Retirement

[michael1954]

Hi Forum friends. I have been absent for the last month. Just retired after 34 years as an educator in the Lone Star State. Been too hot to ride much, and it has been a lot more work than I could have imagined. Trying to clean out a room I have taught out of for 16 years! I also bought a 1980 Suzuki GS750E that needs a little work on the calipers before I ride it. http://cb1100forum.com/forum/images/smilies/biker.gif Hey, I think I might have time now! Also planning on picking up a really nice 1982 Suzuki GS1100E that needs NO work done to it or on it.
Will show the Forum both when they are presentable, or in the case of the 1100, in my possession. Anyone out there have much thoughts about either one of these 'old' bikes? Going back to the carb days. The 750 fires right up, after I pull the Choke knob. I forgot all about that kind of stuff. I guess I am going forward in time with my life, and backwards with my bikes. Trying to re-live my youth again, and ride bikes I can actually 'work' on.
I will have many questions for all of you soon. Thanks for already being there, Michael in way TOO hot south Texas.

[Houtman_imp]

Happy retirement , retirement was the best job I ever took after working hard all my life.

[koehlerk_imp]

Congratulations on the retirement! I'm headed into my 15th year teaching 7th and 8th grade science. I'm thinking you are not going to miss all the "fun" this year. ha!

[Rocky_imp]

Congrats on your retirement

[TXBikerGuy]

Congrats on the retirement! I'm hoping that day arrives in a couple of years.

My dad had a 1981 GS1100E that I ended up bringing to Texas with me when I was in college. This is the bike when he first bought it.



He went on to trick it out with some fairing work and took it on a trip around Europe.



It was a great bike. If I recall correctly, it was one of, if not the fastest production bike for the time. I remember having a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground in 1st gear until the fairing--and even then it was very easy to do wheelies.

Envious that you've found one in good condition! Enjoy it.

[pekingduck]

Congratulations on retirement, from a noble profession too!

Both of those bikes were/are superb bikes, very easy to work on and reliable. Pull the tank off with one bolt, and the valve cover is right there. No shims, just threaded tappets like a Honda 90. The brittle cardboard valve cover gasket that bakes to the head and cover surfaces is the worst part of it.

I was Service Manager at a Suzuki dealer then and recall a few of the 1100s had warped rotor issues. Stator windings and especially regulators were other areas of concern. I would at least flush the braking systems on both, but expect to rebuild them as a precaution. Then you're good for another 10-20 years.

[Cormanus]

Congratulations on your retirement, Michael. I hope you don’t find the transition too painful. Enjoy the new bikes.

[SportsterDoc]

Congratulations on retirement, from a noble profession too!

Both of those bikes were/are superb bikes, very easy to work on and reliable. Pull the tank off with one bolt, and the valve cover is right there. No shims, just threaded tappets like a Honda 90. The brittle cardboard valve cover gasket that bakes to the head and cover surfaces is the worst part of it.

I was Service Manager at a Suzuki dealer then and recall a few of the 1100s had warped rotor issues. Stator windings and especially regulators were other areas of concern. I would at least flush the braking systems on both, but expect to rebuild them as a precaution. Then you're good for another 10-20 years.

Thin rotors?

My theory is that warped rotors are generally a result of a long hard stop, with the brakes applied during the cooling cycle, so that areas where pads contact remain heated longer and cool at a slower rate.

If I need to make a high speed panic stop, I try to let off the brakes during cool-down.

[pekingduck]

Congratulations on retirement, from a noble profession too!

Both of those bikes were/are superb bikes, very easy to work on and reliable. Pull the tank off with one bolt, and the valve cover is right there. No shims, just threaded tappets like a Honda 90. The brittle cardboard valve cover gasket that bakes to the head and cover surfaces is the worst part of it.

I was Service Manager at a Suzuki dealer then and recall a few of the 1100s had warped rotor issues. Stator windings and especially regulators were other areas of concern. I would at least flush the braking systems on both, but expect to rebuild them as a precaution. Then you're good for another 10-20 years.

Thin rotors?

My theory is that warped rotors are generally a result of a long hard stop, with the brakes applied during the cooling cycle, so that areas where pads contact remain heated longer and cool at a slower rate.

If I need to make a high speed panic stop, I try to let off the brakes during cool-down.

Thin rotors?

My theory is that warped rotors are generally a result of a long hard stop, with the brakes applied during the cooling cycle, so that areas where pads contact remain heated longer and cool at a slower rate.

If I need to make a high speed panic stop, I try to let off the brakes during cool-down.
Hard to determine what the cause was, as they were customer bikes, and they deteriorated gradually. We would warranty them if we didn't see impact (Or Kryptonite) damage, but replacements were no better.

As I recall, it wasn't a problem on the 1980-81, or on later models so likely a manufacturing issue. 1979-80 Honda CB750F and CBX also had the same complaint to a lesser degree. For out-of-warranty customers I would take batches of them to be centerless ground. They came back perfect with no subsequent complaints, so likely a bad batch.

[michael1954]

Congratulations on the retirement! I'm headed into my 15th year teaching 7th and 8th grade science. I'm thinking you are not going to miss all the "fun" this year. ha!

Thanks! The Covid was a big part of my retirement at this time of the year. Had Heart surgery 3 years ago, and my docs wanted away from so many people. Loved teaching, and I will miss it. Still going to tutor my AP Chemistry class for free from home at nights. I talked them into taking it and it is a difficult class. Kids keep you young! Got plenty of time to tinker on my bikes and car now!

Congratulations on your retirement, Michael. I hope you don’t find the transition too painful. Enjoy the new bikes.

Thanks, the pain is trying to find time to schedule all the jobs I want to work on at home! Brake calipers on the GS750 1st.

Congratulations on retirement, from a noble profession too!

Both of those bikes were/are superb bikes, very easy to work on and reliable. Pull the tank off with one bolt, and the valve cover is right there. No shims, just threaded tappets like a Honda 90. The brittle cardboard valve cover gasket that bakes to the head and cover surfaces is the worst part of it.

I was Service Manager at a Suzuki dealer then and recall a few of the 1100s had warped rotor issues. Stator windings and especially regulators were other areas of concern. I would at least flush the braking systems on both, but expect to rebuild them as a precaution. Then you're good for another 10-20 years.

Thanks. Any hints to a good pair of rear shocks for either GS. I am having trouble finding 'good' shocks that have that open clamp-like attachment area at the bottom, not an eyelet. I do not know what it is called, but most shocks seem to have a circular eyelet though.

Congrats on the retirement! I'm hoping that day arrives in a couple of years.

My dad had a 1981 GS1100E that I ended up bringing to Texas with me when I was in college. This is the bike when he first bought it.



He went on to trick it out with some fairing work and took it on a trip around Europe.



It was a great bike. If I recall correctly, it was one of, if not the fastest production bike for the time. I remember having a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground in 1st gear until the fairing--and even then it was very easy to do wheelies.

Envious that you've found one in good condition! Enjoy it.

Really nice pixs. I will post both in time. I want to work on the 750 first, and I should get the 1100 at the end of the month. I read the 1100 was Bike of the year at Cycle World for 81' thru 83', and very fast. Cannot wait to compare it to my two 1100 Hondas.

Happy retirement , retirement was the best job I ever took after working hard all my life.

Thank you. I look forward to my next job. Life on my time.