a '92 R100R which is clean and unrestored and it receives plenty of favourable comments when parked. I also have a 2013 R1200 GSA Triple Black which I now never ride (and will be sold).

I'd love a 100 GS but for me the R100R (with its sublime handling, superb braking, tubeless spoked wheels, GS clocks, K-series switchgear, k-series touring panniers) is the best of the airheads and I shall never sell it.