Starting to take the rat out of the rat cafe

[mr20turbo]

Well, i picked up this bike from another forum member a while back. The bike came without a title, so I began working on that. I finally got it resolved, so I thought i would post my updates. Nothing major, as i didn't want to get a lot of money tied up in a bike i didn't know if i could title, but now that I have resolved that i can start putting more time into it.

Here is the bike when I picked it up......starts on the 1st kick!



I changed the oil, fork oil, lubed the chain, new brake fluid, and installed some nylon washers on some of the nuts/bolts to reduce vibration.

I didn't care for the dual headlights very much. They were too modern for the bike. I picked up a stock bucket headlight, sprayed the bucket and brackets flat black, and installed a stock speedometer. I also changed the grips to a model with open ends, so i can install the bar end mirrors down the road.

Headlight is a little crooked due to the set screw missing a bolt. I need to get the the hardware store......


I also "reupholstered" the seat with black duct tape. I will pick up a new seat in the future, but this one will get me by for now. Notice the reflection on the new license plate. It replaced the plate from 1985 that was on the bike!





Future plans include a good amount of power purple, some exhaust wrap, a new megaphone slip on, a new "bubble" seat, some rear sets, and some body work on the tank....not too bad for $300.00, especially considering it has the cleanest spokes ever.

[Gimpdiggity]

Looks like you're on the right track.

I'm actually on about the same mission as you. I got my bike about a month ago and I've been very slowly amassing parts to get the thing running correctly again. It runs very, very well, but it leaks oil like a sieve. So I've gotten all of the gaskets and seals that I need to make it so that it doesn't leak any oil.

I have determined that at this time I will be doing very little to make the bike look a lot better. I'm going to go rat with it, but as time and money allows I will slowly work on restoring things on it.

For now, I just want to get it running.

[Zooks]

A lick of paint and some TLC and that little beasty will clean up beautifully. It has the makings of a nice project.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[mr20turbo]

Looks like you're on the right track.

I'm actually on about the same mission as you. I got my bike about a month ago and I've been very slowly amassing parts to get the thing running correctly again. It runs very, very well, but it leaks oil like a sieve. So I've gotten all of the gaskets and seals that I need to make it so that it doesn't leak any oil.

I have determined that at this time I will be doing very little to make the bike look a lot better. I'm going to go rat with it, but as time and money allows I will slowly work on restoring things on it.

For now, I just want to get it running.

As you can see in the first picture I have a shifter seal (or something on that side of the bike) leaking. I also have some leaky carbs. Those are on the top of my list, followed by some bondo to the tank/seat.

[TheCafeKid]

Just my .02 but that uber huge front tire is way pinched. You're not going to get the most out of your bike by running a tire thats too wide for the rim by a large margin. It actually takes away from your contact patch in the corners. Now, some guys build cafe's for looks, and thats perfectly ok. Others build them for function, and thats where my suggestion comes from..

[mr20turbo]

Just my .02 but that uber huge front tire is way pinched. You're not going to get the most out of your bike by running a tire thats too wide for the rim by a large margin. It actually takes away from your contact patch in the corners. Now, some guys build cafe's for looks, and thats perfectly ok. Others build them for function, and thats where my suggestion comes from..

noted....previous owner installed the tire, when they wear down i will remember this post. know the stock size for the spokes off the top of your head by chance?

[TheCafeKid]

noted....previous owner installed the tire, when they wear down i will remember this post. know the stock size for the spokes off the top of your head by chance?

Dunno what model that particular machine is but im guessing 77-79 550? If so I think they're the same as the 750's spokies, and those would be 100/90/19 front, and 120/90/18 rear...I am not positive on the 550 tho...

[Zooks]

I'd paint those pipes too, instead of the wrap idea. Black 'stove' paint would work well.

[TheCafeKid]

I'd paint those pipes too, instead of the wrap idea. Black 'stove' paint would work well.

I dunno...i rather like the wrap. Goes with the hot rod cafe look IMO, but be warned, you have to wet it as you apply it. And for quite a while when it gets hot, it REEEEKS to high heaven...

[Gimpdiggity]

As you can see in the first picture I have a shifter seal (or something on that side of the bike) leaking. I also have some leaky carbs. Those are on the top of my list, followed by some bondo to the tank/seat.

Sounds like you and I are in pretty much the same boat.

I have a leaky seal on that side of the bike, too. I was able to trace it to the mystery hole, so I'm going to be replacing the cam chain tensioner stuff and the o-ring on the starter.

I also have a leaky valve cover gasket and half-moon seals, so I've got those parts sitting here just waiting. I also am replacing the stuff around the tach pickup at the engine. All of these things were suggested by people on this site as things that need to be done to MOST GS bikes, because they more than likely have never been done before.

The carbs on my bike will also need to be cleaned and rebuilt. I'll be doing that when I take the tank off to paint it.

I did the bondo work on the tank the other day. Not too bad, in my opinion, for the first time that I've ever used it. Just followed the instructions and it worked out.

I also like the idea of the header wrap. I have a chrome plated exhaust that is pretty rough, so I'm going to clean it up as best I can...but if I can't get it to clean up really well I'm going to wrap it and call it a day!!!

[TheCafeKid]

Oh BTW, if you DO go about painting your header, use the 1500 degree stuff... The 500 degree wont cut it. It'll be fine down the header near the collector and what not. But up near the head it will cook that 500 degree crap off instantly. Ask me how i know

[Zooks]

You talking fahrenheit or real temp measurement??

[Steve]

You talking fahrenheit or real temp measurement??

Oh, you mean KELVIN ???

.

[Zooks]

smart arse.