My GS 850 GL Cruser Project Journal

Hey, I love the seat, fender and bars! Where did you find those? Thanks, Ken

looks like its coming together nicely

keep us updated

ken said:

Hey, I love the seat, fender and bars! Where did you find those? Thanks, Ken

Click to expand...

The bars I got on eBay, the seat and fender I found on eBay but I had to skip them for now due to time and money. In fact i am unfortunatly going to have to skip a lot of things I wanted to do so I can get the bike done today/tomorrow.

With gas getting so out of hand I really need the ride more than i need the "toy". So I will post some pics later today tomorrow when its "done" and make my laundry list of things to pick at over the summer

Well she's all back together and running much better but now a little lean. I guess sealing up those rust holes in the airbox and the sides is going to require some retuning of the carbs

So I need to grab a color tune next week when I get paid

I didnt get to do all the things I wanted, but she looks decent and runs. I will post pics tonight.

Things I will pick at over the summer:

Recover seat (Possibly have it retooled and covered w/ leather for $200)
Replace exhaust
paint tank & Side panels (May just buy a spare set and have them professionally done)
New valve cover caps
Strip & polish wheels & calipers
New SS Brake Lines

Think thats it lol.

Hey dude....just found the link to this thread in your signature. When you mentioned that you'd stripped everything and mounted the speedo (same one) where the original ignition switch was, for some reason I thought you meant the original speedo and was trying to figure how you did it.

In checking this thread, I see you meant the same speedo I'm planning to purchase. How do you like it so far now that you have the bike back together and running?

Project looks really cool! Hope to see some updated pics, soon.

PICS! I am picking up another GS and want to go this route with it since the last one was a cafe. I like the fender and seat can't wait to see it! Good work man

Craiger said:

Hey dude....just found the link to this thread in your signature. When you mentioned that you'd stripped everything and mounted the speedo (same one) where the original ignition switch was, for some reason I thought you meant the original speedo and was trying to figure how you did it.

In checking this thread, I see you meant the same speedo I'm planning to purchase. How do you like it so far now that you have the bike back together and running?

Project looks really cool! Hope to see some updated pics, soon.

Click to expand...

Speedo works really good. The way i had it wasnt going to work because the headlight bowl cause a major bend in the speedo cable. So I drilled a hole in the bowl and ran the cable through the bowl minimizing the bending. Works good so far with no issues.

I only have three complaints so far with the speedo.

1) I could not get the oil pressure light wired up. Dunno why. I followed the wiring diagram but it just doesnt work. I did test the LED working so I know thats not it. If you figure it out let me know!

2) The directional blinker only works one way. Meaning if I put on my left blinker the idiot light blinks, if I put on my right blinker it doesnt. If I swap the + & - wires on the LED it does the same thing just in reverse so the right causes it to blink but not the left. I am assuming it because of the type of LED.

3) The idiot lights are way to bright. Last night was my first night ride and it looks great and is easy to read but I went to flip my high beams on and had to turn them right of because the blue LED was so bright it blinded me, literally. I dont know if it was a glare from my helmet visor or my glasses but I couldnt see crap lol.

Other than that I really like it, speed seems correct and it looks good

StrtLegal said:

PICS! I am picking up another GS and want to go this route with it since the last one was a cafe. I like the fender and seat can't wait to see it! Good work man

Click to expand...

Unfortunately I didnt do the fender or seat yet. I kinda cut the build short and just put the bike back together because of gas. I was hitting $100/wk in my truck and I just couldnt afford it.

I am still going to do it but I will probably not get to it till fall. Over the summer I will probably just recover the OEM seat I got, valve cover caps, and a new exhaust. I still need to paint the tank and side panels too but I think I may build a paint booth in my garage first and grab an HPLV gun instead of using rattle cans

StrtLegal said:

PICS! I am picking up another GS and want to go this route with it since the last one was a cafe. I like the fender and seat can't wait to see it! Good work man

Click to expand...

Almost forgot 2 other guys already did that fender and seat, Mike & Boppi did. There posts should still be under the appearance mod section.

mortation said:

Speedo works really good. The way i had it wasnt going to work because the headlight bowl cause a major bend in the speedo cable. So I drilled a hole in the bowl and ran the cable through the bowl minimizing the bending. Works good so far with no issues.

I only have three complaints so far with the speedo.

1) I could not get the oil pressure light wired up. Dunno why. I followed the wiring diagram but it just doesnt work. I did test the LED working so I know thats not it. If you figure it out let me know!

2) The directional blinker only works one way. Meaning if I put on my left blinker the idiot light blinks, if I put on my right blinker it doesnt. If I swap the + & - wires on the LED it does the same thing just in reverse so the right causes it to blink but not the left. I am assuming it because of the type of LED.

3) The idiot lights are way to bright. Last night was my first night ride and it looks great and is easy to read but I went to flip my high beams on and had to turn them right of because the blue LED was so bright it blinded me, literally. I dont know if it was a glare from my helmet visor or my glasses but I couldnt see crap lol.

