New guy with a jalopy

[Rattytatty]

Hi all. New here with a recently picked up 81 gs850 project that I hope will be my first "creation". Don't know much about these bikes so I'm here to learn mostly.. Will be needing some wiring help thanks to some creative wiring and non wiring done by previous owners..
Looking forward to the madness!

[Brendan W]

Hi Rattytaty and Welcome.
This if you haven't already found it is a mine of information and good advice http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/
The GS850 is a remarkable machine. I hesitate to say future classic but it is streets ahead of anything else of that era in general all round performance.
I don't know what 'creation' means but think twice before chopping although everytime it happens the value of mine goes up

[Rattytatty]

Thanks for the welcome Brendan w. The bike I have was already bobber. just a hack job that wasn cut evenly on each side missing f/r tenders but mostly there.. Wires hanging around in various locations bed lined tank with unwanted body filler underneath. I bought it to chop and cut. "Creation" meaning a complete teardown and creating a rat rod type bike with a hardtail. Shaft drive may prove to be difficult since I may need to lengthen the frame to get what I'm after. Gonna make a trip to the metal yard and find thngs to make parts from.. Not sure if the motor runs or not so I gotta get that figured out before making any cuts.. If it were a non molested bike I wouldn't cut it up.

[GSXR7ED]

Decrepit Bike

Welcome Rattytatty,

You got pics of this dilapidated mode of transportation? Some folks might like to see this creation.


Ed

[Steve]

If possible, you might want to re-consider the hard tail. The lower shock mount on the left side is directly on the final drive unit. When you hit a bump, it transfers motion to the shock, which will resist it over the course of its travel. It spreads the load out over time. Put struts or some other form of hard tail in there and the shock load on the final drive housing goes up DRAMATICALLY. I don't know how strong that case is, it might not be up to the task of sudden shock. Now, if you only ride on mirror-smooth roads, go for it.

Something else to consider is the u-joint in the driveshaft. In a perfect world, it would not be necessary, but because of the need for the swingarm to move, it has to be there. You would think that it should remain perfectly in-line at all times, but it actually needs to be just a couple of degrees off. That will prevent the bearings from sitting in one place, hammering little divots in their races. You also don't want to go too far away from a straight line because it is just a simple u-joint. The output shaft (the one between the u-joint and the final drive) speed will change from the input shaft speed twice on every revolution. The greater the angle, the greater the speed difference. That speed difference will wreak havoc on the parts in the final drive and the splines in the hub.

Oh, yeah, then there is the overall comfort factor, too.

.

[Rattytatty]

Welcome Rattytatty,

You got pics of this dilapidated mode of transportation? Some folks might like to see this creation.


Ed

I do have a few pics though I'm doing all this on a phone so not really sure how to upload pics yet. And I see that my spelling sucks. Hope you all get what I'm sayin..

I do also understand about drive shafts needing to be just a bit off from being perfectly in-line with the yoke for u-joint life.. But as far as the gear housing on the end of the swingarm being strong enough for solid impacts as opposed to dampened impacts is beyond me.. Hardtail discomfort is no problem since I won't be riding it long distances.. Im building it to be an offensive machine. Not exactly sure or dead set on a certain direction with it but I want it to be like riding a giant ak47 if that makes sense

[Guest]

I wasn't going to post anything to this thread until I read "If it were a non molested bike I wouldn't cut it up". Welcome to the site, interested to see what you do with the bike. At some point you can start a rebuild thread in the "projects/rebuild" forum

[Rattytatty]

Pics as requested.. Hope they post up

[GSXR7ED]

Moar Pics

I see the first pic but not the second.

As for comfort...man, do I love the Progressive Rear shocks on my bike. Smooth ride! I can't imagine riding without comfort. Let's see some stand-alone pics...I'm not asking much.


Ed

EDIT: Okay...now I see it!

[Guest]

THAT! is the PERFECT donor bike..... gotta have some respect for people that haul bikes in minivans, almost as much as ones that do it with cars.

[Steve]

Im building it to be an offensive machine.

I saw your definition of "offensive machine" in one of your other threads.

New here with a new project... I must admit I'm not a pro builder as this Will pretty much be the first actual bike build I've ever done.. So with that in mind I'm also not dead set on a direction to go with it but I am wanting it to be an offensive bike. Loud. Fast.

With that statement, you just alienated many here that are the best ones to help you with your project.
Personally, I am thankful that you are 1700-2000 miles away from me, I won't hear you.
Sorry, don't mean to preach, but there is simply no need for intentional excessive noise.

.

.

[GSXR7ED]

Loud pipes save lives...lol.


Ed

[Steve]

Loud pipes save lives...lol.

The emphasis is on the "LOL", of course.

.

[Rattytatty]

THAT! is the PERFECT donor bike..... gotta have some respect for people that haul bikes in minivans, almost as much as ones that do it with cars.

Yeah I wasn't sure if it was gonna fit just had to loosen the bars and remove gauge cluster to clear the upper lip of the rear door jam.used a different ramp unloading it by myself and threw my back out trying to lift it cause the pro custom exhaust kept hanging up on the ramp lip pushing the ramp off the van.. 2002 Mazda mpv for those that want to know

To help keep clutter down I posted over in the projects/resorations section.. I'll post a link in my Sig eventually

[Rattytatty]

Can't have quiet exhaust with some spark plug flame thrower pipes..