My old school turbo 1150ES conversion, pro street (look-a-like) for street use

[Big_T]

OK first the bike is a 1985 GS1150ES.  It was a stock frame with 8K miles on it.  small extended arm with the stock rear wheel widened to 5.5 inches wide by Kozman. It is 65" inch wheelbase. Basically it's an old 1428cc promod motor fitted with an MTC big block now with low comp. pistons (1395cc), Race cut rans with billet 2ns and 3rd gear, MTC lockup clutch, Mr Turbo kit, Web cams and a ward perf. head with all the good parts in it, Falicon crank and rods with strait cut gear, billet basket, studs throughout motor, Every good part you can put in an old GS motor. Just for some before and after test runs I took it to the local dragstrip which is an 1/8th mile and did some test and tune runs to see what it would do.  here is the conversion story with pics.  The bike last saw track time back in 1991.  The top end was freshened up this summer.  purrs like a kitten.  Holiday beach and race way.  The front end had so much travel that on test runs on the street it would wheelie bad so I put a strap on it for the track.  here is a pic waiting for the first run in many years.

I didn't use the air shifter for my first pass and left soft. 1.68 60ft. 6.22 @ 123mph foot shifting. I really wanted to just see how it felt.  no Wheelie and pulled good.  So the next time out I whipped the turbo up this time and left with a 1.61 60ft. and a 6.02 @ 125 mph. I tried watching the tach but found myself short shifting with the airshifter at 9K for some reason. another pic of the bike pulled down in the front with the strap

I used the airshifter this time and hit it pretty hard.  I was beside my friend on his 06 ZX14. I had a 1.54 60ft. and went a solid 10.5K shifting 5.93 @ 129 mph and she showed a hair over 15 lbs. on the boost gauge.  I was aiming for 15 lbs. and had added a round both times before I ran it. I was now going to give it a full out run but as I was doing my Burnout one of the oil lines going to the oil cooler broke off and started spraying oil in the air and on the track.  I am so glad I was in the burnout box.  had this happened going down the track it could have been ugly and the whole project a pile of junk.  new lines are getting made.  Pic of oil line that came off.

OK  Now back to the conversion.  I already had an old track bike.  a 1991 GSXR750 that I was robbing for parts. 
 

[Big_T]

So off with the back wheel.

Some Wal-Mart stripper paint and clear coat.  first I sprayed the stripper on the wheel.  While waiting for it to work I pulled the wheel off of the GS.  After a few minutes the machined part of the wheel was shining through. 
I taped up the center cast section and added a few coats of paint.  the clear coat will dull out the silver aluminum to give me the finish I wanted. 
Ok so now it's time to fit the wheel on the bike.  A quick test fit and it looks good

other side

[Big_T]

Now for the front end.  I pulled the top triple tree and positioned a Jack under the bike.  here I just pulled all the controls over and layed them to the sides.
1150 front end coming off.

1150 front end all the way out

GSXR750 front end going on

 pretty easy.  you have to use the GS dust seal but the rest of the parts are from the GSXR, same front end bearings. I modified the GS ignition switch to fit the GSXR triple tree and for bars I took the GSXR bars that were mounted under the triple tree and fliped them over and swapped sides putting them on top of the triple trees for some nice bars that are really close to the stock ES bars.  I still have to mount the boost gauge and put all the controls back on.


OK I wanted to keep it looking old school so I used the 1150 front fender and made the bracket for it out of the GSXR fender brackets.  I had already stripped the front wheel, painted and cleared it with the new tire.  I went with one rotor up front but not sure if I like it.  I might go back and add the other.  I will ride it like this for a while. a rear view with a mock up tire. while I get a tire for the painted wheel.


here are some pics of the front end pretty much done.

other side

Still have a few things left to do.  should be completed before much longer. 

[turbobusa2000]

Sweet, I used to have the same bike.  I kick myself for selling it.  Looks good btw.

[Big_T]

Thanks.  it's old but it always draws a crowd.  I just wanted it to look cooler and have some more modern rubber and brakes.  It still runs fairly good and is fun to ride. 

[fatnslow]

looking good tim, hope to see it this saturday in hattiesburg. 

[1low04busa]

 ...ive always wanted to ride an oldschool turbo bike.looks good!

[Big_T]

They ride pretty good now with the updated wheels and susp.  Here are a couple of pics.  Mike I hate I could not get it fine tuned before the Hub.  You looked good leaving the line and the bike looked like it pulled real hard all the way through.  I hope you hit your target.  here are a couple of pics of it finished.  The most it has made on the dyno was 311 rear wheel H.P.  not that great compared to the modern F.I. turbo bikes but still not bad for an 85 model. 

[Big_T]

couple more

[fatnslow]

it was good seeing you tim, yea i hit my goal  finally. you know all the troubles i have had. now when am i gonna get to see this thing in person, dont make me drive out your way 

[Big_T]

I will try and get it to a redline event.