Anybody Ever Polish a GS1100 Swingarm?

ALOHA i just got me 1979 kz1 kwaka and was wanting maybe that same swing arm you just got on my bike. i just wanted to know like what will i have to get for the whole set up after getting that swing arm? calipers, etc etc.. you got a list up there. could you be a bit more specific

808rob wrote: ALOHA i just got me 1979 kz1 kwaka and was wanting maybe that same swing arm you just got on my bike. i just wanted to know like what will i have to get for the whole set up after getting that swing arm? calipers, etc etc.. you got a list up there. could you be a bit more specific

I don't have the links but there are several other threads for installing a GS arm that would be much for helpful than this one. I'll try to explain what I have found out so far. Just keep in mind that I haven't actually done it yet!

From what I understand, there are several ways to approach it...You will need the entire Suzuki swingarm set up including pivot bearings, spacers and end caps, rear axle, adjusters, maybe rear wheel spacers, etc... but you'll use your stock KZ pivot axle. The GS arm is just slightly more narrow at the pivot so a washer or two on each side inside the frame at the pivot point will be needed. You will also need to find some eye-to-clevis shocks...honda gold wings, many suzuki's and lots of others use them...they are easily found either used or new. I am going with stock GS1100E shocks with adjustable dampening. You can also use a stock GS1100 chain guard and brake arm for simplicity. You'll likely need a slightly longer rear brake line since the GS arm is a little longer.

For the rear wheel, you can go with a GS rear wheel hub and lace it to whatever rim you want, using the stock gs brake disc, caliper and brake arm, and I think everything might bolt up using the stock suzuki wheel spacers. I went with a KZ rear hub laced to a 3.5" wide Excel aluminum rim, stock KZ brake rotor and caliper, using the gs1100 brake stay. For the KZ rim (or any other wheel you'd like), you'll have to figure out what spacers you need to get the wheel where you want it on the rear axle (20mm ID spacers). I had some spacers around that I had cut down to center the wheel in the swingarm. I'm hoping this set up works well and everything centers up OK. I'll find out after I get the swingarm either polished or powder coated and can begin installation.

I'm sure I'm missing some details, but like I said, I haven't actually done it yet. Hope this helps.

79MKII wrote: So the one side that I have polished looks really nice. I've been thinking though that it's going to take a lot of maintenance to keep it looking good. With that in mind, I've got some prices on having it powder coated. I think a nice metallic silver or maybe the "chrome" powder coat would look good and that stuff holds up real well over time. I found a local place that will do it for $65.

I've also received more quotes on having it polished...prices range from $365 to $750! :blink:

Umm...why not polish it, then have it clear anodized?

These are 19 year old MX wheels I had refinished by TCR out in Cali. And believe me, they looked a ton worse than that swingarm you have.

Kidkawie wrote: I've also received more quotes on having it polished...prices range from $365 to $750! :blink:

Umm...why not polish it, then have it clear anodized?

These are 19 year old MX wheels I had refinished by TCR out in Cali. And believe me, they looked a ton worse than that swingarm you have.

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TCR is a great little shop. They are my go-to guys for tire work. Just down the road and only $15 if I bring them the wheel and tire!

That might be the ticket! My friend knows someone with an anodizing business here locally. He had some stuff done in gold and it really looks cool. I'll see if they offer clear.

Does the anodize dull the polished finish at all?

I think they have clear powder coat too....one of those options would cut the maintenance way down.

Great looking rims by the way. Is that a KX?

79MKII wrote: Great looking rims by the way. Is that a KX?

Yes, that's my baby. 1994 KX250 I started doing a showroom restoration on, then turned it into a works style bike, had some fun with it. Right now, I've been sourcing some unique factory/team parts. The bike has period parts either refurbished or NOS. for instance, the pipe is from 94 with the old logo, no a new version. Won 1st at a motorcycle show with it. The $40k Harley guys must have been pissed. haha

OMR provided not-crotchety good advice in this thread..."Just saying"..

That KX looks awesome. Funny how those bright pinks and purples look a bit dated now but I sure remember when they were "in". A ton of street and dirt bikes were loaded with those colors back then along with the sea-doos and just about everything else.

Any yes, OMR did good. Those wheels are great to work with.

Here's a picture that the seller sent me before I bought it....The Before:



And here is what it looks like now....I'm getting there! :woohoo:

Well-well, look at that purdy Swing arm....

OK, which route did you go to get it to this level... ?

I see a chem-dip carb cleaner in the image, is this what you used to get that coating off...?

Is this a non buffed state, damn looks good if so.... Wait till you hit it with some white compound... BLING-BLING.... :laugh:

Old Man Rock wrote: Well-well, look at that purdy Swing arm....

OK, which route did you go to get it to this level... ?

I see a chem-dip carb cleaner in the image, is this what you used to get that coating off...?

Is this a non buffed state, damn looks good if so.... Wait till you hit it with some white compound... BLING-BLING.... :laugh:

I tried so many things it's hard to say what I did exactly, but here goes........

I started with an angle grinder and a sanding disc to get the anodize off. It worked pretty well but left all of the nooks and crannies and also beat up the swingarm pretty badly. I wouldn't recommend it.

Then I tried the EZ Off oven cleaner to remove the anodize and it worked very well. If I had to do over, I'd go with the EZ off right from the start. Since the arm was so bad after the sanding disc, I went with some heavy duty sanding paper and LOTS of sanding just to get it pretty smooth again. I then went with several types of scotch brite to get everything pretty well scuffed up and consistent all over. I tried some very fine sand paper and a little polish and it really brought out all of the defects. It looked terrible! Polishing brings out every little defect....it truly has to be perfect if you want your final result to be perfect.

So, back to heavy sanding...I think it was 150 grit, and I worked all of the bad areas. Then I worked my way back up through the scotch brites and then to the three new abrasive wheels. I went with the gray (course), the orange (med) and then the blue (fine). It was pretty shiny by that point. Those wheels are really great. I gave it a quick hit by hand with some mothers and that's where it is now.

I would like to get a buffing wheel for my drill and see how that works. Do you recommend the polishing compound over something like Mother's?

Oh, and the Chem Dip is just sitting there, it wasn't used for the swingarm, just the carbs.

Lowe's has the Brown Tripoli (medium cut) and White (fine cut) compounds and the buffing wheel. They way that looks now, most likely only need the white compound to Mirror/BLING it out.... All depends how deep scratches are.

Mothers or similar would be used to keep it shiny afterwards.

Feels good don't it to see what a little work transforms this old stuff to... ANd you did it yourself versus [paying someone $200 plus to accomplish.

Seriously, looks awesome!