Anyone Turn an "L" Model into a Cafe Racer?

[Colorado CJ]

Welll, I have a couple of other bikes to ride now, so it is time to rebuild my '80 GS 550L and turn it into something else. At first I wanted to just build a bobber, but after looking at so many cafe racers, I now want to build a cafe racer.

My only real problem is that it is an "L" model, so the front forks and head angle is different than regular model GS550's.

Has anyone else built an "L" model into a cafe racer? Would it still work to turn an "L" model into one?

I have my heart set on a cafe bike after seeing a GREAT example on youtube. He built his out of a '79 gs550.

Any help would be appreciated!

[JEEPRUSTY]

Welll, I have a couple of other bikes to ride now, so it is time to rebuild my '80 GS 550L and turn it into something else. At first I wanted to just build a bobber, but after looking at so many cafe racers, I now want to build a cafe racer.

My only real problem is that it is an "L" model, so the front forks and head angle is different than regular model GS550's.

Has anyone else built an "L" model into a cafe racer? Would it still work to turn an "L" model into one?

I have my heart set on a cafe bike after seeing a GREAT example on youtube. He built his out of a '79 gs550.

Any help would be appreciated!

Flaming Chainsaws appears to be doing the same thing to a 450L
same sort fo style maybe his pictorial can help.

[850 Combat]

Why not? My nephew is building one from a Virago 900 for pete's sake.

Besides...

An "L" doesn't feel pain when you cut it up.

[Colorado CJ]

Yeah, I'm going ahead with it. I wish I could find a gs550 fork set for cheap, although the head angle would still be wrong.

I just about have all the bike apart now. I'll pull the motor tomorrow and start in on grinding all the unnecessary tabs off of the frame.

I should be able to blast/paint the frame and wheels at the beginning of the week.

[Go Mifune]

Welll, I have a couple of other bikes to ride now, so it is time to rebuild my '80 GS 550L and turn it into something else. At first I wanted to just build a bobber, but after looking at so many cafe racers, I now want to build a cafe racer.

Has anyone else built an "L" model into a cafe racer? Would it still work to turn an "L" model into one?

You Kidding? one of the nicest cafe's on this whole site used to be an L.
check it.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=156005

[mike_of_bbg]

You Kidding? one of the nicest cafe's on this whole site used to be an L.
check it.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=156005

May have been an L at one point, but there's nothing L about it there - including the forks. Keep looking, someone will sell some forks eventually. You ought to be able to use 650 forks as well.

[67camaro]

Here is a pic of my 550L just before I tore it apart for paint. Started as an 80 550L. Now has 550E fork tubes in the L triples, GT380 tank, hand made seat/tail section, and 1000 wheels.

[Steve]

Just remember, if you change the L forks, get the triple clamps that go with the 'new' forks.

The L forks have the leading axle (what's wrong with using them for a cafe?), but the triple clamps are set up to keep the fork geometry correct. Simply changing the fork tubes will move the axle farther back, adding to "trail", which will stabilize the bike a bit, but make it much harder to steer. Using the proper clamps will offset that and keep the same handling.

.

[posplayr]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1372738&postcount=140

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[rangerdanger]

What's the advantage to E forks over L forks? Length? Spring rate? I wouldn't mind dual front brakes...that'd be nice.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

What's the advantage to E forks over L forks? Length? Spring rate? I wouldn't mind dual front brakes...that'd be nice.

All I know is that E forks are shorter in length compared to an L. Also, the L's have the leading axle.

Here's my 1980 Suzuki GS450L.


All I really did was ditch the unnecessary parts, switch to a 1979 Suzuki GS400 gas tank, got a cafe seat, and painted the rims. Got more plans coming up.

[Colorado CJ]

I decided to go ahead with the build. Here it is: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=172835

And how it looks so far

[mapball]

i think byrdman's cafe'd L was and still is the best ive seen either in person or anywhere on the net out of any suzuki GS... PERIOD.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=104862&highlight=byrdman76&page=8

[Flaming Chainsaws]

i think byrdman's cafe'd L was and still is the best ive seen either in person or anywhere on the net out of any suzuki GS... PERIOD.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...rdman76&page=8

Oh yes! I favorited his video on Youtube . Yup, byrdman and coastiepete....

[Colorado CJ]

Yeah, that bike was my inspiration! Mine won't end up being quite as "clean" as his as I didn't go for the larger tank and seatpan, but I still like the way mine is turning out. Here's an updated picture. I'm riding it around at the moment to see if I need to change anything before the breakdown/paint.