Other than that I really like it, speed seems correct and it looks good

Click to expand...

Good review...thanks. I'll be sure to let you know if I get the oil pressure light working.

There's got to be a way to get the blinker idiot light to work for both sides. I haven't an ounce of electrician in me, so I don't have a clue how to do it, but somebody has to have an answer. Hope they see this thread and clue us in. I wonder if a relay has anything to do with it.

Thanks again, bud! I'd really like to see some updated pics....even if it isn't finished. It was looking real good in those last pics you showed us.

Craiger said:

Good review...thanks. I'll be sure to let you know if I get the oil pressure light working.

There's got to be a way to get the blinker idiot light to work for both sides. I haven't an ounce of electrician in me, so I don't have a clue how to do it, but somebody has to have an answer. Hope they see this thread and clue us in. I wonder if a relay has anything to do with it.

Thanks again, bud! I'd really like to see some updated pics....even if it isn't finished. It was looking real good in those last pics you showed us.

Click to expand...

I am going to hit up my buddy who is an EE he may have a clue for me. If not oh well i can live with it for now. Pics are below.

A little dirty from riding and the clear coat DID yellow on the fins so that needs to get sanded off and polished

Plus my exhaust looks like complete CRAP. But those things I can pick at over the summer.

Sweet! Looks like fun to ride.

Those bars really help pull off the "cruiser" look. Have you considered getting some chrome mirrors to complete the look up front? Seems the stockers don't fit in all that well anymore.

By the way, nice compressor (Campbell Housefield). I'll bet it has one of our motors on it. Does it say Emerson?

Craiger said:

Sweet! Looks like fun to ride.

Those bars really help pull off the "cruiser" look. Have you considered getting some chrome mirrors to complete the look up front? Seems the stockers don't fit in all that well anymore.

By the way, nice compressor (Campbell Housefield). I'll bet it has one of our motors on it. Does it say Emerson?

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New mirrors are on the list I had ordered a set but they were to small and looked like scooter mirrors. So I think I am going to get some bigger chrome teardrops or cross's.

The compressor works pretty good. I really need a bigger one. I dont know who makes the motor, didnt check. Motor doesnt like to be cold. I have to let it run when its cold, the release the tank then let it run again. Have to do that a couple times before it gets warm enough to kick in and fill the tank. When its warm out everything is fine.

Hmm...I'll have to check around to see what that issue could be with the motor. Being a mechanical designer, I deal more with parts than anything.

Be sure to post some pics of the new mirrors. What you have in mind should look great!

Craiger said:

Hmm...I'll have to check around to see what that issue could be with the motor. Being a mechanical designer, I deal more with parts than anything.

Be sure to post some pics of the new mirrors. What you have in mind should look great!

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What I REALLY want to do is pay this guy in Moodus $200 to retool my seat so it looks like the more modern cruiser style (The pic way back at the beginning) and cover it in brown leather

Plus my other laundry list lol.

OK here are some updated pictures.

I messed up the paint in a lot of places with brake fluid

I also got two streaks on the tank from gas. So much for being gas resistant. wtf.

This winter I will repaint everything with REAL auto paint not the napa/walmart crap.

AND it looks like I have an electrical issue. Friggin joy. I hope its just the R/R and the new one will be here tomorrow.

and more

mortation said:

I only have three complaints so far with the speedo.

1) ...
2) The directional blinker only works one way. Meaning if I put on my left blinker the idiot light blinks, if I put on my right blinker it doesnt. If I swap the + & - wires on the LED it does the same thing just in reverse so the right causes it to blink but not the left. I am assuming it because of the type of LED.
3) ...

Click to expand...

Craiger said:

There's got to be a way to get the blinker idiot light to work for both sides. I haven't an ounce of electrician in me, so I don't have a clue how to do it, but somebody has to have an answer. Hope they see this thread and clue us in. I wonder if a relay has anything to do with it.

Click to expand...

mortation said:

I am going to hit up my buddy who is an EE he may have a clue for me. If not oh well i can live with it for now.

Click to expand...

Good news, guys, NO relay needed, just a couple of diodes. \\/
And no, it not because of "the type of LED". LEDs only come in one flavor. LOTS of colors, but only one flavor.

The stock indicator light uses the lights on the other side of the bike as a ground, so electricity will flow both ways through the bulb.
An LED indicator will not do that, so you need to follow the diagram shown below.


By the way, did you ever figure out the oil light? Try reversing the leads, as LEDs are polarity-sensitive.

.

Steve said:

so you need to follow the diagram shown below.

By the way, did you ever figure out the oil light? Try reversing the leads, as LEDs are polarity-sensitive.

.

Click to expand...

Which Diods should I buy? How should they be wired in. I am not sure how to read the above?

As for the pressure switch I did swap the wires. Still no joy. I may have tried to wire it into the wrong spot??

OK so I don't know which Diodes to buy but from what I gather I take the two wires from the harness put a diode in between each with the black end of each diode connecting to the solid wire of the LED. The striped wire from the LED gets grounded.

We shall see if this works